Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
land immediately outside Skiáthos Town, it has an
extremely short runway, and planes come in incredibly low
over the harbour. On Friday, the busiest day for charters,
hundreds of people gather by the road at the end of the
runway where landing planes pass just a few metres
overhead, and the jet blast from those taking off can knock
you over; check it out on YouTube.
By ferry
Hellenic Seaways (
W
hsw.gr) flying dolphins and
ferries run twice daily for most of the year - more in mid-
summer - to and from Vólos (1hr 30min-2hr 30min),
Skópelos (50min-1hr) and Alónissos (1hr 25min-1hr
45min). Flying dolphins and, in summer, a ferry (NEL Lines;
W
nel.gr) also connect Skiáthos daily with Áyios
Konstandínos (1hr 35min-2hr 45min), and with Skópelos
and Alónissos. On Fridays especially it is worth booking in
advance; Friday mornings into Skiáthos and evening
departures to the islands are frequently full.
Tickets and agencies
There are ticket booths on the dock
at busy times; otherwise the Hellenic Seaways agent
(
T
24270 22209) is directly opposite the jetty at the base of
Papadhiamándi; NEL is handled by Panos Andritsopoulos
(
T
24270 22018), 100m round the new harbour to the right.
10
INFORMATION
Services
In Skiáthos Town, the National Bank is on
Papadhiamándi, and there are numerous others nearby
and around the harbour, many with ATMs. The post office is
also on Papadhiamándi. Many cafés and bars have wi-fi;
i-Net internet café, on the first floor overlooking the new
harbour opposite the taxi stand, has plenty of terminals
and fast connections.
Useful
website
W
skiathos.gr
has
extensive
accommodation listings.
GETTING AROUND
By bus
A superb bus service runs along Skiáthos's coast
road, from town to Koukounariés at the western end of
the island, daily from 7am to midnight, with departures
every fifteen minutes for most of the day (€2); the entire
run takes about thirty minutes most of the time, much
longer in August when traffic is chaotic. In town the
terminus is at the eastern (airport) end of the new port,
with further stops on the ring road. There are 26
numbered stops in all, and these numbers are often used
when giving directions to a beach or restaurant. In
summer a small bus also runs up to Evangelistrías
monastery (8 times daily in Aug, otherwise 4 daily;
15min), departing from the car park near the Health
Centre at the top of the old town.
By taxi
The main taxi rank (
T
24270 24461) is at the new
port just east of the ferry jetties.
By car or scooter
Numerous rental outlets offering
bicycles, motorbikes, cars and motorboats are based
around the new port; Aegean Car Rental (
T
24270 22430,
W
aegeancars.gr), virtually opposite the ferries, is
recommended. Parking in town is impossible, except out
past the yacht anchorage and at the southwest edge near
the health centre.
By boat
Dozens of boat trips are on offer, ranging from
shuttles to various beaches (for example Kanapítsa roughly
hourly all day; 15min; €2.50) to day-trips round the island
(around €15 a head) or round Skópelos (€20). Most of these
depart from the old port, but there are various interesting
alternatives, on small sailing yachts for example, around
the new harbour. The island tour is well worth doing - an
excellent way to get your bearings and check out the
beaches, including a few that can only be reached by boat.
Skiáthos Town
SKIÁTHOS TOWN
, the only real population centre on the island, is set on a couple of low
hills around a point, with the ferry harbour and new town to the east, the picturesque
old port, with the old town rising above it, in the west. You can easily get lost among
the maze-like backstreets and shady platíes of the old town, but heading downhill will
swiftly bring you back, either to the water or the flatter new town, where the main
drag, Alexándhrou Papadhiamándi, runs directly inland from the ferry jetties.
Alexándros Papadiamántis Museum
Just off Alexándhrou Papadhiamándi • Daily 9.30am-1.30pm & 5-7.30pm • €1.50
There are few specific sights in Skiáthos, though the
Alexándros Papadiamántis
Museum
, housed in the nineteenth-century home of one of Greece's best-known
writers, is worth a look. The upper storey - basically two tiny rooms - has been
maintained as it was when the writer lived (and died) here, plainly enjoying a
remarkably ascetic lifestyle. The ground floor operates as a bookshop-cum-
exhibition area.
