Flights to Skiathos

Skiathos holiday resorts of Skiathos Town, Aghia Paraskevi and Koukounaries

Skiathos Town

Skiathos Town is a trendy mix of shops, bars and cafés and the liveliest and most cosmopolitan of the island's resorts. Many colourful craft shops and traditional tavernas line the narrow streets and chic bars and clubs cascade down the old port steps to the lapping waters of the harbour front. The excellent local transport, both bus and boat, make it a great base for exploring Skiathos and the nearby islands with easy access to many beaches including the nearest at Megali Ammos.

Aghia Paraskevi

Ideal for a family beach holiday, the long stretch of sands at Aghia Paraskevi or Platanias shelves gently into crystal clear waters offering safe bathing for children and water sports to suit all ages from pedaloes to parasailing. Hotels and self catering apartments are scattered beside the main coastal road that runs from Skiathos Town about 4 miles away. The excellent bus service makes the nightlife of Skiathos Town easily accessible but for more relaxed evenings out there are also a handful of tavernas, restaurants and shops close by.

Koukounaries

The superb beach at Koukounaries has developed into one of the island's most popular resorts. Sweeping golden sands are backed by emerald green pines and the picturesque lagoon provides some quite spectacular views. The resort enjoys a laid back atmosphere with a selection of shops and restaurants although the beach can become very busy during the day with a huge selection of water sports on offer. The nightlife of Skiathos Town is about 8 miles away and can be reached via the frequent local bus service.

Bargain flights with Kiss Flights for family fun in Skiathos

The busier tourist beaches that fringe the southern coast of Skiathos are perfect for beach hopping. The most popular sands include Megali Ammos close to Skiathos Town then stretching along the coast to Aghia Paraskevi, Achladies, Kanapitsa, Vromolimnos, Troulos and Koukounaries. All of these have attained Blue Flag status within the EU and offer a variety of fun water sports, a taverna or two for refreshments with a number of them also designated as 'clothing optional'.

The most western of the string of southern coast beaches is Koukounaries. Shaded by cool pine forests, this fantastic crescent of fine golden sands has been labelled as one of the best beaches in Greece. Kiosks, snack bars, sun beds and parasols provide welcome shade and refreshments and water sports include skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, pedaloes and scuba diving. A stroll around the Strofilias freshwater lagoon will bring you to the quieter Banana Beach, a popular haunt of naturists. Koukounaries does get quite busy so be prepared to queue for buses back to Skiathos Town.

A great way to explore the more undiscovered northern section of Skiathos is to hire a jeep. Visit the old medieval walled town of Kastro, its ruins jutting out into the waters of the northern coast on an isolated headland that is connected to the mainland by just a narrow strip of land. You can also drive to the monastery of Evangelistria in its delightful setting poised atop a gorge.

Boats set sail frequently from the bustling port of Skiathos Town. Friendly captains will sail to more remote beaches giving a chance for excellent swimming and diving off the deck for snorkelling in clear blue waters. Some full day excursions will also include a BBQ lunch feasting on fresh fish and kebabs.

Kiss Flights to Skiathos

The efficient bus system on Skiathos makes travelling around remarkably easy. The island's one major road links Skiathos Town with all the major south coast beach resorts and the bus system operates as far as Koukounaries 8 miles away to the west. The fare is just a couple of Euros and the buses run well into the early hours catering for any late night clubbers.

Lively Skiathos Town is the hub of the island, an enchanting maze of narrow streets, traditional tavernas, colourful harbour front, charming craft shops, stylish boutiques and chic nightlife. The old port has the coolest selection of bars lining the steps down to the lapping waters of the harbour front and enticing revellers with trendy cushioned outdoor seating, happy hour cocktail parties and funky music.

With over 60 strands from which to choose south coast beach hopping is easy on Skiathos. However some of the hidden coves of the rugged north are accessible only by boat. One of the most visited of these is the white pebble beach of Lalaria, its rock tunnel approach quite impressive. Shaded by towering marble and limestone cliffs, the dazzling whiteness of the beach is in stark contrast to the clear aquamarine waters of the sea beneath.

The clifftop ruins of Kastro jut out into the waters of the northern coast on an isolated headland that is connected to the mainland by just a narrow strip of land. Brave the fierce meltemi winds and explore the ruins of this old walled medieval town, capital of Skiathos until 1821, and admire the impressive views across to mainland Greece and also down to the beach below.

The monasteries on Skiathos date back to the time of the Turkish occupation although unfortunately most are now in ruins. Still standing, the monastery of Evangelistria enjoys a delightful setting poised above a gorge and is famous throughout the Aegean as being a former refuge for freedom fighters during the War of Independence and site of the first raising of the modern Greek flag in 1807.

Take a boat trip from Skiathos Town across the straits to the small pine covered island of Tsougria. This uninhabited island is perfect for peaceful beach relaxation away from the crowds with just one taverna for refreshments, sun beds and parasols. The boat crossing takes 45 minutes.

Visit nearby Skopelos, a lush green island that's the largest of the Sporades and just a short ferry ride across the water from Skiathos. With glistening whitewashed houses set around a horseshoe shaped harbour, Skopelos Town has a much more relaxed and traditional Greek feel with some delightfully uncrowded beaches on the sheltered southern coast, the most popular being Stafilos and Velanio, the latter a favourite of naturists.

Day ferries also leave from Skiathos Town to visit Alonissos, one of the Aegean's most idyllic and unspoiled islands. Considerably less developed than Skiathos, its rugged coast yields secret beaches accessible only by local caique and its marine park, one of the first of its kind in Greece, harbours the endangered monk seal.

Kiss Flights for Skiathos sports scene

Holiday watersports such as water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaks, canoes, banana boats, tubes and pedaloes can be found on most of the south coast beaches.

Cheap flights to Skiathos for shopping & dining

Skiathos Town is an enchanting maze of narrow streets, traditional tavernas, colourful harbourfront, charming craft shops, stylish boutiques and chic nightlife - definitely the best place on the island to buy those holiday gifts and souvenirs.

Greek tavernas across Skiathos will serve traditional meze with staples such as tsatsiki, taramasalata, dolmades, Greek salad, feta cheese, souvlaki, moussaka, stifado, kleftiko and fresh seafood. Local specialities include Skopelos cheese pies and for dessert sweet walnut pie served with ice cream.

Kiss Flights flights to Skiathos for fun nightlife

Skiathos Town has some lively nightlife concentrated along the waterfront in the port area. A selection of chic bars line the stone steps down to the lapping waters of the harbour front inviting in guests with bright cushioned outdoor seating, happy hour cocktail parties and funky music. Many of the bars and clubs are concentrated around Papadiamantis Street and Polytechniou, also known as Bar Street. The louder all night discos are clustered around the eastern end of the harbour towards the airport. The outdoor Cinema Paradiso on the edge of town screens English films twice nightly.