The Beaches of Agistri
Agistri's beaches run from the string of sandy Skala beaches along the north coast to pebbly Dragonera, sandy Aponissos in the south-west and the naturist cove of Chalikiada in the rocky south-east. The island is barely 12 square kilometres and covered in pine, so most of its beaches sit in green coves a short bus ride, walk or caique from Skala. The north coast is gentle and safe for children; the south and west are wilder, quieter and, at Chalikiada, clothing-optional.
- North coast
- Skala beaches
- Best pebble cove
- Dragonera
- South-west sand
- Aponissos
- Naturist
- Chalikiada
The Skala and Megalochori beaches
The north coast holds the island's easy, family beaches. The Skala beaches stretch from Skala village along the coast towards Myloi, a collection of several beaches — some pebble, the main ones sand — with gentle waves that are safe for children and facilities and tavernas on the larger sands; on the other side of Skala lie more small pebble coves. Around Megalochori (Myloi) in the north-east are further pebble and sand beaches, some with sunbeds, tavernas and hotels, the best of them Xekofti Beach. Megalochori itself stays a quiet, traditional settlement of white stone houses 2.5 kilometres from Skala, connected to it by the island bus and the minitrain.
Dragonera and Chalikiada
The south of the island keeps its two most distinctive beaches. Dragonera is a pebble beach in a large cove off the road between Myloi and Limenaria, about 4 kilometres from Skala, with a taverna, sunbeds and relaxing music, surrounded by pine-covered mountains and looking out on a small uninhabited islet; you reach it by bus and a short walk, by taxi or on foot. Chalikiada, the naturist beach, lies in a rocky cove on the south-east side below the dramatic Skliri coast, reached by a short swim from a nearby inlet or a steep path down. It has no sunbeds, umbrellas or tavernas, so you bring your own water and food and swim off the pebbles into clear, deep water.
Aponissos and the west coast
The west coast is the wildest and least developed. Aponissos is a small sandy beach in the south-west, set in beautiful surroundings and a favourite of yacht owners, with a small lake just behind it and, in high season, a single taverna for food and water — out of season it is wise to bring your own. There are no sunbeds for hire. You reach Aponissos by water taxi when one runs, or by taking the bus to the inland village of Limenaria and walking down to the west coast; the quiet cove of Mariza, a jumping platform rather than a beach, lies in another small inlet near Limenaria where the sea runs rougher.
Getting to the beaches
Almost every beach on Agistri is reached from Skala, where the ferries from Piraeus dock. One bus runs the length of the island to Megalochori and Limenaria, a minitrain loops from Skala to Myloi, the single island taxi will run you to Dragonera, and caiques and water taxis reach the coves; you can also walk from one side of the island to the other in about two hours through the pines. Choose the north-coast Skala and Myloi beaches for easy, family swimming with facilities, and Dragonera, Chalikiada or Aponissos for a wilder, quieter day. Where to stay near the sand is set out in the Agistri hotels & villas guide.
