greek ANGISTRI, also called AGISTRI, is a small, pine covered island close to Aegina in the Argo Saronic Gulf that lies south from the Greek capital city of Athens. It has an area of about 13sq km, making it the smallest of the Saronic islands, with half of it farmland, citrus and olive orchards and the other half pine forest. It is very hilly for its small size.

greek Angistri is easily reached from the Athens port of Piraeus, lying just 22 nautical miles offshore and about four nautical miles to the south west of the island of Aegina. The island name literally translates as 'fishing hook'.

greek Angistri is a quiet backwater of an island, free of cars and nothing in the way of nightlife outside the few hotels. Many consider Angistri a little island paradise, with its charming tavernas and small stone-built houses dotted around the rocky shoreline and inland hamlets. The villages and hamlets are not considered particularly pretty, being plainly built and with little architectural interest.

greek Angistri has three main resorts. Two of them are ports, at Skala and the island capital of Milos. The other resort at Limenaria overlooks the sea but has no harbour as such. Skala is the more recently developed of the island's resorts and and this is where most of Angistri's visitors choose to stay.

greek Angistri is popular with weekending Athenians. The island is easily reached by boat and is much quieter than its neighbour Aegina. Apart from walking and lazing on its few beaches there is little to do here.

image

Award winning Argo Holidays has quality hotels and apartments throughout the Greek islands - including Athens
Argo Holidays
VISITORS RECOMMEND
Best eating
Toxotis

skala
Skala church and beach

Skala

SKALA is the island's main tourist centre despite it not actually being the capital. As it is the main port, it is where most visitors choose to stay. There is plenty of accommodation including some small hotels and a scattering of restaurants and bars around the beach, which lies to the north of the harbour. The dome of Agia Anargiri stands out among the resort's plain and uninteresting buildings.
The beach at Skala has fine, gently shelving sand and pebble and shallow waters. It's the only natural sand beach on the island though, so nowadays it can get rather crowded in the high season, especially when the day visitor boats arrive from Aegina and from Athens There are sun loungers and other tourist facilities such pedalos and a variety of water sports.

halikiada
Halikiada beach

Halikiada beach

South from the harbour at Skala is a small scenic path that leads past some modern tourist developments at SKILIRI, beyond the Agistri Club Hotel and a couple more restaurants, to the beach at HALKIADA. It takes about 20mins to walk there and the beach is noted for being the first naturist beach in Greece, despite strong objections from the church. It used to be a steep and relatively difficult scramble down to the beach, though a new path has been created, or you can walk around a rather precipitous headland for an easier drop to the beach.
Halikiada is Agistri's biggest bay and, thanks to the strong Saronic current, its waters are turquoise clear and clean. The beach is mostly pebble and rock but the clear makes up for any lack of sand. There are no facilities and camping, though technically illegal, is fairly common. It also has a cave that is usually lived in during the summer months. Swimmers should beware of sea urchins on the rocks at either end of the beach, though footwear is a must anyway on the stone beach.

VISITORS RECOMMEND
Best eating
Parnassos

milos
Milos

Milos

The only road out of Skala takes you north along the coast to the island capital and second port at MILOS or MYLOS, also called MEGALOCHORI. The road is lined with restaurants, rooms to let, small isolated shingle and rock beaches and the occasional long, flat stretch of stone.
Inland is the hill of METOCHI with a small chapel on top, some splendid views over the island, and a cooling breeze.
A walk to Milos from Skala takes about 30mins. It is a quiet village of stone built houses sitting on a steep hill above the small harbour and a tiny, man made beach. There is a small selection of basic tavernas and a few shops and traditional kafenion
West of the village are paths into the pine covered hillside with a sign off the paved road pointing south to DRAGONERA beach. It is a north facing beach and a favourite spot for campers. There is a small beach taverna that opens in the summer.

