Skopelos Island and Beach Day Cruise from Skiathos

Skiathos New Port and the crossing to Skopelos

The cruise begins at the New Port of Skiathos Town, the harbour of the busiest island of the Northern Sporades. As the boat leaves, look back at the town's red roofs climbing the hills and at the Bourtzi, a small pine-covered peninsula in the middle of the harbour where a Venetian fort once stood. Skopelos lies just to the east, across a short stretch of sea that is usually calm in the morning.

Many travellers wonder how to get to Skopelos from Skiathos; regular ferries link the two islands, but a day cruise like this one is the easiest way to see the coast, swim at several beaches and return the same evening without planning timetables. In the default option our transfer collects you from the main road and brings you to the boat.

Skopelos, the green island of the Sporades

Skopelos is often called the greenest island in Greece. Dense forests of Aleppo pine cover most of its hills and reach right down to the sea, and between them lie olive groves, orchards of plums and almonds, and small farms. The island has kept a quiet, traditional character, with no large resorts, and it is known for its local specialities, such as its spiral cheese pie and sweets made from its famous plums.

From the boat you see the island's rugged coastline at its best: steep green slopes, hidden coves and rocky headlands. The best time to visit Skopelos is from June to September, when the sea is warm; in spring the island is especially green and fragrant, while August is the busiest month.

The beaches of Skopelos

Skopelos has some of the finest beaches in the Sporades, especially along its south and west coasts. Places such as Kastani, Milia, Panormos and Limnonari are fringed by pine trees whose shade reaches almost to the waterline, and their water ranges from emerald to deep blue over sand and smooth white pebbles. Many of these coves are hard to reach by road, which is what makes arriving by boat so special.

The cruise includes swim stops at Skopelos beaches, and the captain chooses the most sheltered ones depending on the wind on the day. Bring your swimwear, a towel and snorkelling gear if you have it, as the water is exceptionally clear and fish are easy to see around the rocks.

The clifftop chapel of Agios Ioannis Kastri

The most famous landmark of Skopelos is the small chapel of Agios Ioannis Kastri, dedicated to Saint John, perched on top of a tall rock on the northeast coast, about 100 m above the sea. A long stone stairway winds up the rock to the white chapel, and from the top the views over the turquoise sea and the wooded coast are breathtaking.

On this Skopelos tour the chapel visit is optional and paid on site; the host explains how to join it. The climb takes around 15 minutes each way and has many steps, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Is Agios Ioannis Kastri worth visiting? For many guests it is the most memorable photo of the whole trip.

Free time on Skopelos

During the free time ashore you can stroll, have lunch at your own cost or simply relax by the water. Skopelos Town, the island's capital, spreads around a wide bay like an amphitheatre, with white houses topped by grey stone roofs, narrow stepped lanes, many small churches and the ruins of a Venetian castle on the hill above. In the west, the hill village of Glossa and its harbour of Loutraki keep a more rural atmosphere.

Your host tells you where the boat stops and the time to be back on board, so you can make the most of your time. In the late afternoon the boat sails back to Skiathos, and the transfer returns you to your pickup point after a day of about seven hours.