As the summer holiday season approaches, tourists are once again setting their sights on which Greek island they will head to next. You can be sure that most will settle on some of the country’s most well-known - Santorini, Mykonos or Corfu, for example. 

However, there are plenty of lesser-known gems that offer all the beauty that these hotspots do, but without the same huge numbers of tourists crawling around. This tiny pine-clad island, home to pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, may just be the perfect choice. It lies in the Saronic Gulf, not too far from Athens, making it a popular destination for a weekend getaway from the capital. It may be small, but it really packs a punch. 

Agistri, “fishing hook” in English, is a small populated island, close to its neighbours of Aegina and Poros. Occupying an area of just over five square miles, there are only three settlements - Milos (Megalochori), Skala and Limenaria. Most of the population lives in Milos, while Skala is where most of the tourist facilities and hotels are located. 

Agistri is a pine-covered island and in 2011 it was recognised as a “green island” by the Prefecture of Piraeus and the National Technical University of Athens. It is home to a wide variety of plans including wild cyclamen, thyme, caper bushes and thistles, while the centre is covered in pine forest. 

The rocky eastern coast, meanwhile, is used as a breeding place for swifts, making it a bird lovers’ paradise. There is also a noteworthy population of peafowls, originally introduced but have since become feral. 

Myth has it that the island’s name, “hook”, is owed to travellers who reached its shores and were captured by, “hooked” on its beauty, and inevitably decided to stay permanently.

The island boasts some incredible beaches, particularly Aponissos and Dragonera on the western coast, the beaches of Megalochori and Skala in the north, Mariza in the south and Skliri and Halikiada in the east.

For those craving a bit more adventure, Agistri is also a popular destination for outdoor sports, including hiking, cycling, kayaking, and horse riding. 

Megalochori is also renowned for its windmills that operated during the 1960s. Only one remains today, a hotel called Milos, in the village. Here you can stroll through narrow paved streets, bordered by traditional stone houses and courtyards filled with flowers. Megalohori is connected to Skala by bus but if you’d prefer to experience the scenery on foot, the walk is only 15-20 minutes. 

Aromatics and herbs, capers, olive oil, almonds and figs are just some of the products you will find in the tavernas and shops of Agistri. Traditional treats include amygdalota (almond-based sweets), galaktoboureko (syrup-soaked filo pastry with a custard filling) and tiganites and diples (fried dough, dripping in honey). Fish tavernas, meanwhile, serve seafood straight from the Saronic Gulf.

Agistri can be reached from Aegina by a number of boats in just 10 minutes - via the Agistri Express or a number of small “water taxis”. It is also just an hour’s boat ride from Piraeus port on the mainland.