12 Reasons to Fall in Love with Agistri Island

Agistri Island (or Angistri or Agkistri) is the smallest island in the Argo-Saronic Gulf. Other islands in the same group include Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina, Salamina, and Dokos.

It is very easy to fall in love with Agistri Greece, a small, low-key paradise of an island only an hour away from Athens. From the exotic beach Aponisos in the south to the scattered traditional tiny villages, Agistri island is a wonderful place for a day trip or a long weekend.

Agistri Island’s coastline has many beautiful bays and gulfs while its land is almost completely covered by a sweet-scented pine forest. Agistri is not a cosmopolitan island. But It is a perfect Greek island for those who seek contact with nature, as it is blessed with an explosion of natural beauty.

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How to Get to Agistri Island

To get to Agistri Greece you need to take the boat from Piraeus, Athens’ main port. There are catamaran or flying dolphins that take only passengers and get you to Agistri’s capital town, Megalochori, in about 55′.

If you take the slow boat (which takes about 1.5 hours and can carry cars/bikes as well) you arrive at Skala port. Book your ferry transfer with FerryScanner and get the best prices in the market with no hidden fees.

From the ports, you can take the local buses, use taxis, rent a bicycle or a car, and start exploring Agistri. As Agistri is only 14 square km surface, if you are an avid hiker, you can hike a large portion of this beautiful island.

Where Best to Stay on Agistri Island

Saronis Hotel Agistri (mid-range, adults only): This is a wonderful hotel that feels like you are staying in …Mykonos in the Cyclades! With outstanding breakfast and nearby the seafront and restaurants.

Aktaion Beach Boutique Hotel & Spa (family-friendly, mid-range): A fantastic seafront hotel with a very nice sandy beach nearby, perfect for children, swimming pools, and a great breakfast choice.

Hotel Abatis (budget, family-friendly) is a marvelous, peaceful property, with a superb breakfast, up on a hill with a beautiful view of the sea on one side and pine trees on the other.

Best Things to Do on Agistri Island

1. Megalochori Port

Megalochori  (also known as Milos), is Agistri’s capital town and port with an authentic and less touristic character.

If you arrive in Megalochori port, don’t skip walking its small alleys. You will be happily surprised by the picturesque cobblestones with two-story houses and the traditionally preserved mansions with beautifully flowered yards.

If you feel like tasting some good local traditional Greek food, ask around for the “Konaki” or the “Sailor” taverns, you will not be disappointed.

One of the best things to do in Agistri is to visit the Agistri Cultural Center in Megalochori which houses the Folklore Museum and the archaeological findings on the island. That way you will explore the local culture and tradition from Agistri’s previous centuries. Telephone +30 22970 91260.

2. Metochi Village and the Panagia Church

If you like heights and great sea vistas visit/hike to Metochi, a small village between Megalochori and Skala. Metochi is a tiny village with only a few narrow streets, rusty old houses, and beautiful sea views across Skala.

There is a short trail towards Metochi and right before you get to the village, on the right side of it there is a beautiful chapel that I visited. I always check to see if the chapels are open as I love to visit and check the icons and the decorations of the church.

3. Skala Seaside Village and Beach

Skala is the most advanced settlement on Agistri island, with beach bars and tourist facilities, just 10 minutes away by bike time – 2 km – from Megalochori.

It is a lively place with 2 organized beaches, one sandy and one with pebbles, that gather a lot of people and families, and many visitors find it a great base for trips to the rest of the island.

I absolutely love strolling the sandy part of Skala Beach all the way to the impressive landmark, the large white church of Agios Dimitrios with the blue dome.

If you stay in Skala, try the breakfast at «Copa Cabana», with many tasty pancake options or more traditional choices like Greek yogurt with fruit and honey. I always have a coffee there as well, Greek coffee usually or espresso, I am not a frappe fun.

Perhaps it is noon and it is time for your meal. Taste Greek “fast food” options, gyros, and souvlaki. Go to “Gyrokomeion” or “Gyrobank” shops and get full of some of the best gyros in Agistri.

Plaka is also where we rented our bikes (€5 each, in good condition, mine had a basket!). We biked for 16 km in total but it wasn’t an even road, it had a lot of steep uphills and equal downhills. So, if you rent a bike, you have to be certain that you can deal with this kind of terrain – especially if you are visiting in the summer. Although I was complaining about the uphills and had to stop and walk at times, I didn’t regret it as the views while you are biking are magnificent.

4. Skliri Beach

Staying on the east side of Agistri along the coast and towards the south, you reach the lush green and organized (rocky) beach of Skliri. If you are visiting Agkistri with your partner seek the “lovers’ street” in Skliri, where couples take selfie photos.

Fish Tip: For fresh fish with an amazing sea view inside the pine forest take a break at the Alkyoni Tavern.

5. Chalikiada Beach

If you head towards the south through a dreamy route of about 500 meters in the pines, you will find a natural deep creek with pebbles. This is the enchanting Chalikiada beach with unbelievable clear waters and beautiful views of Aegina Island.

The Chalikiada beach is not organized so you better have some water or food with you. And a hat for the sun!

Two of the best things to do on Chalikiada rocky beach are snorkeling and ..nudism! It is a popular spot for nude swimmers and free campers, so be prepared.

6. Dragonera Beach

The two Dragonera beaches (small and big) feature exotic azure waters and you can get there by crossing the dense pine forest on the west side of Agistri Island.

On the left of the beach, there is an outdoor canteen with some basic food and drink options like souvlaki, sodas, beer, or water.

