Is a Day Trip from Skiathos to Skopelos and Alonissos Worth It? Here’s What to Know

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Is a day trip from Skiathos to Skopelos or Alonissos really worth your time? If you’re on the fence, wondering whether to carve out a day from hopping between beach to taverna to explore the nearby islands, you’re not alone. Many travellers face the same questions: Should I book a guided boat tour or try to do it myself? What will I actually do once I get there—and will it be more than just snapping a photo at a Mamma Mia! filming spot?

After visiting ten Greek islands—including a May 2024 trip through the Sporades—I’ve come to appreciate how rewarding these day trips can be, if you know what to prioritise. Skopelos’ charming old town, with its labyrinth of cobbled lanes and historic churches, offers a perfect contrast to Skiathos’ beachy buzz. And Alonissos, especially its serene old town perched high above the Aegean, is a quieter, more soulful escape—ideal if you’re craving something less touristy and more authentically Greek.

Is a Day Trip from Skiathos to Skopelos and Alonissos Worth It?

It’s absolutely worth doing a day trip from Skiathos. While there’s lots to do on Skiathos itself, including beautiful beaches and a local winery, its proximity to the smaller islands of Skopelos and Alonissos means that they’re an easy day trip from the island. Both have a lot to offer, but because it’s not as easy to get to them (neither has their own airport), it’s less likely you’ll ever visit them on an independent holiday. Take the chance to visit them while you can, on a day trip from Skiathos!

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make the most of a day trip to Skopelos and Alonissos, from visiting iconic movie locations to uncovering the cultural gems that often get missed. Whether you’re leaning toward a DIY ferry adventure or the ease of an organized tour, you’ll leave here with a clear plan—and a better idea of whether this detour is worth it for you. (Spoiler: it probably is.)

Independent vs Guided Day Trips from Skiathos to Skopelos and Alonissos

To go on your island hopping adventure, you can either visit independently by taking local ferries from the port in Skiathos Town, or you can take an island hopping cruise. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Visiting Skopelos and Alonissos independently

The benefit of doing a day trip to Skopelos and Alonissos by yourself is the freedom this offers – you’re free to spend your time the way you want. If you like Alonissos, you can spend more time there, or if you want to prioritise time at Mamma Mia! spots in Skopelos, you can spend a shorter time in Alonissos.

The drawback is that some spots on the islands will require a car to get to – for example, if you want to visit Kastani Beach, Panormos or Alonissos Old Town, you’ll need to drive from the ferry port. If you’re particularly keen to see Kastani Beach and Panormos, consider doing this highly-rated Mamma! Mia themed boat trip, which will take you to both.

If you are planning to do your own day trip and want to do both islands in one day, start with Alonissos, before getting a ferry to Skopelos. This is because ferries from Skopelos back to Skiathos are more frequent and in high season, there is likely to be a later sailing – this will give you more freedom on your return time.

Taking a guided cruise to Skopelos and Alonissos

I did two different cruises – one island hopping day trip and one Mamma Mia! day trip. While a guided cruise gives you less freedom, it does often mean that you can fit more into your day, as well as reducing any worry about missing ferries.

Tour companies create their schedule to maximise your time on the islands, as well as offering you information about the islands as part of your trip. You won’t ever have to wait around for a sailing, as you might with a public ferry. You also don’t have to worry about getting to the ferry terminal a few minutes early – they aren’t going to leave without you (although don’t be late, that’s rude). If you want to see both islands in one day, the trip I did with Elizabeth cruises was excellent – they really maximised what we could see in one day.

How to find a day trip from Skiathos to Skopelos and Alonissos

From Skiathos Town port, there are companies offering shorter tours to various locations, including the Mamma Mia! beaches and the chapel.

Many hotels will offer a range of day trips, and on the five different trips I’ve done to Greek islands since 2011, this has been the traditional way to book day trips – even as recently as my trip to Skiathos in June 2024. While I’ve done some great trips this way, it doesn’t give you any opportunity to see reviews in advance, or assess whether something is good value for money – see my review of the Dolphins Mamma Mia! trip below.

However, Greek islands are finally getting with the times, and you can now book highly rated tours through Viator and Get Your Guide. I recommend this option as you can read reviews in advance, giving you reassurance of quality and a better idea of what to expect during the day.

What to do on a day trip from Skiathos to Skopelos and Alonissos

Visit Skopelos Town

While smaller and with less things to do than Skiathos, Skopelos is a thriving island with a beautiful old town. Be sure to climb up to the Venetian fortress to take in the views of the island. There are two routes up, with the first via stairs, directly from the port. The other route is via the back streets if you want to avoid stairs/see more of the town.

Spend the rest of your visit wandering the streets of Skopelos Town, which offer excellent touristy shops. There are some crafts and unique treasures as well as the usual tourist offerings. You should also make time to eat on the harbour front, and there are a plethora of restaurants to choose from to enjoy lunch with a view.

Visit the Mamma Mia! Chapel

One of Skopelos’ most famous tourist attractions is the Chapel, featured in the wedding in the first Mamma Mia! film.

