Aegina and Agistri - Greek islands

If you want the Greek islands where the Greeks go for their holidays, these two islands are for you!

An hour's hydrofoil or ferry ride from Athens, it felt like I'd landed somewhere wonderfully relaxed and in total contrast to the capital I'd left an hour earlier.

Still relatively uncommercial, during the day Agistri offers laid back beach life with shallow sandy beaches safe for children. We hired a boat and were sailed around the island by a full of character ex-pat, Robert! It included a brilliant swim stop for snorkelling and a fabulous lunch stop at the south of the island where we sat overlooking other tiny islets in the bay dotted with moored up boats. Wonderful!

By night, the restaurant life brings everyone out for a stroll along the seafront down to the quayside to eat the fresh octopus that has been drying out in the sun all day. Barbequed on the grill, this is a local speciality of the island, and absolutely mouth watering.

Aegina Town is a short ferry ride across the water, and a touch busier. The shopping here is better with some great local art galleries.

TIP: On your return to Athens allow some extra time to see the capital.