Skiathos Things to Do

While browsing through lists of the very top beaches in Greece, chances are you will more often than not stumble upon Koukounaries Beach; in fact, you may even see it featured among the most beautiful beaches in the world. What is it that makes it so popular then? Well, the answer lies not only in its fine sand and mesmerizing cerulean waters but also in the fragrant pine-tree forest that hugs the shore, creating a unique synthesis of emerald, golden, and bright blue hues.

Covered with a rare pine species, this lush forest stretches over undulating dunes and leads to a hidden gem: a lovely lagoon that is home to dozens of bird species, including majestic white and black swans that often swim from the wetland to the beach, regaling visitors with an unforgettable sight. Though words fail to capture the natural beauty, swimming in the crystalline waters of Koukounaries Beach and exploring the nearby biotope is, as you will soon find out for yourself, one of the very best things to do in Skiathos!

Discover Koukounaries

Also known as Chora, Skiathos Town is perhaps most easily recognizable as one of the filming locations of the immensely popular Mamma Mia musical. One of the best things to do during your holiday is to just stroll around the Old Town, losing yourself in its delightful maze of narrow cobblestone alleys, where you will find plenty of atmospheric cafes and quaint shops selling souvenirs and other local handmade products. Besides the picturesque seafront, a great part of Skiathos Town’s appeal lies in the backstreets, with their traditional whitewashed houses and romantic bougainvillea-draped balconies.

The enchanting Bourtzi peninsula, which separates the old from the new port, is also a must. Many centuries ago, it used to be fortified, but, now, little remains of the Venetian castle except some vestiges of the walls. Nevertheless, thanks to its lush pine grove and amazing views, it is one of the loveliest recreational areas in Skiathos Town. Not only does it boast an interesting Naval Tradition Museum, but there is also a charming cafe bar and a nice viewpoint from which to admire the glorious sunset. A plethora of cultural events take place there in the summer months, making for a highly enjoyable night out.

Explore Bourtzi

With over 60 beaches, two of which rank among the most beautiful ones in Greece, Skiathos is not just a typical Aegean island; here, lush pine forests descend all the way down to the shore, enclosing the sky-blue waters in a warm embrace. Thus, exploring its magnificent coastline is hands-down one of the very best things to do during your vacation! Most of the beaches on the southern coast are well-organized and family-friendly, while the northern coast is more secluded. Whatever your idea of the perfect beach is, you’re sure to find something that will just blow your mind! Here are some of the best swimming spots you will find on the island:

• Only reachable by boat from the old port of Skiathos, Lalaria is a sublime cove cut off from the rest of the island by huge vertical cliffs that extend right into the turquoise waters, forming magnificent sea caves and an imposing much-photographed arch. It also stands out for the distinctive white round pebbles, the so-called lalaria, strewn on the beach and sparkling under the Aegean sun.
• Stretching close to Skiathos Town, Ahladies is a great choice for a relaxing day on the beach. It is well-organized with umbrellas, sunbeds and seaside taverns, and has plenty of watersports facilities for those who believe that the sea is meant for more than just swimming.
• If you would rather avoid the hustle and bustle of crowded beaches, head for the secluded Aselinos, an idyllic cove with turquoise waters embraced by the verdant foothills of Mount Kounistra.

Discover the best beaches

Looking for a place to stay in Skiathos? The island offers numerous fantastic options! These are our favorite hotels and accommodations on the island:
• Located a stone’s throw away from the popular Megali Ammos Beach, the Aegean Hotel offers a set of elegantly furnished luxury suites that can satisfy even the most demanding guests. Besides the idyllic verdant hills and the azure waters around it, this complex boasts a range of restaurants, a state-of-the-art spa center with a fully-equipped gym, and an outdoor swimming pool with lovely views.
• The picturesque Skiathos Town also offers plenty of choices around the port. One of them is the Blue Horizon Studios, a great place for couples and groups of friends, as well as families with young children. Nestled among lush gardens, it also offers access to a lovely outdoor swimming pool that guarantees moments of endless relaxation.
• Occupying a conveniently central location close to the old harbor, the Bourtzi Hotel is another great base for exploring the enchanting Skiathos. Guests are sure to love its tasteful modern design and the long swimming pool.

