sporades islands Travel Guide

The Sporades Islands’ palette is very much green and blue. With pine-forested mountains sloping down to the Aegean, fertile meadows, and stone-built houses, the ambience here is different to the Cyclades’s bare rugged hills topped with cubed whitewashed architecture, the Dodecanese’s warm coloured edifices and numerous caves and high rocky formations, or the Venetian influence of the Ionian chain and their soaring mountains; either completely carpeted or semi-green. 

‘The Sporades’ translates to ‘scattered’, and legend has that the archipelago was created during a clash between the Greek Gods as they threw a handful of rocks at one another. As these rocks fell sporadically into the Aegean Sea, leafy, sun-drenched islands rose in their place - what we know as the islands of the Sporades today. 

Twenty-four islands comprise the Sporades island chain, but the only inhabited ones are Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos, and Skyros. They’re all little gems with golden beaches and clear azure waters, not to mention easy to reach, making them an ideal destination for island hopping. Here, some places may even look familiar - does Mamma Mia! The Movie ring any bells? 

Read on to take a look at these glittering Sporades Islands. This comprehensive guide will delve into what they’re like, their customs and traditions, the best things to do, top locations and much more!

The Sporades Islands are quite a seasonal destination. The summer months are their busiest, with all their services in full swing. Winter is much slower and quieter, with many tavernas closed, and touristic services are limited(bus trips) or at a general halt (boat excursions). 

Bound by a Mediterranean climate, summers in the Sporades are hot and dry, and winters are windy and wet but mild. 

Crowds build up in July and August but in Skyros and Alonissos, they exist on a smaller scale compared to buzzing Skopelos, and even more energetic Skiathos - the busiest out of all four islands.

If you don’t mind a livelier environment, July is the hottest month of the year where temperatures can reach 30°C but typically average about 26°C. Pure sunshine and rare rain showers typify this period. The weather flattens into August, but the sea peaks at around 24°C. 

Although dropping slightly at the end of autumn, the Aegean in September and October is still enticingly warm, with the extra perks of fewer bodies in the water and loungers on the beach.

In contrast, the Sporades’ spring months are intruded with a bit of cold, wind, and rain, but the sun becomes increasingly persistent as summer closes in. April paints the islands’ hills a deep green with speckles of multicoloured wildflowers. Most tavernas begin reopening their doors, and as temperatures rise to 18°C, the first visitors are nature lovers and hikers who wish to evade the red-hot summer sun as they explore the Sporades’ dense wilderness.

May is similar but warmer, delighting in the low 20s, yet the sea will still feel like a cold, crisp bath with a water temperature around 17 and 18°C. June swiftly sees a rise to over 20°C, making longer dips in the sea more comfortable and enjoyable. 

April and May, September and October, are more reasonable times to visit than June through August, and these are months that you’ll have plenty of space to yourself! That being said, for warmer, sunnier days, or the ideal Greek island getaway, the best time to visit the Sporades Islands is between May and October.

Top tip: If you’re travelling from April through to October, evenings can get quite cool despite their milder day temperatures. In this case, make sure to pack a light jacket or jumper to keep you warm.

Mamma Mia Tour in Skiathos 

Revel in your wildest ABBA/Mamma Mia fantasies on our 9-Day Athens, Skiathos & Skopelos trip!

On Skiathos, begin by visiting the quaint Old Port lined with small boats. This is where Sophie’s (Amanda Seyfried’s movie character) three potential fathers meet for the first time before heading to the fictional Kalokairi island. Then head to Skiathos’s Old Town, made up of a labyrinth of white-coloured houses with red-tiled roofs and pebbled streets. The movie’s enthralling opening scene featuring Sophie singing I Have a Dream showcases views over the town’s iconic rooftops, as well as the Agios Nikolaos church and its clock tower.

A Mamma Mia tour also gives you the opportunity to combine your trip with sailing around the island, where you’ll stop at the best snorkelling and swimming spots! Sail to magical beaches along the coast that can only be accessed by boat, like Lalaria beach, and discover exotic, uninhabited islands such as Tsougrias, only a short ride away.

Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again in Skopelos 

Lush Skopelos was the backdrop of fictional Kalokairi in the Mamma Mia film. Relive some of the film’s best scenes on our 9-Day Athens, Skiathos & Skopelos tour, and create some of your own lasting memories.

Undoubtedly the star amongst all of Mamma Mia’s locations is the tiny, charming chapel of Agios Ioannis perched upon a tall, dramatic rock. You’ll climb up its 199 steps, just like Donna (Meryl Streep’s character), as she passionately belts out the Winner Takes It All. On the clifftop, panoramic views stretch to Skopelos’s surrounding coastline and further out to Alonissos. Visit in the late afternoon for an impressive view as the sun dips below the horizon, and if you need some cooling off after (or before) your run up the steps, head to the small beach right beneath the rock, a little gulf with crystalline waters.

Another iconic location is Kastani beach’s small bay of white sand set against a green cluster of pine trees, where Sophie and Sky (Dominic Cooper) sing a splendid rendition of Lay All Your Love on Me. It is also featured when Tanya (Christine Baranski) teases and romantically rejects one of Sky’s younger friends as she sings, Does Your Mother Know?

Amongst the olive groves above Glysteri beach, you’ll recall the scene when Donna picks up her best friends Tanya and Rosie (Jenny Galloway), and the picture-perfect harbour of quaint Agnontas was the location for filming a portion of Money, Money, Money.

Cape Amarandos’s rugged and stunning coastline is where Sophie runs through the pines singing Honey, Honey, and it also proved an idyllic setting for the sailing scene to Our Last Summer.

Go Snorkelling/Diving in The Marine Park of Alonissos

The marine park of Alonissos is only a short boat ride away from the main island and was toured on our 9-Day Athens, Skiathos & Skopelos trip too. 

It is a diverse reserve featuring pristine waters and an array of fascinating sea life. Here, you’ll catch sight of the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal, playful pods of dolphins, and some whale species even swim by!

Among the turtles and varying schools of fish, uncover the remains of a 2500-year-old shipwreck and the famous Blue Cave with a deep blue drop. But that’s not all - the national park is also a breeding ground for bird species like Bonelli’s eagle and Eleonora’s falcon!

An all-around delight, do not miss out on this rich and unforgettable experience in Alonissos. 

Spot Wild Horses in Skyros

On the island’s southern face on Mount Kochilas, rockier than the north though just as idyllic, you’ll spot the Skyrian ponies in their natural habitat. 

The miniature Skyrian horse is one of the rarest horse breeds worldwide! Typically graced with a bay, dun, or black coat, they also have thicker manes and tails than your average horse. 

These playful and intelligent creatures are often seen lazing about small lakes and trees, or maybe you’ll catch them galloping across green plains!

If you’re excited to witness the enchanting horses up close, get in touch with our Local Designers, who can organise a trip to Mouries Farm on Skyros, where you can learn more about their unique breed.

Taste Skopelos’s Famous Olive Oil 

Along with a satisfying measure of Mamma Mia fun, you’ll get a good dose of Skopelos’s olive oil too! On your 9-Day Athens, Skiathos & Skopelos tour, you’ll also taste fine, locally-produced extra virgin olive oil. 

Most of the island’s olive oil comes from the Antoniou Family Olive Press, a 130-year-old, third-generation, family-owned mill which still practices traditional olive harvesting techniques. The factory is well worth the visit, including opportunities to tour both the production mill and the museum and taste and buy your own bottles of olive oil for souvenirs. 

Antoniou’s cold-pressed olive oil is juicy, tasty, and slightly bitter with a fresh aroma. Taste this premium-quality oil with local bread and slices of tomatoes and gherkins straight from their garden!

Check off a Few Churches & Monasteries 

From coast to mountain, the landscape of the Sporadic Islands is peppered with stunning churches and monasteries. Visiting the islands’ numerous religious structures will take you beyond the typical tourist hubs and into the tranquil woodlands tucked away from view to small hamlets by the sea.

