Agistri or Angistri meaning "hook" in English.
Located 20 miles south of Athens. It is the smallest of the Sarconic Islands at only 8 square miles. Good job the population is only about 1000 or it would be overcrowded.
History
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In ancient times it formed part of the kingdom ... Read review
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Advantages: Sun, sand, relaxing and lots of refreshing Retsina Disadvantages: Wasps, Flying cockroaches and Horse Flies.
Agistri or Angistri meaning "hook" in English.
Located 20 miles south of Athens. It is the smallest of the Sarconic Islands at only 8 square miles. Good job the population is only about 1000 or it would be overcrowded.
History
********
In ancient times it formed part of the kingdom of Aegina under the rule of the mythical King Aeakes.
In the 17th century the island was uninhabited due to the many ... ...to the island, but never increased much until the 1960s. Most locals made a living from Retsina made from pine resin, olive oil, figs, barley and fruit, But now tourism is the main money spinner for the island.
How to get there
******************
From the UK fly into Athens airport. It is new and modern, not like a lot of the airports in Greece. If you have time its worth a stop in Athens for a look around all the designer ... more
Agistri or Angistri meaning "hook" in English. Located 20 miles south of Athens. It is the smallest of the Sarconic Islands at only 8 square miles. Good job the population is only about 1000 or it would be overcrowded.
History ******** In ancient times it formed part of the kingdom of Aegina under the rule of the mythical King Aeakes. In the 17th century the island was uninhabited due to the many pirate raids. Later in the 18th century people started returning to the island, but never increased much until the 1960s. Most locals made a living from Retsina made from pine resin, olive oil, figs, barley and fruit, But now tourism is the main money spinner for the island.
How to get there ****************** From the UK fly into Athens airport. It is new and modern, not like a lot of the airports in Greece. If you have time its worth a stop in Athens for a look around all the designer shops and all the posers in them, (you might even see a star). From here travel to Pireaus port for a ferry to Agistri. Ferry's take 2 hours and Catamarans 1 hour. I have traveled on both, and enjoyed the journey both times as the crossing is very scenic. First you stop off at Aegina before moving on to the port of Skala on Agistri. Which is not really a port more like a small concrete jetty for cars to get on and off the ferry.
Getting to your hotel ********************** Both times we have traveled with Kosmar Holidays so getting to our hotel has not been a problem as they have an arrangement with the taxi and the bus. Yes, that is one taxi and one bus. We stayed in Milos 2.5 kms from Skala so the taxi took only a couple of minutes to drop us and another couple off at our hotels. The luggage arrived 20 minutes later in a pickup truck. So if you are in independent traveller you might have to wait to get transport to your accommodation. So just chill with a Mythos or Retsina and get accustomed to the islands laid back way.
Resorts ********* Skala is the main tourist town (big village) and the busiest in a quiet way. Most of the bars are located in Skala. The beach is sandy and the sea is clear and shallow, very good for the kids. There was a lot of horse flies here but they only seem to bother you when you come out of the sea, think they like the salt and you get a nasty bite off them. Using an insect repellent with deet in will help stop them biting, but they will still pester you.
Milos is a small village where a lot of the locals live. It has a bakery and the bread, pastries and sweets are absolutely divine. With about 5 tavernas 2 bars one plays live music now and again. A couple of hotels and a few self catering apartments scattered around. This is about as laid back as you can get. The harbour is down a steep hill. Little fishing boats the Agistri Express ferry and 2 water taxis birth here. There is a beach but it is not as nice as Skala's.
Beachs ********* Skala Main beach and best beach with shallow waters.
Milos pebble and rocky in the water.
Halikadha is a nudist beach, never went there. Saw it from the cliff top, there is a way down but it is supposed to be quite hard. The best way is by boat. It's not for me so just kept walking.
Bay of Dragonera is very rocky but good for snorkeling.
Limenaria is a concrete platform. Great for diving into the warm crystal clear water. But it is difficult to get back out due to very steep metal ladder.
