The greenest island of Greece is still an insider tip
Greece is shaped by tourism: to islands like Rhodes,, Crete or Mykonos Millions of tourists travel every year to Cultural and mythological heritage of Greece To admire, To visit citiesin the turquoise blue Mediterranean to bathe or yourself About mountains and gorges on hikes Or to do sporty bike tours.
But some islands are from Mass tourism completely overcrowded. If you want to save yourself from the crowds and tourist flowsbut also has Alternatives to Crete, Corfu and Co. And so far a certain island is still considered an insider tip. It is not only calm, but also fantastically beautiful.
Insider tip in Greece: Skopelos as an alternative to Crete and Co.
If you want to go on vacation away from the masses, you should travel to the island of Skopelos. The name of the island, which is one of the northern Sporades, means something like « rock clip ». But the name is deceptive, because Skopelos offers more than just a barren cliffs.
Skopelos offers untouched landscapes, picturesque beaches and historical port villages. And so many sights became a backdrop for a cult film. Travel portals such as vacation guru.de or the tour, the island still describe as a « insider tip ».
The greenest island of Greece: Nature on Skopelos
Nature is unique on the island. Here you will find untouched forests full of lush vegetation. About 80 percent of the island area are according to the travel portal holidaysguru.de Of course, overgrown what Skopelos officially makes the greenest island of Greece. It is therefore considered a paradise for hikers and nature lovers.
Visitors to the island can discover typical plants such as the spiky Kermes oak, so-called strawberry trees, besides, Judasbaum and heather, explains the page skopelos.gr. The island is also rich in Mediterranean wild herbs. The wildlife on Skopelos is no less impressive: birds such as eagles, vultures, water birds, eleonor falcons and dwarf earls colonize the island.
Crete alternative Skopelos: Place of filming for Mamma Mia!
Skopelos is also known as a location. In 2007 the musical adaptation « Mamma Mia! » Turned with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. On the island there are, among other things, the beaches from the film and the Kappelle Agios Ioannis, in which a legendary wedding scene was shot in the film. However, the island bears the fictional name Kalokairi in the film. The case of one recently shows that locations can become tourist magnets Hotels in Crete, which was hyped by a series.
Quiet alternative to Crete: towns on Skopelos
Whoever thinks of Greece has immediately Picturesque harbor cities in the head. The villages and towns on Skopelos also have a very peculiar charm. Holidaysguru.de Compare the main town of Skopelos Chora with a scene from a picture book: « White whipped houses that nestle around a hill right by the sea ». The city is built like an amphitheater around picturesque bay and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. The city’s architecture is traditional, the city became loud in its past skopelos.com among others influenced by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and the Venetians.
The fishing village of Agnontas, which has a harbor, is surrounded by pines. According to Skopelos.com, there are also numerous traditional taverns and a beach with crystal clear water. The fishing village of Panermos is located on the northeast coast of the island.
Insider tip Skopelos: The most beautiful beaches of the Greek island
Many Greece vacationers appreciate the water of the Mediterranean for swimming, swimming or diving. But you don’t have to go to the Crete beaches go through the increasing tourism threatened become. Skopelos is also rich in paradisiacal beaches that are significantly more natural.
The Panormos Beach Lies in the southwest of Skopelos and is a classic pebble beach on the turquoise blue water. Vacation guru.de also recommends the nearby taverns to treat yourself to a Greek coffee.
Small but impressive is that Agios Ioannis Beachalso Kastri Beach called,, In the northwest of the island. Surrounded by rocky cliffs, the beach is especially among fans of « Mamma Mia! » known. The monastery chapel of the same name is enthroned above the beach, the location for the film. On Tripadvisor Visitors write: « The bay is a dream to swim. An absolute must for ABBA fans! » The climb over the steps to the small chapel is also « absolutely worthwhile » for all other visitors.
It is a little more remote Velanio Beach in the south of Skopelos. You can only reach it through a walk. For this you can swim and snorkel undisturbed here, since the beach is one of the loneliest seaside resorts of the island. Tourists should definitely take the path to the Velanio Beach, emphasizes holidaysguru.de. Also for many users Tripadvisor The beach is considered the most beautiful place on the island.
Vacation in Greece: What can you do in Skopelos?
As already described, you can not only hike in Crete: Skopelos is also a hiking paradise. According to the tourism side skopelos.com In recent years, the hiking trails of the island have become more functional and more accessible. Nevertheless, the page advises you to pack sports shoes. Many of the paths are well signposted and lead either through plane trees, pine and pine forests Cliffs and gorges Along or to the villages on the island. The island is also suitable for cycling.
Hundreds of historical monasteries, chapels and churches, for example from the Byzantine period, can be found loud skopelos.gr on the island. Fans of historical buildings and archaeological monuments can also look forward to the ancient rock graves in Sentoukia (« treasure chests »), at the grave of Prince Staphylus in the bay of Staphylos and at the ancient sanctuary « Asclepieion » in the region of Ambeliki.
Even on museums, the island is not exactly poor: the local culture and the old history of the island can be traced there; For example in the folklor museum of Skopelos, a typical skopelitic house where the culture of the island is conveyed. The house of the Greek scholar and writer Pavlos Nirvanas is also a museum. In it, visitors can not only learn something about Nirvanas and his works, but also marvel at the architecture of the impressive house.
Activities on Skopelos: Enjoy the Mediterranean Sea
If you don’t get enough of the water, you can pursue numerous activities on or in the bright blue sea water around the island: jet skiing, marine kayak or stand-up paddling (SUP) are loud there skopelos.gr quite possible. Hidden bays can be reached particularly well with kayak or SUP. Sailing and yachts tours are also made possible by numerous providers on the island.
Who loves and snorkelgets its money’s worth on Skopelos: Nature under water is impressive around the Sporaden Island – after all, the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, loud Lonely Planet The largest sea protection area in Europe, very close to Skopelos. Both experienced divers and interested beginners can use the Skopelos Diving Center as the first point of contact. The diving school offers courses and tours and has Tripadvisor Very good reviews.
By the way: this year should be in Crete this year Greece’s first underwater park open.
Insider tip: How can you reach Skopelos well?
The island is connected to the Greek mainland by ferry. So you can reach Skopelos from Thessaloniki, Kymi, Volos, Mantoudi and Agios Konstantinos, the journey lasts according to the information page ferriesingreece.com Depending on the departure harbor between one and a half and four hours. The cost of a ferry ticket to Skopelos therefore amounts to around 20 to 30 euros for a standard place.
In addition, the Skopelos is connected to the neighboring islands of Skiathos and Alonissos by ferries. While Alonissos is more visited by tourists as a destination for a day trip, the larger island of Skiatho’s travelers offers the opportunity to get as close as possible to Skopelos by plane.
Because Skopelos does not have its own airport, but the nearest airport is according to the travel portal Expedia on skiathos. If you end up there, you can comfortably take a ferry to Skopelos from there, which creates skopelos chora or glossa in just 20 minutes at one of the two ports. In the high season in summer, Expedia Up to ten flights from Athens to Skiathos offer up to ten flights.
