Holiday on Skopelos & Skiathos
Beautiful beaches, blue and white houses, Greek delicacies and dancing the sirtaki all make you think of Greece. We have already discovered several Greek islands, yet no previous trip to Greece has made our Greek travel heart beat as fast as Skopelos & Skiathos! In this travel blog, Rowan takes you to an unspoilt corner of Greece.
Greece
Holiday on Skopelos & Skiathos
Greece has all the ingredients for a wonderful holiday. Beautiful beaches, blue and white houses, Greek delicacies and dancing the sirtaki all make you think of Greece. We have already discovered several Greek islands, yet no previous trip to Greece has made our Greek travel heart beat as fast as Skopelos & Skiathos!
How to get there?
You can reach Skiathos from Amsterdam with Transavia. Skopelos is a bigger island, but has no airport. The residents were strongly against it, which is why the airport was built on Skiathos instead of Skopelos. From Skiathos airport you are at the harbour of Skiathos Town in no time. From here it is about an hour and a half by ferry to Skopelos Town. A boat trip with beautiful views of land and sea! On the ferry deck you can relax in the sun, and before you know it you have arrived on Skopelos!
Skopelos Town
Skopelos Town is built up against a hillside and lies in a bay. Although it is not big, you will find a beautiful harbour and cosy streets full of little restaurants and boutiques. Very picturesque. Here too you will find blue and white houses everywhere. What not everyone knows is that Skopelos is known for the filming of Mamma Mia! The Movie. So as soon as you arrive you will see the tour agencies promoting it. At the end of the promenade there is a little white church you can walk to. From here you have a beautiful view over the town and the sea. Especially worthwhile at sunset, even though the sun sets behind the mountains. The inside of this little church was used for the Mamma Mia film.
Mamma Mia! The Movie tour
This tour visits all the highlights on the island that were filmed for the movie. Tip! Book this tour in advance at home if you are only staying on Skopelos for a few days, because the tour does not run every day. We had not done that, but luckily there were still 2 places free at the very last moment. Lucky us! The first stop on the tour is the chapel of Agios Ioannis! It feels as if you are on the film set and Meryl Streep could come round the corner at any moment. The view of the chapel is just as beautiful as in the film, surrounded by the azure sea. They did not use the inside of the chapel during filming; for that they used the little white church in Skopelos Town.
The next stop is Kastani Beach, where the famous beach scene was filmed. A lovely little beach to spend some time, but very busy.
Before you return to Skopelos Town, you have lunch at a lovely little restaurant at Agnondas Beach. Tip! Try the feta pie here, delicious! You can also explore these places yourself with a rental car, but note that the last stretch to the chapel of Agios Ioannis is extremely narrow and challenging.
Relaxing on a sunbed
Usually we want to discover as much of a destination as possible, but we had resolved to take it easy for once on this trip. Buses run around the island from Skopelos Town. It is super easy to hop off at a nice beach. The biggest resort on Skopelos is Panormos Beach. It is about 12 kilometres from Skopelos Town and has a long pebble beach lined with various tavernas and accommodations. Near Agnondas Beach you will find Limnonari Beach, tucked away in a beautiful bay. Many boats drop anchor here for a quick dip. We chose Stafylos Beach, a 6-minute drive from our accommodation. After a steep climb down, with beautifully coloured flowers and stunning views along the way, you arrive at an idyllic pebble beach. A little beach completely surrounded by green nature and rocks. An azure sea is waiting for you to take a dip. You never want to leave! For a good price you can rent a sunbed here and order a drink. In summer it can be busy here, but in June it was very pleasant.
Skiathos Town
Time to explore the second island! Skiathos Town is a lot bigger than Skopelos Town. Where Skopelos Town has more of a village feel, in Skiathos Town you do get the feeling you are in a town. Still, it is also very idyllic, with nice little squares, a harbour and cosy tavernas, again surrounded by green nature. Here too you will find boutiques everywhere where you can buy beautiful handmade items at a friendly price. We picked up a few bracelets, a hat and some Greek bowls for home! For the best ice cream or Greek pastries, go to Mama Mia (to stay on theme). Wander through the streets in every direction, because there is a surprise around every corner. In June the flowers are in bloom all over Skiathos Town, which makes for a very colourful scene. Skiathos Town has several beautiful viewpoints. There is a peninsula where you have a nice view over the promenade from the restaurant The Bourtzi. For a fantastic view of the other side of town, walk to Paralia Plakes. Finally, at the top of the town there is a little church where, after a steep climb, you can see the whole town, the peninsula and the sea.
