Agathonisi is a tiny island in the Dodecanese cluster located only 8 nautical miles from the Asia Minor coastline. It covers an area of only 13.5 square km and a coastline of 32 km. Agathonisi translates from the Greek word “agathos”, which means good in Greek, declaring the kind character of its inhabitants.

You cannot miss the chance to cruise to Agathonisi on a private sailboat. It is easily accessible from Patmos, which is 36 nautical miles away from the island. Upon arriving at Agathonisi, you will find no cars or buses. You may stop to visit the 3 villages known as Agios Georgios, Megalo Chorio, and Mikro Chorio. All three villages amount to a total of 150 inhabitants and have little white-washed houses that give them a unique character. There are several churches hosting interesting religious festivals throughout the year, too. People still celebrate a ritual called “Klidonas”, where contestants burn their sins by jumping into a fire. Moreover, there are events with typical music, dances, and food where fresh fish, tasty fava, and local wine deserve to be tasted. 

Resuming your sailing trip in Agathonisi, you will explore several bays and beaches in complete freedom. The large bay of Agios Georgios is on the south side of the island, at the far end of the port. You can sail out of the large bay and into the small beach of Amoudi and the beach of Balos. Both beaches are quite open and allow you to anchor there and stay offshore for several hours. You may even spend an overnight on the boat and explore new beaches the next day. Poros beach is in the southeastern part of the island and is the only beach with fine golden sand. The small village of Catholico and the sheltered bay of Neronisi are a secluded paradise of the Aegean. We recommend booking a vessel with a skipper on board to end an amazing circumnavigation of the island.

Overall, the jagged coasts of Agathonisi hide bays and coves that will leave you breathless. That is why it is one of the best Dodecanese islands to visit. Some of the islands scattered around include Prasso, Strogyli, Pita, Katsagani, and Kouneli. Other nearby islands you may enjoy a sailing trip to are Arki, 10 miles away, Lipsi, 15 miles away, Samos, 15 miles away, and Fourni, 25 miles away.