Located between Skiathos and Alonissos in the Sporades island group, Skopelos island in Greece has become a very popular destination since it was used as a filming location for the musical movie Mamma Mia.
24 islands make up the Sporades archipelago, but only Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos are inhabited and the tourist season here is short, from May to September.
The unspoiled island of Skopelos is known as the “Green and Blue” for its natural beauty, with mountain slopes clothed in pine forests rising from pebble beaches and turquoise water.
How to get there
With no airport, Skopelos tends to be visited by independent travellers arriving by ferry and yachts sailing around the northern Sporades.
To travel to Skopelos, you will need to take a ferry from Volos, Skiathos or Alonissos. I suggest to fly to Skiathos and then catch a ferry from there. Skiathos International Airport receives flights from Athens International Airport all year round. The flight time from Athens to Skiathos is about 30 minutes. The airport also receives some seasonal flights from different places around Europe, such as Milan, Rome, Naples (with Wizzair), Pisa, Vienna (with Ryanair).
Upon your arrival, take a taxi to the city center of Skiathos (since the airport is located about 5 km away) and there you can take a ferry to Skopelos.
Skopelos has two ports, the port at Glossa (Loutraki) and at the main town in Skopelos town. If you´re staying in Skopelos town, where you have more accommodation options, I suggest to arrive directly to Skopelos town port.
Getting around in Skopelos
- Car & Bike Hire. The best way to see the island is certainly to have your own vehicle – whether this is a car or a motor bike.
- Local Bus. Skopelos has a main road leading from Skopelos Town to the villages of Glossa and Loutraki at the other end.
- Taxi.
- Motor Boat Hire.
Where to stay
If you are renting a car, you really have your pick of the entire island when it comes to staying at a hotel in Skopelos. If you don’t want to hire a car, and prefer public transport to get around Skopelos, it might make more sense to stay in Skopelos town.
Here’s a quick look at the main areas you can find accommodation in Skopelos, and the types of people each one might be more suitable for.
Skopelos town. Most practical place to stay. Good amenities, transport links, restaurants. Convenient, but the nearby beach is not particularly special.
Loutraki/Glossa: Quieter than Skopelos Town. Good for couples. Good for day trips to Skiathos. Great for sunset drinks and meals.
Panormos: Small beach resort. Good for families (a pebble beach). Lots of places to eat.
Stafylos: Summer season only. Beautiful beaches.
Neo Klima: Many accomodations on a budget. The most beautiful hidden beaches on the island nearby.
Agnontas: Close to best Skopelos island beaches. Quiet.
We stayed at The Ionisi hotel on the beach of Panormos Bay, known as “Blue Green Bay“.
The resort is established in the peaceful cove on the Blue Flag awarded beach and it is a real oasis of relaxation, comfort and romanticism, adjacent to the crystal clear sea waters.
The rooms are all tastefully decorated and enjoy views of beach and pine tree woodland. The pool is one of the biggest on the island with stunning sea views. The Ionisi Restaurant and Beach Bar are perfect for a meal or wonderful cocktail at any time.
With such a beautiful beachfront position, The Ionisi is one of the best located accommodation choices on the Island of Skopelos if you want to enjoy a beach holidays!
I can highly recommend to choose the Panormos beach and the Ionisi hotel if you’re planning to come to Skopelos island. You can book your stay here: https://www.booking.com/Share-9LSdRq
Things to do
Wander through Skopelos old town – Chora.
Arriving by ferry, you get a great view of the houses rising up from the port, built in the Venetian style, with balconies and terracotta roof tiles. You’ll find plenty of artisan and souvenir shops, pretty whitewashed houses and old churches full of frescoes and gold icons. Along the harbour front are numerous bars and coffee shops. Perfect spot to watch the sunset.
Visit the ,,Mamma Mia´´ chapel and beaches.
