Sporades Islands

Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos, Skyros

White church and blue sea

Sporades Islands

The Sporades Islands are also known as the Northern Sporades or just the Sporades. The group is located in the Aegean sea and consists of 24 islands of which only 4 are inhabited: Alonnisos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros.

Which island of the Sporades to visit?

Landscape

The four inhabited islands of the Sporades have some common features but differences as well and each of them offers unique experience. They are covered with pine trees and have similarities in the traditional architecture but in terms of beaches, they are not the same. Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos have daily ferry connections and it is easy to combine two of them during your holiday or to visit one of the islands for a day.

In short:
- Skiathos has plenty of sandy beaches
- Skiathos and Skopelos are more popular and have more visitors
- Skopelos and Alonnisos have predominantly pebbly beaches
- Skopelos and Skyros have own specialties and interesting local cuisine

Skiathos - sandy beaches heaven

Sandy shore

If the presence of nice sandy beaches is the leading criteria for your holiday, choose Skiathos. This small island has more than 60 beaches and most of them are sandy, suitable even for toddlers.

Skiathos has only village where you can find everything, and many hotels and villas scattered all over the island or by the sea. Moreover, it has the greatest selection of four- and five star hotels.

Skopelos - green landscapes and white churches

The white church of Virgin Mary at the background of the sea

Skopelos, also known as Kalokeri island from the Mamma Mia! movie, will enchant you with its capital Chora, the delicious local cuisine and the impressive number of churches. The rumor says the churches are over 360, including the most famous Agios Ioannis Kastri.

The beaches of Skopelos have pebbles and transparent blue water, and only a few of them are covered with a mixture of coarse sand and tiny pebbles.

Alonnisos - for nature lovers

Chora

Little Alonnisos is less popular than its neighbor Skiathos and Skopelos but it is not isolated. The island has three permanently inhabited villages, plenty of small blue beaches and caves.

The hotels in Alonnisos are small, guesthouses, villas and rooms to rent prevail. There is just one sandy beach in the island, the rest have pebbles.

Skyros - the different one

Skyros is the largest island of the group but it is located away from the other representatives. Despite it has an airport, it is the least touristy of the four Sporades islands.

Skyros looks more like an island of the Cyclades with its cubical white buildings and it has an impressive capital with castle on the top. It is known as a place for foodies and more relaxed holidays. There are both sandy and pebbled beaches.

Are the Sporades expensive?

The port of Patitiri

Skiathos and Alonnisos tend to have a bit higher prices in tavernas compared to the rest islands of the group. The prices for street food and food products in shops do not differ much from other Greek islands and they are affordable for everyone.

You can find both budget and luxury accommodation in all Sporades islands but there is a greater choice of hotels in Skiathos and Skopelos.

How to get to the Sporades islands?

The white-blue flag of the ferry approaching the island

The island of Skiathos and Skyros have small airports, Skopelos and Alonnisos can be reached only by sea. The islands are connected to each by ferry other all year round, except for Skyros which can be reached from Evia.

You can reach the Sporades by ferry via the following routes:
- From Volos to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos, all year round
- From Kymi (Evia) to Skyros, all year round
- From Agios Konstantinos (mainland Greece) to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos (only in summer)
- From Mantoudi (Evia) to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos (only in summer)
- From Thessaloniki to Skiathos (3 times a week, only in summer)

Destinations in Sporades Islands

More about Sporades Islands

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