Aponises This is a beautiful bay very calm clear waters.
What to do ************ RELAXING. RELAXING. and more RELAXING.
If you do want to do more keen walkers could walk in the pine covered hills along tracks that lead to nowhere in particular, but the scenery is spectacular. If you are in Scala walk to Milos along the inland road or the coast road about 2.5km both are nice walks and will take a leisurely 20-30 minutes. If you are feeling more energetic from Milos to Limenaria is 6.5km, and the roads are up and down and twist one way then the other. All the beaches lead off this road. First time we used Bicycles but my wife found it very hard going. So the next time we hired a moped (cheaper than 2 Bicycles). We felt very safe as their is very little traffic on the road. You can travel on the Agistri Express that is owned by the locals across to Aegina. There is more shops, bars, tavernas and historic sites on this island. If you miss the last ferry back there is a water taxi service from Agistri that you can ring. They will come straight for you no matter what time day or night. Other boat trips take you to the Island of Poros and Hydra these are very relaxing and might give you another idea for a holiday in Greece. We saw dolphins, Turtles and Swordfish on our trip.
Churches *********** Scale has a large white doomed church near the sea front and is the first thing you see as you arrive to Skala. Milos has a smaller church that rings out its bells, when its time to pray. Limenaria has a gold doomed church. And dotted around the island are little white washed churches.
Tavernas ********** Most of the tavernas are in Skala only ate here a couple of times the food was good. Milos has a few tavernas all serve great food. The Hotel Windmill does a ham salad and a avocado salad with a dressing to die for. Near the harbour at the bottom of the steep hill in Milos is the best taverna. They don't have a menu. The owner comes over and sits with you and tells you what they have and if your not sure you can have a look in the kitchen at the food. The owner explained the reason was because everything was fresh so the menu changed on a daily basis. Metochi has one taverna great views of the island and Aegina. The food here is extremely cheap as the old lady works the money out in Greek Drachmas then converts them into Euros. Limenaria has two tavernas only had lunch in one but it was very nice the produce was fresh and cheap. It also sold hand made fabrics. At Aponises there is one taverna right on the water front. Salad and fish is very good here. Order plenty of bread so you can feed the fish while eating and drinking.
Drink ****** Greek house wine red or white is very cheap. Retsina the local produce is a required taste but i find it very refreshing. Mythos and Amstel the Greek beer is served everywhere, you can also get Heineken. Ouzo a Greek aniseed flavoured drink a bit like Pernod, be warned it goes down easy and gives you a thunderous hangover the next day.
Sunset ******** The sunset here is fantastic. Best place to see it from is the small village of Metochi set up on a hill overlooking Skala and Milos. There is one Taverna here were you can have a romantic meal while watching the sunset.
Conclusion ************* Would i go back again, Yessssss it is very small and you can do the whole island in a day on a moped. The flying cockroaches you only see occasionally, the wasps you get used to and they are mainly at Aponises. The worst were the horseflies but there was only a handful of people on the beach, so we had them all to ourselves. The food, drink, sun and sand is great. The local people make you feel welcome and are very friendly.
Advantages: Variety but less developed - more relaxed Disadvantages: Culture shock after other Cyclades amenities!
Sifnos is a relaxed Cycladic island with all the variety of the more famous islands, without the extensive development. It is a favourite of Matt at www.greektravel.com and he is a great resource for information if you plan to travel there.
I went in June before the July/August rush, but it is also good to visit in September or even October if the Indian Summer blesses you with good weather.
I travelled from Paros, and since my ferry was an hour ... ...to Serifos before reaching Sifnos)I had to listen HARD to hear when we got there (since Serifos sounds a lot like Sifnos when you are tired!)
I had reserved a room via Matt's website at the Kamari Hotel, but later moved to Aphrodite Hotel which was further away from the town 'centre*' and a hop,skip and jump to the beach!
