Skiathos Island Greece Guide – A Small, But Mighty Island

Here is all the Skiathos, Greece travel advice that you need. We’ve got a list of things to do on Skiathos Island, top Skiathos sites, and tips for where to stay on Skiathos Island, Greece.

Skiathos is the most visited island in the famous Greek Sporades island group. It attracts thousands of visitors annually despite its small size.

Young people love it because of its lively nightlife, and its lovely town is famous for its romantic ambiance. Skiathos has more than 60 beaches and is covered in vegetation. Skiathos Island is also much favored by naturists.

We have created a travel guide with all the necessary information about the island’s activities, beaches, transportation around the island, and gorgeous photos to help you plan your vacation on this Greek Island.

The island is easily reachable by plane from a wide range of countries and by ferry from Volos, Evia, and other Sporades islands.

How To Get To Skiathos Island Greece

In this guide, you will find out how to reach and explore this unique island! But keep on reading because later in the article, we will also inform you about the island’s transportation choices, so you can easily explore every part of Skiathos Island!

Ferries To Skiathos

There are ferries to Skiathos from Ag.Konstantinos – Alonissos – Andros – Crete, Heraklio – Evia, Mantoudi – Mykonos – Naxos – Paros – Santorini (Thira) – Skopelos, Glossa – Skopelos, Port – Syros – Thessaloniki – Tinos – Volos.

The most popular ferry routes to Skiathos are from Volos, Skopelos, and Alonissos ports.

As you can see, there are no direct ferry routes to Skiathos from Athens. If you are traveling from Athens, you need to reach Volos or Evia by bus, and then you can take the ferry that will transfer you to your destination! From Liossion Bus Station, there are buses to Volos, and the trip takes approximately 5 hours. The ferry to Skiathos departs from Volos in Thessaly, and the journey takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

To go to Agios Konstantinos, you must take the bus from Athens (Liossion Bus Station). There are buses almost every hour, and the trip takes about 2 hours. The ferry to Skiathos departs from the port of Agios Konstantinos in central Greece, and the trip takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

For more detailed information about ferry companies to Skiathos, vessel types, and ports of departure, the ferry times from the sidebar 

Flights To Skiathos Island Greece

Skiathos International Airport “Alexandros Papadiamantis” receives flights from Athens International Airport all year round. It’ll take you around 30 minutes to fly from Athens to Skiathos. The airport also has a few seasonal flights from other European countries. Since Skiathos’s airport is approximately 5 km from the city center, it is a good idea to use a taxi when you arrive for your transfer to your hotel. At the airport’s entrance, there are always a lot of cabs to choose from.

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Things To Do On The Island Of Skiathos

Because Skiathos is largely developed by tourism, there are many things to do on the island. Numerous beaches on the island’s southern coast provide watersports facilities with exciting activities, including banana slides, waterskiing, and paragliding.

On the island, a few diving schools have opened up that offer instruction and diving excursions to nearby islands or the coastlines of Pelion. The lush countryside of Skiathos offers fantastic chances for hiking. Old footpaths leading to isolated beaches, historic monasteries, and hilltops with spectacular views of the Aegean Sea span the island. Even horseback riding excursions to the countryside or along the coast are available on Skiathos.

Bourtzi

The port’s entrance is marked by the small peninsula known as Bourtzi, which separates it into two districts. Once a fortress was constructed in the 13th century to guard the town, but today just a few remnants remain. With its many pine trees, this location is well-liked for rest and entertainment.

Medieval Castle

On the island’s northern tip, the Castle of Skiathos is reachable via boat or via a track route. Built on a steep cliff, this old Medieval village is now a ruin. Ancient structures still stand nearby, including walls, baths, churches, and more.

Sea Caves

From the Town, tour boats can take visitors to the sea caverns on Skiathos’ northern coast. There, the water is crystal clear, and nature is untouched.

Monastery Of Evangelistria

The Panagia Evangelistria Monastery is situated 5 kilometers north of Skiathos Town in a lush green location. The monastery was established in the early 19th century and had significant historical value for the island because it took part in the Greek War of Independence.

Church Of Three Bishops

The Cathedral of Skiathos Town is also known as the Church of the Three Bishops (Trion Ierarhon). It includes a prominent bell tower and was built in 1846. In this church, there are several magnificent icons.

Biotope

The biotope is the Strofilia lagoon located just behind the well-known Koukounaries beach. Environmental programs run by the EU protect the region.

Best Beaches On Skiathos 

The island of Skiathos is stunning and has countless jaw-dropping beaches. Lush vegetation, tall trees, emerald water, thin sand, and white stones create an excellent environment. The majority of famous beaches include visitor amenities like sun loungers and umbrellas, but there are also secluded coastlines that are popular with nudists away from the people. Additionally, if you enjoy water activities like kitesurfing, surfing, and jet skiing, you can try them out! Some of the most well-liked beaches for those activities are Banana, Koukounaries, and Megali Ammos!

Ten of the Skiathos beaches are listed below:

• Koukounaries: Possibly the most well-liked beach in Skiathos, with what is said to be one of the most stunning waters in the Mediterranean Sea. The beautiful Koukounaries forest envelops the shore with its golden sand
• Lalaria: Located in the island’s north, Lalaria is a stunning beach. Only boats can access it, making it the ideal place for relaxation. The beach is notable for its untamed surroundings, which include high cliffs, white pebbles, and crystal-clear waves. The spectacular “Tripia Petra” rock arch can be explored by swimming
• Banana: Have fun at the beach by hanging out in Banana! You can participate in beach parties, try water sports, and sip cocktails at the beach bar. There are two coasts on it. While the opposite side of the beach is more relaxed and popular with nudists, one side of the beach can get rather busy
• Megali Ammos: This sandy beach is not far from Chora. It has clear water, sun loungers, and umbrellas. There are umbrellas, sun loungers, and clean water
• Agia Eleni: This sandy beach is well-liked by families. Sun loungers, umbrellas, and a café providing drinks and snacks are available as visitor amenities
• Vromolimnos: Young tourists enjoy visiting the beach in Vromolimnos. It is surrounded by lush greenery and coated in sand. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available
• Achladies: The town of Achladies is home to this family-friendly beach. Its waters are immaculate, and its sand is thin. There are numerous places to stay and eat in the region
• Xanemos: This is a quiet, calm beach with deep water and sand. As soon as you get on the island, you can jump there because it’s close to the airport
• Kanapitsa: is a beach with fine sand and azure-blue waters. There are no visitor amenities, and thick coniferous trees surround the beach
• Aselinos: Mikri Aselinos and Megali Aselinos are the two beaches that make up Aselinos, located in the northern section of Skiathos. Both beaches have stones, rich sand, and emerald-green waves. It’s a terrific option for relaxing by the sea, and nudists like to hang out on a section of the beach

Tips On How To Move Around The Island Of Skiathos

The island of Skiathos has an excellent public bus system that provides routes between all major communities and beaches, making hopping around the island really simple.

You can also take a cab from point A to point B or to a more remote area of the island. For greater peace of mind, we advise driving your own vehicle. As we mentioned, vehicles can be transported by ferry from the Greek mainland to Skiathos, but you could also rent a car or motorcycle on the island. There are around ten rental agencies on the island, so there is no need to worry that you won’t be able to rent a car. 

We hope that you learned something from this Skiathos travel guide and that it will help you plan your vacation. For more suggestions and advice, please visit our other Greek travel guides.