Where to Stay in Skiathos: the Best Locations and Hotels
Deciding to go to Skiathos, the gorgeous Greek island is easy. Indeed, the island hosts some of the best hotels and beaches in Greece. We know the island pretty well, so we’ll help you decide where to stay in Skiathos.
The island is small, and it’s easy to move around even if you don’t drive. On the same day, you can visit several beaches, enjoy a killer sunset, and dine in Skiathos Town. What else could you possibly ask for? A plethora of fantastic restaurants, bars, and Greek people, the best hosts in Europe, complete the feast.
Skiathos Town
The island’s capital, Skiathos Town, is the largest city in the Sporades. It’s a beautiful coastal town with historic architecture surrounded by gorgeous nature. The city lies on a small peninsula close to the island’s easternmost corner. A busy passenger port occupies the central part of its eastern coast.
To the south of it, there is a small island with ruins of a Venetian Fortress. All along the seaside promenade, lively bars, restaurants, and clubs serve delicious Greek food. There is a nice pedestrian street, with shops for every wallet, several ancient churches, and a colorful museum.
Hotels in Skiathos Town
Most of the island’s hotels are in Skiathos Town, especially boutique hotels. We suggest staying here if you are into culture and entertainment. If you plan on spending most of your time on the beach, you should stay close to one of them.
La Piscine Art Hotel, Philian Hotels and Resorts
Undoubtedly the best hotel in town is the La Piscine Art Hotel, Philian Hotels and Resorts. This exclusive art hotel offers stylish rooms, a swimming pool, and a top-class restaurant.
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Amira
If you are looking for something a little more private, then Amira is your best bet. The modern apart-hotel offers rooms with spectacular views, a swimming pool, and a garden.
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Megali Ammos
If you want to stay on the beach, but close to the action, then Megali Ammos is your best choice. This long sandy beach serves as Skiathos Town’s public beach. Though not as impressive as Koukonaries or Agia Paraskevi, Megali Ammos is nevertheless quite a nice beach. Besides, it’s the island’s longest sandy beach.
The eastern part of the beach is more crowded with hotels and restaurants all along. The western part (also known as Ftelia Beach) is more natural. From Megali Ammos you can easily walk to Skiathos Town. The port is some 15 minutes away.
Hotels in Megali Ammos
There are dozens of hotels and private apartments close to Megali Ammos, on the western outskirts of Skiathos Town. Most hotels are smaller sizes and the whole place has a somewhat urban feel.
Nimfi Hotel
We stayed at the wonderful Nimfi Hotel and had a blast. The accommodation is only a few meters from the beach, quite close to Skiathos Town. Our suite had a comfortable bedroom, a large living room, and a terrace overlooking the sea. The staff was amazing. They went out of their way to make us feel welcome!
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Villa Ftelia
If you are looking for a private apartment, Megali Ammos offers quite a few. Villa Ftelia is an oasis of peace only a step away from the beach. It consists of two villas, perfect for groups of up to six people.
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Koukounaries Beach
To us, Koukounaries Beach is the best beach in Skiathos. The large sandy beach is between two hills. Next to the beach, there is a dense pine tree forest, home to many bird species.
There are no buildings along the beach, thus its natural feel. That said, numerous bars make it somewhat noisy. The good thing is you can walk to two nearby beaches, Banana and Little Banana. The former feels like a smaller version of Koukounaries, just a bit quieter. The latter is Skiathos’ only nudist beach.
Hotels in Koukounaries
There are no hotels directly on Koukounaries Beach. A large lagoon occupies the area behind the pine forest, with small hotels and guesthouses next to its shore. There is also a church, a supermarket, and a couple of open-air restaurants. Many of the best hiking trails start here.
Elivi Skiathos
Skiathos has only a handful of luxury hotels. Among them, Elivi Skiathos stands out. The lavish five-star hotel occupies a large private terrain on the island’s southwestern corner. Apart from direct access to Koukounaries and Banana Beaches, it has a private beach, Xenia.
