Agistri and Aegina Island Cruise with Swim Stop and Meals from Athens

Agistri – the green island of the Saronic Gulf

Agistri is the smallest inhabited island of the Saronic Gulf, only a few kilometres west of Aegina, and its hills are covered almost to the shore with Aleppo pines. The scent of pine, the quiet villages of Skala and Megalochori and the clear water make it feel far more remote than its distance from Athens suggests.

On this Agistri day trip from Athens you have about an hour and a half of free time. You can swim at the sandy beach near the harbour at Skala, walk the coastal path to a pebble cove, or sit at a seaside café. Bikes can be rented if you want to see more of the island in a short time, at your own cost. Is Agistri worth visiting? For lovers of calm water and greenery, it is one of the most beautiful islands close to Athens.

Moni and Metopi – swimming in turquoise water

Depending on the wind, the yacht anchors at Moni or Metopi for the swim stop. Moni is an uninhabited, pine-covered islet off Aegina, with a quiet bay of startlingly clear water; peacocks and wild goats often wander down to the shore. Metopi is a tiny rocky islet between Aegina and Agistri, surrounded by shallow turquoise channels that are perfect for snorkelling.

The crew provides snorkelling masks and pool noodles, and the stop lasts about 45 minutes. You can jump from the yacht or use the ladder, and the sandy and rocky seabed makes it easy to spot small fish. It is one of the best parts of the day for families, as the water here is usually calm.

Aegina town – pistachios, harbour and history

Aegina is the largest island of the Saronic Gulf and, for a short time in 1828 and 1829, it was the first capital of modern Greece. Its harbour town is lined with neoclassical houses, cafés and the white chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the waterfront, while the covered fish market and the stalls along the quay give it a lively everyday feel.

The island is famous for its pistachios, grown in orchards all over its interior, and you can buy them roasted, salted or in sweets. During about an hour and a half of free time you can stroll the harbour, visit the market or take a horse-drawn carriage ride, which is extra. The ancient Temple of Aphaia lies in the island's interior and is not part of this cruise.

Sailing the Saronic Gulf from Marina Zeas

Marina Zeas is a historic circular harbour in Piraeus, once a base for the ancient Athenian fleet, and today the starting point for many day cruises. A van brings you from central Athens in about 30 minutes, and after a short safety briefing the yacht sails south-west for about two hours to Agistri, with coffee and pastries on board.

The Saronic Gulf is sheltered by the Peloponnese and is generally calmer than the open Aegean, but the captain may adjust the route in windy weather, and the cruise is cancelled if conditions are unsafe. The best time for this Aegina boat trip from Athens is May to October, when the sea is warm enough to swim; June and September are especially pleasant.

Life on board – lunch, drinks and comfort

The wooden yacht has an upper deck with sun loungers and a shaded lower deck, so you can choose sun or shade throughout the day. A full Greek buffet lunch is served on board, with dishes such as tzatziki, stuffed vine leaves, salads and warm main courses, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. Halal meat cannot be guaranteed, so let us know your dietary needs and we will pass them on.

Water, soft drinks, coffee and tea are unlimited, and there is Wi-Fi on board. The multilingual crew looks after safety and comfort, and the return sail of about two hours, as the light softens over the gulf, is a relaxed end to a long day at sea.