The best hotels in Skiathos

Incorporating influences from Asia Minor and mainland Greece, Skiathos has developed a unique gastronomic tradition that is a true feast for the senses. Fresh fish and seafood served with greens or other vegetables occupy a prominent place, but you can also find a plethora of enticing stews made with lamb, goat, veal, or rabbit meat. If you’re eager to savor the most typical Skiathian delicacies, look out for kalapodia (local pies made with greens), as well as the delicious spiral-shaped cheese pies. The island’s mouthwatering sweets, such as aspro, which is made with almonds, and haimalia, a mixture of walnuts, dough, and excellent pine honey, also deserve a special mention, as do the homemade liqueurs from walnuts, sour cherries, rose geraniums or other aromatic herbs.

Thus, one of the best things to do before you leave Skiathos is to explore its family-run taverns, where you can taste the most authentic recipes. Among the best places to enjoy a delectable meal are the traditional Marmita in Skiathos Town, the Windmill, which is housed in a restored 19th-century windmill, and Maistrali near Agia Paraskevi Beach, which boasts an extensive assortment of local dishes.

More places to eat

Though Skiathos offers plenty of enjoyable ways to reach some of the major beaches, renting a car is still one of the best things to do to move around the island with greater freedom. Having your own car will save you time and unlock hidden gems that cannot be reached in any other way..
In cooperation with the best local car rental agencies, we offer the best prices and our service is rated .

Rent your Car with us

Few places in Greece have featured so prominently in modern Greek literature as the island of Skiathos. It was the influential 19th-century writer Alexandros Papadiamantis, the so-called “saint” of Greek letters, who praised his native island in many of his remarkable works, vividly bringing the Skiathian customs and landscapes to life. One of the best things to do to immerse yourself in the island’s literary history is to visit the House of Papadiamantis, which now functions as a museum. For a deeper insight into the local culture, don’t miss the Skiathitiko Spiti, a restored traditional residence that has been converted into a folklore museum, as well as the Museum of Naval Tradition.

The island is also known for its religious monuments, the most important being the historic Monastery of Evangelistria. Built towards the end of the 18th century beneath the shadow of the highest peak in Skiathos, it is well worth visiting for its remarkable icons and frescoes, as well as for its precious holy relics

More about Papadiamantis House

If there’s one thing that Skiathos is famous for besides its fabulous beaches, it’s its vibrant nightlife, which attracts young people from all over the country. If you’re a party animal, be advised that most clubs don’t open before midnight. Just take it easy and with a cool drink in one of the waterfront bars, taking in the marvelous views of the sea and the Bourtzi fortress, and then head for one of the upbeat clubs where you can dance the night away. For a Greek night, you can also try various haunts where you can listen to folk and popular Greek music.

Find out more about the nightlife

Have you ever dreamed of visiting all those heavenly locations you saw while watching Mamma Mia? Then you’ve come to the right place! Skiathos and the neighboring Skopelos have provided the setting for most of the film’s iconic moments, including the memorable wedding scene. One of the best things to do to combine as many Mamma Mia filming locations as possible in a single day is to book your place for the Mamma Mia Island and Beach Day Cruise, a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will allow you to swim in the sky-blue waters of Kastani Beach, have lunch in the scenic waterfront of Panormos and climb up to the picturesque chapel of Agios Ioannis, where you can take a picture of yourself against a mind-blowing backdrop. The highlight of the day is the enchanting Milia Beach, which you can never have enough of.

Book the cruise

Imagine an enthralling forest overgrown with centuries-old moss- or lichen-covered trees whose gnarled roots and hollow trunks often take on fantastical shapes. Hiking through the Kechria Woods —the Magic Forest as they are more commonly known— accompanied by the murmur of the gurgling brooks and the enticing scents of aromatic herbs is hands-down one of the best things to do in Skiathos. Besides this route, which leads to the pristine Kechria Beach, there are plenty more (over 25) well-marked trails, passing through landscapes with panoramic views, serene wetlands, golden beaches, and high mountain slopes. Along the way, you will come across historic sites, Byzantine chapels, nice picnic spots and traditional taverns where you can fuel up and keep exploring the island.

For families and groups of friends, watersports are one of the best ways of bonding over the holidays. In most of the popular resorts, you’re sure to find fully-equipped watersports centers offering such fun activities as waterskiing, wakeboarding, SUP, extreme rides, kayaking, sailing and much more! If you’ve never tried your hand at any of these before, this is your chance to do so safely and create lasting memories that will accompany you over the winter months. Many watersports centers also organize private boat trips, allowing you to explore some of the most gorgeous beaches from a different perspective.

