Visitor reviews of resorts, beaches, apartments, tavernas from visitors on holiday on the Greek island of Skopelos. Have you been to Skopelos this year? Let others know of your experiences. We welcome all opinions on holidays in Skopelos.
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Good: The island capital . . . is one of the most beautiful villages in all the islands; and the countryside is a similar lovely mixture of pine woods and fruitful hillsides dotted with the domes and cloisters of scores of quiet monasteries.
Bad: Skopelos is becoming increasingly popular with a rapid growth of package holiday hotels . . . this is higher quality business than most Greek resorts attract. Prices are correspondingly high and the atmosphere in the resort correspondingly civilised, or bland, depending on your point of view.
Good: Bigger, more rugged and better cultivated than Skiathos, Skopelos is almost as busy, but its concessions to tourism are lower key and in better taste.
Bad: Not a lot.
Good: Skopelos is an exceptionally beautiful island, more dramatic than Skiathos, its entire 100 sq km shaded by fragrant pine forests. Its beaches almost as lovely as those flaunted so commercially by its more rambunctious, raucous neighbour and it has two exceptionally pretty towns, Skopelos and Glossa.
Bad: Like Skiathos, Skopelos is expensive.
Skopelos is a very lush, beautiful green island which is well worth a couple of weeks of your time. You can walk out of the main town and within twenty minutes be in the countryside (an excellent book of walks is available in local shops). Skopelos town is a horseshoe-shaped harbour with a maze of streets leading upwards to a ruined castle. You can wander for hours through twisting and turning streets, past white-painted stone houses with bougainvillea tumbling over the walls. Thankfully most of these houses are occupied by local residents - rather than being bought up as second homes or by holiday companies. Indeed, one of the best features of Skopelos town is the sense of everyday life continuing to go on all around you - it is not strictly geared to the tourist trade.
I would very much recommend the walk to a monastery (can't remember the name) which you can see halfway up a hillside from Skopelos harbour. The walk takes roughly an hour, up a steep but winding slope. Built in the early 1700s, this white stone edifice is maintained by two elderly nuns. You will be shown into a small dark church full of icons - almost overpowering in its intensity. Be prepared to buy a small gift from their shop, which helps with the upkeep of the monastery.
Back in the harbour, go to the Thalassa café overlooking the town - you reach it via the staircase at the end of the harbour. This consists of an open-air courtyard decked with plants. The owner was extremely welcoming, to the point of offering (on various occasions) a free bottle of water, some cactus cuttings to take back to the UK and a pair of binoculars to enjoy the spectacular view out to Alonissos. Walk slightly further uphill from Thalassa and you reach the remains of the castle. Most of the restaurants on the waterfront are mediocre, but a slight cut above the rest is Achtaeon. Better still, head up into the streets behind the harbour for Finikas where, beneath the shade of a pineapple tree, they serve much more imaginative food (vegetarian lasagne etc).
In terms of bars, again you need to get away from the waterfront and explore the back streets. One of the best is the Olwnos bar, a small, dark and intimate venue, where the young owner plays an eclectic range of music ranging from Turkish dance music to Gregorian chants - the surprise of never knowing what would be played next. The only negative comment I have to make is about Glossa, on the other side of the island. This is described in many guides books as "unspoilt", but the atmosphere is strictly flyblown.
Joe Swan
You are spot on with your info on Skopelos. We had a great time. I don't know how much info I can give you after a week but we hired a motorbike (not a scooter) and went to the top of the mountain (hill) Delphi or something. Really interesting ride on rough roads and walk to the top. Best restaurant we found was The Garden (behind the Owl bar), a class above the rest. Generally food around the tavernas was simple and greasy but the veal at The Garden was excellent, as was the service. The taverna in the centre of Glossa had magnificent views and is well worth the trip. Good food too. We weren't expecting a four hour wait for the flying Dolphin from Skiathos . . . you may like to warn future travellers.
Keith
Skopelos is a lovely green island, not overdeveloped but with plenty to do. It is great for walking, has lovely clean beaches and water and is very friendly. Skopelos town has most of the nightlife but at the other end of the island is the lovely hilltop village of Glossa. It has a number of great tavernas including the Agnanti which has the best views on the island and food to match. I don't think it is over expensive.
Martin
Went to Skopelos and thought it was fantastic - a beautiful town, very relaxed, with easy access to the countryside. Skopelos Town is fascinating. The island is very lush and green with a number of walks. There are also several good beaches.
Jessie Bins
Generally speaking, the prices on Skopelos are slightly over the average of Greek Islands. Compared to Thassos the prices are a bit higher, compared to Skiathos or Myconos they are significantly lower. As far as I remember, my bill for main dish and soft drink counted cca 13 Euro in taverna in Glossa. The prices for sun beds can hardly compare those in Skiathos
Jasper Bell
Anyone looking for ways to get to Skopelos could check out the Madro Travel site which has ferry and hydrofoil times, though they often change each year. You can book in Skiathos at any ticket agent (there are several). By hydrofoil it takes around 45 min, by ferry 90min to cover the 17 nautical miles.
You can also make ticket reservations for the Flying Dolphin through Minoan Lines in Athens (00301) 6198340, 4280001, 7512356, 7564850 or Skiathos (0030 427) 22018, 22033, 22722. Regarding the hydrofoil schedules Skiathos to Skopelos I think it is better suited for those making a one day trip from Skopelos to Skiathos than for those arriving from Skiathos. The last ferry from Skopelos is 5pm so I am considering to stay one night in Skopelos town. There are dozens of rooms to let on Skopelos. It's best just to turn up, although if you want to book ahead there is an association of owners 04240 24567 and there are a few small hotels that will do a room for the night. Madro Travel, on the quayside, fixed me up with excellent room when I visited. Just look them up on the web http://www.madrotravel.com/
Paulo
Wasps can be a pain on Skopelos but usually a bit later in the year. They grow lots of plums on the island and the wasps go for the rotten fruit. Stay away from places that have plum orchards nearby and you should be fine.
Robin Childs