On Skiathos, must-visit places include the peaceful post-Byzantine Monastery of Evagelistria, hidden in the island’s hills, and the charming white Agios Nikolaos Church, with its tall clock tower and view of the harbour and the sprawling streets of the small town. 

While in the Marine Park of Alonissos, make a detour to the beautiful Monastery of Kyra Panagia, perched on the edge of a cliff on the eponymous islet. On mainland Alonissos, head to the two chapels of Agioi Anargiri (old and new sat side by side), backed by pine forests and a jaw-dropping vista of the shimmering sea beyond.

If you love art, history and architecture, visit the whitewashed Panagitsa of Pyrgos in Skopelos, an old and romantic architectural beauty with a magnificent view of the Aegean. Also, take a moment to marvel at two of Skopelos’s Byzantine monasteries: the tall and robust Agia Varvara and the fortress-like Evangelistria.

Visit the little church on Skyros, the extraordinary Agios Nikolaos, which is carved directly into the rock. While you’re there, venture to the pretty stone Monastery of Agios Dimitrios - its church boasts exquisitely preserved frescoes from the 17th century!

Tip: Keep in mind to dress appropriately when visiting the islands’ churches and monasteries. The monastery dress code requires both men and women to cover both their shoulders and knees. 

Birdwatch in Skyros

Throughout the year, birds fly all over Skyros. 

The wetland of Kalamitsa is a spot teeming with various bird species, including shrikes and finches. The highest mountain of Skyros, Mount Kochilas, is a hotspot for rare birds of prey such as Bonelli’s eagles and Eleonora’s falcons. You can check out the low hills of Palamari and Trachy in the north of Skyros for migratory herons, ruffs, western sandpipers, and more.

Birdwatching not only lets you appreciate Skyros’s rare fauna, but it also takes you into the heart of the island’s raw landscape. You’ll see dense pine forests, pretty olive groves, its countryside of shrubs and crops, and low-lying wetlands with deep blue vistas ahead. 

If this aligns with your interests, our Local Designers are happy to include a birdwatching excursion in Skyros as part of your Sporades Islands holiday itinerary. 

Beach Hopping 

A no-brainer when holidaying on the Greek islands, beach hopping is an absolute must and a great way to discover the four corners of each of the Sporades’ islands. Below are some unmissable beaches for your Sporades Islands adventure!

Skiathos is home to some of the finest beaches in all of Greece. The soft and sandy Koukounaries take the cake for the most beloved beach in the south, while Lalaria beach, decorated with pretty rock formations and made up of smooth white pebbles, is the face of Skiathos’s northern end. Along with these, you can also visit Banana beach and Vromolimnos beach on your free day during our 9-Day Athens, Skiathos & Skopelos trip.

Many claim that Milia is the most beautiful beach on Skopelos with its pristine, azure-coloured water and a long stretch of pebbles mixed with sand. For a remote spot, head to Hovolo beach; completely wild, idyllic and quiet, surrounded by white cliffs that brilliantly contrast its blue-green sea.

Alonissos’s main draws are Chrisi Milia beach, a calm stretch of sea encircled by jutting cliffs carpeted in pine forests, and Agios Dimitrios’s exotic beach and crystal clear sea.

In Skyros, you can’t miss the classic, long and sandy Magazia, and make sure to hike to the charming Agalipa for a crystal-clear sea and a backdrop of colourful rocks.

Hike Alonissos

Alonissos is the perfect destination for those who want to combine their Greek holiday with adventure in a serene setting of unrivalled natural beauty.

The island is home to a plethora of walking trails suitable to anyone and everyone - from the cobbled paths between the Old Village to the verdant countryside and along the breathtaking coast. 

Hiking in Alonissos allows you to appreciate the island’s flora fully. You’ll see gnarled ancient trees, like holm oaks and cedar to low bushes, plus isolated chapels, stone windmills, and small stunning bays.

