Agistri

Agistri (also spelled Angistri) is a small island in the Saronic Gulf, part of the Attica region, lying about 10 minutes by boat from its much larger neighbour, Aegina, and roughly an hour by ferry from Piraeus. The island covers just 13.37 square kilometres and, according to the 2021 census, has a permanent population of 1,131 people.

The island's name is generally explained as deriving from the Greek word for a fishing hook, a nod to its shape. Its present-day population traces largely back to Arvanite settlers who arrived from the late 17th century onward, and their descendants still make up much of the community today. Agistri is its own municipality, with three main settlements: Milos (also called Megalochori), the island's largest village and administrative centre; Skala, a short walk away and the main hub for visitor accommodation; and the smaller, quieter Limenaria on the opposite side of the island.

Tourism and agriculture form the backbone of the local economy, and in 2011 Agistri was formally recognised as a "green island" by Greek authorities in acknowledgment of its environmental initiatives. Its small size and short hop from Aegina make it an easy addition to a wider itinerary through the Saronic Gulf, and the island is worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet in Greece looking to island-hop between Athens and the Peloponnese.