In recent years Skopelos gained fame from the filming of the hit musical ‘Mamma Mia’ but many who visit are enthralled also by the dramatic scenery of the island. There are few beaches because around the coast high cliffs plunge into the sea.
In the centre of the island, a hire car will take you on the way through forests of Aleppo pine and oak to the two peaks, Delphi and Palouki,. The island has 360 churches too, the oldest being the 11th century church in Kastro. The few beaches dotted around the island are sandy and attractive.
Skopelos Mini Guide
Skopelos is one of the greenest of the Greek Islands and is covered in beautiful flowers and vegetation. Tourists flock to Skopelos in the summer because it has fantastic beaches. Most of these are located to the south west of the island where you will find white sands and clear, calm blue waters. Make sure you take a bathing suit, a towel and lots of sun cream to protect you from the baking sun. This charming island has a church or chapel for every day of the year and so it is fair to say that the people there have a strong faith (Greek orthodox).
There is no airport on Skopelos. To get there you need to fly to the island of Skiathos and take a ferry which runs daily. It is the largest of the northern Skopelos Islands and is close to the large city of Volos on mainland Greece from which you can get to Skopelos by ferry. It is also possible to get the ferry to Skopelos from Thessaloniki.
You may be able to take your Rhino Hire car from one of these destinations by ferry to Skopelos. You may also want to rent an off road vehicle as most of the roads in the interior of the island of Skopelos are dirt tracks. Hiring a car is definitely a safer bet than renting a motorbike as there are quite a few moped accidents during the summer months. It is best to fill up when you see a gas station on Skopelos as they can be few and far between. From Skopelos you are also likely to find boats offering day trip to the other islands.
Once you are mobile some good beaches to frequent are Agnondas, Staphylos, Milia, Panormos and Limnonari. Most of these beaches get quite crowded and have a few hotels and tavernas on them. The Klimatari is a good place to eat where you may be able to try pork cooked with the locally grown plums. In terms of souvenirs you will find quite a few shops selling sea shells which make a good gift to bring back home as does the jewellery which is sold almost everywhere. You won’t have trouble finding accommodation to suit your needs in Skopelos as it is plentiful and comes in many shapes and sizes from hotels to guest houses and self catering apartments.
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