Hike up to the peak of Mount Kalovoulos to catch a phenomenal sunset, or walk the short routes leading to the secluded beaches of the northern coastline, like Megali Ammos, Tourkoneri, and Agios Dimitrios. You can also cross the island’s backbone, starting from the Chora (main town), and ending at the tranquil Gerakas beach for a rewarding dip in the sea.

If hiking or nature walking sounds like a bit of you, get in touch with our Local Designers on the ground for route recommendations, tips, or guided walking tours!

Situated quite close to one another, the Sporades Islands are perfect for Greek island hopping. 

As for transportation on the islands themselves, you’ll find taxi and bus services. Taxis are the costlier option but are fast and reliable. There will be plenty of bus routes on each island too, but be aware they do become limited during winter. 

Hiring your own vehicle - be it a car, motorcycle or scooter - is highly recommended to flit from beach to village at your own pace. Giving you the opportunity to explore the beautiful interiors of the Sporadic Islands to the fullest extent.

If self-driven trips fit into your travel preferences, let our Local Designers know, who can easily organise a rented vehicle for your next holiday to the Sporades!

By Ferry 

The most affordable way to island-hop around the Sporades is by ferry. There are several ferry lines connecting the islands to one another, and most often, they’re direct. With multiple ferries available throughout the year, many of which are high-speed, it is easy and fast to move between the islands. 

Each island has a website for ferry timetables along with a section to book your tickets in advance i, so make sure to check ahead. 

By Boat or Yacht

Cruise around the islands at your own pace by hiring a yacht or boat for your trip. You’ll be able to relish your Sporades Islands holiday without the worry and stress of booking ferry tickets and checking timetables.

Stopping at spots within the gulf that aren’t planned in your original itinerary also becomes possible, making your trip extra special.

Connect with our Local Designers in Greece to make this happen! Check out our 11-Day Sail and Relax in the Greek Islands tour as an example.

Keep in mind that despite there being airports on both Skiathos and Skyros, there are no direct flights between the two islands.

Skiathos

Staying in Skiathos Town puts you at the crux of the island’s soul, where white two-storey houses with rust-coloured tiled roofs and pretty blooming courtyards make up a maze of narrow alleys.

The town is an all-rounder consisting of everything you’d need: the promenade and the port overflow with tavernas, cafés, and bars, and on Papadiamantis street, you’ll find shops and artisanal boutiques, plus traditional coffee shops where you can sit with a Freddo espresso in hand. It’s a great base for families and first-time visitors. You can rent an apartment or villa, with both budget and luxury options available.

For an exceptional dose of unspoiled nature, relaxation, and seclusion, head to the Kalamaki Peninsula on Skiathos’s southern coast. Even in the height of summer, it remains crowd-free.. The peninsula is famous for its scenic views, sprawling vegetation and walking trails, and its beaches are soft and golden with an azure-blue sea. 

Take your pick between self-catering studios, apartments, hotels, and private villas - the options are endless!

Skopelos 

Alonnisos Town is the picture-perfect Greek village: narrow cobbled alleyways connected by age-worn steps, balconies overflowing with vines, brightly painted doors and shutters, sweeping vistas of the Aegean Sea, and tavernas and cafes that spill out onto the streets. Alonissos fills you with a sense of calm and easy living. 

As a particularly blissful location for couples with its old-school charm, you can choose to stay in a traditional style house for an enchanting holiday.

Patitiri is an attractive port village nestled in a diamond-clear bay on the slopes of the pine-blanketed hills in the south of Alonissos. Budget travellers can appreciate the more affordable accommodation options (many even include a pool!), while families benefit from the range of amenities such as a little sandy beach on the seafront, calm and shallow enough for the kids to paddle in, as well as an array of tavernas and little cafes bordering the harbour.

You’ll also have the chance to explore Alonissos from top to bottom in our 9-Day Athens, Skiathos & Skopelos tour.

Skyros

Skopelitiki Tiropita

You won’t be able to resist Skopelos’s version of this quintessentially Greek cheese-filled phyllo pastry!

What makes Skopelos’s tiropita unique is that the filling consists of local goat cheese (feta) plus fresh olive oil made exclusively on the island. It is also shaped into a spiral and consequently deep-fried in oil for the extra crispiness rather than baked in an oven. 

