Is Agistri Worth Visiting?

Agistri packs pine forest down to the waterline on an island barely 14 square kilometers wide, a scale that keeps every beach within easy reach of wherever you're staying.

Agistri sits in the Saronic Gulf beside Aegina, reached by ferry from Piraeus in under an hour and a half. The island runs on two ports, Skala, the busier of the two with most of the tavernas, hotels, and nightlife, and Megalochori, also called Myloi after the windmills that once operated there, quieter and more residential, with a single restored mill now serving as a small hotel.

Aponisos, a tiny organized islet connected to the mainland by a wooden platform, ranks among the island's most photographed beaches, its clear water framed by pine on nearly every side. Dragonera, on the west coast, splits into two coves named for rock formations resembling a dragon's back, reachable partly on foot through pine forest, and Chalikiada, with its black volcanic sand and strong winds, draws windsurfers, campers, and a quieter, more independent crowd.

Limenaria, a small village inland toward the south, centers on the Church of Agia Kyriaki and keeps a pace slower than either port, and nearby Lekani, a saltwater lake, adds an unusual stop for anyone exploring on foot or bike. Metochi, tucked on the slope between the two main villages, holds a small white church with views back over the island reached by a short, worthwhile climb, and the island's aromatic pine honey and green olives turn up in tavernas across Skala and Megalochori.

Agistri is reached only by ferry, with a high-speed crossing from Piraeus taking under an hour, and a short 10 to 15 minute hop connects it to Aegina for anyone wanting to pair the two islands or the uninhabited islet of Moni in between. It suits travelers who want an easy island escape built around beaches, pine forest, and a slower pace, and staying overnight lets Agistri settle into a quieter rhythm once the day's visitors head back to the mainland.