Are you looking for a summer holiday, MAMMA MIA style? Look no further than here, as I’ll explain why Skiathos should be on your holiday bucket list!
WHY CHOOSE SKIATHOS?
Skiathos is beautiful, like many of the Greek islands, but here are a few reasons why it’s my favourite:
- The beaches are stunning and backed with greenery
- Skiathos town is so pretty and so Greek! It also has a great vibe
- You can take beautiful boat trips to Skopelos to see where Mamma Mia was filmed!
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STAY IN SKIATHOS?
Last summer, we only went for a week, but that wasn’t enough, hence why were heading back for another week in August! I’d say 10 days would be enough time, but personally, i could easily spend 2 weeks on this beautiful island, just to really do everything but also enjoy relaxing in such a dreamy place.
WHERE TO STAY IN SKIATHOS?
When we went, we stayed in Koukounaries, because it is known to have the best beaches on the island. Koukounaries is at the other end of the island to Skiathos town. at first, we thought this could be a problem but it really wasn’t; the bus service is very good and regular and it’s under a 30-minute ride into the town. We are beach-obsessed people though, so if your less bothered about being right on the best beach and prefer to be nearer the town, Kolios and Troulos are good options (we are staying in Kolios this year).
Hotel Recommendations:
Luxury: Elivi Skiathos (Koukounaries)
WHAT TO DO IN SKIATHOS?
- Take a boat trip over to Skopelos
This was by far my favourite day of our holiday! We hired a yacht which took us over to Kastani Beach (where they filmed “Lay all your love on me”) we sailed along the coast, stopping at the coves for swimming and then we ate on the harbour of Skopelos. On the way over we also saw dolphins jumping out of the sea!
We prebooked this trip with ‘Captain George’ but there are many boat trips you can get while you’re there from the harbour in Skiathos Town.
To Recreate the day we had, book through ArgoSailing https://www.argosailing.com/
2. Watch MAMMA MIA at an open air cinema in Skiathos town
This was an absolute bucket list moment! The cinema is located in the middle of Skiathos town, there is a bar with wine and funky cocktails, and immaculate vibes! there was something so special about watching the film outdoors, where it was filmed and surrounded by other mamma mia fanatics!
3. Wander around buzzy Skiathos town at day and night
Skiathos town is the most beautiful and buzzy town – its definitely my favourite town out of the many Greek islands i have visited. It’s not big, not like other islands such as Corfu, but its big enough and has a great vibe about it. The little streets are very picturesque (perfect for instagram pics) and there are many restaurants and bars. There’s also a few clubs for the party animals amongst you!
4. Take a ferry over to Skopelos
if you don’t fancy going on a boat trip where you have a certain amount of time at each spot, you can take a ferry over to Skopelos for the entire day, and explore the MAMMA MIA film locations at your own pace (kastani bay, the church etc)
5. Spend a day at one of the many beautiful beaches that Skiathos has to offer
Skiathos has some stunning beaches. I particularly like the beaches on this island because they are backed with lush greenery, as opposed to other holiday locations where the beaches are lined with hotels and restaurants.
The best beaches in Skiathos
Koukounaries
Koukounaries is an area in Skiathos at the opposite end of the island to Skiathos town (about a 30-minute bus journey away). In Koukounaries there are a few different beautiful beaches but here are my favourite:
Banana Beach
This beach, like all, is beautiful, with crystal clear waters and perfect sand. However, what makes it stand out is that it is the best place to experience the perfect beach sunset!
Koukounaries Beach
This is the biggest beach in Koukounaries. It has water sports and restaurants along the sand. The water is crystal clear and backed by vibrant greenery – just stunning!
One beach to avoid if you’re not into going nude on vacation! – Little Banana Beach
Be careful not stumble onto Little Banana beach if you don’t want to see little bananas when you’re there! Nevertheless, the beach is lovely and the sea is beautiful, there’s also a beach bar too!