Skopelos is part of the Sporades archipelago, a group of islands in the Aegean Sea off Greece’s east coast.
The Sporades count 24 islands, but only 4 of them have people actually living on them year-round: Skopelos, Skiathos, Alonnisos, and Skyros. The rest are tiny, uninhabited islands that are mostly just rocks and nature.
If you want to know more on planning a vacation in the Sporades, read my article about Skiathos.
Why Should You Visit?
Skopelos is a super pretty Greek island that’s not crazy crowded like some other places. It’s got gorgeous beaches with clear blue water, pine forests that go right down to the sea, and cute white-and-blue villages. Plus, if you’ve seen the movie Mamma Mia!, a bunch of it was filmed here, which is pretty cool!
The island has a chill vibe – it’s perfect if you want to relax on beaches, explore narrow stone alleyways, and eat amazing Greek food without dealing with massive tourist crowds.
It’s worth mentioning, though, that I’ve been on Skopelos in October, a time when crowds are long gone, tourist resorts are closed, beaches are empty, and the only signs of human life are in Chora (or Skopelos Town), the port and the only town on the island.
My time on the island was too short for a proper tour, but I managed to enjoy Chora and the Kastro for several hours.
For the Mamma Mia! filming locations I’d book a dedicated tour like this one, here.
If you’re on Skiathos, you can book an all-inclusive full-day cruise with lunch, here. You’ll get to visit beautiful beaches on both Skiathos and Skopelos Islands and see the famous Kastani Beach, known for its role in the Mamma Mia movie. This cruise also stops at Tsougria and Argos beaches, both quiet and private and only accessible by boat.
How to Get There
You can’t fly directly to Skopelos (there’s no airport), so getting there requires some effort:
- Fly to a nearby place first: Most people fly into Athens, Thessaloniki, or the island of Skiathos
- Take a ferry: From the mainland, you’ll catch a ferry from ports like Volos or Agios Konstantinos (about 2.5-3 hours). From Skiathos, it’s just a one-hour ferry ride.
The ferries run pretty regularly in summer but less often in winter, so plan ahead!
Flying into Athens can be a great idea. Nonetheless, you’ll have to put up with a rather long commute to get to Skopelos. First of all, there’s no direct ferry connection between any of Athens’ ports and Skopelos. You’ll need to commute to Volos, a town that’s at about half the distance between Athens and Thessaloniki. From there, you’ll board the ferry that’s going to take you to your destination.
This October we had accommodation on Skiathos, the neighboring island that has an airport. The only day of the week when ferry rides to and from Skopelos allowed for a half-day visit was Friday. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, so the trip was a delight.
Green oranges on Skopelos
When to Go
Best time: June to September is peak season – warm weather, everything’s open, and the water is perfect for swimming
- July-August: Hottest and busiest, but also the most fun if you like meeting other travelers
- June or September: Still great weather but fewer crowds and cheaper prices
- Spring (April-May): Beautiful flowers everywhere, but some places might be closed and the water’s cold
- Winter: Pretty quiet – many hotels and restaurants close, but if you like peace and quiet, it could work. Don’t expect nightlife, though, as you won’t get that here
Things to Do
Beaches: Hit up Panormos Beach (sandy and beautiful), Kastani Beach (this is where they filmed Mamma Mia!), or Milia Beach (super calm and pretty)
Explore Skopelos Town: Wander the narrow streets, check out the white houses with flower-covered balconies, and grab some gelato. There are also like 100+ churches on the island if you’re into that.
Evangelistria Monstery is one of the most interesting buildings in Skopelos Town. It has ceramic plates embedded into its walls
Check out the Kastro: This is the old castle area at the top of Skopelos Town.
It’s basically ancient ruins from a Venetian fortress with incredible views over the town and sea. It’s a bit of a climb to get up there, but you can explore the old walls and churches, and it’s especially cool at sunset.
This is the Skopelos castle
Don’t worry too much if the GPS won’t get you there. Just keep climbing, as all of those narrow, cobbled streets lead to the top of the hill, and therefore to the castle.
The three guardians of the castle at lunch time
Bonus tip: if you’re in a hurry, with no time to wander the tiny streets, just climb the steps to the big, white monastery by the end of the port, then keep climbing the stairs to your right side. That’s the shortest way to the Kastro, which we discovered on our way down.
Visit the Mamma Mia! chapel: Agios Ioannis Chapel sits on top of a rock with amazing views. You have to climb about 100 steps to get there, but it’s worth it for the view and photos
Eat all the food: Try Greek classics like moussaka, souvlaki, fresh fish, and Greek salad. The cheese pie (tyropita) is amazing too.
We tried two types of cheese pastry pies: one traditional from Skopelos, and the other one filled with Graviera, the Greek hard cheese I absolutely love. Both were delicious.
Rent a scooter or ATV: If you’re old enough (usually 16+ with a license), exploring the island on wheels is super fun. Otherwise, just rent a car. If you don’t want to drive, just use the public transport. Skopelos has only one main road that goes through all of the villages on the south coast. Buses are more frequent in the summer, but you’ll surely find some during winter, as well.
Go hiking: There are trails through the pine forests with awesome views of the sea
Just chill: Honestly, sometimes the best thing to do is just hang at a beach, swim, and relax – that’s what Greek islands are all about!
