Skopelos (population 4,960 in 2011) is the largest island in the Northern Sporades Islands. It is east of mainland Greece, northeast of the island of Euboea and is part of the Prefecture of Magnesias in the Periphery of Thessaly. Skopelos is also the name of the main port and the municipal center of the island. The other communities of the island are Glossa and Neo Klima (Elios). The geography of Skopelos includes two mountains over 500 meters; Delphi (681 meters) in the center of the island, and Palouki (546 meters) in the southeast. With an area of 95 km² (36.6 mi²) Skopelos is slightly larger than Mykonos (85 km²) and Santorini (73 km²). The nearest inhabited islands are Skiathos to the west and Alonissos to the east.
Skopelos is one of the greenest islands in the Aegean Sea. The island has a wide range of flowers, trees and shrubs. The local vegetation is chiefly made up of forests of Aleppo Pines, Kermes Oaks, a small forest of Holm Oaks, fruit trees and olive groves.
- Skopelos town. Located on the southeast side of the island, the main port and municipal center of the island. The town is noted for its architectural heritage.
- Glossa. Situated on the north west side of the island, just above Loutraki harbour with an elevation ranging from 200 to 300m. It is 25,4km from Skopelos town. Typical and tranquil village with traditional houses. The village faces Skiathos and the mainland.
- Elios. A purpose-built village constructed after the great 1965 earthquake to resettle the displaced residents of the severely damaged village of (Old) Klima. It is situated by the coast on the west side of the island, between Milia beach and Klima village. It is 3 km from Klima village, 6 km from Glossa village and 19 km from Skopelos town. The village had 415 inhabitants in the 2001 census.
Skopelos town. Located on the southeast side of the island, the main port and municipal center of the island. The town is noted for its architectural heritage.
[[Glossa]]. Situated on the north west side of the island, just above Loutraki harbour with an elevation ranging from 200 to 300m. It is 25,4km from Skopelos town. Typical and tranquil village with traditional houses. The village faces Skiathos and the mainland.
Elios. A purpose-built village constructed after the great 1965 earthquake to resettle the displaced residents of the severely damaged village of (Old) Klima. It is situated by the coast on the west side of the island, between Milia beach and Klima village. It is 3 km from Klima village, 6 km from Glossa village and 19 km from Skopelos town. The village had 415 inhabitants in the 2001 census.
Greek is the native language of the people of Skopelos. However, many people also speak passable English and some speak German or other European languages.
The island has more than 360 churches and chapels. Most are closed through the years except for the feast day of whom or whatever the church has been dedicated. Most have been privately built. The oldest existing ecclesiastical structure is the basilica of Agios Athanasios built in the 11th century and located in the Kastro area.
- Folklore Museum of Skopelos, Skopelos Town, +30 24240 23494. Situated in a traditional building, donated to the Municipality of Skopelos by the Nickolaides family, the Museum of Folk Art is exhibiting some of the finest handiwork made during the latter part of the 19th and through most of the 20th centuries.
Folklore Museum of Skopelos, Skopelos Town, +30 24240 23494. Situated in a traditional building, donated to the Municipality of Skopelos by the Nickolaides family, the Museum of Folk Art is exhibiting some of the finest handiwork made during the latter part of the 19th and through most of the 20th centuries.
- Sunbathing
- Swimming
- Walking
Skopelos has excellent beaches. The south-west side of the island has sandy beaches with calm waters. The wind mostly comes in from the north and also the sea tends to be somewhat rougher to the north.
Going clockwise around the island, the main destinations for the sun-swim-and-sand seeker are:
- Staphylos Small sandy beach with a couple of basic changing rooms and a small snack bar. Can be crowded.
- Agnondas Small beach, not much developed, with a small settlement with stores, etc.
- Limnonari With Milia, the best beach on the island. Get off the bus at Agnondas and walk along the road through Agnondas in the same direction the bus was going for about ten minutes until you read the end of a hairpin turn, where there are prominent signs pointing out the way to Limnonari. About twenty minutes walk along this path lies Limnonari; you won't see the beach until you're almost there. Limnonari is not much developed but has one very basic taverna.
- Panormos An excellent gravelly beach and the most built-up of the island's beach resorts, with numerous tavernas and hotels.
- Milia Excellent pebbly beach with a beach bar and a couple of simple tavernas and hotels.
Staphylos Small sandy beach with a couple of basic changing rooms and a small snack bar. Can be crowded.
Agnondas Small beach, not much developed, with a small settlement with stores, etc.
Limnonari With Milia, the best beach on the island. Get off the bus at Agnondas and walk along the road through Agnondas in the same direction the bus was going for about ten minutes until you read the end of a hairpin turn, where there are prominent signs pointing out the way to Limnonari. About twenty minutes walk along this path lies Limnonari; you won't see the beach until you're almost there. Limnonari is not much developed but has one very basic taverna.
Panormos An excellent gravelly beach and the most built-up of the island's beach resorts, with numerous tavernas and hotels.
Milia Excellent pebbly beach with a beach bar and a couple of simple tavernas and hotels.
- Jewelry stores are common
- Colorful sea shells are a popular souvenir item, but very many of them are actually imported, and have no authentic connection to the island whatsoever.
- Many brand name products for sale in the tourist shops may be fakes and/or unlicensed (t-shirts, towels, hand bags, and so on)
Jewelry stores are common
Colorful sea shells are a popular souvenir item, but very many of them are actually imported, and have no authentic connection to the island whatsoever.
Plums, which grow in profusion throughout the island, are a characteristic ingredient of many dishes. You can find them dried, as sweets, or in the local specialty pork with plums, served in many tavernas.
The municipal water is good quality. As most natural source water in limestone environments the water has a high calcium content.
Skoplelos is a generally safe destination. In the summer there are occasional reports of sexual assault. Numerous motorbike accidents during the summer season.
- The summer sun tends to get very strong. You should not take the risk of dehydration, sunburns or even heat strokes lightly. Wear appropriate clothes, maybe with a hat and sunglasses; use sunscreen; bring enough water on excursions and know when to stop exhausting yourself and seek the shade of a tree.
- Daily excursions via boat to Sporades Islands and are offered.