Angistri

Tucked in the Saronic Gulf barely ten minutes by boat from Aegina and about an hour from Piraeus, Agistri, also spelled Angistri, is a pine-covered island of just 13.37 square kilometers with a 2021 census population of only 1,131 residents. The name is popularly linked to the Greek word for hook, a nod to the legend that early settlers found the island so captivating they never left.

Three small settlements make up the island's community: Skala on the northeast coast holds most of the hotels and tourist facilities, Milos, also known as Megalochori, is where the bulk of the permanent population lives, and Limenaria on the southern side sees far fewer visitors and centers around its large domed church of Agia Kyriaki. In 2011, the island was formally recognized as a green island for its extensive pine forest and clean waters.

With sheltered natural harbors, warm swimming conditions from May through October, and a handful of relaxed beach tavernas at spots like Dragonera and Halikiada, Agistri is worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet in Greece and want a quiet counterpoint to busier islands nearby.