Agathonisi is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese, a short distance south of Samos. Megalo Chorio tells the story of a settlement built out of sight from the sea to protect it from pirates; at Kastraki lie traces of an ancient harbour and a fortified settlement. The island is also surrounded by rocky islets and home to rare bird species, and offers opportunities to circumnavigate it by boat. Cultural history and nature are different facets of the same destination here.
Islets, Landscape and Birdlife
Agathonisi is surrounded by six rocky islets. Glaros, Kouneli, Nera and Psathonisi, around the island, are designated areas of outstanding natural beauty. Access to some islets may be restricted. The island’s Natura status also forms part of a wider geographical context: together with nearby islands, Agathonisi is part of the Natura network. Check current boundary and management information with the relevant authorities.
The island is also an important habitat for rare bird species. Sightings vary by season, so if birds are a factor in planning your trip, the season is one of the things to consider. The landscape offers a different focus from the archaeological sites: rather than a single excavation site, the emphasis is on the island and its surroundings as a whole.
Megalo Chorio and Archaeological Sites
Megalo Chorio is the largest and oldest settlement on Agathonisi and is designated a traditional settlement. It was laid out so that it could not be seen from the sea, to protect its inhabitants from pirate raids. This link between the settlement’s layout and the need for protection gives the history of the place a tangible dimension: its location was part of the original design, not merely a description of the island.
Another archaeological site is Kastraki in the north of Agathonisi, northeast of Megalo Chorio, near Maistros at the present-day Gulf of Agios Georgios. Excavations there uncovered an ancient Hellenistic harbour and the fortified settlement of ancient Tragaia. In antiquity, the natural gulf at Kastraki served as a naval base for Miletus. Finds from the excavations also include 10,000 fragments of clay beehives. Together, these discoveries offer different insights into the site, from its harbour and fortifications to objects from everyday life at the time.
Tholoi is a designated archaeological site on Agathonisi. The Chapel of Saint Nicholas is located in the Tholoi area. Other religious buildings are associated with different locations: near the harbour of Agios Georgios stands a double church dedicated to Saint George and Nektarios. Megalo Chorio is home to the Church of Zoodochos Pigi and the Church of Saint John the Theologian. The Chapel of the Transfiguration of the Saviour stands on the road to Katholiko.
Plan Your Boat Trip and Journey
Agathonisi is well suited to a circumnavigation by boat. There are sheltered anchorages outside the harbour of Agios Georgios; whether an anchorage is suitable depends on the weather and maritime conditions. If you are considering a boat trip around the island, factor these conditions into your plans rather than basing your stay around a fixed anchorage.
For ferry travel, Agathonisi can be reached via Samos, mainly from Pythagoreio, as well as from Piraeus. The island has a daily, year-round connection to Piraeus; local services also connect it with Samos and Kalymnos. There are also regular transport connections with Rhodes, Kos, Leros, Lipsi and Patmos. Ships on routes from the Cyclades, the Dodecanese and Crete call at the harbour of Agios Georgios. Routes and timetables may change, so check connections before travelling. Agathonisi also has a modern helipad in operation; its use may be subject to operational restrictions.
Discover more destinations: Leros, Grikos, Emporios, Vlychadia, Panormos, Patmos, Gourna, Agia Marina.
Return to the main travel overview: Kalymnos.
