Things To Do in Skopelos

It’s really easy to hop over to neighbouring Skiathos for a day. Ferries set sail from Loutraki in the north-west of Skopelos, and dock in lively Skiathos Town, a picturesque jumble of red-roofed cottages and cobbled lanes. The town is really cosmopolitan, and packed with boutiques, bars and harbour-front restaurants.

This one-day-long event runs straight on from the Summer Festival, so it tends to fall in late August or very early September. It’s held in recognition of the annual plum harvest, and involves huge street jamborees where everyone’s invited to feast on sweet baked plums. Free-flowing wine is normally part of the deal, as well.

Skopelos is a destination of choice for walkers. The island’s main source of income isn’t tourism, but its olive groves, which means the countryside is totally unspoiled. Forests and orchards sweep from coast to coast, and they’re threaded with dinky mule tracks that lead visitors to empty beaches and time-stopped hamlets.

This pebbly crescent is fairly quiet, but it’s got a great line of tavernas behind it that play music at low volume and provide some atmosphere. It’s also got beautifully clear waters that welcome snorkellers. The beach is less than a 10-minute drive from Skopelos Town, on the west coast of the island.

Kastri, on the forest-fringed outskirts of Aghios Yiannas, houses a tiny white chapel perched on a rock. It’s so pretty, that the wedding scenes from the 2008 hit, Mamma Mia, were filmed here. Cross the causeway from the town’s main beach and you can scramble up the 105 steps winding to the summit. The views are out of this world.

Just under an hour’s boat ride from Skopelos Town, the island of Alonnisos has some of the best scenery for miles around. Spend a day here and you can wander around the pretty port of Kyra Panagia, an islet topped by a Byzantine monastery, and explore the Blue Cave – a mysterious sea grotto that you can sail through.

Milia Beach is about a 15-minute drive from Skopelos Town, and it curves along the island’s west coast in a ribbon of white sand and pebbles. Pine trees march down to its parameters, and jet skis and pedaloes line up by the shoreline. You can try parasailing here, too, and enjoy spectacular views of the coastline as you skim across the water.

Skopelos is laden with monasteries and churches, but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest – quite literally. It teeters on Mount Poalouki, opposite Skopelos Town, and was founded way back in the 1700s. Once you’ve walked around its chunky walls, check out its showpiece – a massive, gold-plated altar screen brought here from Constantinople in the 14th century.

This fascinating museum provides a real insight into old Skopeliot life. Tucked into the heart of Skopelos Town, it’s crammed with examples of old-time handicrafts like embroidery, ceramics and decorative knives. There’s even a recreation of a 19^th-century marital bedroom and sitting room, which shows just how simple life used to be.

The scenery at Limnonaris Beach is worthy of a postcard. This wide sandy bay is backed by rolling hills, and fronted by waters that shimmer in every shade of green and blue. To get here, catch a bus from the main road in Skopelos Town, and follow the dirt track down to the sand.

It may be tranquil now, but Skopelos has a turbulent history. The island was captured by a string of occupiers including the Romans, Ottomans and Venetians, and it’s thought to have been first colonised a staggering 30,000 years ago. The best evidence of this are these enormous graves cut into Delphi Mountain, Skopelos’ highest peak, about 15 minutes’ drive from Skopelos Town. They’re thought to have belonged to kings of the Byzantine era.

This explosive festival commemorates the end of summer. Celebrations take place across the island, but Skopelos Town and Glossa really go all out. Local dancing, rembetika performances and costumed processions are all part of the deal, plus you can look forward to huge banquets and all-night parties.

If you fancy getting up-close to the marine life in Skopelos, sign up for a trip to the National Marine Park near the offshore island of Alonnisos. The seas here host dolphins and a tiny colony of Monk Seals – rare creatures that are facing extinction. Excursion boats leave from Skopelos Town and, as well as blowing the cobwebs away, you’ll get the chance to see pods of dolphins swooping around the boat.

Some of Skopelos’ best beaches are hidden away down steep tracks, so if leg-crunching walks don’t appeal, rent a motorboat instead. There are plenty of hire offices around Skopelos Town and the main beaches. Once you’ve got your vehicle, you can pack a cool box and sail around the coast, anchoring in secluded bays or beside ramshackle waterside tavernas.