Skiathos

Map of Skiathos

Skiathos is a small island which belongs to Sporades complex. It's the closest island to the mainland with 48km² extension and 6.000 population. The real business of Skiathos is beaches. By far the best in Sporades. There are over fifty strands, most with fine, pale sand. The main road along to the South and Southeast coasts serves an almost unbroken line of villas, hotels, minimarkets and restaurants. In Skiathos it's difficult to find anything particularly Greek, but by hiking or using 4WD vehicle you can find anything relative solitude, refreshing vistas and charming medieval monuments in the island's North. Skiathos is a very popular destination for young ages due to nightlife.

Skiathos Town

Skiathos Town, the only real population centre on the island, is set on a couple of low hills around a point, with the ferry harbor and new town to the East, the picturesque old port, with the old town rising above it, in the West.

Beaches
 

Tsougria

An islet in the bay opposite Skiathos Town, with excursion boats shuttling back and forth from the old port three or four times daily. A favorite of locals, it has two spectacular sand beaches, each with a tavern.

Koukounaries

Huge stretch of sand which is arguably the island's finest beach and certainly one of the busiest.

Koukounaries

Big Banana

It's a beautiful  sandy beach but absolutely packed with a young crowd and a clubbing atmosphere plus ski boats, kayak and more.

Small Banana

This beach is almost entirely nudist yet still thoroughly commercialized with a cafe and loungers occupying almost every centimeter.

Mandhraki

Dunes and a protected pine forest back Mandhraki, a sandy beach with views of Mount Pilio and an exceptionally friendly snack bar serving souvlaki. One of the island's least developed, it is accessed either by a walking path from bus stop in Koukounaries, or a drivable track that follows the coast round past Agia Eleni beach.

Lalaria

Famous beach nestling near the Northernmost point of Skiathos and is only accessible by taxi or excursion boat from Town. It's a magnificent beach with steep cliffs and white pebbles.

Lalaria

Other beaches

Kastro, Megalos Aselinos, Agia Eleni, Vromolimnos.

Sights

 

Islet Mpoyrtzi
Located in front of the town of Skiathos. Mpoyrtzi was a castle that was anointed by Gkyzi brothers who ruled the island from 1207. Destroyed in 1660 by the famous Venetian admiral Morosini (who also bombed the Parthenon). Mpoyrtzi associated with Skiathos by a bridge separates the harbor into two smaller ones, the old and the new.

Castle
Located at the Northern tip of the island and it was a natural fortress, where the 14th century it was local's refuge to avoid the attacks of pirates. The castle was under Byzantine administration until 1453, then passed into the hands of the Venetians (until 1538) and came under Turkish rule until the revolution of 1821.

Castle

Wetland
The Strofilia Lake, located in the Southwestern part of Skiathos, just back from the beach in Skiathos. A magical landscape in which you can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature. Many environmental European programs supporting the wetland as a site of high ecological importance.

Museum
Alexander Papadiamandis was born in the late 19th century on the island of Skiathos. Considered one of the best Greek writers. The house, in the town of Skiathos has become a museum, which can give you an insight into the masterpieces that he wrote, but it can give you a good representation of life on the island in the 19th century.

  

Nightlife

The main feature of Skiathos is nightlife. It is the favorite destination for young people.

Some of the best bars to spend your night are:  Rock n' Roll bar, Bar Destiny, Remezzo, Adagio, Kentavros Bar, Borzoi, Barfly and many others.

Hora

Transportation

By plane: As well as international charters, there are regular Olympic flights to Athens(Apr-Oct, 1 daily and the rest of the months 2 weekly, 45min). Skiathos airport is a tourist attraction in itself, built on reclaimed land immediately outside Skiathos Town.

By ferry: Flying dolphins and ferries run twice daily for most of the year to and from Volos(1hr 30min-2hrs 30min), Skopelos(1hr) And Alonissos(45min).

Getting around

By bus: A superb bus service runs along Skiathos's coast road, from town to Koukounaries at the western end of the island, daily from 7am to midnight, with departures every 15min(2€).

By taxi: The main taxi rank is at the new port just east of the ferry jetties (24270 24461)

Useful Phone Numbers

Police: 24270 21111

Port: 24270 22017

Citizen Service: 24270 21177

Health Center: 24270 22222 - 24270 22040

Fire Department: 24270 21199 - 24270 21998
Pharmacies: 24270 22988 - 24270 21230 - 24270 22666 - 24270 24090

Airport: 24270 22376 - 24270 21885 - 24270 22049 - 24270 22229

Mail: 24270 22011