Main Skiathos Resort reviews

Aghia Paraskevi is situated 9km west of Skiathos Town and offers one of the best beaches with soft golden sands on the island. The beach does shelve quite steeply so families with young children should take care. The beach is backed by pine trees and washed by clear, crystal seas and offers umbrellas for shade and a host of watersports including waterskiing, pedalos and water parachuting. Aghia Paraskevi also has a nice selection of restaurants and traditional tavernas. For a more exiting night out visit the small peaceful village of Platanias where you can enjoy the traditional Greek ambience and good local wines in the tavernas.

Kanapitsa is situated 6.5km southwest of Skiathos Town in the Southern part of the island. The beaches in the area are the main attraction and the beautiful beach on Achladies Bay will not disappoint. There are some lovely tavernas on the beach, offering wonderful views across the sea to the tiny island of Tsougria, and to the left is the island of Skopelos. Kanapitsa is a more up-market resort and the pine-clad hills rise above, to give wonderful views of the coastline. Nightlife is low-key.

Koukounaries is a peaceful resort, full of pine trees, a beautiful mile long beach, tavernas and eateries. If you're looking for lively nights then Koukounaries is not the place for you. The nightlife is laid back and there are not that many restaurants to choose from but what there are offer very good and reasonably priced food. There is however, a regular bus service to and from Skiathos Town.

Skiathos Town Located on the southeast side of the island Skiathos Town is possibly the most popular resort on the island and has a lively atmosphere. There are in fact two ports but forget the commercial one and spend time at the older port watching the little fishing boats sailing in, heavy with fresh fish. White-washed houses iced with terracotta roofs spill down the gentle slopes of the town towards the port. The western side of the town is older with tiny streets and although idyllic you will need to cross to the modern part of the town for shops, restaurants, bars and banks. The town has a long shingle beach which shelves gently into clear waters and offers a small selection of tavernas and souvenir shops.

Troulos boast its own sandy beach with clear shallow waters, which is ideal for young children and a good selection of water sports. The Picturesque village has all the usual amenities associated with a Greek coastal resort. Accommodation is mainly apartment based and the area suits couples and families looking for a more relaxed beach holiday. Troulos is 40 mins coach transfer or 20 mins by taxi from the airport.

Skiathos Travel Facts:

Time: Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 between the last Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin and the round three-pin.
Money: The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents. Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining euros.

Language: Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport valid for the intended period of stay, but a visa is not required.

Health: There are no specific health risks in Greece, but visitors who plan to walk through forested areas are advised to consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Greece vary; those in major cities are excellent but many of the islands are some distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe, but those visiting for short periods should consider sticking to bottled water. UK nationals are entitled to a refund on emergency hospital treatment under a reciprocal agreement between the UK and Greece, and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be taken on holiday for this purpose. Despite this, all visitors are advised to take out medical insurance. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from infected areas. Bird flu was detected in swans in northern Greece in February 2006, but stringent measures have been taken to contain the outbreak; no human infections have been reported. The risk to people is believed to be very low, but visitors are advised to avoid any contact with caged, wild or domestic birds, and to ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked as a precaution.
Tipping: The tip is often included in the bill in a restaurant. If  not, leave between 10 to 15 percent. For drinks at cafes, round the bill up to the nearest euro. Taxis expect change as do cloak room attendants and porters.
Safety: There is a risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks and visitors are urged to be vigilant in public places, including tourist sites. The bombs that exploded in central Athens outside a police station on 5 May 2004 were not targeted at tourists, but visitors could be caught up accidentally in such incidents. Greece is otherwise considered a safe destination, but the height of the tourist season does usually see an increase in petty theft cases, particularly in crowded areas. Visitors are advised not to carry valuables on them. Violent crime is infrequent, but there have been incidents on some Greek islands and lone visitors are advised not to accept lifts from strangers.
Communications: The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). There are often surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) offices for local and international calls. Calls can also be made from public card phone booths and cards can be bought from kiosks or OTE offices. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels.

ABTA & ATOL protection is included on all holidays