Makronisos
Makronisos is a long, narrow, barren island just off Lavrio at the tip of Attica, 18 square kilometres of arid rock aligned parallel to the mainland, visible from the ferry to Kea. It is uninhabited today, with no trees and little water, just low scrub, goat paths, and a coastline of small rocky coves, but its strategic position at the entrance to the Aegean made it historically important.
Makronisos is infamous in modern Greek history as the site of the civil-war prison camps and military exile islands from 1947 to the 1970s, where thousands of leftists and soldiers were held and “re-educated” in harsh conditions. The ruined barracks, churches built by prisoners and the so-called Anti-Communist universities still stand, now a protected monument and painful place of memory — a stark, haunted island that is less a holiday destination than a symbol of Greece’s divided 20th century.
The long, empty island that remembers
Makronisos is a long, narrow island in the Aegean, 13 kilometres north to south and only 2.5 at its widest, lying directly opposite Lavrio port just 60 kilometres from Athens. Its name means Long Island and its terrain is arid and rocky. It is the largest uninhabited Greek island today.
From the 1920s to the 1970s it was used as a place of exile and as a political prison, most notoriously during the Civil War from 1946 to 1949. In February 1947 a camp was set up here to “reform” left-wing citizens, conscripts and officers — thousands lived, were tortured and some were killed on its slopes. Prisoners were forced to build replicas of ancient theatres and even a small Parthenon from the island’s stone. Earlier, during the Balkan Wars and the population exchange, it had served as a quarantine island. The Kea Channel between Makronisos and Kea is also where HMHS Britannic, sister ship of the Titanic, struck a mine and sank in 1916, now lying at 120 metres depth.
This is not a holiday island. It is for you if you want to understand modern Greek history up close, with complete silence and no facilities. It is not for swimming holidays, beach bars or casual day-tripping.
How to get there & around
There are no scheduled ferries and no airport; Makronisos can only be approached by private boat in settled weather from Lavrio or from Kea. Most people reach it on a private charter that combines Cape Sounio, Makronisos and Kea in a single day, departing from Olympic Marine in Lavrio. The island is uninhabited and undeveloped, with no roads, water or shade, so you need to bring everything with you and arrange your return. Access is generally via the west coast coves, and visits are usually brief and guided due to the protected historical ruins and the harsh, exposed landscape.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makronisos | Makronisos lit Long Island island Aegean notorious site political prison 1920s to 1970s elongated shape 13km north south 2.5km east west terrain arid rocky largest uninhabited Greek island Kea Channel site sinking 1916 HMHS Britannic sister ship Titanic
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kea_Channel | Kea Channel passage between islands Kea and Makronisos just off Cape Sounion Attica location wreck HMHS Britannic sunk 21 November 1916
- https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/the-makronisos-prison-island-in-the-aegean-is-an-stock-footage/1308821244 | island served as quarantine island before Balkan Wars Turks captured, Greeks from Anatolia, communist leftist groups civil war located opposite Lavrion Port 60km from Athens
- https://grecosailor.com/makronisos/ | No scheduled ferries or airport approach by private boat from Lavrio/Kea in settled weather
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Last Updated on August 30, 2026 by admin