Stay on the south side
From Skiathos you can take a water taxi to Koukounaries, on the south side of the island. Here you will find lots of different and nice accommodations, restaurants and beaches. For example Koukounaries Beach and Xenia Beach, where the water taxi docks. At Xenia Beach there is a long sandy beach with luxury sunbeds. You will also find a diving centre here. My favourite beach on the south side is Agia Eleni Beach, a beautiful little sandy beach where you can watch a magical sunset while enjoying a moussaka and a Mythos. Also visit the restaurant Under the Pine Tree. Here you dine in a romantic garden that is beautifully lit in the evening.
Voyage of discovery
Skiathos is a great island to explore by land or by sea. You can easily rent a car and see the island in a day. In the north-east there is a beautiful monastery you can drive to, Moni Evangelistrias. It has an old courtyard and a little shop where tourists may look around. You also have a beautiful view over the mountains and the sea. Further north you will find the old capital Kastro, where you can still see the ruins of an old castle. Keep in mind that the road there can be challenging. You can also choose a boat trip, which also takes you to Kastro if the weather allows. Unfortunately the sea was too rough when we went and we had to turn back. We did visit Lalaria Beach, the most beautiful (pebble) beach on Skiathos, which can only be reached by boat. A natural stone arch has formed in the water here, which you can swim under. During the boat trip you can enjoy a cocktail and some music on board, which creates a fun atmosphere. Prefer a quieter boat trip? Then walk along the promenade and see which excursions offer that.
Islands like these are why we love Greece and keep coming back. Every island is different and there is so much to discover, yet it always feels a little like coming home.
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Practical tips for Skopelos & Skiathos
Preparation
On the spot
Frequently asked questions about Skopelos & Skiathos
How do you get to Skopelos? +
Skopelos has no airport. You fly from Amsterdam to Skiathos with Transavia and take the ferry from the harbour of Skiathos Town. After about an hour and a half you arrive in Skopelos Town.
Where was Mamma Mia filmed on Skopelos? +
Among other places at the chapel of Agios Ioannis and on Kastani Beach, where the famous beach scene was filmed. For the inside of the chapel in the film, the little white church at the end of the promenade in Skopelos Town was used.
Should you book the Mamma Mia tour in advance? +
Yes, if you are only on Skopelos for a few days, because the tour does not run every day. You can also visit the places yourself with a rental car, but the last stretch to the chapel is very narrow.
What are the most beautiful beaches on Skopelos? +
Panormos Beach is the biggest resort, Limnonari Beach is tucked away in a beautiful bay and our favourite, Stafylos Beach, is an idyllic pebble beach surrounded by greenery. Kastani Beach is known from Mamma Mia, but it is busy.
What are the most beautiful beaches on Skiathos? +
We think Lalaria Beach, with its natural stone arch, is the most beautiful; you can only reach it by boat. On the south side are Koukounaries Beach, Xenia Beach and Agia Eleni Beach, where you can watch a magical sunset.
Do you need a car on Skopelos and Skiathos? +
On Skopelos you can easily reach the beaches by bus. On Skiathos a rental car is handy: with it you can see the island in a day. From Skiathos Town a water taxi takes you to the south side.
What can you do in Skiathos Town? +
Stroll through the streets and boutiques, get an ice cream or Greek pastry at Mama Mia and enjoy the viewpoints: from the restaurant The Bourtzi on the peninsula, at Paralia Plakes and from the little church at the top of the town.
Can you visit the old capital Kastro? +
Yes, by car, although the road there can be challenging. A boat trip also takes you there if the weather allows; unfortunately the sea was too rough when we went.