There are so many places you can visit when planning your summer vacation. However, if you are still in doubt, or maybe you haven’t started planning yet, then I would suggest giving Skiathos a try. This small Greek island is one of the most famous in Greece, and as it turns it, it lives up to its name. Wanting to see if the rumors were true, I decided to go and see for myself.
After considering my options, I decided to book an apartment not in the main town, but in a small place called Troulos. This was so, due to the fact that I wanted to spend my holiday relaxing and not having to worry about the buzz and noise of the thousand tourists. This was one of my best decisions, because the apartment I booked, called Paraschos Studios, was situated in a quiet area, only a short walk from the beach. The price of the apartment was 60USD per night, and since I was traveling with my boyfriend, It turned out to be 30USD per person. Something that made me pick this apartment apart from the closeness to the beach, was the big yard with a great parking space for our car.
After packing what I needed, we got in our car and set out to Skiathos. I’ve heard that Skiathos is an amazing island, but what awaited me there was more than I could have expected. As soon as we arrived there, we unpacked our bags, and it was time for the 10-day adventure to begin.
Exploring the beaches
When I go on vacation to a new place, something that I always like to do is explore the beaches, instead of just sticking to the beach closest to me. I’ve heard that Skiathos has some of the best beaches in Greece, so I knew that I had to see them all. Therefore, instead of spending 10 days in the nearest beach I set out to see as much as I could. One thing that I didn’t have to worry about was finding transport to the beaches since we were traveling by car. However, after arriving there I saw that finding a bus to the beaches was the easiest thing to do. So, instead of struggling to find a nice parking space, we decided to leave our car back at the apartment and grab a bus to some of the beaches, which were pretty cheap and cost only 2USD.
Troulos Beach.
The first beach I visited was the closest to the apartment or the Troulos beach. This beach was one of the less crowded beaches in Skiathos, which is perfect if you want to relax and read a couple of pages of your favorite book, which is exactly what I did. Another thing that makes this beach so appealing is the beach bars and restaurants. There is nothing better than drinking a cold glass of beer or eating some of their famous seafood specialties while enjoying the view of the Aegean Sea. I’m a big lover of Greek gyro, so I mostly ordered that and one of their famous beers, either Mythos or Alfa. The gyro together with the beer cost me 6USD, that is 3USD for the gyro and 3USD for the beer, which is not bad.
Koukounaries Beach.
This was the second beach that we decided to visit since it wasn’t far from Troulos, or about a 10 min drive. Since we came by car, there was no reason to take a bus, although the second time we went, we took a bus from Bus stop 18 to 24, and it took about 20 minutes to get to the beach. This was definitely the longest beach in Skiathos, and one of the most crowded. However, one thing that this beach has and most of the beaches in Skiathos don’t, is the natural shade provided by the pine trees. This was perfect for me because I’m not the type of person who wants to sit in the sun all day and tan. Instead, I’m the person you would see under an umbrella, reading Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter for the 10th time.In addition, if you are into watersports, then this beach might have just what you need. One of the most popular water sport is water skiing, and if you think you are not the best at this, then don’t worry because there are also people there that can teach you and show you how it’s done.
Banana Beach.
We visited Banana Beach three out of the ten days we were in Skiathos, and every time we went by bus because after visiting Koukounaries by car, we struggled to find a good parking space. We took the same bus from the same bus stop, which was Bus Stop 18, and it took us to Bus Stop 26. From the bus stop, we had to walk about 5 more minutes on a dirt road to reach Banana Beach. Just like the previous ones this beach is a sandy beach. One thing that makes this beach unique is the fact that just beyond the rocky cliffs of this beach is the so-called Little Banana Beach which is a naturist one. However, since I’m not that daring I decided to stick with Banana beach. However, I have to warn you, if loud music and crowds of people are not your cup of tea, then stay clear of this beach.
Lalaria Beach.
A beach that I was dying to visit was one of, if not the most famous beach in Skiathos called Lalaria Beach. The only drawback to this beach is the fact that you have to get a boat to get there since there is no way to walk to the beach. Although this might be a drawback it is also an advantage, since it is a natural beach with no bars or restaurant. However, in order to get a boat, we had to go to Skiathos Town, since there were no boats going from Troulos to Lalaria Beach. After leaving our car in a parking space in Skiathos, we headed to the port of Skiathos where we took a $12 boat that took us to Lalaria and Kastro Beach. The things that make this beach so magnificent are the beautiful white pebbles, as well as the huge cliffs rising from the water, one of which forms a sort of a passage. Before coming to this beach I’ve seen many pictures, but I can say that nothing compares to the beauty that you see in person. It is a beach unlike anywhere else that you will definitely not forget.
Kastro Beach.
Another beach that is equally as spectacular is the so-called Kastro Beach. What makes this beach that much more interesting is the fact that it is located just under the remains of a medieval castle. Therefore, after a nice swim, you can go up the hill and reach the castle and see the remains of some churches that have been restored. However, if you aren’t a person who enjoys history, the view from the top of the hill is one that you will not see anywhere else. With that being said, it was only fitting that I took about 50 photos or more just from the view.
Take a walk in the town of Skiathos
Although Troullos had some charming bars and restaurants that I visited during the evenings, I really wanted to see the town of Skiathos as well. So, after going there once, I went back and visit it four nights in a row. The first night we went there, we went by car, so my boyfriend could only drink Coke. Therefore, the following three nights we took a taxi which was 10USD. This might not be so expensive if you traveling together with someone else, so instead of waiting for a bus, you can easily grab a taxi for the same price. It was just like in the pictures, a small town with white houses and narrow streets. It is a typical seaside Greek town, with restaurants on every corner of those narrow streets and bars and cafes near the sea. It is a perfect place to have some of their famous seafood dishes, or if you are someone like me, it is the perfect place for a delicious pizza and a glass of cold beer. Even though it was July, the prices were not that high and I had to pay 14USD for a pizza and 3USD for a beer. If you are a cocktail lover, then the cocktails range from 14 to 20USD, although there is a discount if you order before 8 pm.
The ten days of sun, beach, and cocktails were slowly coming to an end, and I have to admit that this was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. It was the perfect mixture of relaxation, fun, and adventure. It was a place that I would gladly visit again and again, and I place that I would recommend to everyone.
Daily cost:
If you are planning to take a trip to Skiathos, let’s round up my daily costs so that you can get an idea of how much you would spend. Since, as I mentioned previously I wasn’t traveling alone, but with my boyfriend, my daily cost consisted od 30USD for the apartment and about 20 to 50USD a day for additional costs. These additional costs sometimes included a lunch or a dinner in a restaurant and a trip to Skiathos town, while sometimes we would pass on the restaurant date, and just get a gyro and a beer and sit in the yard of our apartment while watching an episode of our favorite TV show. So, if you are someone traveling on a budget, then don’t worry because you don’t have to pay a fortune to have a great holiday.