Gobble down one, two, or more Skopelitiki tiropita as a starter/appetiser, mid-morning pick-me-up, or late-night treat!

Skyros’s Spaghetti with Lobster (Astakomakaronada)

Who doesn’t love lobster? This famous Skyrian dish has sweet and moist lobster meat as its centrepiece, with a delicious spaghetti base enriched with a herby, tomato-based sauce. 

The lobster is traditionally served in its shell, and the whole dish is generously garnished with parsley, making for a standout seafood dish..

Homemade Liqueur in Skiathos 

Sample delicious homemade liqueur in Skiathos!

Festival favourites are walnut and cherry. The island’s Women’s Association typically prepares these along with other fruit liqueurs like apricot and botanical liqueurs, including rose geranium. They do so in the traditional manner by leaving these liqueurs out in the sun for 40 days.

You’ll also find a range of homemade liqueurs at the Evangelistria Monastery made by resident monks, which are available to purchase in the neighbouring shop. 

Skopelos and Spoon Sweets

Spoon sweets are a typical end to a meal in Skopelos. This delightful treat is made from sweet preserves of local fruit and served, of course, in a spoon. 

The most famous spoon sweet in Skopelos is avgato, a satisfying sweet doused in a light syrup made from juicy white plums - a variety unique to the island. Savour it on its own, or pair it with a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

There are also other spoon sweets worth the taste: take your pick between strawberry, bergamot, sour cherry, rose, orange and many more!

Alonnisos’s Famous Tuna

Alonnisos’s white tuna is a special delicacy that you can even take home with you!

The fish is caught from the Aegean Sea, and its tender fillets are preserved in glass jars with olive oil, sunflower oil, or water. This method allows the fish to retain its natural flavours and nutrients.

Savour the tuna on its own, in a salad or sandwich, or as an appetiser alongside a glass of ouzo. 

Skyrian Ladopita

A crispy Skyrian speciality, this oil pie is a must-try delight!

Thin, crunchy, and more or less fluffy, ladopita is specially made with Skyrian olive oil, giving it a unique flavour. Then, it is topped with local cheese, like fresh mizithra or xinotiri, for a savoury treat, and sometimes drizzled with honey plus a sprinkle of cinnamon for a sweet dessert. 

Saganaki in Alonnisos 

For cheese galore, order the saganaki - a whole square of local fried cheese! Crisp on the outside and warm and soft on the inside - the perfect pairing. 

It makes a hypnotic starter, sometimes trickled with honey, maybe a sprinkle of seeds, and a lemon wedge to garnish.

Skiathos’s Peskandritsa Stew

This dish features a local recipe of monkfish married with sautéed onions and coarsely chopped vegetables, quenched with wine, and baked in the oven. 

One of your soon-to-be favourites, the wholesome stew delights with a slightly sweet flavour, a balanced aroma, and a tender melt-in-the-mouth fish.

Local Honey from Skopelos 

Honey is one of Skopelos's specialities, with a beekeeping and honey-making tradition that spans centuries. Do not sleep on this local product!

Here, you can taste excellent pine honey with dried fruit, walnuts, pollen, and honeycomb. In the summer months, coffee shops serve loukoumades, small rounded doughnuts slathered in honey. During winter, no Christmas is complete without plates of melomakarona  (macaroons topped with nuts and dripping in honey).

When in Skopelos, look out for the Ktima Stamatiou estate that has been producing organic honey since 1953!

Skyros Carnival

Skyros is famous for its wild carnival celebrations prior to Greek Easter. It is an intense explosion of revelry and cacophony, and it is also a compelling visual spectacle.

The carnival centres on the spellbinding goat dance, rooted in Dionysian celebrations. Masked revellers take to the streets of the Hora (main town) for dancing, where the bulk of festivities occur. 

The stars of the show include the Old Man: dressed in a goat-pelt cape accompanied by a goat-skin mask, a heavy belt of sheep bells, brown leather sandals and a shepherd’s crook in hand. Their dancing bride is known as Corella: her face is covered by a cloth, and she is dressed in white in contrast to her counterpart clad in black.

