Planning Your Time

You can hop between Skiathos and Skopelos easily, since there are several-times-a-day ferry connections between them, and they are relatively near each other. Traveling between these islands and Skyros, however, requires advance planning, since there are no direct ferries to Skyros but instead boats leave from Kimi, on the island of Evia. Four days can be just enough for touching down on Skiathos and Skopelos, but you need more days if you want to include Skyros, since reaching it means a flight through Athens or a drive or bus trip to the port of Kimi.

How to choose if you’re only visiting one of the Sporades? If you're the can't-sit-still type and think crowds add to the fun, Skiathos is your island. By day you can take in the beautiful, thronged beaches and Evangelistria Monastery or the fortress-turned-cultural-center, and at night stroll the port to find the most hopping nightclub. Day people with a historical bent should explore Skopelos's many monasteries and churches and its 18th-century Folk Art Museum. Skyros should be at the top of your list if you're a handicraft collector, as the island's furniture, embroidery, and pottery are admired throughout the country and can be bought and sent abroad from several shops.