limenaria
Limenaria

apiossos
Apiossos beach and causeway

Limenaria

The paved road runs south from Milos across the island to LIMENARIA, founded in the 17th century and noted for the golden dome that adorns the church of Agia Kriaki. It is a small village surrounded by olive groves. Not many tourists stay here for long and the village is about as traditional Greek as you can get so near to Athens. There is a shop that doubles as a taverna selling local craftwork and an ancient olive mill in the central square.
There is no beach in Limenaria as such but a sign which says 'to the beach' takes you to a concrete platform built out over a sheer drop to the sea, suitable for sunbathing. It is very inviting to dive off the platform as the water is deep here. But strong sea currents make diving and swimming safe only for strong and experienced swimmers. It is also much easier to get in than out. It is a steep climb back up and climbers can expect plenty of cuts and scratches from the sharp rocks.
East out of the village and about 1km away, just past the tiny chapel of Agios Nikolas, is a substantial salt lake from which Limenaria gets its name. It is often just a dry salt pan in the summer, shimmering in the heat. But between autumn and spring it is a blue salt water lagoon, fed from the sea, and suitable for paddling and swimming. There is a small taverna nearby.
A couple of rocky beaches can be found to the north of the lake in nearby remote and secluded coves at MARGHISA (or MAGHISA) and BIARAMA. Most visitors though head south of the salt lake to for the small but attractive shingle beach at APIOSSOS (or APONISSOS) with the tiny picturesque islet of just offshore and reached by a narrow rocky causeway. There is a small taverna here in the summer that serves fresh fish. Beyond Apiossos is the larger, uninhabited islet of DOROUSSA.

Angistri map

map of angistri

Angistri forecast weather
Latest forecast

In the sheltered Argo Saronic gulf Aegina enjoys the same climate as Athens but without the smog. Winters are relatively dry and summers cloudless from June to August. May and September have a higher chance of rain.

Angistri weather

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC  
6 6 8 11 15 19 22 22 19 15 11 8 Avg min °C
12 12 15 18 23 28 31 31 28 22 17 14 Avg max °C
0 0 1 6 24 30 31 31 30 24 6 0 70°+ days

Angistri facts

Advert

The beautiful Greek Islands are renowned for their spectacular scenery, magnificent mountainous backdrops, stunning sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Holidays to the Greek Islands are often most cherished for this combination of sunshine, warm waters and beaches set against truly wonderful scenery. Whether it is a traditional beach holiday you would like or something with a little more history, you'll find that a break away to the Greek Islands is just the answer!

Angistri sailing

There are regular ferries and cats from Piraeus on the mainland, most via Aegina but some making direct crossings. The proximity to Athens makes Angistri a favourite weekend retreat or day out for Athenians. The nearest airport is Athens International and the E96 airport bus goes to the port of Piraeus every 15 mins. From Piraeus there are boats to Aegina and then a short ferry crossing to Angistri. A few ferries go from Piraeus directly. There is a catamaran owned by the island that goes to Angistri with a short stop in Aegina.

There are day cruises from Skala to the neighbouring islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra throughout the summer. There is a 24 hour water taxi service between Angistri and Aegina as well as a regular ferry service during the day and evening. There are also boats to hire in Skala and Molos to visit many of the more remote coves. you can also catch regular ferries and water taxis from Angistri to the Peloponnese mainland. In high season, a a ferry service goes to Ancient Epidavros each evening for the summer arts festival held at the ancient amphitheatre.

Angistri driving

Well actually there isn't any, there being no cars on the island and a single small bus that takes the island's only road linking the three resorts of Skala, Milos and Limenaria. There is no discernable timetable for the bus and services are erratic. But you can walk from one end of the island to the other in about two hours, so you can hardly get stranded.

Angistri reviews

If you want your comments on Angistri added to the site please email me

Angistri photo galleries

Photos of Angistri Going to Angistri this year? If you would like your photo gallery here then email details. It takes 10 photos to make a gallery..

For examples see photo galleries for Skiathos and Corfu

Angistri websites

A personal pick of websites on Angistri

Oasis Scala Beach Hotel : Perfect location on the sandy beach of Scala on Agistri Greece

If you want your site considered email me

Home | Reviews | Contact
© Copyright 2001 - 2008 Greek Island Postcards  Greek island  www.greekisland.co.uk - All rights reserved.

Tourist holiday travel guide to the Greek island of Angistri

greek islandgreek island