The Sporades islands of Greece - Skiathos

Skiathos is a beautiful wooded island far greener than you would expect a Greek island to be.  With its own airport and more than 60 fine sandy beaches, many of which have not become overcrowded and some of which can be virtually empty even in the height of summer.  Skiathos is the most popular of the Sporades group and each year attracts thousands of tourists to its busy coastline.

Skiathos is not a large island just four miles (6km) wide and seven miles (11km) long it can be circum-navigated in a couple of hours in a speedboat or more leisurely by local caique or by sail over 4 to 5 hours.

Surrounding a well sheltered harbour at the eastern end of the island the main and only town is also called Skiathos. During summer it fills with every type of vessel from small fishing boats to large yachts and even larger motor yachts. Throughout the day the ferries and hydrofoils come and go bringing essential items as well as providing a life line to other locations.

From here boat trips leave to take tourists around the island to swim in the sparkling blue-green waters and see the sights, which include a ruined Venetian fortress dating from 1207, and the abandoned 14th-century town of Kastro. 

Away from the resort areas along the south and east coast it is relatively undeveloped with shady woods, olive and walnut groves and quiet beaches that can only be accessed by boat.

The environment is incredibly varied and can range from hidden wooded valleys where monasteries are set against a backcloth of barren rock or from shallow beaches with pasture at the back to plummeting cliffs with beaches immediately below them that are only accessible from the sea.  There are several islands close by which are worth visiting, here you will find beaches with less people on them than those on the main island and generally a pleasant taverna to be enjoyed

In Skiathos town you can find everything you need the seafront is lined with local tavernas, cafés and some excellent seafood restaurants that look over the lively marina. It is a thriving, cosmopolitan centre that buzzes with vitality during the summer months complementing nicely those lazy days on the beach. You can have a quiet drink on the waterfront, dance all night, shop or eat one of the many tavernas and restaurants located here. Whatever you want you are sure to find it here.

Getting around Skiathos

With few roads and most tourist accommodation near to the main road travelling is quite simple just work out the stop number you need to get on and off (see below). It can be hectic the buses run at 15 to 20 minute intervals in the summer and are usually crowded between 16.00 and 19.00 coming back in to Skiathos.  The bus service follows the main road along the south coast until it reaches the west end of the island where it terminates at Koukounaries beach.

BUS STOPS:

• Terminus (Junior school & New Port)
• Delta (crossroads airport road and ring road)
• Sineterismos (road to Profitis Elias)
• Ring road (supermarket and shops)
• Akropolis (Health Centre)
• Megali Ammos
• Poseidon/Megali Ammos (Taverna and apartments)
• Annis (beginning of Vasilias Beach)
• Vasilias (main stop)
• Between Vasilias and Achladies
• Achladies (beach and Hotel Esperides)
• Villa Liva (Sklithri Beach)
• Tzanaria Beach (Nostos & Kanapitsa)
• Vromolimnos & Nostos
• Kolios
• Kolios/Platanias
• Aghia Paraskevi (Platanias Beach and Princess Hotel)
• Poros
• Troulos crossroad (road to Kounistra Monastery, Zorbathes and Asellinos Beach)
• Victoria (petrol station).
• Troulos Beach
• OTE building (dirt road to Mandraki area)
• Maratha Beach (Palace Hotel)
• Mandraki (Caravos Hotel & path to Mandraki Beach, Elias Beach and Agistri Beach
• Yiouvanakis (supermarket and road to Mandraki (Xerxes) Beach
• Aghia Eleni (Beach)
• Koukounaries (terminus)

There are many dirt roads that cut through and across the island so some form of transport is almost essential if you want to get the best from Skiathos. Cars and motorbikes are available for rent everywhere but would not recommend renting a motorbike unless you are a very experienced bike driver (too many people ruin their holidays by falling off or by burning themselves on the exhaust pipe). Taxis are also a useful option.

Skiathos Seasons

If you are tied to the school holidays then you cannot really avoid July or August so you will find the island pretty crowded although if you come then and look around you can still find some peaceful places to avoid the hustle & bustle.

May and June are both tranquil so are September and October. Probably, September is the best month of all with warm water for swimming without the very scorching summer sun.  The weather in May and October cannot be guaranteed and some rain will certainly fall although it usually does not last for long and when the sun comes out the air is quite refreshing.

Easter is well worth doing and is the Greek celebration and it is a good time to enjoy the island's natural beauty and a great time for walking. Even winter is a good time as the island greens up after the dry, dusty summer months. The walks are even more beautiful and the locals have more time to be relaxed and friendly.

Whilst on Skiathos here are five things to see:

• The church of Aghios Nikolaos
• Papadiamantis House
• The Bourtzi
• The Plakes,
• The boatyard by Megali Ammos Beach