An Agistri boat trip is a day cruise or a private boat outing to Agistri, the small pine-covered island beside Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, sold from Athens with stops at Moni or Metopi and Aegina, or as a tour around the island itself. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the formats, the route from Athens, the stops on Agistri, Moni and Metopi, sailing yacht cruises, private boats, what is included, the season, who the trips suit and booking, with links into the Aegina pages. The cruises shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.
What is an Agistri boat trip?
An Agistri boat trip is a full day on the water that sails from Athens or Piraeus to the Saronic island of Agistri, adds a swimming stop beside a smaller islet and serves lunch on board.
Agistri lies in the Saronic Gulf, 22 nautical miles from Piraeus and 3.5 nautical miles from Aegina. The island covers 13.4 square kilometres, measures 5.5 kilometres from end to end and 3.5 kilometres across, and rises to 249 metres at Kontari. Pine forest covers about 80 per cent of the land. Its three settlements are Skala, the harbour, Megalochori, the main village, and Limenaria.
A cruise works differently from a crossing. A crossing moves passengers between two ports, while a boat trip turns the sea itself into the destination, with an anchorage, a bathing ladder, snorkelling masks and a kitchen on deck. A standard Agistri boat trip ties up at Skala for free time ashore, then anchors beside a smaller islet for a swim before the return leg to Attica. Guests who want time on land can read the Agistri day trip from Athens notes, which cover the beaches and the paths inland.
Which Agistri boat trip formats can you book?
The bookable Agistri boat trip formats run from a ten-hour three-island cruise with Moni and Aegina to a nine-hour Metopi swimming cruise, an Aponisos full-day cruise, a sailing yacht cruise from Piraeus and private boat tours from Skala.
The three-island cruise is the standard model. It sails from Marina Zeas in Piraeus, gives Agistri about ninety minutes ashore, anchors near Moni for a swim of up to one hour and finishes on Aegina, where the stop runs from ninety minutes to two hours. Lunch is served on board, in the middle of the day.
The Metopi version replaces Moni with Metopi, a flat islet one nautical mile north-east of the Skala channel. On that Agistri boat trip the emphasis sits on the water, with a live DJ on deck, beanbag seating, shower facilities and inflatable sea toys. The Aponisos full-day cruise anchors off the Aponisos islet instead, and the yachts depart Piraeus for a longer island programme.
Two further shapes complete the list. A sailing yacht cruise of about nine and a half hours leaves Marina Zeas on a wooden yacht with a crew at the sails. Private Agistri boat trips leave Skala on a rigid inflatable boat with a skipper, and the itinerary is agreed with the guests. Both private and group departures work with any Aegina boat trips plan built around the same gulf.
- Ten-hour three-island cruise with Agistri, Moni and Aegina
- Nine-hour swimming cruise with Agistri, Metopi and Aegina
- Full-day cruise that anchors at Aponisos
- Nine-and-a-half-hour sailing yacht cruise from Marina Zeas
- Private boat tour from Skala with a skipper
Which route does an Agistri boat trip from Athens follow?
An Agistri boat trip from Athens leaves Marina Zeas in Piraeus, sails west across the Saronic Gulf, calls first at Agistri, then anchors at Moni or Metopi and stops at Aegina before the run home.
Boarding happens at Marina Zeas, also called Pasalimani, on the Piraeus waterfront. Marina Zeas sits about two kilometres from the cruise terminals and roughly eleven kilometres from central Athens. One departure point lies near the port entrance at Akti Kountouriotou, and yachts line up by the Olympiakos tennis academy. Passengers arrive thirty minutes before a nine o’clock departure.
From the marina the boat turns south-west. Piraeus to Agistri takes about an hour on the water, and the Aegina channel adds ten minutes to the sailing when the route continues east. A standard order is Agistri first, the swim stop second and Aegina third, with the return to Zea around a quarter to seven in the evening. Travellers who arrive by the Athens to Aegina ferry can join the same cruises from the island side.