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Aelia Studios
For those of you that prefer private accommodation, we absolutely recommend Aelia Studios. It offered us everything we needed for a perfect holiday: a comfortable bed, a clean bathroom, kitchenette, and a balcony with views. Trust us, Aelia Studios in Koukounaries is undoubtedly one of the best places to stay in Skiathos.
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Agia Paraskevi Beach
Agia Paraskevi is the second most visited beach on Skiathos. This long sandy beach is located halfway between Koukounaries and Skiathos Town. The town of Platanias is a few steps away from the beach. It hosts numerous small and midsized hotels, restaurants, and a few shops.
In between the town and the beach, there is a sort of a marshland, giving the whole place a natural feel. Though there are a few bars and restaurants on the beach, it is still relatively quiet. Even more peaceful is the nearby Kolios Beach. This small beach, 10 minutes east of Agia Paraskevi, is the perfect place for a family holiday.
Hotels in Agia Paraskevi
There are plenty of hotels in Agia Paraskevi. Most of them are next to the island’s main road, some 328 feet (100 meters) away from the beach. The only hotel directly on the beach is the grand Skiathos Princess Hotel.
Skiathos Princess
Whenever we visit a beach destination we always stay directly on the beach. In Agia Paraskevi, the only place with direct access to the beach is the Skiathos Princess Hotel. This five-star resort is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Skiathos if not all of Greece. Located at the west end of the beach it offers a gorgeous garden, a swimming pool, and large rooms with sea views.
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Villa Karina
For those of you that prefer staying in private accommodation, Agia Paraskevi offers several good options. The family-run Villa Karina is 4 minutes away from Agia Paraskevi and 7 minutes away from Kolios Beach. The chic villa is surrounded by one of the nicest gardens on the island.
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Troulos Beach
Troulos Beach is another popular resort town on the southern coast of Skiathos. It is somewhat smaller than Koukounaries and Agia Paraskevi, but equally beautiful. Due to its location by the main road, it tends to get relatively busy too. Again we are talking about a nice sandy beach, with lush green hills on both sides.
There are no buildings next to the beach, except for the old Troulos Bay Hotel. The village of Troulos is 1640 feet (half a kilometer) away up on the hills. Most hotels are by the main road, between the village and the beach. There are no other beaches nearby.
Hotels in Troulos
Apart from the Troulos Bay Hotel, no other hotel has direct access to the beach. Thus, we recommend staying as close as possible. There is not much to see in the area, and you don’t want to waste extra time getting to the beach.
Hotel Korali
Hotel Korali is the only hotel you can book online located between the main road and the beach. It’s a splendid hotel with spacious rooms, a nice garden, and a swimming pool. Their rooms have a kitchenette, so you can prepare your meals!
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Villa Zaharo and Lilian Apartments
If you are looking for something even more private, Villa Zaharo and Lilian Apartments is for you. Located west of the village, it’s in a privileged location right next to the beach. All of their rooms have balconies with sea views. Just picture yourself sipping a cocktail and enjoying the view of the Troulonisi Islet. Perfection!
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Achladies and Other Beaches
All three main beaches in Skiathos are on its southern coast. While you cannot stay next to the beaches on the north, there are plenty of hotels and tourist apartments on its western coast. Achladies is the most popular beach south of Skiathos Town. It is located 1,2 miles (2 kilometers) away from the town, after Megali Ammos. It’s a lovely sandy beach tucked between the hills.
In the area, you can also stay next to Vassilias beach, north of Achladies. South of Achladies, there are even more nice beaches. Tzaneria and Kanapitsa are the most popular ones.
Hotels in Achladies
There are far fewer hotels in Achladies and the surrounding beaches. Esperides Beach resort occupies the central part of Achladies beach, but you cannot book it online at the moment. Instead, you can stay in smaller nearby hotels, or further away from the beach.
Maniatis Garden
Maniatis Garden is a nice villa set in a lush green garden. Though their rooms don’t have sea views, the villa is right next to the beach. The next-door beach bar and taverna are part of the villa.
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Villa Kim
Though Villa Kim lies on the hill, it is well worth the climb. This beautiful traditional house offers different kinds of apartments, all of them with a private balcony. The views from the property are unforgettable.
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