Skiathos is only 46 sq km, but many people choose to return for their holidays year after year for the simple fact that it has amongst the best beaches of the Greek islands, a large variety of taverns, bars and places to stay and the fact that it is absolutely gorgeous.
It is a verdant, green island with over 60 beaches and depending on where you stay, you can have a quiet, relaxing holiday or a more active one doing excursions, sports and enjoying the nightlife.The locals mainly live off tourism and agriculture. They grow olives, fruit and walnuts and there is both local honey and wine. Many of the islanders leave the island in the winter and work on the mainland.
Skiathos is a popular summer resort for British and Scandinavian holidaymakers, but there are also many Italians, Germans, Dutch and Swiss. The Greeks also love Skiathos, and they like to see it as a bit of a cosmopolitan island.
It is a verdant, green island with over 60 beaches and depending on where you stay, you can have a quiet, relaxing holiday or a more active one doing excursions, sports and enjoying the nightlife.The locals mainly live off tourism and agriculture. They grow olives, fruit and walnuts and there is both local honey and wine. Many of the islanders leave the island in the winter and work on the mainland.
Skiathos is a popular summer resort for British and Scandinavian holidaymakers, but there are also many Italians, Germans, Dutch and Swiss. The Greeks also love Skiathos, and they like to see it as a bit of a cosmopolitan island.
It is also a home to many of the best holiday villas in Greece
Families come back to Skiathos and stay in holiday villas and apartments year after year. They are drawn back to this beautiful island of Skiathos
When you come to Skiathos town, “Chora”, you can not miss out on shopping at all. Chora is full of interesting shops, restaurants, bars and cafes that can provide you with the best feel in the world. The charm of shopping is due to the souvenir shops, local crafts and the amazing narrow streets full of lovely restaurants, bars and shops and open air movie as well that render the experience as further blissful.
Skiathos is known all over the world for the amazing sandy beaches it has and thereby is also known to be a perfect destination if family trips and vacations are to be planned.
When you come here make sure you do not miss over the Evagelistria monastery which is a well known landmark of the place as it was the starting point of the 19th century Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire . It is charismatic and charming and represents the olden times of the place.
The monastery Evangelistra is situated a 30 minute drive outside Chora. It has some amazing surroundings and is open for the public. Characteristic for the monastery are the many friendly cats, birds and dog that live here. Evangelistra also has a small museum with various objects from its history. There is also an excellent shop here where you can buy icons, crucifixes, plates, T-shirts and even wine.
Another monastery is Kounistra monastery further away from Chora. Here, a monk found an icon of the Virgin Mary hanging in a tree in the 17th century, and the monastery was built after the icon: Kounistra means "the swinging". This used to be a school during the Ottoman rule, and you are free to walk around in it. The icon is the Tris Ierarches church in Chora today, so the Kounistra church only holds a copy.
Then another must visit is the house of Papadiamantis, in which Alexandros Papadiamantis, one of the most important Greek authors of the past century was born, lived and died. It was built in 1850 -1860 by father Adamantios, the author's grandfather. The ground floor was used for storage and the first floor for habitation. It is a small two-story-building of folk architecture, 35 m² in the ground floor and 40 m² in the first floor. Its walls are made either of stone or of "tsatma" -light construction of wood and plaster.
There is also the Bourtzi, a tiny peninsula in the harbour which used to be a Venetians citadel, with remains of the 13 century wall and canons. Here, you can enjoy concerts, art exhibitions and puppet shows for children in the open air theatre.
If you wish to indulge in some great sports then they are available here in abundance as well so that thrill and excitement is infused to your very trip. Here, you can indulge greatly in the famous water sports at the world popular sandy beaches. Be it water skiing, canoeing, wind surfing, speed boating or scuba diving, Skiathos has it all.
Families come to Skiathos to rent villas and use it as a base to explore this beautiful island. Find here more info on skiathos
Muriel Rammos