I am not particularly fond of this beach because it gets a bit crowded, and the last time I was there I stepped on an urchin and was quite unhappy for the rest of the day! However, the place is gorgeous, so don’t mind me, go there and just be mindful of the urchins! Or buy mesh shoes to walk in the sea.

7. Limenaria Village

Just before you get to Limenaria village and the steep downhill to Aponisos, you come across the Byzantine chapel of Agios Nikolaos, where we made a much-needed stop to drink some water!

The chapel is very old, the first one built on the island and it is protected by the Archaeological Service.

Limenaria is on the southeast part of Agistri and is one of the most traditional settlements on the island. You will love walking its cobblestone alleys, passing by stone old houses, cafes, and traditional ovens where you can smell the freshly baked goodies all over the village.

8. Mariza Tiny Rocky Shoreline

Mariza is not exactly a beach but a platform for diving into the deep pristine waters of the sea. Access is via a path that goes from the village of Limenaria to Mariza Bay or by boat.

9. Lekani Lake

If you travel towards the east, past the very beautiful Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos you get to Agistri Lake. The lake sits in a dazzling water landscape in the heart of a pine-covered paradise, between the village of Limenaria and the islet of Aponisos.

In the spring, the colorful moorland (which used to be a salt lake, in the past) fills with numerous species of birds.

10. Aponissos Beach

As soon as you leave behind the ​​Lekani Lake of Agistri and through a wonderful dense pine forest you arrive at Aponisos.

Aponisos is simply stunning! It is an exotic islet, joined by a small strip of land with the rest of Agistri island. The islet is private so you need to pay an entrance fee of five euros 5€ (inclusive of an umbrella and a sunbed). The beach is organized and stays open until the 15th of October.

We stayed mostly on the open sea side of it and enjoyed one of the best days on a Greek island. The waters were slightly cool but not in an intimidating way, so I swam for some time in the azure crystal clear waters.

There were ducks swimming nearby and peacocks walking freely and I could hear some hens laying eggs nearby, but I couldn’t see them.

Aponisos is considered the best place in Agistri to see the sun setting in the waters of the Saronic Gulf and needless to say, this is my favorite beach on the island.

11. Boat Visit to Islets of Dorousa, Metopi, Kyra

Another great thing you can do is to get on a small boat from Megalochori or Skala, do the round of Agistri, and visit some of its beautiful islets:

Dorousa

The small island of Dorousa is located just half a nautical mile across from Aponisos. At the top of the island, there is the chapel of Prophet Elias, built in the 18th century. The island has archaeological findings and preserved walls, and its shores are rocky with deep waters, ideal for scuba diving. Near the shores of the island, there is the wreck of the cargo ship “Avantis III,” which occurred on November 19, 2004.

Metopi

Metopi Island spans a nautical mile in length merely a nautical mile from the charming port of Scala. It is worth visiting the picturesque small beach with white sand and tranquil azure waters. Atop the island, the chapel of Agioi Theodoroi stands alongside a scattering of vineyards and a petite lake characterized by its reddish hues.

Kyra
The uninhabited islet of Kyra is situated to the northwest of Agistri. In ancient times, it was known as “Pityonisos” due to its abundant pine tree forests. The islet features a small beach on its southeast side and another on its western side and is home to a few goats and several rabbits.

12. Agistri Local Delicacies

Agistri farmers produce retsina, olive oil, olives, figs, oregano, thyme, almonds, pine honey, fresh fish, and seafood are caught daily. The veggies are all grown locally so, any salad, local pies with herbs, grilled octopus, or any fish, as well as doughnuts and pancakes, will make you very very happy.

What Island Hopping Can I Do from Agistri?

From Agistri Island, you can take the small boats that get you to Aegina Island.

Or you can take the ferry to Methana, Peloponnese, and visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, where performances take place in July and August.

Or you can go on a sailing guided tour from Athens:

Can’t bother to go by yourself to Agistri?

Book a Full-Day Sailing trip to Aegina, Agistri and Aponissos on a pirate ship from Athens. The sailing tour includes:

Aegina or Agistri?

There is no fast answer if you are asking which island to choose, Aegina or Agistri. If you have time, go to both. Aegina has more sites to visit such as the Aphaia Temple, the large monasteries, the Medieval Paleochora, and the gorgeous Perdika village, and is more touristically developed.

Agistri is much smaller than Aegina but greener, and quieter and the beaches are really beautiful. Hiking is great on both islands.

If you’re looking for deeper information, check out my in-depth Aegina Greece travel guide for a ton of details on accessing all these places.

Other Awesome Things to Do on Agistri Island

Survival Tips for Agistri Island

How to Get to Athens Port (Piraeus) from Athens Airport

• Bus: If you are arriving at Athens International Airport you can travel straight to the port by taking the X96 express bus (€5.5, children <6 yo, free entrance), which departs every 40 minutes and the average trip lasts 1 hour – runs 24/7.
• Metro: (€9) is easily found across airport arrivals (blue line – M3) going directly to Piraeus port. The average trip to Piraeus lasts 1 hour.
• Taxis are available in front of the airport (around €40 to Athens, €55-60 to Piraeus (depending on the traffic in Kifisos), and take up to 3 or 4 people with small luggage)
• Rent a car with Discover Cars to rent reliable new cars at affordable prices
• You don’t like driving but love hassle-free solutions? Book a Private transfer with an English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries, or anywhere else in Greece
• Check out an entire post on Lavrio Port in Athens

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