Area activities

The places someone can visit on the island of Skopelos are infinite: The traditional –formally characterized as preserved- settlement of Chora with its numerous churches and wonderful ecclesiastic monuments. Wandering round the spotless picturesque lanes in Chora is a unique experience! Even in the island’s capital, there is the Venetian Gkizi Castle, the old Episcope, the Folklore Museum, the Ancient Asclipieio at Ampeliki, the house of writer Pavlos Nirvanas.

A different experience is the visit to the workshops of the traditional artists of the island, who have been working for centuries on clay, wood, glass, metal. Dishes such as the traditional Skopelos cheese pie made in the island’s traditional ovens are unique. The promenade in the picturesque lanes of the islands can be combined with shopping from the beautiful stores of traditional folk art and not only; hand-made ceramics, jewellery, clothes, but also decorative items are some of the choices the visitor has.
Also, the choices relating to entertainment are truly special, as many of the cafés and bars on the island have a special atmosphere and character. Needless to say, one can enjoy wonderful and not expensive food in the taverns and restaurants on Skopelos.

Apart from the Chora of Skopelos, it is worth visiting the other picturesque settlements of the island; Glossa, Palio Klima and Elios. Also, the many monasteries on the island and in particular Evangelistria, Sotiras, Prodromos monastery, Panagia Eliotissa, Agios Taxiarchis at Vatos, Agia Varvara.

It is worth visiting the wonderful forests on Skopelos, ideal for walks, but also the unending beaches, so much on the southern, as on the northern –wilder- side of the island. Everything the island gives out plentifully to its visitor is what we are looking for… what we expect for our holidays.

If you have a vessel or rent a boat, you will have the privilege of swimming in wonderful secluded beaches, while you can travel by car, motorbike or public bus, which covers the route between Skopelos and Loutraki continuously, to the vast Milia, possibly the most beautiful sandy and pebbly beach on the island, at 21 km from Skopelos, little Antrines, which you can reach via an easy footpath, Kastani, Chovolo next to the village Elos, Limonari, which took its name from its still waters, Stafylos, 4 km from Chora, and Velanio, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, which is also suitable for nude bathing. At Panormos, with its large pebbles at 18 kms from Chora, bathing at dusk is an unforgettable experience, since you think you are swimming in a river of golden waters while the sun is disappearing on the depth of the horizon. Glyfoneri, Velanio, Perivolou, Mark, Armenopetra, each better than the others; beaches that you will remember for ever.

We must also mention that Skopelos gives its visitors the chance to follow beautiful routes in the countryside and the forests on the island, so much on the southern side as on the northern –which is wilder, but possibly more impressive. The walker will have the opportunity to marvel at the unique biodiversity on the island. Evergreen Skopelos is full of olive groves, pines, sycamore trees, fig trees, almond trees, plum trees, walnut trees and other fruit trees. Running waters and ravines give a special note to the landscape and a meeting with herds of the famous Skopelos goat, unique in Greece for its brown-red coat, is a pleasant surprise.

Lastly, Skopelos offers the visitor one more important possibility. It can be the base for a meeting with the sea park of the Northern Sporades, the protected area hosting one of the most threatened mammals, the monk seal. Boats set out from the port at Chora and make day cruises to the beaches and to Patitiri, the Alonnissos port, to the islands Kyra Panagia with the Byzantine monastery, to Gioura, to Psathoura and to Alonnissos Blue Cave with the stalactites.

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