Perched on top of a rock, the climb up the 202 steps to the tiny chapel rewards you with views over the stunning rocky coastline and beach below. After climbing up to the chapel you can walk down to the beach and cool off in the clear turquoise waters.
Visit Glossa and Lotraki sea port.
Glossa is the second largest town on Skopelos, situated on the north east coast on the hillside above the seaport of Loutraki, which is an alternative stop for the ferries. It’s a charming place to visit for a few hours, all narrow winding streets, pretty traditional houses and flashes of colour in the painted shutters and bougainvillea.
Check out the many monasteries and churches on the Island.
Skopelos Island is brimming with an array of historical and gorgeous monasteries and churches. With over 360 in total, which considering the size of the island, is an enormous total, and you can spend weeks exploring each one thoroughly.
Explore beautiful Amarandos cove.
This famous place, where several scenes for the “Mamma Mia!” movie were shot back in 2007, still remains the same and unspoilt.
Located on the West side of the island along a dirt track (off the main road to Agnontas), the coastline of Amarandos consists of small, isolated rocky coves with turquoise waters – ideal for both snorkeling and swimming. The green of the pine trees, the white rocks, and the blue waters make up a magical landscape.
Explore the amazing beaches.
Skopelos is home to many incredible beaches, and it is truly worth spending some time beach-hopping and relaxing, taking in the gorgeous surrounding views.
Here is the list of my favourite beaches on the island:
Hovolo beach
It is a beautiful exotic beach with fine sand, stunning white rocks and crystal clear waters. It´s located in the village of Neo Klima, on the west side of Skopelos. Due to the enchanting landscape it was included in the Telegraph´s list of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. It is not easily accessible because of a rough trail and some rocks that are in the area. Hovolo beach is not organized, so you should have water, food and umbrellas, since the closest cafe is 700 m away.
The clarity of the waters, the magnificent scenery, and the magnificent sunset will convince you to visit this beautiful beach again and again. This was my favourite beach in Skopelos.
Kastani beach
Kastani is one of the loveliest beaches in Escópelos, with lovely crystal waters and white sand, located 15 km west of Skopelos Town. It has a remarkable environment surrounded by pine trees that reach the edge of the shore.
Its majestic landscape has made a worldwide tour with the American film “Mamma Mia”, most of the scenes were shot here. A sloping road, just 500 meters from the bus stop, will lead you to the beach. This is an organized beach and you will find all the necessary amenities here. Kastani beach bar offers sun umbrellas, loungers and a variety of refreshements, food ans snacks.
Panormos beach
The sandy beach is enclosed in a stunning bay and consists of two small islets. It is a quite popular area with beautiful surroundings, many facilities and an impressive lush green setting. Close to the beach lies the village of Panormos where you will find plenty of taverns, restaurants and many local shops. Next to the sea are some ancient wall remains.
Stafilos beach
Stafilos is one of the closest beaches to Skopelos Town. Just 5 km away from the capital, the stunning bay is accessible by local bus or private car. A nice fish tavern welcomes the visitors and some wooden steps lead down to the lovely pebbled bay with fine grey sand and crystal clear waters. It is a really beautiful beach that is also listed among the most incredible beaches in Greece.
Milia beach
Milia is located 13 km west of the capital and is extremely beautiful with glimmering white sand and turquoise waters, ideal for swimming and diving. The beach offers some rental facilities like sunbeds and umbrellas and a nice beach bar serving cold drinks and snacks.
Best time to visit
The smaller Greek islands like Skopelos tend to have a shorter season for visitors than larger islands or the mainland. Most places will be open for tourists from May to September.
In May the temperatures are warming up to around 20 degrees Celsius rising to 30 degrees Celsius and above in July and August. May and September / October are good times to visit for cooler temperatures, walking and outdoor activities, while the summer months of July and August are great for beach weather.
Hope this itinerary will help you on planning your next trip to Skopelos and you will enjoy this beautiful island and its amazing beaches!
Your sincerely,
Anny