Agistri is located just 55 minutes from Piraeus and is, perhaps, the best choice for anyone who wants to vacation near Athens, combining them with his work or for the one who wants a day off in the summer.
It is a small earthly paradise of the Saronic Gulf, drowned in the green, with the pines “touching” its clear blue waters and is offered for wonderful summer vacations and for relaxed, relaxing weekends. It is the third island in Greece in proportion of green (80%). The general picture of the island is completely different from that of other islands that are flooded with mass tourism. In Agistri you will find lush pine forests, sandy beaches, clear blue waters, traditional color, quiet, serenity, but also intense nightlife for those who wish.
Vacations in Agistri mean diving in crystal clear waters, serenity and rest. Agistri is an ideal destination for a weekend excursion or a short vacation, as it offers many options for beaches, accommodation and food, but also the possibility for endless walks and nature walks.
It is not one of those islands where you can spend all your summer vacation (although there are many who do), but it is the ideal destination to escape for three days from the daily life of Athens. It is a small paradise that if you get to know it a little better and give it the opportunity it deserves, you will want to come back again and again. It is as if you are signing a closed contract with Agistri. He gives you its wonderful crystal clear waters and you leave a piece of your heart there in return.
The whole island has an area of only 14 square kilometers, so it is suitable for walking. In fact, if you have a relatively good physical condition and you are a fan of hiking, you can even turn it all by yourself. The distance from Megalochori to Skala on foot is about 15-20 minutes.
Agistri together with Aegina and the surrounding islands formed the Kingdom of Aegina of the mythical King Aiakos. According to Homer and Pliny, Agistri was called Kekryfalia, which means “adorned head” and appears as an ally of Aegina in the Trojan War.
The name “Agistri” was given to the island, because because of its natural beauty it fascinated travelers, many of whom “hooked” and stayed on the island forever. Other historians who mention the island in their books are Thucydides and Diodorus.
Activities
Agistri, apart from its beaches, the blue-blue sea, the romantic walks and the tranquility, offers you intense activities, as it perfectly combines the mountain and the sea, in order to make your vacation days unforgettable on the island with your friends or family. First of all, it is worth walking a very beautiful walk, about 15 minutes, from Megalochori to Skala or vice versa, on a well-designed pedestrian street with lights and a lot of people, by the sea, on a route of about 1.5 km ., especially at sunset.
It is also worth a night ride with the traditional carriages of the island, which start from Skala and take you to Megalochori and back to Skala. From Megalochori starts every day a sea taxi, which travels around the island, giving you the opportunity to admire the beaches and coves of Agistri. Agistri is suitable for mountain hiking, small or large, among the pines, thus knowing the exceptional flora of the island, in an untouched natural environment.
Sights
If you want something more lonely and calm, you can make a stop at the beaches of Magiza and Bariama, which are very close to the Aponisos and are not so crowded. At the steep beach of Halikiada you will go back in time. This beach was made famous by nudists who have always visited it. Even today they honor her, but you can if you want to take a bath, without throwing away your swimsuit.
You will enjoy swimming in the waters of Dragonera. It may not be the beach you are used to, it has a few rocks and it is a bit deep, but its waters are so clear that you will not want to go out with anything. If you are hungry or thirsty, there is a canteen for essentials.
In Agistri one thing is for sure, you will taste fresh fish and try several traditional recipes in taverns and taverns. There are also pizzerias that make Greek pizzas with local potatoes and garlic and are baked in a wood oven.
We suggest you try local oil, fresh fish, olives, musenta or musounta (a type of local herb pie), pumpkin pie or laklori and of course for sweet delicious donuts, Votsalaki (island macaroon), sweet spoonfuls. You should not miss the products that the island produces such as green olives (thrombus), pine honey, capers as they grow and aromatic herbs such as oregano, thyme, sage and chamomile.
They specialize in the cultivation of local wines with various varieties of grapes and tsipouro which is produced in a traditional rakokazano.