One of the lushest islands in the Aegean Sea, Skopelos lies just off the coast of Volos in eastern Greece and famously appeared in the 2008 film “Mamma Mia!”. It’s home to charming towns and more than 360 churches and monasteries and is ringed by pebbly coves and idyllic stretches of sand.
Things to do in Skopelos
Spend a day wandering through the car-free streets of Skopelos Town, with its whitewashed buildings clinging to the hills surrounding a sheltered harbour. Visit the Folklore Museum to learn about the island’s cultural heritage or explore the elegant 18th-century Old Skopelitan Mansion Museum. Despite its small size, there are more than 120 churches in Skopelos Town, including the impressive Church of the Birth of Christ.
The most famous church on Skopelos is undoubtedly the Chapel of St. John, which is perched atop a rocky bluff on the island’s east coast. It was here that Sophie’s wedding scene was filmed in “Mamma Mia!”, with the 198 steps that lead to the top more than worth it for the elevated views of Agios Ioannis Beach.
For a day at the beach, head west to the picturesque sands of Kastani or get active with a range of water sports in the pebbly cove of Panormos. On the north-west coast is Hovolo Beach, which sits at the base of dramatic limestone cliffs, while Limnonari Beach is famed for its rock-hopping goats.
Getting around Skopelos
Skopelos Island is connected by regular ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans to Volos, Agios Konstantinos and Thessaloniki, with ports in Skopelos Town and Loutraki. The closest airport is on the neighbouring island of Skiathos. Buses travel throughout Skopelos or you can rent a car or motorcycle for getting around.