Sporades
Skyros
Two islands in one — wild north, Cycladic south — and almost nobody knows it exists.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
Flight or ferry
In pictures
Skyros
Skyros is one of the most genuinely surprising islands in Greece — rarely appearing on tourist itineraries, with a character that fits no standard category. The north is green and wooded, with excellent beaches; the south is barren, lunar, and strangely beautiful. The Chora climbs a steep hill to a Byzantine castle and looks unmistakably Cycladic — all whitewashed cube houses and winding steps — which seems architecturally improbable this far north in the Aegean. The island has its own breed of miniature wild pony (the Skyrian horse, a survivor from antiquity), an elaborate and ancient carnival tradition celebrated in February, and a connection to Rupert Brooke, the English poet who died of blood poisoning on a hospital ship nearby in 1915 and is buried in an olive grove in the south of the island. Genuinely hard to reach; genuinely rewarding.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Surprisingly hard to reach for a Greek island — requires a bus to Kymi port then a 2-hour ferry.
Hidden gem
Track down a pair of handmade Skyrian sandals — a tradition almost extinct elsewhere in Greece.
Where it sits
Sporades, Greece
Skyros — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Skyros? +
- The best months to visit Skyros are May to October. It's calm and uncrowded most of the year, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Skyros from Athens? +
- Skyros has an airport, so you can fly direct from Athens in under an hour or take the ferry.
- Is Skyros good for couples? +
- Skyros is a charming pick for couples, especially shoulder season.
- Is Skyros good for families with kids? +
- Skyros is a solid family option, though you'll want a car for the best beaches.
- Is Skyros expensive? +
- Skyros is affordable by Greek-island standards.
- Do you need a car on Skyros? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Skyros. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Skyros? +
- Surprisingly hard to reach for a Greek island — requires a bus to Kymi port then a 2-hour ferry.