A guide to the best beaches in Skiathos

Koukounaries Beach

This is certainly the most famous beach on the whole island, and therefore the most busy. The sand is beautifully fine and white, while the pine trees that line the beach edge provide a charming fragrant backdrop for your senses. It is a totally unspoiled beach, probably the least touched in the whole of the Mediterranean. The beach offers all the usual amenities, and the water is fantastically clear.

Vromolimnos Beach

Vromolimnos Beach can be found on the south coast of Skiathos, a 10-minute drive south-west of Skiathos Town, near Kolios. The beach is considered to be the second most popular on the whole island behind Koukounaries, and offers facilities like umbrellas and sunbeds, along with a watersports centre. The beach is particularly popular with the younger crowd thanks to the music belting out of the bars.

Lalaria Beach

Lalaria is a supremely cool and an off the-beaten-track place to visit. You have to get to it by boat from the capital’s port, and so it’s not too busy at all. Located on the north-eastern tip of the island, the beach boasts unbelievable, imposing beauty thanks to the dramatic white cliffs rising out of the deep blue water. A rock formation makes for a natural bridge between the sea and the land – with a hole in the middle that you can swim through. There are also some nearby caves worth a visit by boat.

Banana Beach

This beach is shaped like its name suggests, with organised chairs and umbrellas, fine sand, and clear, blue water. A range of watersports are available, and a little way down the dirt road is a smaller bay called Little Banana, a nudist beach separated from the main beach by a giant rock formation.

Achladies Beach

Achladies is popular as it’s only a 15-minute walk away from Skiathos Town. Though it is a small cove, you can rent wind-surf and water ski-ing equipment here. Get to Achladies by car, bus or even boat from Skiathos Town, as well as on foot.

Troulos Beach

Located on the southern coast of the island, Troulos Beach is a 10-minute drive away from Skiathos Town and right on the edge of Troulos. The water is crystalline and the sand is white golden, while the pine trees provide much needed shade. There’s umbrellas and sunbeds as well as a lifeguard. Troulos is a worthy destination in itself and is served by tavernas and bars. The beach has been awarded a Blue Flag for its cleanliness and quality of water.

Aselinos Beach

Aselinos is a long sand and pebble beach on the northern side of Skiathos Island, about a 10-minute drive west of Skiathos Town. Kounistra Mountain is nearby, and the area is popular with day-trippers and walkers because of its natural beauty.

This beach isn’t organised at all but that’s the charm. It’s a nice one if you want to head to a beach that feels a bit quieter and untouched, yet beautiful. It’s a 10-minute drive south-west of Skiathos Town, and features gentle bays and soft sands. There are a few lovely hotels and villas here, and on a moonlit summer night the water is spectacular.

This beach isn’t organised at all but that’s the charm. It’s a nice one if you want to head to a beach that feels a bit quieter and untouched, yet beautiful. It’s a 10-minute drive south-west of Skiathos Town, and features gentle bays and soft sands. There are a few lovely hotels and villas here, and on a moonlit summer night the water is spectacular.

Agia Eleni Beach

This beach is located on the west coast of the island, a 15-minute drive from the capital and a short walk from Koukounaries. Only part of it is organised, so the rest is clear space. It’s a good choice for families with children – the water is shallow and the trees provide shade when the sun is very hot.

Tzaneria Beach

About a 10-minute drive from Skiathos Town, Tzaneria Beach is very well organised, with three rows of umbrellas and sunbeds as well as a watersports centre. It is surrounded by loads of greenery and high pine trees, as well as lots of restaurants, tavernas and bars.