Skópelos

Although twice as big as Skiáthos, Skópelos is far less busy than its neighbor and has a more relaxed Greek island feel to it. But like that island, it is covered in pine trees, as well as olive groves, vineyards, and orchards of plums and almonds. It is also covered in churches and monasteries, with allegedly one church for every day of the year. Many of those churches are in the main town, Skópelos Town, which is an attractive place built on a hillside by a harbor, the main one on the island. The only other major town is Glóssa, in the north, another attractive place with a feeling of having been untouched by time, with its whitewashed ...

Although twice as big as Skiáthos, Skópelos is far less busy than its neighbor and has a more relaxed Greek island feel to it. But like that island, it is covered in pine trees, as well as olive groves, vineyards, and orchards of plums and almonds. It is also covered in churches and monasteries, with allegedly one church for every day of the year. Many of those churches are in the main town, Skópelos Town, which is an attractive place built on a hillside by a harbor, the main one on the island. The only other major town is Glóssa, in the north, another attractive place with a feeling of having been untouched by time, with its whitewashed houses and narrow back alleys. Skópelos also has some superb beaches, particularly in the south and southwest of the island, and it recently received a boost to its visitor numbers when it was used as the main location for the filming of the movie version of Mamma Mia.

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.