The best sports to try in Skiathos

With the weather being usually warm and dry, open-air cinemas have become a trademark of Greek summer nights. The experience of watching a nice film under the starry sky is certainly one of a kind, so one of the best things to do before you leave Skiathos is to spend a night at the Attikon open-air cinema. It goes without saying that there are also regular screenings of Mamma Mia, giving you a unique chance to watch (or rewatch) this classic film in one of the very islands where it was shot!

Read more about the cinema

Around Skiathos, there are several uninhabited verdant islets which are well worth a visit for their relaxing ambiance, pristine beaches and extraordinary natural beauty. The biggest of them is the verdant Tsougrias, a tiny piece of land that covers just 1.14 square kilometers, yet boasts as many as four wetlands hosting a great number of bird species. One of the best things to do during your Skiathos vacation is to catch one of the excursion boats that operate regular tours to Tsougrias and unwind on its magical sandy beaches, whose waters take on a palette of mind-blowing hues. According to the locals, it was Tsougrias that stole the heart of the Beatles in the 1960s, when they visited Skiathos, and it is bound to steal yours too now!

Each of the verdant Sporades islands is unique in its own way, combining natural and cultural beauties that guarantee a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The best thing to do if you don’t have the time to island-hop to these islands and explore them at your own pace is to book your seat on the Skopelos and Alonissos Boat Trip, which allows you to see the very best of the North Sporades in a single day! Roam around the quaint alleys of Skopelos Town and Alonissos Chora, have lunch at a seaside tavern, sample the local delicacies, and marvel at the impressive Blue Caves and the Marine Park of Alonissos, which is the natural habitat of the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal, one of the rarest animals in Europe. Saving the best for last, the final stop will be made at Milia, probably the most beautiful beach in Skopelos, where you can also take amazing pictures of the iconic Mamma Mia chapel!

Book the boat trip

Built on a rocky islet on the northern coast of Skiathos, the Medieval Castle is one of the best sunset viewing spots on the entire island. Built in the Byzantine era to defend the population from enemy raids, it was eventually abandoned in the early 19th century, when the people moved to the present-day Skiathos Town. Though little remains today except for parts of the walls and the eerie ruins of a few chapels and a mosque, it provides some of the most spectacular coastal views, especially in the late evening, as the sun gradually sets behind the horizon, dyeing the sky and the sea in flaming hues.

About Skiathos Castle

Nestled in a verdant location overlooking the azure waters of the Aegean Sea and the picturesque Skiathos Town, Parissis was the first winery established on the island! A visit to it will educate you on vineyards and their cultivation, the winemaking process, and the distinctive characteristics of each variety. Wine tasting is also part of the tour you can partake in and comes with delicious snacks!

More about Parissis Winery

With incredible underwater visibility and a seabed teaming with colorful marine life, Skiathos boasts a plethora of fascinating scuba diving spots. Around the coasts of Skiathos and the surrounding islets, there are over 40 diving sites for you to explore, including reefs, walls, caves, wrecks and much more! Don’t hesitate to head for one of the local diving centers, where you will find a wide variety of programs addressed to people of all ages, regardless of their prior experience. Diving, snorkeling and swimming private tours are also organized on a daily basis, promising an unforgettable experience.

Scuba diving clubs in Skiathos

One of the best things to do for an authentic glimpse into the island’s cultural heritage is to attend one of the fairs and celebrations that take place in Skiathos, keeping age-old customs alive from generation to generation. Many of the local festivals are organized on the occasion of a saint’s feast day, the most notable being that of Agia Paraskevi in July and the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on the 15th of August. Moreover, a big traditional dance festival is held every summer, presenting a wide variety of Greek folk dances. The festivities are invariably accompanied by local delicacies, music and dancing, as well as copious quantities of excellent wine, and visitors are more than welcome to attend and join in the merry-making!

Discover more festivals

If you are an animal lover and are keen on meeting and interacting with animals, one of the best things to do is to visit the Skiathos Dog Shelter. There you can cuddle or even walk the animals along with the shelter’s team members! You can also support its cause by donating items the shelter is in need of, or by adopting one of the cute dogs.
Visit the animal shelter’s official website at www.skiathosdogs.com.

But that's not all! There are a lot more things to do, from a fun tennis match to having a rejuvenating yoga session!
We invite you to explore even more options that the island has to offer: