Northern Sporades islands: a skipper’s notes for real trips
The northern Sporades sit off the east coast of Greece, in the northern Aegean Sea, and they are a joy to explore by boat. The complex consists of 24 islands, of which five are inhabited: Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos, Skyros, and Peristera.
I usually describe them as greener than most Aegean islands, with short hops between anchorages, plenty of shelter, and that mix of pine scent and salt that you only get up here. If you are planning day trips or a multi-day cruise, you will want to keep an eye on the Meltemi in summer and always leave room in the plan for a calm bay or a port night.
Our local team of skippers, travel agents and scuba instructors with over 20 years of experience in Halkidiki is here to help you.
Skopelos:
in the island legend, Skopelos was founded by Staphylos (Greek for grape), one of the sons of Dionysos and Princess Ariadne of Crete. Perhaps of the legend of its founding by the son of the god of wine, the island is known throughout Greece for its wine.
Skopelos is where I send people who want the classic Sporades feeling: deep green hills, white chapels on ridges, and water that turns from jade to cobalt as you move away from shore. It is also an easy island to enjoy without rushing. You can spend a whole day just moving between two bays, swimming, and having a long lunch, and it still feels like you did a lot.
The saxophone shape of the island, with the neck pointing northwest, provides a great variety of bays, natural harbors, and fascinating cliffs steeply fall into the sea in the greatest part of the coast. The main port of the island is called Skopelos but there are many other beautiful villages to visit as Chora, Agnondas, Panormos, Glossa, and Elios.
From a skipper’s point of view, that coastline is a gift. When the wind turns, you can usually find a side that stays comfortable. The tradeoff is that some coves get busy in July and August, especially the ones with easy road access. If you like quieter swims, go earlier in the day, or choose a bay that is harder to reach by car.
Skopelos is one of the greenest islands in the Aegean Sea and of course many extraordinary beaches with a coastline length of 62 km. Staphylos, Velanio (the unofficial nudist beach), Agnondas, Limonari, Panormos, Adrines, Milia, Kastani, Elios, Hovolo, Armenopetra, Kalives, Glyfoneri, Glysteri, Perivoliou, Keramoto, Chondrogiorgos and much more are some of the beaches you can enjoy an experience of a lifetime.
For families, the organized beaches like Panormos and Milia are simple and comfortable, with clear shallows and easy land support. For couples and small groups who want more privacy, the little coves and rock shelves along the coast are the real treasure, but you need a good anchor set and a careful eye on depth and swing. Water clarity is usually excellent, and after a few days you start to recognize the seabed colors that mean sand versus weed, which makes anchoring much less stressful.
Skopelos was the filming location of the 2008 film Mamma Mia. The wedding procession was filmed at the Agios Ioannis Chapel near Glossa village. Find out more about the movie.
If you want to do that chapel visit in a relaxed way, go outside the peak midday hours. The steps are part of the experience, but in the heat it can feel like a workout, so take water and decent shoes. By boat, it is also a beautiful coastline to approach slowly, especially when the light gets softer in the late afternoon.
The town of Skopelos was honored as Traditional Settlement of Outstanding Beauty (9/10/1978 Presidential Decree 594,13-11/78, signed by President of Greece Konstantinos Tsatsos). This is equivalent to a site of Outstanding Architectural Inheritance. The island has more than 360 churches and chapels. The oldest existing ecclesiastical structure is the Basilica of Agios Athanasios built in the11th century and located in the Kastro (fortress) area.
Skopelos town is also the place for a proper evening stroll after a sea day. Narrow lanes, small courtyards, and that calm rhythm you do not always find on more crowded islands. If you are around during Orthodox Easter, the atmosphere on islands like this is something special, with candlelit services and quiet streets after midnight. If your trip is planned around spring holidays, check
Sun, Apr 12 2026
early because ferry and marina availability can change.For official local info and events, it is worth checking the municipality pages when you get closer to travel dates: Municipality of Skopelos.
If you’d like to explore the coast, ask us about day trips at sea and sailing boat options.
Sea and outdoor activities depend on the weather and your own fitness level. Always follow local safety advice and skipper instructions.
Skiathos
Skiathos is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean. Dense forests cover the mountainous part of the island, while the exotic beaches are known around the world. The famous Lalaria with impressive white cliffs and cosmopolitan Koukounaries is a trademark of the island and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Skiathos is the island I pick when someone wants a bit more energy: beach bars, easy logistics, and plenty of options for a quick swim stop that still looks unreal on camera. It also has a very practical advantage for travelers, because it has an airport, so you can arrive and be on the water fast, which is great for shorter holidays.
