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Agios Efstratios a small triangular shaped Greek island on the edge of the northern part of the Aegean Sea. It's the first green island of Greece, and is marked from the modern political history of the country as a place of exile. Agios Efstratios is often referred to as Ai Stratis, especially by the locals. The island was named after the monk who lived there in exile during the 19th century. It is also a volcanic island, giving you the opportunity to explore rare geological formations, pristine shores and oak forests. You will find a land completely untouched by mass tourism, as Agios Efstratios today has a population of only 300 inhabitants! These locals almost exclusively deal with fishing. Due to its small size, there is only one village on the island, also called Agios Efstratios, which still retains its old Mediterranean charm, even though most of the houses on the island were destroyed in the earthquake of 1968. This sole hamlet of the island lies in a lush green valley which has been formed by two dried riverbeds. This valley used to be beautiful fruit gardens of the locals until the devastating earthquake.
Things to do in Agios Efstratios
Agios Efstratios is an island where you can escape from the world and completely unwind, relax and throw all your worries away. It's a land of extreme beauty, peace and serenity. On your first day, it's best to just put on a pair of good footwear and set off exploring the island. You will discover a tiny village of stone houses and narrow alleys surrounding the bay. The colourful local fishing boats also moor here and on first impressions, you will feel that you have found a little piece of Greek paradise. The 1968 earthquake wiped out a lot of the island's buildings, however some of the more traditional buildings have been restored including the 1909 Maraslios Building that was once the island’s primary school. Agios Efstratios is now the Museum of Democracy and houses artefacts relating to the lives of the exiles once living there. Only a few tourist facilities are available with a handful of rooms to rent, some traditional coffee shops, and taverns serving fresh lobster, shellfish, and crab.
Beach lovers are in for a treat! Despite its small size, Agios Efstratios has many sandy beaches. Most of the beaches (besides Alonitsi and Neraki) are found at the west side of the island. As you would expect, the beaches are absolutely pristine, with emerald waters and fine volcanic sand. Almost none of them have trees for shade or umbrellas, so make sure you bring your own umbrella. However, you could escape the sun under the tranquil coves formed by the elements that create wonderful havens for swimmers and sun worshippers. Some beaches can only be reached by boat, and the locals are happy to take you there for a small charge. Arrange a trip to the nearby rocky outlets of Dodeka Apostoloi, Daskalio, and Velia and explore the sea caves around the entire island.
Eating Out in Agios Efstratios
As you may have already guessed, because the island is so tiny, there isn't going to be an extremely wide variety of dining out options. However, the island's freshly caught seafood, traditional cuisines made from organic ingredients, meals cooked with love, homely atmospheres - all may outdo your dining experiences in other lavish places.
Agios Efstratios has a cuisine based on sea food, such as petrobarbouna (a type of mullet but much tastier), crabs stuffed with rice, limpets with rice and lobster with rice (instead of spaghetti). If you are not a fish fan, then you can tuck into the succulent local meat, flomaria (a form of traditional noodles) and trachana. The island is famous for its home grown broad beans which you must try as they are absolutely delicious! It's also famous for its local cheese, which unfortunately is produced in very small quantities. So keep your eyes peeled for this precious cheese and make sure to tuck in as soon as you get the chance!
Transport in Agios Efstratios
There are many ferry routes that you can take from mainland Greece to Agios Efstratios. There are frequent ferry connections from the port of Lavrio in Athens - a direct ferry will take you over in ten hours. The best route to the island, would be a ferry from Athens to Limnos, then sail from Limnos to Agios Efstratios. Another option is from the island of Chios, for an 8-hour crossing. Have a browse on Ferryscanner to easily compare prices and book the cheapest ferry tickets.
Such a tiny island doesn’t need an airport, but you can fly from Athens International Airport to Limnos International Airport and catch a ferry from there. During the summer months, there are several regular flights from Athens to Limnos, which take about 55 minutes.
There is only one port on the island of Agios Efstratios, which is also the main settlement. When you arrive at Agios Efstratios, you'll find that there isn't any public transport on this tiny island. The best way to get around is on foot or by bike, which you can easily do by following a dirt road network of 50km. You'll enjoy the journey, passing picturesque chapels and moving through extraordinary scenery with sweeping sea views. The road is also suitable for 4×4 cars although there are no car rental companies on the island, so you would have to rent one from nearby Limnos and bring it with you. Although there isn't a taxi service on the island, there is a petrol station! So have no fear, bring your car along you won't be left dry on the island!