Skopelos

Skopelos is the second largest island of the Northern Sporades. The island is literally covered in green, while it is perhaps the most beautiful island in the cluster. It has three main ports: Skopelos, Agnontas and Glossa. The town of Skopelos, Chora, is the capital of the island and is located on the north coast. It is a frequent choise for the Greeks of Northern Greece and is beloved by the Greeks of South Greece, especially after the movie that made the island even more famous, ‘Mamma Mia’; Skopelos is the ideal choice for all age groups during the summer.

The ancient name of Skopelos was Peparithos, after the son of Dionysos and Ariadne, who was the first resident of the island. In general, the first inhabitants were Cretans from Knossos. The name Skopelos appeared for the first time in the 2nd century AD, and it is speculated that it is due to the many reefs around the island. It was sacked by Barbarossa in 1538, conquered by the Turks until 1830, the year Skopelos was united with Greece.

Skopelos is an island with several attractions, some of which you should not miss. The town of Skopelos: The beautiful, amphitheatrically built Chora has picturesque cobbled streets, scattered churches and the beautiful island houses with lush gardens. In addition, the Country has been declared a traditional settlement. The chapel of Ai Giannis at Kastri: The church is perched on top of a rock and approached by stairs. The view at the top is fantastic, while the church appears also in the movie “Mamma Mia”. Byzantine monasteries (Annunciation and St. john the Baptist): The old convent of Annunciation is located to the east of the Country, which was renovated in 1712 and is famous for the panoramic view of the Port and Skopelos. The Drakontoshima: Located between Stafylos and Amarantos. It is an impressive rock that is surrounded by gorgeous turquoise waters. Chests Tombs: Situated in the mountain Karya of Skopelos. Two of the graves are parallel and separated by a third one which is unfinished and another that is parallel to the three, a couple of meters away. The Diocese: It is a venetian building that was supposed to be the seat of the Bishop of Skopelos, but was left unfinished.

This island has one of the most clean and clear waters of Greece. In the northern and eastern side of Skopelos shores are rocky, while the south and west slopes create the wonderful lush beaches. On the south side are the popular beaches. Milia beach: Perhaps the most popular beach on the island. It is a sandy beach in a lush green environment, turquoise waters and views of the islet of Dassia. It is about 1 kilometer away from the village of Panormos. Beach Kastani: it is a beautiful beach with very small pebbles and sand in a green environment. Panormos beach: Located in the centre of a small bay, offers breathtaking beauty and crystal clear waters. There are cafes and restaurants just above the beach. Beach of Elios: it is located in Neo Klima, it has sand and fine pebbles and is 14 kilometers away from the town of Skopelos. Stafilos beach: The scenery is breathtaking as it is surrounded by rocks and pine trees that reach the sea. The beach is located near the town of Skopelos. Beach Velanio: This is a nudist beach. It is one of the most beautiful beaches of Skopelos, with fine pebbles, crystal clear waters and endless blue.

The cuisine of Skopelos consists of a great variety of dishes, which highlights all the fresh local products. Specialities of the skopelitian cuisine are the 'strifti' (spiral traditional cheese pie), the dusky grouper stew, the meat with quince, and the pork with prunes. In addition, in all of the restaurants fresh fish and seafood are served. Popular are and the sweets, such as “avgato”, which is made from a variety of plum, and the 'haimalia', a traditional dessert, which is made from almonds. You can enjoy your meal in the tavernas either in the Country or in the surrounding villages.

The island of Skopelos will pleasantly surprise you regarding the entertainment, since you will find places meetingyour requirements in the best possible way. The popular way of entertainment is with folk and rebetika songs during the evening and night. The small bars of the Country offer drinks in a relaxing environment, while those looking for more lively entertainment, they can visit the biggest bars on the island.

The Area Code is (+30) 24240.

The starting point of the local bus terminal is located next to the exit of the port and from there you can choose the bus route that suits you. The local buses pass nearby the majority of the beaches and their schedules are regular, especially during the summer. There are also several taxis that you could use.