Sailing times between the islands are short. Agistri and Aegina sit 3.5 nautical miles apart, Metopi sits one nautical mile from the Skala channel, and Aegina, the largest of the Saronic islands, lies about seventeen miles from Athens. That compact geography keeps an Agistri boat trip on the water rather than on the move. A short hop such as the Aegina to Agistri crossing in the morning fits neatly before a cruise departure.
What does an Agistri boat trip show on Agistri?
An Agistri boat trip shows the island from the sea: the harbour at Skala, the coves of the west coast, and a swim stop at Aponisos or Dragonera before the boat turns for home in the afternoon.
Skala opens the visit. The harbour is the island’s main port, twenty minutes on foot from Megalochori along the coastal road, and boats tie up or anchor within sight of the waterfront. Free time ashore runs for about ninety minutes on the three-island cruises, which is enough for a walk along the quay and a look at the green hills above the town.
The swim stop follows. Aponisos is a small islet joined to the south-west coast by a footbridge, with two sheltered bays and a rocky, pine-backed shoreline. Dragonera, on the west coast about 2.5 kilometres south-west of Megalochori, offers shallow, calm water over pebbles. The captain of an Agistri boat trip picks the anchorage that suits the wind on the day.
From the deck the west coast unfolds in bays and inlets, with pine trees reaching the waterline. On the eastern side, Chalikiada sits roughly one kilometre south-east of Skala, a secluded cove beneath rock formations. The southern coast holds Mariza, and the channel past Aponisos leads to Dorousa, half a nautical mile offshore, where the chapel of Prophet Ilias stands on the top of the islet.
- Skala harbour and its long quay
- Aponisos islet and its two sheltered bays
- Dragonera’s pebble shore on the west coast
- Chalikiada on the quieter east coast
- Dorousa, half a nautical mile off Aponisos
- Pine-covered hills above the anchorages
What are Moni and Metopi on an Agistri boat trip?
Moni and Metopi are the small uninhabited islets used as the swimming stop on an Agistri boat trip, and the boat anchors close to one of them for forty-five minutes to an hour at midday.
Moni lies off Perdika at the south-west corner of Aegina, ten minutes by boat from the village. The Moni island nature reserve keeps free-roaming peacocks, deer and Cretan kri-kri goats among the pines. There are no hotels and no restaurants there, only a beach bar. Cruises anchor offshore for snorkelling, and on selected departures the boat stays in deep water without landing at all.
Metopi sits between Aegina and Agistri, one nautical mile from the Skala channel and 2.5 nautical miles south-west of the port of Aegina. The islet is almost flat, with a white sand beach on the south-east side and a small salt pond of red water at one end. Its only building is a chapel dedicated to the Saints Theodore, and sea turtles feed in the surrounding shallows.
Both stops work as pure water time. Snorkelling masks, life jackets and pool noodles come as part of the ticket, and the crew sets out a ladder or a platform for entry and exit. On a charter, the choice between Moni, Metopi and Aponisos is made on the day, based on wind and swell, so the calmest bay wins.
How does an Agistri boat trip on a sailing yacht work?
An Agistri boat trip on a sailing yacht runs for about nine and a half hours from Marina Zeas, with a professional crew at the sails, a Greek buffet and free time on two islands.
Boarding starts at 8.25 beside the Olympiakos tennis academy at Marina Zeas, and the yacht slips at nine. The welcome spread covers coffee, tea, juice and water with savoury and sweet bites. The sail to Agistri takes about two and a half hours, long enough to sit on deck, take the sun and watch the Piraeus waterfront shrink behind the stern.
Agistri gives ninety minutes of free time, which suits a walk from Skala towards Megalochori or a bicycle hired at the quay. The yacht then anchors at Moni for forty-five minutes of swimming and lunch. Aegina closes the day with a hundred minutes ashore for the pistachio market and the harbour front, before the sail back to Zea. A private Aegina yacht charter follows the same coastline with a smaller group.
A wooden yacht keeps the group compact and the pace quiet. A chef works the galley, the crew handles mooring and safety, and snorkelling gear is handed out before each swim. Bike rental on Agistri and a horse-drawn carriage ride on Aegina can be added once aboard, and the listed cruises are not suitable for wheelchair users.
What do private Agistri boat trips around the island include?
Private Agistri boat trips around the island include the boat, a skipper and a flexible route that can take in Aponisos, Dragonera, Dorousa, Moni and Metopi within one day on the water, timed to the group.
Private departures run from Skala on rigid inflatable boats that carry up to eight guests, with a skipper at the helm. Seven hours on the water is a usual block, and the departure time is set around the group. Small coves that lie out of reach of the larger cruise boats come into range, including the shallows off Chalikiada and the deep, rocky shores of Dorousa.
The route builds from the island outwards. A morning can start at Aponisos and Dorousa, continue to Moni or Metopi for snorkelling, and finish with a late swim at Dragonera. Longer charters reach Kyra, Poros and the Epidaurus coast. Guests who want to compare the wider gulf can look at Saronic islands tours before fixing a date.
Terms vary with the boat, so the practical approach is to agree the route, the number of stops and the food arrangement before departure. Snorkelling gear, cool boxes and towels travel with the skipper on request, and pick-up from the Skala jetty removes the walk. A private Agistri boat trip also suits groups that want the day to end on their own timetable rather than the cruise schedule.
- Boat and skipper for the full day
- Flexible departure time from Skala
- Swim stops at Aponisos and Dragonera
- Snorkelling gear and cool boxes on request
- Optional run to Kyra, Poros or Epidaurus
What is included on an Agistri boat trip?
What is included on an Agistri boat trip is a Greek buffet lunch, unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks, snorkelling equipment and life jackets, plus hotel transfers when that option is chosen at the time of booking.
Food comes first. The buffet covers Greek salads, feta, pita, fresh seasonal fruit and hot dishes, and chefs take vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free requests when told in advance. Boarding brings coffee, tea, juice and pastries; the return leg brings sliced fruit. The open bar pours house wine, beer, soft drinks, water and filter coffee through the day.
Water equipment travels with the boat. Snorkelling masks, life jackets and pool noodles are handed out before each swim stop, and inflatable sea toys appear on the swimming cruises. Sun decks, beanbag seating, shaded areas and shower facilities are on board, and one Agistri boat trip format carries a live DJ and free Wi-Fi for the whole sailing.
Three items stay outside the ticket. Towels, personal swimwear and sunscreen come from home, and rental extras such as a bicycle on Agistri or a horse-drawn carriage on Aegina are paid locally. Hotel pick-up is offered as an included or optional extra for addresses in central Athens, and group sizes on the listed vessels run from forty to forty-nine travellers.
- Greek buffet lunch with vegetarian and vegan options
- Unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks and water
- Welcome coffee, tea, juice and pastries
- Snorkelling mask, life jacket and pool noodle
- Sun decks, shaded seating and showers
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off on selected departures
Which months and sea conditions suit an Agistri boat trip?
An Agistri boat trip runs from mid-April until the end of October, when the sea is warm, the daylight is long and the Piraeus marinas keep daily departures. Late spring and September give the calmest crossings.
The season opens in mid-April and closes at the end of October. The footbridge to Aponisos opens in late spring and stays open until mid-October, from ten in the morning until eight in the evening. Moni is visited between April and October, and from the end of October the departures move an hour earlier as the clocks change.
Sea conditions decide the fine detail. Meltemi winds build through the afternoon in July and August, so morning departures reach the anchorages in flatter water. Captains alter the route when swell or wind demands it, and the order of the islands is rearranged so that the open-water legs stay comfortable for everyone on deck.
