Travel Eye on Skiathos (Evia & Sporades, Greece)

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Overview:

With its own airport and more than 60 fine beaches, Skiathos is the most popular of the Sporades group and each year attracts thousands of tourists to its busy coastline. The island is only four miles (6km) wide and seven miles (11km) long.

The whitewashed houses of the town with red tiled roofs are built into two natural hillsides overlooking the harbour and are contrasted by the deep blue of the sea and sky.

Skiathos attracts many visitors especially during July and August and offers all sorts of watersports facilities. These are mainly middlemarket, families and couples. Younger singles prefer Megali Amos.

The streets of the town are narrow and winding. There are many tavernas and shops, some in the most unexpected places. Most stay open till late so take your time, there's no need to hurry. Greek people tend to eat late and It's not unusual to find whole families with very young children sitting down to eat at 11pm in a pavement taverna.

SKIATHOS TOWN, on the SE coast, is built on two hills overlooking the harbour. It is a relatively modern, small but bustling port dating mainly from the 1830s, with 2- and 3-storey white houses with red roofs climbing from the waterfront to the cathedral.

MEGALI AMOS is almost a suburb of the capital. It is a modern village backed by hills, pine woods and olive groves.

KOUKOUNARIES, at the SW corner of the island, is spread out at the end of the coast road. It is nothing more than a beach resort clustered around a truly outstanding stretch of sand.

TROULOS, the nearest thing to a second "village" on the island, is at the middle of the S coast, surrounded by olive groves and farmland.

AGHIA PARASKEVI, on the S coast, is made up of well-spaced hotels and apartments at the end of a wide valley with farmland and olive groves.

KANAPITSA is Skiathos's upmarket area. It sits on the S coast between the Kalamaki Peninsula and Achladies Bay.

ACHLADIES, E of the Kalamaki Peninsula, is modern and backed by hills.

The resort areas can become very crowded in August; June, July and September are better months for those wishing to avoid the worst of the crowds. The resort is most popular with families and older couples; 18-30s looking for action might prefer busier destinations.

Locality:

Skiathos is located in the Sporades group of islands, just 3 mls off the mainland coast in the Aegean Sea at the W end of the Sporades group of islands. It is 5 miles W of Skopelos and 9 miles N of Evia. Skiathos Town, the capital, is 1 mile SW of the airport.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

There are many different activities that can be found on this island such as all sorts of watersports including water-skiing, windsurfing, banana boat rides and parasailing.

Other daytime activities include trips to monasteries, particularly Evangelistria, Kastro, a ruined village, the Papadiamantis museum, the home of a 19th-century Greek writer.

In Skiathos Town, walking, water sports, and also horse riding near Troulos.

Thankfully for most, Skiathos is not a magnet for clubbers; there are however lots of bars and tavernas offering live music and dancing, and a couple of small discos. another great attraction is live music and Greek dancing in tavernas.

The best beaches are in the south, at the holiday resorts. The beaches in the north are rockier and more exposed to the wind, but are popular with those wanting to escape the crowds during the peak season. On land there is horse riding on offer and some good walks.

There is a good selection of cafés and restaurants on the island offering English, Italian, Indian, Chinese and French cuisine, as well as some excellent local Greek and seafood restaurants. The best choice is in Skiathos Town, particularly around the harbour.