* I use the term Town Centre loosely, as Sifnos town is very small and more like a village than a town. At first I admit I was ...
Reynarda 15.06.2003 (26.11.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Minor Islands (Greece)
Advantages: Calm, Peaceful Disadvantages: Not the holiday if you're after excitement,
...is one of the many minor islads surrounding Greece. I went there hoping for great weather, nice beaches and plenty to do - I was not disappointed.
The first thing that struck me about KOS was the magnificant weather that was present. During my stay for 2 weeks I hardly ever saw a cloud in the sky and I never, during the day, did not see the sun.
The beaches were magnificant. Pleasant, sunny, quiet, and the sea was crystal clear. Snorkaling was ... ...The tropical fish that can be seen there are magnificant to watch.
The night-life is pleasently quiet. With numerous restaurants to eat in you'll never fall short of a meal. Greek and English bars are a many too. In the KOS town centre they are scattered here there and everywhere.
If you're after a relaxing holiday, then KOS is definately the place to visit. ...
KingWaz 19.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Minor Islands (Greece)
Advantages: karamena is very small you can do the whole island in a couple of weeks Disadvantages: when i first went it was'nt to commercialised now it is very touristy
When i first went to Kardamena, Kos It was very quiet, well as quiet as it was going to be with a few hundred brits on the island anyway! That was in 2002 and i have been there every year since with the exception of this year ,The atmosphere is warm and friendly and in several places people have recognised me and my partner every time we have been back and that is just fantastic, and i have to say that if that isn't customer care then what is, if ... ...with open arms every year. If you go you must go to 'TASTEY CORNER' they are open 23 hours a day they close from 6-7 to clean but they offer a wide range of foods for every palet, this place is usually saved for after a few drinks,
however for fun and a friendly atmosphere there is the 'TWO JOHNNIE'S' bar on my first trip me and my friend fell out and she went home, i actually met my partner there and his holiday was over so, I was all alone and ...
lovechantelle 06.09.2005 (03.10.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Minor Islands (Greece)
Advantages: Beautiful, Nice Beaches, Food, Easy Accessible Disadvantages: Too many Beaches to choose from!!!
This beautiful island is north of Athens and can be accessible by ferry or plane. I used the ferry to get there which cost roughly £20 and then the plane on the way back which was roughly £20. It took over 4 hours to get by ferry but only half an hour on the plane!! Try to avoid going in early august time as this tends to be when all the greeks go on holiday so its hard to get anything booked.
I stayed in a flat with two bedrooms and a big kitchen ... ...per couple per night. This island is very greek which is its beauty and has no english restaurants etc and I dont think I saw one english person while I was there. The capital Plaka and the harbour Adamas is where you will find the majority of the restaurants, bars and shops. Price of food was reasonable and they had plenty of dishes with goat cheese! I went to a fish restaurant in Pollonia which was fantastic and good value for money!! Very different ...
Fragglerock18 06.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Minor Islands (Greece)
Advantages: beauty,romance,peace:Amorgos the perfect place Disadvantages: 10hours by ship,but,trust me,it is worth it
I have been to Greece several times.I love it and i believe it is one of the most beatiful countries in the world.I have been in most major cities(athens,thessalloniki,patra)and in many of the big islands(crete,myconos,serifos,etc).The best greek holidays i have ever had though,were the ones i spent in Amorgos,a small island in the aegean sea.
For Amorgos you must take the ship from athens.After ten hours you arrive at this beautiful island, most ... ...hasn't invaded the island yet.If you are looking for great nights out clubbing,this is not the right place for you.There is only one club in the whole island.There are though several romantic bars and traditional tavernas,where one can spend his evening.
The island is cheap, the accomodation of excellant standards.The locals very helpful and friendly. Long sand beaches,blue crystal waters.Amazing sunsets,wonderful scenery. The perfect place to be ...
manosst 18.06.2001 (03.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Minor Islands (Greece)
