I love Skiathos!

Kate Matthews on 06 June 2018
Skiathos is absolute heaven! A small slice of paradise in the North West Aegean, only 12kms long and 6km wide. With only a short hop of 3.5hrs on the plane its ideal for a fly and flop holiday.

We always stay in apartments in Koukounaries. It's the last stop on the bus route, right at the end of the south coast of the Island. It’s one of the most famous and popular beaches on the islands. There's a great range of water sports here as well as beach bars, snack bars and lots of welcome shade amongst the pine tree forest set behind the beach. There is also a lake inland from the pines which is a protected natural reserve and a small inlet where local boats are moored and the ducks swim. The sand is powdery, and the warm shallow clear blue waters make it an ideal beach for kids and families of all ages.

Out and about

When we are there we always hire an open top jeep as we love to explore the Island. There are so many other places to visit that are off the beaten track. Skiathos has more than 50 beaches, not all easily accessible as some can be harder to access than others but because of this you can always guarantee the beach will be relatively empty especially in the mornings. Most of the beaches, even the more remote ones, have a beach bar which offer fresh fish, salad, chips, fruit, ice cold Mykonos (the delicious local beers) as well as ice creams etc, plus basic toilet facilities. Our favourite beaches are Agia Eleni, Mandraki Elias, Maratha and Banana beach. A word of warning - there are two banana beaches, one is a nudist beach and the other is for families. So, if you want to keep those white bits white check before you set off your heading to the right one!

Another great way to see the Island is from the sea. In the past we have hired our own motor boat and headed off along the south coast for the day. Its great and costs around £80 for the day, the boats are quite small and have shade. You are given a map of the coast line and the time you must be back then off you head at your own pace. It’s fantastic, you're totally in control and can stop and jump in the sea wherever you want to or visit other islands only accessible by boat. If you’re not keen on taking your own boat out, you can organise private chartered boat trips that offer lunch and drinks too.

Getting about

If you don't want to hire a car, it is so easy and cheap to get around by bus. There’s only one main road along the south of the islands, starting in Skiathos town and finishing the other end in Koukounaries. Bus stops are labelled by numbers and run regularly too

Skiathos Town The town is so pretty, its set around the gorgeous harbour that hosts lots of tasty restaurants, my favourite being the fish restaurant at the end of the harbour. There's also a wide selection of bars and restaurants, ice cream and pancake cafes as well as gift shops and an open-air cinema. The town extends up a hill via cobbled narrow streets with amazing views from the top. There is a fantastic restaurant right at the top called the Windmill which is worth a visit for the stunning views and food.

In the harbour you will see the huge expensive ships that dock there, along the same dock you will also find the boats that offer day excursions to various beaches or sightseeing trips. There are also night markets along this stretch that lead round to further waterside dining, a car park if you’re driving and a couple of small night clubs that I've never seen open probably because I've never stayed out after midnight!

Skiathos Dog and Cat Shelter

If you’re a dog or cat lover, it’s worth a visit to Skiathos Dog Shelter. All the animals here are rescued strays. The shelter was first opened by residents in 1995 as there were so many strays on the street they were starting to form packs and worry the residents. The local monastery (Evangelistria) offered a piece of land well out of town – between another beautiful monastery (Panagia Kounistria) and the town landfill, which is where you will find the sanctuary today. The shelter relies heavily on donations from locals, tourists and international organisations to help with veterinary care, building projects and food. It's a struggle sometimes to keep going. The shelter has no electricity or running water.

It’s a very happy place where many dogs are loved for the first time in their lives – and a stepping-stone to their new lives with a home and a family.

They now offer a dog walking programme to encourage more tourists. There are many Facebook groups now set up by visitors that are keen to help and spread the word as they have been touched with what they have experienced on their visit.

Don't go empty handed, give them a call before you turn up and ask if there are any donations in particular that they require, they may have lots of donations of dog food already but not much cat food or cleaning products etc. It’s best to ask so you can give them exactly what they need. On our last visit, we took a handsome young lab for a walk called Larry, he was so friendly. If we didn't have a cat at home I would seriously consider rehoming one of them! Please pay a visit here and see for yourself.

Mamma Mia Lastly, I couldn't write a blog to Skiathos and not mention Mamma Mia for all you fans of the film! My family are also big fans too and whenever I hear the soundtrack it always takes me back to my Skiathos holidays! As you know Mamma Mia was filmed on the Island of Skiathos and Skopelos. We did the film location boat tour one year which was fun, we visited the beaches where they all danced on the jetty (which was only there for the film purposes) and we walked to the church at the top of the hill where they headed up on the donkey to get married, although the interior of the church was actually shot elsewhere.

A visit to the open-air cinema in town is a must do for my family every time we visit, Mamma Mia is constantly running, it’s a great night out though and the girls love it, you can buy popcorn and hotdogs wine and beer, happy kids happy parents! Skiathos is magical, I have visited many times with my family and we are already booked again for 2019! I can’t wait! Once you visit for the first time you'll definitely be back for more!

If you'd like help planning you next holiday to Skiathos please give me a call to discuss today, thanks Kate