At a glance: Northeastern Amorgos, the island’s second port, around 25 kilometres by road from Katapola and 15 kilometres from Chora. A relatively young fishing village built directly on the water, with a long sandy beach and hillside villages rising above the bay. Best suited to travellers who want an easy beach base, less cosmopolitan than the busier side of the island, with good hiking straight from the village.

Is Aegiali worth visiting

Aegiali has a different feel from Katapola and Chora, and its newer history explains why. Unlike the older inland villages built to hide from pirate raids, Aegiali sits right on its bay, developed only once that fear had passed, and it grew into a genuine tourist destination through the 1960s and 70s, popular in particular with travellers who preferred a quieter, less cosmopolitan base and free camping. Narrow alleys, stone arches and traditional tavernas make up the village itself, with a long sandy beach running from its edge and hiking trails leading straight out into the hills. It suits travellers who want an easy, relaxed beach stay, with the hillside villages of Tholaria, Lagada and Potamos all within reach above the bay.

Highlights

The long sandy beach running from the edge of the village, one of the most popular on the island
Narrow alleys and stone arches through the old fishing village core
Numerous hiking trails starting directly from Aegiali, leading up into the hills around Mount Krikelos
The hillside villages of Tholaria, Lagada and Potamos, built amphitheatrically above the bay
A relaxed, less cosmopolitan atmosphere compared with Katapola and Chora

A young village built without fear of the sea

Most of Amorgos’s older settlements were deliberately built inland and out of sight, a defensive response to centuries of pirate raids that made living directly on the coast too dangerous. Aegiali broke that pattern, growing as the seaport serving the older inland village of Potamos and only really coming into its own once that threat had faded. Archaeological evidence points to habitation here since ancient times, but the village as it exists today is genuinely the newest significant settlement on Amorgos, developing its tourist infrastructure from the 1960s onward and building a reputation among travellers looking for something quieter than the island’s main port at Katapola.

Where Aegiali is

Getting to Aegiali

From Katapola: Aegiali is about 25 kilometres away by road, around 25 minutes by car, or reachable directly by ferry between the island’s two ports.

From Chora: Around 15 kilometres away, roughly 20 minutes by car.

By bus: Bus services connect Chora to Aegiali. Check current routes and times, and see getting around Amorgos and Amorgos taxi for prices and booking details, or the Amorgos bus timetable for scheduled services.

Arriving on Amorgos: For ferry routes and journey times to the island, start with how to get to Amorgos.

Where to eat

Aegiali has a good choice of traditional tavernas around the port, serving fresh, simple Greek food, alongside bakeries and pastry shops in the village itself. A short drive or walk up to the hillside village of Tholaria adds a family run taverna using mostly homegrown produce, worth the trip for a change of scenery.

Where to stay

Aegiali suits travellers who want an easy beach base with a relaxed, less cosmopolitan atmosphere, and a good spread of hotels and rooms close to the sand. For a private villa with a pool elsewhere on Amorgos, see Amorgos villas with a private pool.

The beach at Aegiali

Aegiali’s long sandy beach runs directly from the edge of the village, one of the most popular and easily accessible beaches on Amorgos. See the Aegiali beach guide for the full picture.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn suit the hiking trails around Aegiali particularly well, with cooler temperatures for exploring the hills towards Tholaria and Lagada. In peak summer, Aegiali stays a touch quieter than Katapola and Chora, making it a good choice for travellers who want the beach without the busiest crowds.

Continue exploring Amorgos

See more of the island’s villages on the Amorgos villages guide, or head back to the Amorgos island guide for beaches, ferries and getting around.