Skopelos

Skopelos is the greenest of the Sporades, an island where dense pine forests roll straight down to the water's edge. It has no airport of its own, the nearest being on Skiathos, so almost everyone arrives by sea: ferries sail from Volos and Agios Konstantinos on the mainland, while short, frequent summer hops connect it with Skiathos next door. Usefully, the island has two ports, Skopelos Town in the east and Glossa/Loutraki in the north, letting you land close to whichever corner you are staying in. The whitewashed Chora, with its slate roofs and flower-filled lanes, climbs above the harbour, and the clifftop chapel of Agios Ioannis Kastri, the wedding church from Mamma Mia, has become one of the most recognisable images in Greece.

Highlights

Agios Ioannis Kastri, the clifftop Mamma Mia wedding chapel
Whitewashed Chora with its distinctive slate roofs
Panormos and Milia, sheltered beaches backed by pine forest
Dense pine forests that reach right down to the sea
The island's beloved plum and prune tradition, tasted in local sweets

Travel Information

Best Time to Visit

Skopelos is at its best from late spring to early autumn, when the summer hops from Skiathos run most frequently and both ports are in full swing. June and September combine warm swimming with uncrowded beaches and forest walks, July and August bring the busiest, most festive season, and late summer doubles as plum-harvest time, when local bakeries fill with prune-based sweets.

Port Information

Skopelos has two ferry ports. The main harbour sits below the amphitheatre of Skopelos Town, steps from the waterfront tavernas and the lanes of the Chora. Glossa/Loutraki, in the north, is the first call for many arrivals and the handier gateway to the Mamma Mia chapel at Kastri. Ferries come from Volos, Agios Konstantinos and, very frequently in summer, from neighbouring Skiathos.

Transport Tips

Check which port your ferry uses before booking accommodation, as Skopelos Town and Glossa/Loutraki sit at opposite ends of the island. A local bus runs the main road between them, stopping near Panormos, Milia and other beaches, and taxis meet arriving boats at both harbours. A hire car helps if you want to explore the forest roads and remoter coves at your own pace.