Everything you need to visit Skiathos this summer

Dreaming of a Greek island escape without the crowds and party scene? Welcome to Skiathos—an island of golden beaches, charming villages, and a thriving food scene, all wrapped up in a relaxed, authentic atmosphere. Unlike its livelier counterparts, Skiathos offers a more peaceful retreat while still providing plenty to explore, from scenic coastal walks to island-hopping adventures to Skopelos and Alonissos. Whether you’re a beach lover, a foodie, or a traveler in search of hidden gems, Skiathos is a destination that deserves a spot on your itinerary.

In this travel guide I’ll talk you through all the essentials you need to know to visit this beautiful island. 

Is Skiathos worth visiting?

Absolutely, yes! Skiathos is one of the quieter Greek islands, without the party reputation. If you’re looking for quiet villages and beautiful beaches, this is the island for you. Skiathos also has a big foodie scene, especially in Skiathos town. Finally, there are a couple of great day trips on offer, including to nearby Skopelos and Alonissos.

To find out more, check out my post “Discover Skiathos – The best things to do in Skiathos“.

Where is Skiathos?

Skiathos is a relatively small island in the Greek Sporades island group, in the Aegean Sea. It’s significantly smaller than the bigger islands like Crete or Rhodes, making it a much easier travel destination. See the section below on how to get around Skiathos. 

It’s further north than some Greek islands you might have visited before – north of Athens and in line with the boot of Italy. Other Greek islands, such as Crete and Rhodes are much further south. This impacts the weather – see the section on weather below.

Best time to visit Skiathos

There are a few different seasons when you might consider visiting Skiathos – I’d suggest spring, autumn or summer. Like many Greek islands, Skiathos will mostly close down during the winter, with restaurants and hotels shutting for the low season. This isn’t the best time to visit Skiathos, unless you are looking for a true escape from people.

As a Greek island, so you can expect full sun in summer. Skiathos in June has temperatures around 27c, while Skiathos in July and August is around 29c.

It’s definitely a little cooler than expected in Spring. Skiathos in May has temperatures on average of 23c and only 18c in April, while Skiathos in September has an average of 25c. If you are visiting in these shoulder season months, you can also expect more unsettled weather and rainfall – we had a few cool, cloudy days when I visited in May 2024. 

How to get to Skiathos?

Most people arrive via Skiathos airport – discussed in detail in the next section – from the UK or another European airport. However, you can also get ferries to the island. This is most likely if you are coming from another island nearby – like Alonissos or Skopelos – as part of an island hopping tour. But there are also regular ferries from Thessaloniki, Volos or other ports on the Greek mainland. 

If you travel by ferry, these come into the main port in Skiathos town. From there, it’s easy to hop on the local bus (more details below) or to find a taxi to your hotel or apartment. If you’re staying in Skiathos town, you might even be able to walk. There are also rental companies on the seafront near the port, including Enterprise and local options. 

Skiathos airport

Despite the availability of ferries, most people will arrive by plane. The airport is served by a number of UK carriers – including Easyjet, Jet2 and Ryanair, and flights also arrive from a number of other European destinations. This includes Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Norway and Italy. Like many summer destinations in Europe, it’s likely that there will be far fewer flights during the off season (roughly October-March). 

The airport is modern, with work ongoing to modernise it, but it is small. Arrivals is compact, with only a few passport control booths, so you can expect to queue for at least a short time. Departures is split into Schengen (most of Europe) and non-Schengen (mostly UK) areas, and once you’re through passport control you’re directed into the relevant area for you and not able to leave. 

This has an impact, as in the non-Schengen area there is only one small cafe, offering coffee, snacks/sandwiches and water. Needless to say, the queue was extensive for this, so if you’re looking for snacks these are best bought before security. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anywhere to top up a water bottle, so you’ll have to brave the queue for water or wait for service on your flight. 

While I was only in the non-Schengen area, we could see the Schengen side of departures, and it was clear this was bigger and had more services, including a proper bar.

Seating was very much at a premium in departures, so if you can, find a seat and keep it!

Getting around Skiathos

It’s really easy to get around Skiathos, and it’s a great destination for visiting without a hire car. There’s a good bus service and it’s relatively easy to walk as well. Finally, you can see the island like a true islander by hiring a boat at many beaches. 

Bus

Getting around Skiathos by bus is really easy, as Skiathos public transport is good. There is a regular bus that goes around the busiest parts of the island. It leaves from Skiathos Town and heading out to Koukounaries beach. Buses can leave up to every 10-15 minutes in summer, and stops at all major beaches. The bus is a modern coach with air conditioning, which makes it an excellent way to get around. It’s great for a night out, with the last bus after midnight during the summer months.

There is also a bus to Evaggelistria Monastery, which shuttles you to and from this popular tourist attraction (see my article about things to do in Skiathos for more info). There is another bus out to the beach at Aselinos, on the far side of the island. These are less frequent – be sure to check the current timetable before setting out.

There is also a regular bus out to the airport, leaving from Skiathos Town. Check all bus timetables here – they change depending on the season.

Walking

You can walk around the island, but like many islands in Greece there is very limited pavement on the narrow roads. Walking is fine on side roads up to hotels or bars, but a bit more risky on the main road that goes along the coast. If you do walk, be careful to follow sensible road rules such as walking towards oncoming traffic and being careful at corners. If hiking is your thing, there are many signposted off-road hiking trails on the island.

Skiathos town, on the other hand, is easy to walk around, with many narrow streets forcing cars to slow down, and with pavement on the main roads. 

Hire car

It’s also easy getting around Skiathos by car.

There are myriad options to find a hire car on the island. These car rentals range from the big players like Enterprise at the port and Hertz, Avis and Dollar at the airport, to small local hire shops, mostly clustered in town. You can also hire motorbikes, and I also saw people who had hired ATVs. 

If you are planning to hire a car and go into the centre of the island, be aware that it is extremely steep in places. Not all roads are in good condition (for example, if you are driving up to the winery, even the tour driver who does the trip multiple times a week struggled). 

Visiting Skiathos town

Skiathos town is very much the hub of the island, with bus routes starting and finishing there, the airport only a few minutes away and multiple ferries coming into the port. All boat trips also leave from there, including trips to Skopelos and Alonissos. 

For more information , check out my post Discover Skiathos – Top things to do in Skiathos.

What to do on Skiathos?

Skiathos is a great island, with lots going on. You’ve got multiple beautiful beaches scattered around the island, a vineyard in the mountains, and the option to take boat trips out to some of the smaller islands nearby, such as Skopelos and Alonissos.

With its stunning beaches, easygoing vibe, and delicious food, Skiathos is a Greek island that offers something for every kind of traveler. Whether you’re navigating the island by bus, hiking through the hills, or simply soaking up the sun at a seaside taverna, you’ll find that Skiathos has a way of making you slow down and savor the moment. So, if you’re looking for a Greek getaway that blends relaxation with adventure, Skiathos is waiting to be discovered.