Things to do in Skopelos
Skopelos has sand and pebble beaches and, sometimes, a beautiful blanket of snow covers the island during winter. There's good swimming and snorkeling at Staphylos and Panormos beaches; nature lovers will find the National Marine Park both engaging and informative. However, the island's beautiful natural landscapes truly define it as a tourist destination, as they create a wonderful setting for family holidays or romantic getaways. Horse riding, sailing trips and picnicking at Amarandos' deserted coves round out the island's list of activities.
Skopelos Beaches
The island of Skopelos has plenty of beautiful beaches for visitors to enjoy; in fact, it boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. Some of them may be recognisable from
Skopelos Beaches
The island of Skopelos has plenty of beautiful beaches for visitors to enjoy; in fact, it boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. Some of them may be recognisable from the film Mamma Mia, which was shot on the island.
Most are shingle beaches lapped by clear blue waters, great for snorkelling, fishing and swimming. There are usually sunbeds and umbrellas available at the beach, and waterfront taverns nearby. It's ideal to hire a boat to sail to private, secluded coves at one's leisure, but by car or even bus one can still reach lots of great beaches.
Favourites include Stafilos, which is just just under three miles (4km) from Skopelos town, and is a very pretty beach with a bar and a lifeguard. There's parking for cars and the bus does stop at this beach. Panormos is another favourite; the bay boasts one of the most beautiful, natural ports in the world and it's celebrated for its sunsets. Visitors should beware that the water on Panormos gets deep quite fast. Milia is considered by many to be the most attractive beach on the island; it's long and white and has pine forests descending all the way to the beach. The Amarandos coves are also a popular attraction.
National Marine Park
The National Marine Park of North Sporades is a great attraction for visitors to Skopelos. The park was the first designated Marine Park in the country and is currently one of the …
National Marine Park
The National Marine Park of North Sporades is a great attraction for visitors to Skopelos. The park was the first designated Marine Park in the country and is currently one of the largest marine protected areas in Europe. Besides the open ocean, the park includes Alonnisos, six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathura, Piperi and Skantzoura), and 22 uninhabited islets and rocky outcrops.
The waters are a conservation area as they are the breeding grounds for endangered Mediterranean monk seals. There are also a number of dolphin and whale species in the area, including the striped dolphin and the long-finned pilot whale. The park is very beautiful and there's lots to explore.
One of the most popular and beautiful beaches is Agios Dimitrios, a pebble beach with stunning turquoise water, which has been voted several times as one of the most lovely beaches in the world. There are many wonderful beaches to explore and several great walking paths.
Website www.alonissos-park.gr