How to get to Skopelos in Greece? Where to stay?

You’ve just watched Mamma Mia, and it’s decided: for your next vacation, you’re going to visit the island of Skopelos in Greece! It’s a great choice, as you’re sure to appreciate this island in the Sporades, where the green pine mountains meet the blue sea.

Let’s get ready! How do I get to Skopelos? Where to stay in Skopelos? How to get around the island? What to visit in Skopelos?

All our advice and practical information to help you prepare for your stay, plus our best addresses for tavernas and café-bars to visit Skopelos!

How to get to Skopelos?

To get to Skopelos in Thessaly (note that there is also a Skopelos on the island of Lesbos), the island has no airport, so you’ll have to take the ferry at some point. Here are the options we found for getting to Skopelos.

Getting to Skopelos by plane + ferry

From Athens, you can fly direct to the nearby island of Skiathos. To do this, I suggest you look at the flight options on the price comparison site ClickandBoat, they offer excellent customer service.

To reach the island, take a boat that links Skiathos – Skopelos in 1h30. And to find the best ferry, take a look at the website Ferry Hopper an easy-to-use comparator.

Ferry to visit Skopelos

There are several ferry ports to Skopelos:

• the port of Volos to the north
• Mantoudi on the island of Evia
• Agios Konstantinos on the mainland
• from the other Sporades islands: 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.

From Athens, you can reach the ports either by public transport or by car.

By public transport, the easiest way is to take the Ktel Evias bus to Mantoudi (on the island of Evia), which takes 2.5 hours.

For the car, which is certainly the best solution, we recommend you book a rental car in Athens with Rental cars, a very good price comparator that allows you to find a vehicle at the best price. You can then take the ferry with your rental car and explore the island of Skopelos on your own.

For even more information, take a look at Skopelos.com.

Getting around the island

The island of Skopelos is not very large, and it takes around 1 to 1.5 hours to reach the southern and northernmost tip of the island. There are several ways to get around Skopelos:

• Bus: Skopelos has a private bus service that connects the island’s main points of interest, and is quite well served in summer. Timetables are usually indicated at the various bus stops. More info here
• 2-wheelers: you’ll find most scooter, quad bike and even bicycle rental companies in and around the port of Skopelos.
• The car: this is of course the most practical means of locomotion. If you’ve come to the island on foot, we recommend renting a car via the Rental cars price comparison service. He will show you the best prices from rental companies in the port of Skopelos.

Where to stay in Skopelos?

I spent a long time scouring websites, tourist offices and Facebook pages before finding a place to stay in Skopelos. On the whole, accommodation is expensive and choice is limited. Here is the fruit of my research and the few nuggets I discovered near the port of Skopelos, close to the beaches…

Villas and private homes

Several villas are available on the island, often a little way from the port. In this case, it is imperative that you have your own means of transport. Many offers on Booking, here are some of our selections:

• Oikia Guesthouse 5 mins walk from Stafylos beach
• Skopelos Country Villas, a villa with swimming pool and superb view of the sea and green mountains
• Villa La Paloma, a holiday home with 2 bedrooms, a garden and view on the Aegean Sea
• Villa Potami, a 2 bedrooms villa with a swimming pool
• Lemon casa, a beautiful apartment in Skopelos Town, next to restaurants and shops.

We also spotted this beautifully decorated Christine’s House, villa with its private pool and superb views over the bay.

Accommodation in the port of Skopelos

In the port, there’s plenty of accommodation, sometimes a little cramped and without much outside space. Be careful not to choose accommodation too close to bars and restaurants, which can be noisy in the evening.

Hotel residences at the end of the port of Skopelos

There are several hotel residences close to the beaches and at the end of the port of Skopelos. Here are their advantages:

• They are conveniently located (walking distance from ferries, bars and tavernas).
• The environment is less noisy than if you stay on the old port
• They often have swimming pools and a small beach nearby.

For our part, we chose to sleep at Del Sol Skopelos. Nestled among olive groves and facing the sea, the residence features a swimming pool and a range of accommodation of different sizes and budgets.

We were also recommended Evlalia Studios & Villas, a very good-value establishment with swimming pool, just a short walk from the town center.

Accommodation on the magnificent 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 plenty of accommodation. They also offer several advantages:

• Beautiful sandy beaches
• There are many taverns and cafés in the area
• Near the port of Skopelos
• Accessible by bus

We spotted Stamatias garden in Agnontas, a simple but very well located and inexpensive accommodation.

A little further on, the luxurious Hotel Adrina

Adrina Beach Hotel, too expensive for us but truly magnificent. My friends stayed at this hotel, which offers every comfort, private beaches, spa, swimming pools… The best part? They can organize private transfers (cab and boat) from Athens airport.

Where to eat and drink? Our good addresses

On the port of Skopelos :

Vrachos: A cocktail bar overlooking the port. Magnificent views from a shady terrace. Prices are high, but you’ll appreciate the peace and quiet, the view and the ambience. To get there, you have to climb a steep staircase.

A little set back from the port:

• Azan: On the shopping street, this Greek delicatessen cooks up classic Greek dishes. It has a few outdoor tables and also offers takeaway meals. We fell in love with the Imam eggplants, and enjoyed the Politiki salad (carrot, cabbage…), a welcome change from the Choriatiki salad (traditional Greek salad).
• Kanela: A small café-snack bar offering delicious fresh, homemade sandwiches, trartes, puff pastries and cakes. The perfect place for brunch!
• Decimo: the best freddo we sipped on the island. Delicious desserts and breakfast. We recommend the yogurt – granola – honey – fruit plate.
• Muses: A very good tavern-restaurant, highly rated by Tripadvisor and recommended several times but not tested (remember to book in advance). More info on their website.

Good addresses elsewhere on the island of Skopelos

• Korali in Agnontas: Special mention for this fish tavern. A more upscale and therefore more expensive place, but very good fresh fish… and there’s even lobster! A great place to eat with your feet in the sand.
• Rigas in Panormos: Unpretentious, welcoming and inexpensive, we ate the great classics of Greek cuisine at this beachside taverna.
• Apanemo in Limnonari: A place that combines beach bar (with swimming pool), deckchairs on the beach and taverna. Plus, private parking on a beach where parking is difficult.

Visit Skopelos : what to see, what to do?

Finally, to help you prepare for your stay on Skopelos, discover all the island’s must-sees in our article What to do in Skopelos, Greece: our top tips.

^{Sophie B. and Virginie W.}