Skopelos

Located between Skiathos and Alonissos, Skopelos is a beautiful island that attracts mostly families and romantic couples. Skopelos distinguishes for the lush greenery, the exotic beaches and the picturesque villages. It became widely famous when scenes from the Hollywood movie Mamma Mia were shot there.


Ferries to Skopelos Greece depart from the mainland ports of Volos or Agios Konstantinos. 

Skopelos beaches 

Beaches in Skopelos are known for their crystal waters and the marvelous green landscape that surrounds them. Skopelos has a rare quality because it is rich in vegetation, mainly pine trees, that grow densly until the water edge. Among the most popular Skopelos beaches are Stafylos, Hovolo, Panormos and Elios.

The majority of the beaches are situated along the southern coast, which are accessible by bus, car or moped along the islands' one main road. A hired boat on the southern coastline is a great option for those looking for real privacy. With the freedom to cruise wherever the mood strikes, you have the opportunity to find tiny sandy coves lapped by turquoise sea, which likely will be shared with just a few seagulls.

Things to see and do 

This is an idyllic place to relax and it has developed good tourism infrastructure over the last years.
Town and Glossa are the main villages on the island, with traditional architecture, delicious restaurants and sea views. 

An interesting sight is the Church of Agios Ioannis Kastri, known as the Mamma Mia Church as scenes from this Hollywood movie were filmed there. Also in the surroundings of the Town, there are many Byzantine monasteries. 

Folklore Museum 

In the centre of Skopelos Town, there is the Folklore Museum of Skopelos, an interesting small museum that depicts the folk tradition of the island. The museum is housed in a traditional residence that was donated to the local municipality by the Nikolaidis family, an important political family of the island. 

On the ground floor, there is the sitting room and the fireplace. The sofa is decorated with nice handmade broideries, while the wooden-carved furniture are the work of a local traditional artisan. On the top floor, there is the wedding bed and the baby cot, along with local traditional male and female costumes. On the basement, there are individual exhibits and collections of knives and ceramics made by local artisans. Very impressive are also the wooden miniatures of ships and of a shipyard, depicting the rich nautical tradition of the island. 

Cultural Heritage Museum 

The Museum of Cultural Heritage and the Library Perseus Athineos opened its doors to the public in July 2008, in Glossa village, Skopelos. The museum is housed in a beautiful renovated stone house that was built in 1926. The building has a lovely balcony to see the entire village and the sea embracing the island. Glossa is actually the village with the highest altitude in Sporades complex. The primary objective of this museum is to preserve and promote the cultural history of Skopelos through its naval history, manuscripts and personal items. The museum was created on the initiative of individual people to make something special for their island. It works under the aegis of the Hellenic Foundation. 

Accommodation 

Skopelos Town has a large number of rooms and studios, ranging from basic to luxurious. These upscale resorts in Skopelos island offer large pools, jacuzzi and even spa therapies. Glossa, Loutraki and Panormos also have a good variety of accommodations, with few hotels and traditional studios. Finally, some apartments and rooms can be found in the beaches of Neo Klima, Glyfoneri and Stafylos. 

Cultural events 

Loizia Festival 

One of the major festivals in Skopelos is the Loizia Festival which is held in August in Glossa. The event is organized by the Cultural Society of Glossa to honour Manos Loizos (1937-1982), one of the most important Greek-Cypriot composers of the 20th century. The festival includes concerts with songs of Loizos, theatrical performances, traditional dances, storytelling nights and a great feast where food and wine is served for free. Frequently, the famous Skopelian bouzouki player, Giorgos Xintaris, sings rebetika in this festival. 

Wine Festival 

The Wine Festival is organized by the Cultural Society of Glossa in the middle of September. In this festival, visitors are offered free wine and the dancing lasts till the early hours.

International Film Festival for Youth 

The Skopelos International Film Festival for Youth takes place in July and August in Skopelos Town. It includes cinema workshops and film screenings with the participation of artists from all the world. 
Skopelos Local products 

Some high quality products of Skopelos include the virgin olive oil, excellent wine that is famous from the ancient times, golden honey and juicy or dried plums. Food specialities of the island are the local cheese pie and the tasteful blackfish casserole with onions (stifado). The traditional deserts of Skopelos are the famous avgato (sweet made with eggs), the hamalia (sweet with nuts) and a combination of almonds, nuts and rose water called rozedes.