Skiathos is the most cosmopolitan island of the Sporades and the most developed tourist. It is the first island to see east of Pelion, It lies 41 Nm from Volos and 44 nm from Agios Konstantinos.
If you are coming by ferry from the mainland, Volos is the classic gateway, and in summer there are usually more connections. If you are driving, plan extra time for parking near ports and for boarding, because weekends can get hectic. Start times and routes can change with weather and season, so always double-check with the operator and the port authority before you lock your plan.
Timetables, opening hours and routes can change without notice. Always double-check locally before you travel.
It is a relatively small island with an area not exceeding 48 sq km but with endless beauties. It has low verdant mountains, endless beaches and many bays and coves that can only be accessed by boat.
Those boat-only coves are where Skiathos really shines. Even in high season, you can often find a pocket of calm water for a swim if you move a little away from the main beach circuit. Early morning is best for Lalaria because the light is clean and the sea is often flatter. When the Meltemi is up, the north side can get bouncy and you may prefer the more sheltered southern coast for comfort.
It has remarkable historic monasteries to visit. Historical monuments such as the Castle and Bourtzi and the home of the great Greek poet Papadiamantis witch is turned into a museum.
For culture and a break from sun, the Papadiamantis House is a nice stop in town, and Bourtzi is easy to combine with a walk and a coffee. For background and updated visitor info, you can also look at the official Greek tourism portal: Visit Greece, Skiathos.
Skiathos is an island with unique natural beauty and it has more than 60 beaches! In the southeastern part of the island are the most popular and best-organized beaches of the island full of beach bars, water sports equipment, and games. Starting from the town we meet the Great Sand beach which, as its name suggests is an extensive sandy beach that attracts many visitors. Below are the beaches Vassilias and Achladies. Here, you can do water sports. Especially on the beach, Achladies considered ideal for windsurfing because of sea currents. Nearby are the beaches Kanapitsa, Kalamaki, Vromolimnos, Agia Paraskevi and Troulos all of them are a meeting point for visitors to the island. They are all very busy and well-organized.
For groups, this is the easy mode: you can mix swimming with watersports, then dock or anchor close enough to head ashore for dinner. For couples who want quieter moments, go a little off the main hours, or pick a beach day on the shoulder season, late May or September, when the water is still good and the crowds are softer. If you are into diving and snorkeling, the visibility around Sporades can be excellent, and for local underwater tips and courses you can check portoscuba.com.
If you are traveling around the Holy Spirit holiday, expect locals to take short breaks and domestic travel to spike. It is a lovely time to be on the water, but book early and keep your plan flexible. Dates are here:
Monday, June 1 2026
Skyros
Skyros is the largest and most southerly island of the Sporades complex and is located northeast of Kimi. The solitary position in the sea makes it look like petrified by boat, which stopped the time for some time and traveled over the waves.
Skyros feels different from the rest, partly because it sits a bit apart and has its own character. I like it for travelers who have time and want something less postcard-busy. It is also a good pick for nature lovers and people who enjoy a longer sail with fewer stops, because the distances around Skyros can be bigger and the weather window matters more.
A geological theory says that Skyros was composed of three independent islands. This is why there are strong contrasts between the northern side which is green and the south side which is rocky. In the middle of the island, a sea passage is formed with 3 kilometers width. The island has an area of 210km and is surrounded by a large number of islets and rocks.
That contrast is real when you approach by sea. Up north you see more pine and softer lines, while the south looks raw and rugged. In summer, the sea can be crystal clear around the rocky parts, great for snorkeling, but you need to be careful with gusts and acceleration zones around headlands. If you are not used to it, you can get surprised by the chop, even on a sunny day.
The capital of the island is Skyros or Hora and is located in the northeastern part of the island. The main port of the island is in the middle of the western coast. The town of Skyros is built on a hillside in the shadow of a medieval castle and the Byzantine monastery of Agios Georgios. It has Aegean architecture white cubic houses with dark roofs.
Hora is worth the climb for the views and the atmosphere, especially in the evening when the heat drops a bit and the streets get lively. If you like local crafts, Skyros has a strong tradition, and you will see it in small workshops and shops around town. For practical travel info and a solid overview, Wikipedia is useful as a starting point: Skyros (Wikipedia).
Magazia bay is one of the most stunning beaches on the island. At the south part are Molos and Pera Kambos. Between the city and Linaria is the resort Aspous seeing the idyllic cove Achili.
For families, Magazia and Molos are easy, with space and services nearby. For swimmers who want quieter water, the coves near Aspous can be very pretty, but like anywhere, conditions change quickly with wind direction, so do not lock yourself into one plan. Some days the best decision is simply to move 20 minutes and find flat water again, it makes a huge diference.
