Skopelos: a Perfect Weekend Trip from Thessaloniki
It's the end of August and our first two months in Thessaloniki are coming to an end. We're packing up to leave for our month on Crete but decided to do a mini-break to the island of Skopelos first.
We took the Seajet ferry from Thessaloniki. It's an easy four hour trip that stops at neighboring Skiathos before reaching our destination.
The boat was very full this being August with many people heading out for their holidays. As everyone has an assigned seat there's no jostling for space and since the Seajets don't allow you outside during the journey there aren't any outdoor bars or cafes to visit. We mostly hung out in our seats like you would on a flight but with the ability to walk around the ship and get something from the small indoor cafes.
SKOPELOS TOWN
The eponymous main town of Skopelos is a typical Greek village built up the hills that rise from the harbor. 
It's all whitewashed houses with a few pink or yellow thrown in and everything has a clay tile roof except for the oldest that still have stone roofs. Spending the afternoons and evenings exploring the back streets is as romantic as you would expect and there are nice shops and restaurants scattered along the alleys.
Of course the harbor is lined with restaurants that are more oriented to tourists. As we didn't find the food selections worthy of Thessaloniki, we actually ate at one of these twice. The first time we had very good pizza and pasta, a nice change, while we watched the Arsenal game and the second night we had the Lamb Kleftiko, a delicious dish baked in parchment in a clay pot. Would definitely recommend Nostos if you go. The staff are super friendly and the food is very good.
Overall, Skopelos wasn't as touristy as we thought it might be. There are a lot of shops but they are pretty unique without a lot of the junk you see some places. And while there were a lot of people, it never felt overwhelming.
Our last night we walked up through the old alleyways to the top of the hill where there are the remains of the old Venetian fortress. Not much left except the walls but it's an interesting walk and the views from the top are great. Our first stop was Vrachos cocktail bar to watch the sunset.
The light turned the mountains in the distance pink and gave everything an amazing glow.
From there, we ambled up and up some more and each corner was more beautiful than the last. The wooden balconies were especially beautiful.
We made it to the top and contemplated eating at a restaurant up there but the menu wasn't enticing so we kept going - after admiring the beautiful views and the fading light.
There was a perfect view of one of the old stone roofs.
Coming back down, there is a pathway that follows the cliff line and passes a number of small chapels. At the midpoint is the Donkee Bar and its cute namesake.
It was a great walk and bar hop and totally worth it for the scenery and the views. We meant to go back in the daytime to see the chapels but we'll have to save that for next time.
PARALIA GLYYSTERI
Since Skopelos really doesn't have many historic sights, we were free to just head to the beaches. We arrived by ferry at about 2:00 so we immediately picked up our car, dropped off our things at the hotel, and headed up the east side of the island to Glysteri Beach Bar. This beach is wholly dominated by the one beach bar that has very good food and drinks and tons of day beds along with the restaurant. The drive there is a bit hairy but it was a great place to get our feet wet for the afternoon. The beach is rocky so beach shoes are a must.
AGNONTAS and PANORAMOS BEACHES
Our first full day we got an early start and went to Agnontas beach first. It's in a very small cove that also serves as a harbor for inter-island ferries and small boats. The attraction is the wind protection, the restaurants, and the shade that is provided by overhanging pine trees. When we arrived it was just starting to fill up and by the time we left around 1:00 there wasn't a square inch of beach left. It's a lovely little beach with clear blue water and so pretty in its little cove but it would most likely be nicer in other months when it's not so crowded. Two loungers and an umbrella €10.
We drove to the much bigger Panoramos beach for lunch. Thankfully we found a parking space in front of the restaurant because the town was full of cars and people. The beach is so big that it can accommodate many more people that the town can park! We had lunch at Nikos Taverna on the beach and would recommend it. Panoramos is a beautiful big beach and there's plenty of room, especially if you have your own chairs and umbrellas.
It was really windy and oddly a little chilly so we decided not to venture down to the beach clubs but to head back to the hotel and hang out by the pool before dinner.
KASTANI BEACH
At this point, I should probably mention that Skopelos is where much of the movie Mamma Mia! was filmed. One of the more famous sights is Kastani Beach. As a result, all of the Mamma Mia! tours, of which there are many, come through here either arriving by boat or by bus. We were nervous about that and so we again headed out early and got there before almost anyone else to nab a prime parking spot and seafront loungers.
Even with the boats and buses, it never felt too crowded as the Kastani Beach Bar is a huge operation with beds on the beach but also back under the trees. I can't say the restaurant is great but it was sufficient and they make one of the best Piña Coladas I've ever had.
And nothing can distract for the absolutely stunning setting. It's a medium-sized cove with pine-covered cliffs reaching down to the water that is every shade of blue the Mediterranean has to offer. And the beach is sandy, which just puts the cherry on top. Without a doubt our favorite beach! Two loungers and an umbrella €15.
Skopelos has 31 beaches, basically every cove has a beach! Some are easily driven to like the ones we visited but others require a hike if you're up for that sort of thing. As you drive the cliffside roads you catch glimpses of these beaches and they do look amazing. Having visited only four, there's still plenty left to entice us back.
A GREEN AND BLUE ISLAND
As you can see from Kastani Beach and some of the other photos, the island is forested in pine trees. It's one of the few really green islands in Greece. We didn't realize it when we booked but it made the trip even more beautiful. Driving through the mountain roads and down to the coves, you are in a virtually unbroken forest. 
The only interruptions are a few monasteries, a few small town and villas, and the olive groves that dot the island. It's truly stunning and beautiful.
After that first day going up the East side, all the rest of our driving was on the two main roads around the West side and as you can see in the photos, these roads were very nice and much easier to drive. I'm still glad Scott did all the driving as they are still twisty and turny and there aren't always guardrails along the cliff edges!
For our first island escape from Thessaloniki, Skopelos was a huge hit. We definitely have the island bug and can't wait to explore more of them over the next year. Next up Crete, the biggest of the Greek islands, and Paros. Looking forward to our month away and to being able to share it with the kids and grandchild.
This featured blog entry was written by mrb430 from the blog Arrr Adventures.
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