It is a time when Skyros’s streets are astir with the sounds of hundreds of bells clanging through the island. The carnival is a great time for visitors to experience a true and authentic Greek celebration. 

Skopelos Carnival 

For a scintillating dose of Skopelos culture and tradition, immerse yourself in the island’s colourful carnival season during spring. Lasting for three weeks and beginning on Tsiknopempti (known as Smoky or Fat) Thursday, the whole of Skopelos erupts into laughs, dancing and songs as masquerading revellers of all ages parade the island’s stone streets.

Festivities culminate on the final Sunday with a trata or trawl. It involves costumed men donning jingling bells as they haul a boat made of reeds and wood (the trata) through the town, all the while ‘catching’ spectators with fishing nets, joyfully drinking, and singing obscene songs. 

A satirical wedding procession also takes the island by storm on the same Sunday, in which a man is dressed as the bride, locals belt the song Vlacha at the top of their lungs, and rice milk, rice pudding, and wine are endlessly consumed.

Throughout the celebrations, Skopelians go from square to square dressed up in traditional carnival garments called bramdes, a vision of white, red, black and gold, which include the addition of handkerchiefs, and outfits are embellished with silver jewellery known as tsaprazis.

On Ash Monday (or Clean Monday), the final day of the carnival, locals gather by the seaside or in the fertile fields of the countryside, flying kites, drinking more wine, and feasting on local delicacies, including halva (a sweet cake-like dessert, sometimes made from tahini or semolina) and fresh seafood, such as sea urchins, octopus, mussels, and clams. 

St. Maria’s Day Celebrations in Alonnisos 

Every August 15th, Alonnisos’s locals gather in the Old Village for an exciting panigiri (a festival) commemorating the Virgin Mary.

Not only can you watch, but you can also participate in the revival of a wedding, whereby locals dress up as wedding guests, and the bride is bedecked in a traditional dress. Tunes, from lutes, violins, and clarinets, accompany the festivities, which are followed by a wedding party in the evening that ultimately ends up at the plateia (town square). 

During the massive party, braised goat and pasta are feasted on for dinner, local sweets for dessert, and wine is endlessly consumed. Dance and sing with the locals of Alonnisos until dawn!

Katsonia Festival in Skiathos

Taking place every year on the 6th of September, the Katsonia Festival honours the Katsonis submarine and its crew that were sunk by Germany during World War II, just off the coast of Skiathos.

Join locals and officials in a huge public feast, a religious mass, a ceremonial sinking of a small boat, and the throwing of colourful wreaths into the Aegean Sea.

Getting to the Sporades Islands: You can reach the Sporades Islands by ferry from the ports of Volos and Agios Constantinos on mainland Greece. Ferries from these two ports go to Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos, while ferries to Skyros depart from Kymi on Evia Island. You can also fly to Skiathos and Skyros from Athens and Thessaloniki. 

Money: It is recommended that you keep cash (euros) handy as it is the preferred method of payment on these smaller islands rather than by bank card.

WiFi: In most parts of the Sporades Islands, you will have a connection to the internet. Most cafeterias, restaurants, cafes, and accommodations will share a free-of-charge WiFi service.

Water: Tap water is technically safe to drink on the islands but not the nicest due to its high mineral content. You’ll be more partial to bottled water which is widely available and cheap to purchase.

Don’t: Don’t lush the toilet paper as the sewage pipes on the islands can easily clog. Instead, restrooms will have a trash bin into which you can dispose of your toilet paper.

Sapphire seas, hillsides swathed in pine trees and olive groves, and traditional stone-built villages and Choras (main towns) make the Sporades Islands a tempting choice for a Greek island getaway. 

Choose Designer Journeys for your next holiday to the Sporades, and our expert Local Designers on the ground can guide you with their insider knowledge and tips to curate your perfect trip! Or look to our fully-customisable Greece tours for inspiration and alternatively create your own trip from scratch!