Linaria is a picturesque amphitheater community with a large tourist development. Near Linaria, there are beautiful beaches Kalamitsa, Acherounes, and Pefkos.
Linaria is also the practical side of Skyros, where you think about supplies, fuel, and a calm night alongside. If you are doing a multi-day trip, I always recommend keeping one port night in the plan, not because you must, but because it lets everyone reset, take a proper shower, and enjoy a long dinner without watching the anchor alarm every five minutes.
Great interest has a tour in the northern part of the island. The landscape of Olympus and pine tree beaches are worth visiting. More adventurous is a tour in the south of the island where there is the impressive highest mountain of the island Kohylas. Here the landscape is dry and rocky and resembles South Evia.
On the water, Skyros rewards patience. If you have the time to wait for the right day, you get those perfect passages with steady breeze and long visibility. If you rush it, you may end up fighting sea state. That is why I always tell people: plan the big legs early in the trip, so you still have flexibility later.
And when you reach in Three Boukes by boat, a large natural port appears, the entrance of which are the islets Plato and Saracino. At Tris Boukes is the tomb of the British poet Rupert Brooke, who died here coming from Gallipoli.
Also very interesting is to meet the small Skyros horses, that belong to a rare species. The famous ponies of Skyros, in one of the indigenous breeds of horses in Greece. The breed was developed in ancient times from the mountains and the southeastern coast of Skyros, and other islands and areas of Attica.
The Anemoessa Skyros is for sure one of the most beautiful islands in Greece and a perfect sailing destination worldwide.
Allonisos
Due to its location, Alonissos was a sea passage of the Aegean. It differs from the ancient Alonissos which was probably the neighboring island of Kyra Panagia. There was a trading post during the Minoan period and flourished thanks to the wine which is famous until today.
Alonissos is the island I keep for people who want nature first. Less noise, more trails, and that feeling that the sea and the cliffs are the main attraction. It is also one of the best places in Greece to appreciate protected marine life from a respectful distance, and it is ideal for calm swimming in clear water when the weather is kind.
Surrounded by a cluster of small islands, the main feature of the landscape are the cliffs and the many sea caves which are a refuge for the monk seal.In 1992 the National Marine Park of Alonissos – Northern Sporades was founded in order to protect the seals (monachus-monachus) one of the rarest mammals in the Mediterranean. The Marine Park is a unique habitat hat also deals with research and treatment of monk seals and other species.
If you are cruising here, respect the rules of the marine park and keep your distance from caves and sensitive areas. It is not just about fines, it is about keeping the place wild enough so the next season still feels the same. For a good weather check before you move between islands, I like the official HNMS forecasts: Hellenic National Meteorological Service.
Patitiri is the main port of Alonissos and commercial center of the island. Hora or Alonissos is the capital of the island built on a hilltop with traditional villages of stone houses with colorful windows and doors.
Patitiri is where you do the practical stuff, and Hora is where you go for the view and a proper walk. If you visit Hora in the evening, the light over the sea is beautiful, and the air is cooler, even in August. Food-wise, the Sporades are simple and honest, lots of fresh fish when the weather allows the boats out, and local dishes that do not try too hard.
Alonissos is an ideal destination for hikers. Routes with cobblestone paths give the opportunity to enjoy the nature. Alonissos hosts the headquarters of International Academy of Classical Homeopathy. Alonissos islands are not filled yet by tourism. This preserves the natural beauty and attracts thousands of nature lovers who rush to the island every summer to spend their holidays in one of the few left untouched paradises.
Seasonally, June is a sweet spot if you like warm days without the full peak crowds, and September can be fantastic for swimming because the sea has stored the summer heat. In July and August, the island still stays calmer than Skiathos, but popular spots can fill up, especially if the wind pushes everyone into the same sheltered bays.
Some uninhabited small island around Allonisos you can visit by boat are: Gioura, Pelagonisi, Psathoura, Piperi, and Peristera each one of them unique with beautiful sandy or rocky beaches, a great place to fish and enjoy swimming.
These little islands are exactly why a boat makes sense in the northern Sporades. You can do a quiet morning swim, a snorkel over rocks, then move on before the day heats up. Just keep your plan realistic: distances look small on a map, but wind and sea state can slow you down, and the best day is the one where everyone feels safe and relaxed. If you want help matching the right boat to your group, from a comfy motor yacht to a proper sailing yacht for longer legs, send a message and we will set it up.
Not sure where to start? Contact our local travel agency for friendly, personalised advice, seasonal offers and travel options.
call us: +306980700070
send a message via WhatsApp
call or text us on Viber
send a message via Messenger
Don’t forget to mention:
- Number of persons, possible dates
- The hotel you’ll be staying
- The activity you are interested in