Guide to Visiting Skopelos Town, the Capital of Skopelos
Skopelos Town is so beautiful that in 1978 the Greek government named it a Traditional Settlement of Outstanding Beauty. We’ve been to the town several times and completely agree.
Thanks to such status, the town looks straight out of a post card. You will see old mansions with blue windows, quaint squares, churches, tabernas, lots of trees, and even a castle.
The town’s beach is pretty cool too. Most people land in Skopelos and immediately elope to their favorite beach. What a mistake! Skopelos Town is for sure worth spending at least one night. You will love it!
Getting to Skopelos Town
There are no direct ferries from Athens to Skopelos. A 5-hour train takes you from Athens Central Station to the center of Volos. Buses take 4 hours.
Frequent ferries from Volos to Skopelos take 2.5 hours. These ferries stop in Skiathos first. Spending at least one night in Volos and/or Skiathos is a great idea.
Flights from Athens to Skiathos operate all year round. The journey takes 40 minutes. From Skiathos you can take a 1-hour ferry directly to Skopelos. During the summer, ferries link Skopelos with Euboea and Agios Konstantinos in the continent.
Where to Stay
During the summer, we stay at the 5-star Skopelos Village Hotel. The property faces the sea and has a lovely pool and a garden. The rooms are super comfy and the complimentary breakfast delicious.
We like it because of the amazing views. Plus, you can walk to the center in no time. We’ve been to Skopelos off season and stayed at the Hotel Anelli.
The Anelli is one the few hotels that opens all year round. It’s a family-owned property in a quiet little street. You can walk everywhere and every room has a cute balcony with views.
Things to Do
Get Lost on the Streets of the Old Town
Our favorite thing to do in Skopelos is to turn our phones off and walk around the town. Every single street is interesting. There are hardly any cars so you can walk smelling the pine trees and oranges.
The area next to the sea is mostly flat. A walk along the coast is mandatory. The town itself extends along the slope of the hill that towers above the bay.
However, it’s not super steep so it’s easy to walk about. You will see traditional mansions and many churches. Don’t worry if you get thirsty or hungry. There are tavernas, bars, and restaurants all around the town.
Visit the Venetian Castle
The remains of a castle crown the hill just north of Skopelos Town. The Venetians built it in the 13th Century. Granted, only the walls remain, so there isn’t much to see.
However, the views from the castle over the town, the sea, and Alonnisos island will take your breath away. It’s not a steep climb, but take your time and admire the views.
We strongly recommend visiting the remains at night too. You will see the town illuminated in all of its glory. There are a couple of local tavernas nearby to enjoy authentic local food.
Visit the Church of the Virgin Mary
You won’t be able to stop photographing the Church of the Virgin Mary. To get there, go up the stairs from Skopelos’ marina, on the northern tip of the bay.
The tiny chapel is almost always closed. The views from there are epic. You can go at all times and see how the town changes color throughout the day.
We go after 6 PM to enjoy the breeze and the atmosphere. From there, it’s a short walk to the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the town’s main temple. The icons and frescoes inside are from the 17th Century.
Enter an Old Mansion or Two
Skopelos town is famous around Greece because of its grand mansions. There are no big buildings, just big old mansions waiting to be discovered. Many today are taverns, restaurants, and bars.
In the early 19th Century, the Vakratsas built their mansion in the center of town. Today, it’s a Folklore Museum with objects traded by the family all around the world. It’s in great shape and fascinating.
The former house of Greek novelist Paul Nirvana is now the Skopelos Museum. The ancient house has been fully restored and looks wonderful. A bit too hot inside though.
Try Local Food
Just like anywhere in Greece, the food in Skopelos is delicious. Greeks, and us too, swear by the famous Skopelos Pie. It’s a phyllo pastry pie full of rich local cheese.
The best place to try it is at Skopelitikes Tiropites Michalis, a traditional shop one block from the marina. They open in the morning till early afternoon. You have to taste it to believe all the hype!
For dinner under an ancient tree overlooking the sea, go to Taverna Mouries. We always have cocktails overlooking the bay at Donkee Skopelos.
Spend Some Time on the Beach
We have to be honest: the beaches in Skopelos town are not the best on the island. However, they are clean, with crystal blue waters, and easy to go to.
There’s a tiny but cute beach behind the Church of the Virgin Mary. It’s rocky so bring shoes. The beach off the port is cool too. It’s perfect for a quick dip and you will swim with a couple of ducks.
The best beach is a 15-minute walk north of the town (Glifoneri). It’s a sandy beach sheltered from the wind. There are mostly locals chilling under the huge pine trees that provide shade.
Hike to a Nearby Monastery
Skopelos is one of the greenest islands in Greece. Pines cover 2/3 of the island. The easiest walk is to the Monastery of the Annunciation, some 45 minutes up the hill to the east.
A longer walk is to the Monastery of Agia Varvara. It takes 1.5 hours up the hill. First you stop at the Moni Sotiros Monastery. Continue further up to the Monastery of Timiou Prodromou, meters from Agia Varvara.
You can enter the monasteries if you are lucky. You don’t need to do so to enjoy the walk and the views. However, take note that these are real monasteries. People visit to pray, so be respectful.
