Skyros

Skyros is an island in the Sporades, which shares many similarities with destinations in the Cycladic archipelago. The Greek island is famous for its beautiful landscapes and it’s ideal for relaxing holidays. On this Ferryhopper page, you can find all the information you need about your trip to Skyros. Discover the best beaches and attractions, learn more about the quaint villages and see all ferry schedules, to plan your trip.

The impressive castle of Skyros above the island capital

Vacation in Skyros

Skyros is the largest and southernmost island of the Sporades. Located at the center of the Aegean Sea, it is a great destination for laid-back vacation, close to mainland Greece and Euboea. During your stay in Skyros, you can enjoy beautiful coasts and natural sites, eat fresh seafood, shop traditional artifacts and have fun in Chora.

The north part of the island is covered with lush vegetation and a pine tree forest, which is typical of the Sporades. The south part of Skyros is more rocky and remote, resembling the Cyclades. There are, also, many beautiful beaches all around the island.

How to get to Skyros

There are direct ferry routes from the port of Kymi in Euboea to Skyros. Ferries from Kymi to Skyros depart daily and the journey duration is approximately 1.5 hours. 

The port of Kymi is located in the northern part of Euboea and it’s around 3 hours from Athens. You can reach Kymi by private vehicle or bus. Buses (KTEL) to Kymi depart daily from the Liosia intercity bus station (KTEL Liosion) in Athens.

You can also travel indirectly from the port of Volos to Skyros, stopping at Skopelos and Alonissos. Find more information on how to get from Volos to Skyros by ferry.

Good to know: There’s also a national airport in Skyros, serving flights from Athens and Thessaloniki.

What to do in Skyros

Skyros has been inhabited since Homeric times. There are many archaeological sites and monuments on the island, bearing testimony to its rich history. You can discover the past of the island by visiting interesting monuments and museums. As for beaches, Skyros is pure heaven. Most beaches are calm and sandy, perfect for relaxation away from the crowds. There are also some beaches with visitor amenities and beach bars.

Moreover, Skyros (or Skiros) is famous for its villages and local cuisine. There are many villages around the island, where you can enjoy delicious dishes, such as lobster pasta, and shop local products. Don’t forget to visit one of the island farms to pat one of the extra cute miniature horses on the head.

Tip: One of the best times to visit Skyros is during the Clean Monday holiday break. The famous festival taking place every year is a great way to get acquainted with the local traditions. The carnival of Skyros dates back to ancient times and locals reenact the Dionysian rituals by dressing in costumes and walking around the alleys of Chora.

Beaches in Skyros

There are many amazing beaches for every taste in Skyros. You can find some beaches with visitor amenities, such as sun loungers and umbrellas, but most of them are remote and untouched. Here are 11 of our favorite beaches on the island:

1. Agios Petros: Agios Petros is a charming beach with emerald waters, sand and pebbles. There are no visitor amenities, but there are plenty of pine trees for shade.
2. Pefkos: This is a sandy beach with trees and umbrellas. It is located in the village of Pefkos and it’s surrounded by green hills.
3. Kira Panagia: It is a large sandy beach with crystal-clear waters and trees.
4. Kalamitsa: This is one of the largest beaches in Skyros. It is a pebble beach with umbrellas, tavernas and cafés. Moreover, it’s ideal for surfing.
5. Agalipa: These are 2 beaches in a beautiful cove surrounded by pine trees. Both beaches are sandy and have clear blue waters. There are no visitor amenities and the easiest way to get there is by boat. There’s an old shipwreck on the southern beach.
6. Magazia: The sandy beach in Chora is one of the most popular on the island. The beach has crystal-clear blue waters and there are visitor amenities, tavernas and cafés.
7. Pouria: Pouria is distinguished by its amazing scenery and intricate rock formations. The impressive rock-carved chapel of Agios Nikolaos is in the area.
8. Acherounes: It’s a golden-sand beach with calm, shallow waters close to the port. It is great for families and there are cafés for drinks and snacks.
9. Atsitsa: Atsitsa is a heavenly cove with pebbles, crystal-clear waters and lush vegetation that reaches the sea.
10. Gyrismata: This is a popular beach with sand and small pebbles. There are sun loungers and umbrellas, as well as shops nearby.
11. Molos: This is one of the busiest beaches in Skyros. There are visitor amenities such as umbrellas, sun loungers, beach bars and restaurants.

The shipwreck at Agalipa beach in Skyros

Activities and sightseeing in Skyros

During your vacation in Skyros, Ferryhopper suggests that you explore the great outdoors! Visit one of the traditional eco-preservation farms of Skyros, to see the miniature Skyrian horses. This protected horse breed is one of the cutest animals ever (!!!) and it’s also one of the most rare breeds in the world.

Moreover, don’t miss out on a boat trip to the neighboring islets of Sarakino, Skiropoula and Valaxa, and if you’re interested in cave exploration, don’t leave Skyros without admiring the stalactites of the Pentekali cave, the largest cave on the island.