Bad weather is handled in two ways. If a cruise is cancelled for adverse conditions, guests receive either a new date or a full refund, and the swim stop is switched between Moni, Metopi and Aponisos to find shelter. Land weather and sea weather differ, so a still morning in Athens is no proof of a calm gulf.
Who suits an Agistri boat trip?
An Agistri boat trip suits families, non-swimmers and travellers who prefer to watch the coast from a deck chair, as well as confident swimmers who want long snorkelling stops. Life jackets and pool noodles are on board.
Families fit the format well. Life jackets come in child sizes, pool noodles keep weaker swimmers afloat, and the anchorages at Aponisos and Dragonera are shallow and sheltered. A ninety-minute island stop gives children a break from the boat, infants travel on laps on the larger vessels, and the Agistri boat trip timetable leaves room for a nap on the return leg.
Non-swimmers are not left behind. The swim stops are optional, and the deck, the shaded seating and the lunch service carry on while other guests are in the water. Entry and exit run from a ladder or a platform, with the crew at the rail and a life jacket on request. A snorkelling mask lets a cautious swimmer stay close to the hull.
Travellers with limited mobility need a check before booking. The listed cruises are marked as not wheelchair accessible, near public transport and stroller accessible. Boarding crosses a gangway and a step, crew members assist on request, and a private charter gives the scope to choose a boat with easier access and a slower pace.
- Families with children and infants
- Non-swimmers who want a day on deck
- Snorkellers and short-distance swimmers
- Groups of friends booking a private boat
- Travellers who want a guided full-day outing
How do you book and cancel an Agistri boat trip?
To book an Agistri boat trip, reserve online in advance, arrive at the marina thirty minutes before departure, and cancel at least twenty-four hours ahead to protect the full refund offered by the cruise operators.
Bookings are made online, with the date, the number of adults, the language for the live guide and the choice between transfer and no transfer. Reserve-now-pay-later terms hold the seat without payment on the day of booking. Departures load around nine in the morning and return near a quarter to seven in the evening, so a full day is set aside for the outing.
Cancellation terms are consistent across the listings. Free cancellation applies up to twenty-four hours before departure, and a refund follows a cancellation made inside that window. Late arrivals are not waited for and a no-show brings no refund, so the meeting point and the boarding time are worth checking the evening before an Agistri boat trip.
Hotel pick-up needs notice. Transfer details arrive by email the evening before the cruise, between seven and eight at night, with a pick-up point that can sit five to ten minutes on foot from the door. Guests who arrange their own travel reach Marina Zeas by taxi in about ten minutes from the Piraeus cruise terminals, which keeps an Agistri boat trip within reach of a shore day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an Agistri boat trip last?
A group Agistri boat trip lasts about ten hours from marina to marina, and the sailing yacht version runs for nine and a half hours. The swimming cruise with Metopi takes about nine hours. Agistri receives ninety minutes of free time, the swim stop between forty-five minutes and an hour, and Aegina between ninety minutes and two hours.
Is an Agistri boat trip suitable for children?
Children travel well on these cruises. Life jackets are carried in child sizes, infants sit on laps on the larger boats, and the anchorages at Aponisos and Dragonera are shallow and sheltered. The ninety-minute island stops break up the day, and the buffet includes options that suit younger guests. Strollers are welcome on board.
What do you need to bring on an Agistri boat trip?
Bring a hat, a towel, swimwear, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, since towels and personal swim items are not part of the ticket. A light layer helps on the morning sail and on the return leg in the evening. Snorkelling masks, life jackets and pool noodles are already on board, so the day needs little else.
Do you need to swim to enjoy an Agistri boat trip?
No. Swimming is optional at every stop. The deck, the shaded seating, the music and the lunch service continue while other guests are in the water, and life jackets are available from the crew. Snorkelling masks let a cautious swimmer stay close to the hull, and the islands themselves provide the view from the rail.