Return to Home Page Harrys Greece Guide

Map & Synopsis: Greek Island of Skopelos (Sporades)
Click Map for Island Guide to Skopelos

greece travel map skopelos greek island Greek Island of Skopelos

Skopelos is both larger and less touristic than Skiathos, though also possessing fine beaches and beautiful in many respects.

Skopelos has large areas of pine forest as well as olive groves and orchards of fruit and nut trees; the island is known for its almonds.

Lovely Skopelos Town (or Hora), is the main town and port, with white houses above a large crescent bay, with roof tiles of both red clay and blue slate, and wooden, flower strewn balconies; ruins of a Venetian castle is up above.

Back from the waterfront, the town has kept much of its traditional character (due to persistent local efforts), and crafts such as ceramics, wood carving and boat model construction are still alive in its back streets; fisherman sell natural sponges on the waterfront. There are many churches in the town. A wide range of affordable eating places and foods are available, as are rooms, though the latter are pricey in peak season.

Sights include views from the Venetian castle, the folklore museum, folk art museum, the 18th century stone church of Panayia Eleftherotria, the fortified Venetian Episkopi monastery, Ayios Reginos church, the Fournou Damaskinon, the huge oven on the edge of town where local plums are dried to make the famous local prunes. Then there's the Evangelistrias monastery where nuns sell their weavings, Ayia Varvara, a fortified monastery with 15th century frescoes, and the remote, very beautiful Timiou Prodhromou Monastery.

A path that starts near the town beach connects these three monasteries. A fifth monastery is up on the summit of Polouki mountain, at 546 meters, with great views from the top, though the monastery is abandoned and overgrown.

There are many places to go on Skopelos island, with many boat excursions to such places as Trypiti, a sea cave with lobsters where people fish; or Ayios Georyios islet with its 17th century monastery and herd of wild goats. On the main bus route from Skopelos town one passes Stafylos Beach, with its good taverna and some rooms, Agnondas, a harbor with fish tavernas, traditional bakery and pebble beach, the beautiful resort of Panormos bay with pine trees, campsite, pebble beach and yacht anchorage, the fine sandy Limonari beach, secluded Andrines beach, the little pebble beach of Milia, opposite and island and with a taverna, the long beach of Kastani (nude bathing) with little coves past its, the beach resort of Elios, the village of Paleo Klima and abandoned village of Aghii Anarghyrii, the hill village of Glossa above Loutraki port. In the latter one can find homemade retsina and shady chestnut trees. Glossa, up above, is quiet and picturesque, with Ottoman houses. Rooms can be found in Paleo Klima and in Atheato village, the island's oldest, and on the coast at Elios. The remote northcoast village of Kaloyeros (which means monk) is near the island's summit; there are rock tombs, likely Early Christian, at Karya. There's a cave at Perivoliou beach on the north coast.