You’ve just watched the movie Mamma Mia!, and it’s decided, for your next vacation, you’re going visit the island of Skopelos in Greece ! Very good choice, you will for sure enjoy this Sporades Island where the green mountains of pines meet the blue of the sea.
Get ready! How to get to Skopelos? Where to stay in Skopelos? What means of transport to use for move on the island ? What to visit in Skopelos?
All our advice and practical information to help you prepare for your stay, with a bonus our good addresses taverns and cafe-bars.
For go to Skopelos in Thessaly (be careful, there is also a Skopelos on the island of Lesbos), the island does not have an airport, you will have to take the ferry at one time or another. here are the possibilities which we found to go all the way to Skopelos.
Go to Skopelos by plane + ferry
From Athens you can take a plane in direct flight to Skiathos. For this, I advise you to look at the possibilities of flights on the price comparison Ulyssesin addition to being in French, they have very good customer service.
Then to reach Skopelos, you will have to take a boat which connects Skiathos to Skopelos in 1h to 1h30. To find the best ferry, take a look at the site Ferry Hopperan easy-to-use comparator and also in French.
Go to Skopelos by ferry
There are different ports to go to Skopelos by ferry:
- the port of Volos North
- Mantoudi on the island of Evia
- Agios Konstantinos on the continent
- from the other islands of the Sporades: Skiathos and Alonissos ; from Skyros only in summer
- During the summer season, there are also connections from Glyfa, Kymi (Evia), Thessaloniki…
Unfortunately, there is no connection between the ports of Athens (Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio…) and Skopelos.
| Different Ports | car time Athens-port |
Ferry time port-Skopelos |
Company | Ticket purchases |
| Volos | 3h30 | 2h30 4h |
flying dolphins Blue Star Ferries, Seajets |
Ferry Hopper |
| Mantoudi (Evia) | 2h15 (by the bridge) |
1h30 to 2h15 | Donkeys | Ferry Hopper |
| Agios Konstantinos | 1h50 | Symi Ferry Boat – Donkeys | more info Donkeys | |
| Skiathos (Sporades) | * * * | 1h to 1h30 | flying dolphins Blue Star Ferries, Seajets |
Ferry Hopper |
| Alonissos | * * * | 30 mins | flying dolphins Blue Star Ferries, Seajets |
Ferry Hopper |
From Athens, you can reach the ports either by public transport or by car.
In public transportthe easiest way is to go by bus to Mantoudi (on the island of Euboea) in 2h30 with the company Ktel Evias.
For the car which is certainly the best solution, we advise you to book in Athens a car rental with Rental cars, a very good price comparator that allows you to find a vehicle at the best price. Then you can take the ferry boarding the rental car to freely visit the island of Skopelos.
For even more information, I advise you to also look at the Skopelos.com site which has the merit of having a French version.
Getting around the island
The island of Skopelos is not very big, it takes about 1h to 1h30 to reach the south at the most northern tip of the island. To get around Skopelos, several solutions:
- The bus : Skopelos has a private bus service that connects the main points of interest on the island and is rather well served in summer. Generally, timetables are indicated at the various bus stops. More info here
- 2 wheels : you will find most scooter, quad and even bicycle rental companies in or around Skopelos port.
- The car : it is of course the most practical means of transport. If you have come to the island on foot, we advise you to rent a car via the Rental cars price comparison. It will show you the best prices from the charter companies in Skopelos Port.
Where to stay in Skopelos?
I went through the sites, tourist office and Facebook pages for a long time before finding where to stay in Skopelos. Overall, accommodation is expensive and the choice quite limited. I give you the fruit of my research and some nuggets that I discovered.
Villas and private accommodation
Several villas are available on the island, often a little far from the port. It is imperative in this case to have a means of transport. Many offers on Booking or AirBnb, here are some of our selections:
- Monopati, house for 4 people located near Glossa with a panorama of the Aegean Sea.
- Oikia guest house 5 mins walk from Stafylos beach
- Country village Sendoukia, a villa with swimming pool and superb view of the sea and the green mountains
- Chez Pipitsa, complex of 3 pretty houses surrounded by nature, each with its own private swimming pool: Mulbery tree, Chataîgner and Daphné.
- Lemonia cottage, a beautiful cottage with a swimming pool and an incredible view of the bay
We also spotted this magnificent villa Christine’s House with its neat decoration, with a private swimming pool enjoying a superb view of the bay.
Stay on the port of Skopelos
In the port there are many accommodations, sometimes a little cramped and without much exterior. Be careful not to choose accommodation that is too close to bars and restaurants, which can be noisy in the evening.
Hotel residences at the end of the port of Skopelos
Several hotel residences exist near the beaches and at the end of the port of Skopelos. Here are their advantages:
- They are well located (walking distance from ferries and bars and taverns).
- The environment is less noisy than if you are staying on the old port
- They often have swimming pools and proximity to the small beach
For our part, we chose to sleep at Del Sol Skopelos. Nicely implanted in the olive trees and facing the sea, the residence has a swimming pool and different accommodations of different sizes and budgets.
We were also recommended Evlalia Studios & Villas, a very good value property with swimming pool, located a short walk from the city center.
Accommodation on the beautiful beaches west of Skopelos
For those who love direct access to the sea and sunsets… We recommend the beaches of Agnontas and Panormos, which have many accommodations. They also have several advantages:
- They are pretty sandy beaches
- There are many taverns and cafes there.
- Close to the port of Skopelos
- Accessible by bus
We spotted Stamatias garden in Agnontas a simple accommodation but very well located and inexpensive. And the boutique hotel The Ionisi, an establishment with a swimming pool overlooking Panormou beach.
A little further the very luxurious Adrina hotel
Adrina Beach Hotel, too expensive for us but really beautiful. My friends stayed in this comfortable hotel, private beaches, spa, swimming pools… The plus? They are able to arrange private transfer (taxi and boat) from Athens airport.
Where to eat and have a drink? Our good addresses
On the port of Skopelos:
Vrachos : A cocktail bar overlooking the port. Magnificent view from a shaded terrace. The prices are high, but we appreciate the calm, the view and the atmosphere. To get there, you have to climb a small, very steep staircase.
A little behind the port:
- Azan : In the shopping street, this Greek caterer cooks very good classics of Greek cuisine. It has a few outdoor tables and also offers take-out meals. We swooned over the Imam aubergines, and enjoyed the Politiki salad (carrot, cabbage…), a change from the Choriatiki salad (traditional Greek salad).
- Kanela : A small café-snack offering delicious fresh and homemade sandwiches, pies, pastries and cakes. The perfect place for brunch!
- Decimo : the best freddo we have sipped on the island. Very tasty desserts and breakfast. We recommend the yogurt – Granola – honey – fruit plate.
- muses : A very good restaurant-tavern well rated by Tripadvisor and recommended several times but not tested (remember to book before). More info on their website.
Good addresses elsewhere on the island of Skopelos
- Korali in Agnontas: Special mention to this tavern specializing in fish. A more chic and therefore more expensive place, but very good fresh fish… and there are even lobsters! A good place to eat with your feet in the sand.
- Rigas in Panormos: Unpretentious, welcoming and inexpensive, we ate the great classics of Greek cuisine in this tavern located on the beach.
- Apanemo in Limnonari: A place that brings together a beach bar (with swimming pool), deckchairs on the beach and a tavern. Plus, private parking on this beach where it is difficult to park.
What to see, what to do?
Finally, to better prepare your stay on Skopelos, discover all the must-sees of the island in our article What to do in Skopelos in Greece: our Top.
Sophie B. and Virginie W.