Skiathos Town Holidays 2024/2025
Rich in history, abundant in beauty and definitely up there when it comes to some of Greece’s best bars and restaurants, Skiathos Town is the beating heart of its zesty namesake island. Here, traditional values meet modern delights from coast to cabin, with local musicians and artisans eager to see a smile on your face and family-run tavernas happy to pile your plate high. You’ll also have the chance to hop on a boat and be on your way across that sensational blue sea as you plan an adventure of sun and laid-back exploration. Where will your holidays to Skiathos Town take you first?
Skiathos Town Holiday Deals
A small, modern town full of history
Skiathos is a small town on the Greek island of the same name in the Aegean Sea, which was conquered many times over the centuries, including by the Athenians and by the Spartans. Today, after a three-and-a-half hour direct flight from London, you’ll find this modern, small and charming town, which plays host to the island’s social life, still proudly offering a lot of history to its visitors.
The Monastery of Panagia Evangelistria, north of the town and accessible by car or foot, is the only inhabited monastery on the island. Built in 1806, the monastery is important to modern Greek history as it sheltered Greek fighters during the Greek War of Independence in the 19th century. A popular story runs that the first blue and white flag of an independent Greece was created and flown here in 1807.
The Monastery of Panagia Evangelistria
Every year on the 21st November, you’ll see a town procession taking place, carrying the icon of the Virgin Mary from the town’s cathedral back to the Monastery of Panagia Kounistra, eight miles west, in the forested hills outside Troulos, where it was discovered by a monk in the 17th century. Take a taxi to pay a visit or alternatively, hire a car or motorbike to give you the freedom to explore other gems on the island.
Getting around the island is easy
If hiring a vehicle for your trip isn’t for you, then don’t worry, there’s an excellent public bus service that runs until late. It departs every 20 minutes in peak seasons, running along the only main paved road on the south coast, from Skiathos Town to Koukounaries, stopping at many villages along the seven-mile route.
An alternative and fun way to see the island is to take a water taxi. The service operates between Skiáthos Town and Koukounaries Kanapitsa, Tzaneria and Achladies beaches.
Step off the water taxi, bus or park your hire car, and bask in the sun and simply take in the view of one – or all – of Skiathos’ 60 stunning beaches along the island’s 27 miles of coastline. Temperatures can reach 29°C in the height of the summer months and rarely fall lower than double digits in winter. On a clear day, you can even see the distant islands of Euboea and Scyros.
Vassilias Beach, which means ‘The King’s Beach’, is just one mile from Skiathos Town, and is a family-friendly place to relax and play with your children in the calm and shallow water.
Vasilias Beach
The sandier and often busier beaches like Vasilias, can be found along the island’s south coast, and the more pebbled, quieter and secluded ones are in the north. Some of the remote beaches can only be reached by boat or by hiking across rough terrain, giving your Greece holidays an added touch of adventure.
Sail the day away
While on the island, you’ll find an abundance of watersports available and catered to your needs. There’s scuba diving, snorkelling and even diving with dolphins, which you can experience at Tzaneria beach, on the south-east of the island.
If you’d like to capture some enviable Instagram moments on your Skiathos Town holidays, take a private sailing trip with Sail the Day. They depart from the New Port, and make stops around the island, giving you the opportunity to swim, explore beaches and fishing villages, taste traditional foods and watch the sunset with a drink in hand.