Avra beach
Avra, or, as it is also called, Colona is the closest beach to the island's capital, is located north of the port of Aegina. But not only because of its convenient location, it attracts a lot of tourists every year. Directly above the shore a huge column stands left from the ancient temple of Apollo, thanks to which the beach got its second name. The presence of this grandiose historical object creates a unique atmosphere and allows you to fully experience the indescribable color of ancient Hellas.
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Beach description
Aegina's public beach is conditionally divided into two zones. To the left of the hill, on which the column of the temple of Apollo rises, is Abra. A rather long coastline is covered with fine pebbles mixed with sand, the bottom is mostly the same, sometimes there are large stones underwater. In the sea you can see the remains of the ancient port of Aegina, which can be reached through a narrow isthmus to the left of the beach. They arouse great interest among diving and snorkeling lovers, so there are special centers on the promenade providing the necessary equipment for scuba diving.
The beach is organized, there are sun loungers and umbrellas, a children's playground, rental boats, kayaks and catamarans. Numerous taverns and diners invite visitors to taste local cuisine and cheer up with traditional tsipouro. Since the port is very close by, it's quite noisy here, but visitors can admire the view of the huge white ships entering the harbor.
In August, an international music festival is held in Aegina and you can watch the artists perform right on the promenade.
Colona is much smaller than Avra, the coastline is already here, and the population is smaller. The beach is surrounded by a thick olive grove, where it's nice to sit with a tent and have a barbecue. Ideal place for picnics and recreation by big companies.
When is the best time to go?
Greece - a country with a long length from north to south, so the recommendations will vary depending on the place where you are going. The holiday season begins in May and reaches a peak in July-August: there are too many tourists, and the temperature on the southern islands reaches 40 degrees, which may still not play a role on the beach, but certainly not suitable for sightseeing. So the best time to relax in Greece is the end of spring-beginning of summer or September-October.
Video: Beach Avra
Infrastructure
The city beaches of Aegina have long time ago become a favorite vacation spot for both foreign tourists and the Greeks themselves. Every half hour, ferries from Athenian Piraeus go here. Some of the arrived tourists travel further along the island, but many prefer to stay in this area for a few days to see unique local sightseeings.
One of the most popular accomodation variants rightfully is considered Plaza – a small two-story hotel right on the waterfront. Tourists are attracted by the convenient location, proximity to the beach and to the harbor, and most importantly, by the friendly and attentive attitude of the owners. Plaza Restaurant, located on the ground floor, is available for guests, also there are comfortable apartments with stunning sea views. Pets are allowed. Within walking distance is a market, a supermarket, a bakery, and on a nearby street - a bus station
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Resting in these places, it is impossible not to visit the main attractions of the island – the temple of Apollo and the famous Archaeological Museum. The temple is located on a hill, which offers stunning landscapes, and the entrance to the unique open-air museum is at its foot, next to Avra Beach. And there are a lot of interesting things in Aegina, literally at every step you can find unique shrines or monuments of ancient architecture that help you mentally go back several hundred centuries and feel the amazing atmosphere of ancient Hellas.