Skiáthos

Skiáthos is the busiest of the Sporades islands, which is no surprise as it offers what many modern holidaymakers seek – excellent beaches and good nightlife. This mostly centers on Skiáthos Town, which is a very pretty place of red-roofed, whitewashed houses. These clamber around two separate hillsides, and the town also has two main harbors separated by a tiny pine-covered island called Bourtzi. In fact, much of Skiáthos is covered in pines, providing a wonderful scent for walkers wishing to explore the island on foot, especially in the heat of summer. Its beaches are among the best in Greece, and there are also several old monasteries ...

Skiáthos is the busiest of the Sporades islands, which is no surprise as it offers what many modern holidaymakers seek – excellent beaches and good nightlife. This mostly centers on Skiáthos Town, which is a very pretty place of red-roofed, whitewashed houses. These clamber around two separate hillsides, and the town also has two main harbors separated by a tiny pine-covered island called Bourtzi. In fact, much of Skiáthos is covered in pines, providing a wonderful scent for walkers wishing to explore the island on foot, especially in the heat of summer. Its beaches are among the best in Greece, and there are also several old monasteries worth visiting, the best being the Monastery of Evangelistria. The island is also known – at least in Greece – as the home of the popular Greek writer, Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851-1911), whose home is now a museum. Though he may be little-known outside his native land, he is an intriguing character who wrote well about his island home in his novels and short stories.

About the Expert

Mike Gerrard is the author of the National Geographic Traveler Guide to Greece, as well as guides to Athens, Crete, Corfu, the Greek Mainland, and the Greek islands for publishers including AA, AAA, Thomas Cook, Dorling Kindersley, Michelin, and New Holland. With his wife Donna Dailey, he also publishes the Greece Travel Secrets website.