Island hopping boat trips sail past the Chapel, giving you the chance to see it from a distance. If you choose a Mamma Mia! themed boat trip, you’ll get the option to disembark and take a bus, followed by a steep walk, to the chapel itself. This usually costs an extra 15 euros. If you want to visit Skopelos independently, you’ll need to rent a car to drive to the Chapel, before walking up the famous steps.

You can also get a shorter boat trip from Skiathos Town to the Chapel – check whether it’s just going to sail past or offers the option to stop.

Enjoy Kastani Beach – famous for ‘Does Your Mother Know That You’re Out’

You can also visit Kastani beach, where the “Does your Mother know that you’re out” scene was filmed. While the pier and beach bar from the film were specially made and no longer exist, there is a lovely bar on the beach, with lots of sunbeds. Prices are reasonable, and it’s a beautiful spot to relax after a dip in the crystal clear waters.

This not the easiest to reach by car, though it’s possible – the best way is by boat. Mamma Mia! boat trips stop here, and the my brilliant Island Hopping trip was also due to stop here on the way back (although the weather was too bad the day I visited).

Eat lunch in panoramic Panormos

My Mamma Mia! cruise also took us to beautiful Panormos for lunch. Although only used as part of the press tour for Mamma Mia!, this stunning bay is well worth a visit. It has blue water and beautiful sand, and a few beachfront restaurants to choose from. It was a gorgeous, peaceful place to sunbathe after lunch.

Marvel at the pirate town in Alonissos

Alonissos is a smaller island than Skopelos, and there is very little to do in the main port town. Most people who visit Alonissos go for the ‘pirate town’ up on the hills, which has a dramatic history.

This hilltop town in Alonissos is very old, with Byzantine churches and Venetian fortifications. The town was a haven for pirates who attacked other islands within the Sporades island group (at least according to my guides, who were from Skiathos!). Then, in 1965, an earthquake destroyed much of the town, and the residents were forced to move to the port town. From the 1980s, Alonissos residents started to move back and rebuild.

Today, the town is a thriving and beautiful spot, dotted with cafes and bars and little souvenir shops. Climb to the very top to find a cafe with excellent views over the Alonissos coastline and island. If you’re a history lover like me, the pirate town is well worth a visit!

If you visit independently, you’ll need to rent a car or take a taxi to get to the top, while guided tours like the one I did with Elizabet Tours will provide a bus.

My Recommended Day Trips (and One to Avoid)

After exploring these island highlights, here’s how my day trips to Skopelos and Alonissos played out—plus what I’d do differently next time.

Island hopping to Skopelos and Alonissos

For my island hopping day trip I went with Elizabet Tours. This meant I could do more in one day (leaving more holiday days to explore the beautiful beaches on Skiathos). We visited Skopelos Town and Alonissos Town, and the trip is also optimised to take you to a couple of Mamma Mia! locations, including Kastani Beach and sailing past the Mamma Mia! chapel. 

I really enjoyed my trip with Elizabet, as the staff went out of their way to make it a fun experience – think Greek dancing lessons on the way back – although if you want to introvert and avoid the party, the boat was big enough to find quieter areas as well. They also played the movie on the way back, so you really can have a Mamma Mia! experience on this cruise!

Elizabet Cruises are bookable via this Viator option, and have excellent reviews which back up my experiences. If you’re looking for a fun, well organised day out, this is the trip for you:

Mamma Mia! Cruise

To visit the Mamma Mia! locations, I took the day trip with Dolphins Skiathos, as this was the company offered by my hotel (and the only one available online at the time). We visited Kastani Beach, Panormos and a small deserted beach used in the film. From Kastani Beach, there was the option to go to the Chapel for an extra 15 euro.

To be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it. There weren’t enough staff on the cruises, so the bartender was doubling as the tour guide, and was often overwhelmed. They also mixed up some of the locations with the wrong scenes. If I were going to do it again, I would take a shorter boat trip from the harbour directly to the sites I wanted to see, and visit Kastani beach as part of the much better Elizabet island hopping tour.

However, the Mamma Mia! tour offers a more relaxed experience than the island hopping tour, focusing on beaches and sunbathing rather than sightseeing. If this is more your thing than the historical sights on the island hopping tour, this highly rated option on Get Your Guide from a different provider follows a similar route to mine, but with excellent reviews:

Frequently asked questions

A day trip from Skiathos to Skopelos and Alonissos is an unforgettable experience, combining stunning landscapes, rich history, and a touch of cinematic magic. Whether you’re retracing the steps of Mamma Mia! on Skopelos, lounging on the golden sands of Kastani Beach, or exploring the ancient pirate town of Alonissos, each island offers its own unique charm. So, whether you’re soaking in the beauty of Panormos Bay or uncovering hidden Alonissos things to do, this island-hopping journey promises breathtaking scenery, crystal-clear waters, and memories that will last a lifetime. With the right planning—guided or independent—you’ll come away with more than just scenic photos: you’ll leave with a real sense of the unique character each island has to offer.