Skiathos
Sixty square kilometres, over sixty beaches: on Skiathos the count is almost a play on words that the port's boatmen have repeated...
Updated 10 July 2026
Skiathos
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This season · July · Summer
What to do in Skiathos now
The story
The story of Skiathos
From its origins to foreign rule
The earliest traces of settlement on Skiathos date back to the Bronze Age, with Minoan and Mycenaean presences linked to control of the sea routes towards Euboea. In classical times the island was an ally of Athens and took part, according to ancient sources, in the naval battles against the Persians near Artemisium. After Byzantine rule, in the thirteenth century it passed to the Venetian Ghisi family, who built a fortified castle on a rocky headland, separated from the mainland by an artificial channel, designed to protect the population from the pirate raids that plagued the Aegean for centuries.
The Kastro and the Ottoman fire
The fortified citadel, known as the Kastro, was for centuries the island's real inhabited centre: houses packed tightly together, a single drawbridge for access, dozens of small churches built by the inhabitants seeking spiritual as well as military protection. In 1660 the Ottomans burned the settlement in reprisal for local resistance, forcing the community to reorganise. Only in the early nineteenth century did the inhabitants move definitively down to the natural harbour that today is home to the modern town, leaving the Kastro to the ruins that can still be visited, reached by a scenic path along the north coast.
The Bourtzi, the fortress in the harbour
Right in the middle of Skiathos harbour, on a small headland that was once a separate islet, stands the Bourtzi, a Venetian fort later reworked in Ottoman times to control access to the bay. Today the headland, shaded by pine trees and surrounded by water on three sides, is a public park and a free vantage point from which to watch the coming and going of caïques, hydrofoils and sailing boats: the simplest way to grasp, in a few minutes, the geography of the old town and its double-inlet harbour.
The house-museum of Alexandros Papadiamantis
In the heart of the old town, in a two-storey stone house with a small garden, Alexandros Papadiamantis was born in 1851, considered the father of the modern Greek short story for works such as "The Murderess" and his many tales set precisely in Skiathos. The house, turned into a museum, preserves the writer's furniture, manuscripts and personal belongings; he spent most of his life in Athens but always returned to his native island, where he is buried in the small cemetery of the Church of the Three Hierarchs.
The monastery of Evangelistria
Perched on the slopes of Mount Karafiltzanaka, the monastery of Evangelistria was founded in the eighteenth century by monks from Mount Athos and became, between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, a refuge for Greek patriots plotting against Ottoman rule. According to local tradition, it was here in 1807 that the modern blue-and-white striped Greek flag was blessed and raised for the first time. The monastery, still active with a few monks, houses a small museum of sacred art and offers from its terrace one of the widest views over the town and the sea.
Koukounaries, the symbol beach
Stretching over a kilometre of golden sand and shallow water, Koukounaries owes its name to the maritime pines ("koukounaria" in Greek means pine cones) that line it almost to the water's edge. Behind it lies the small Strofilia lagoon, a protected wetland that hosts migratory birds and is separated from the sea by a strip of sand dunes. It is the island's most organised beach, with sunbeds, water sports and easy access by bus from Skiathos Town, and is often listed among the most beautiful beaches in Greece.
Lalaria and the sea caves
On the island's north side, reachable only by boat, Lalaria beach is made entirely of smooth white pebbles that contrast with a turquoise sea and with two limestone rock arches carved by the sea, which have become the most reproduced image of Skiathos. Not far away open the sea caves of Skotini, Galazia and Chalkini, which can be explored by small boats or dinghies: plays of light and reflection that have made this area one of the island's most sought-after boat tours.
The other beaches
- Banana Beach and Little Banana, among the liveliest and most popular with young people
- Vromolimnos, prized for water sports and beach bars
- Mandraki, sandy and less crowded, close to an ancient excavation site
- Elia, shaded by century-old pines and suited to families
- Aselinos, large and sandy, also reachable by car through greenery
Nightlife
Among the Sporades, Skiathos is the island with the liveliest evening scene: the central Papadiamanti street and the parallel Polytechniou, nicknamed the "Ring Road" by regulars, are packed with bars, clubs and small venues that stay open until dawn in high summer. It is a distinctive trait of the island compared with the quieter Skopelos and Alonissos, and makes it a destination chosen also by those looking for a mix of daytime beach and night-time fun, without having to give up walking back to their hotel along the illuminated seafront.
Traditions and flavours
Skiathos cuisine follows the seafaring tradition of the Sporades, with grilled fish, sun-dried octopus and chickpea dishes typical of the Greek Saturday. Worth trying is "skiathitiko", a traditional dish of aubergine, cheese and tomato baked in the oven, and desserts made with local honey. The island's religious festivals, especially that of Panagia Kounistra in September, remain occasions for community gathering with live music, traditional dances and shared feasts in the inland villages.
When to go
The tourist season runs from May to October, with the hottest and busiest period between mid-July and late August, when even ferries and flights need booking well in advance. June and the first half of September offer the same warm sea with milder temperatures and smaller crowds on the main beaches; those looking for a quieter atmosphere, with nightlife already winding down but the taverns still all open, should aim for these shoulder months.
FAQ
Quanti giorni servono per visitare Skiathos?
Come si arriva alle spiagge più belle?
Skiathos è adatta a chi viaggia con bambini?
Dove si trova la casa di Papadiamantis?
Si può visitare Skiathos anche fuori stagione?
Getting there
- Aeroporto di Skiathos (JSI), a circa 2 km dal centro città, con voli diretti stagionali da diverse città europee
- Non essendo collegata al continente da ponti, l'isola si raggiunge solo via mare o via aria; da Volos o Agios Konstantinos si arriva in traghetto o aliscafo in un paio d'ore.
- Il centro di Skiathos è pedonale e compatto: conviene lasciare bagagli pesanti in hotel e muoversi a piedi o con gli autobus locali per raggiungere le spiagge.
Perfect for
Oltre sessanta arenili diversi per dimensione e atmosfera, dalla mondana Koukounaries alla selvaggia Lalaria.
La casa-museo di Papadiamantis racconta il volto più intimo e meno turistico dell'isola.
La più animata delle Sporadi dopo il tramonto, con locali aperti fino a tardi vicino al porto.
Grotte marine, faraglioni e la spiaggia di Lalaria si scoprono solo dal mare.
To see
What to see in Skiathos
Routes · Trovido Route