Apart from natural sites of great importance, in Skyros, you can also find several monuments from the Byzantine, Venetian and ancient times. You can explore archaeological sites, marvel at museum exhibits and hike around the island to admire the chapels. Here are the top attractions in Skyros:

• The Faltaits Historical and Folklore Museum
• The monastery of Agios Georgios
• The castle of Skyros
• The Archaeological Museum of Skyros
• The prehistoric settlement of Palamari
• The statue of Rupert Brooke at Brooke Square 

The miniature Skyrian horses

Nightlife in Skyros

Skyros is an easy-going destination, perfect for relaxing summer nights and serenity. Travelers can enjoy drinks and delicious food at one of the many bars and restaurants that stay open until late. Most bars in Skyros are located in Chora, but there are also some lounge beach bars at Molos and Magazia. Skyros is great for families, couples and small groups. You can enjoy a glass of Greek wine at one of the tavernas, drink delicious cocktails at the cute bars or delve into the local cuisine at a restaurant. 

Food in Skyros

Skyros is one of the best destinations in Greece to try lobster pasta!  Apart from fresh fish and seafood, Skyros is also famous for its mouthwatering desserts and delicious cheeses, such as the local graviera with the distinct flavor and aroma. Here’s what to try in Skyros:

• Ladopita: deep-fried dough topped with soft white cheese and honey
• Trahanopita: tarhana-based pie
• Agalipokeftedes: sea anemone fried balls
• Tiroptaria: fried phyllo pastry filled with rice, tarhana and cheese
• Amigdalota: sweet almond biscuits
• Local cheeses: graviera, mizithra, xinotiri
• Lobster pasta
• Goat stew with lemon sauce
• Fava beans

Tip: We recommend that you try fried meatballs at Barba Giannis in Chora, as well as fresh fish at Asimenos in Aspous and Stefanos at Magazia. If you love desserts, try bougatsa (phyllo pastry filled with semolina cream) at Mitsos in Chora, ice cream at Faltaina’s Sweets and almond biscuits at Chiotis.

Villages in Skyros

There are around 3,000 permanent residents in Skyros and most of them live in Chora, the island capital. It’s worth exploring the alleys of Chora with the traditional houses and visiting more villages on the island, to get a glimpse of the local lifestyle, try delicious food and shop local honey and beautiful ceramics. Here are some of the villages worth-visiting in Skyros:

• Chora
• Molos
• Trachi
• Linaria
• Aspous
• Acherounes
• Achilli
• Kalamitsa
• Kalikri
• Nifi
• Loutro
• Pefko

Rock-carved chapel at the village of Molos

Useful information for Skyros

Most visitor amenities in Skyros are in Chora and the port of Linaria. In Chora, there are supermarkets, grocery stores, car rentals, an ATM machine, a pharmacy, a post office, a medical center and a gas station. There’s also an ATM machine and a gas station at the port. As for shops, restaurants and accommodation, there are plenty of options around the island.

Useful phone numbers for your stay in Skyros

Find some useful contact information for your trip to Skyros below:

• Skyros Port Authority: +302222093475
• Kymi Port Authority: +302222022606
• Skyros Medical Center: +302222092222
• Skyros intercity bus station (KTEL Skyrou): +302222091123
• Athens intercity bus station (KTEL Athinon): +30210831715
• Municipality of Skyros: +302222350343
• Police: +302222091274

Transportation in Skyros

You can get around Skyros by private vehicle, bus or taxi. Buses serve the following route several times a day: Linaria - Chora - Magazia - Molos - Airport. For more flexibility, we recommend that you bring your own vehicle on the ferry car deck or rent a car or motorcycle on the island.

Ports in Skyros

The main port of Skyros is in Linaria on the west coast of the island. The port of Linaria is approximately 10km from Chora and serves ferry routes to nearby islands and Euboea. There are grocery stores, car rentals, a gas station, an ATM machine, hotels and cafés at the port of Skyros.

Island hopping from Skyros

If you want to go island hopping in the Sporades, you can check ferry routes from Skyros to Alonissos and Skopelos. Depending on passenger demand, there might be direct ferries to the two islands from Skyros during peak season. The journey duration is around 6 hours with standard vessel.

If you want to explore even more of the Sporades, you can continue your island-hopping adventure from Alonissos and Skopelos to Skiathos with highspeed vessel. The trip duration from Alonissos to Skiathos is 1 hour, while from Skopelos to Skiathos it is just 10 minutes!

Find all ferry routes on Ferryhopper’s Map of ferries, to plan your itinerary in the Sporades and explore more ferry connections in the Aegean Sea.

Sea viewing point at the port of Skyros

Are you looking forward to enjoying a peaceful vacation in Skyros and the Sporades? On Ferryhopper, you can get all the information you need about vacation in Skyros, as well as ferry routes to the island. Plan your itinerary, find ferry routes from Skyros to more islands in the Sporades and get ready for unforgettable holidays in Greece!