Skopelos is a Greek Island that’s got it all – clear waters, ancient churches, incredible cuisine and not 1 but 2 cobbled, car-free Old Town’s with blue and white paintwork that’s pretty much picture perfect.
Famed for being the location of the Mamma Mia movie there is far more to Skopelos than its Hollywood associations. These are my favourite colour and calorie-filled things to do in Skopelos.
Best Things To Do In Skopelos, Greece
1. Old Town Walking Tour
This fantastic guided tour through the steep, winding streets of Skopelos Old Town will show you the island’s oldest churches, bars and artwork interwoven with information like why locals put bottles of water on their doorstep and where you can get the best cheese pie in Skopelos*.
*SPOILER! The bottled water is to ward off cats who like to mark their territory by peeing in the doorways and the best cheese pie is at Michalis’ place where his mother makes every pie fresh to order.
The tour ends at a waterfront restaurant where you’re given samplers of local wine to wash down delicious plates of food including staples like Greek Salad and Moussaka. The whole thing costs just 30 Euros with Dolphin Of Skopelos and I can’t recommend it enough.
Book it: You can find the Dolphin of Skopelos offices on Harbour Street in Skopelos Town. You can also book via your resort rep if travelling with Olympic Holidays like we did.
2. Mamma Mia Movie Tour
Another of Dolphin’s must-do tours is their Mamma Mia Highlights Island Tour. I’ve written in detail about our all-singing and dancing day around the island (read the Mamma Mia tour review here) but, in short, you’ll be taken to key Mamma Mia filming locations including the wedding chapel from the movie and Kastani Beach where they shot scenes including Amanda Seyfried’s and Dominic Cooper’s steamy interpretation of Lay All Your Love On Me.
There is also a bonus stop at an olive farm and a lunch stop at Agnontas where you can enjoy fresh seafood on the waterfront of this cute fishing port.
3. Lunch In Glossa
Glossa is the second largest town on Skopelos and is a superb daytrip if you want to enjoy views (as far as Skiathos) and wander around the quiet, car-free, blue and white streets.
If you come to Glossa you must stop for lunch at Agnanti (follow the signs made from frying pans – yes, really!) where Vicky and I had the best meal of our trip.
Aside from having the cutest embroidered curtains and jaw-dropping views from the terrace, Agnanti focus on using local ingredients to bring their dishes to life. The Feta Me Meli (feta filo pastry) I ordered came drizzled in sweet wine instead of honey and could not have been tastier. (Check out Vicky’s plate of magnificent Kantaifi prawns!)
4. Drive to hidden beaches
If you’re confident with winding, coastal roads a great way to see the island is by hiring a soft-top jeep. Vicky and I hired a Jimney for the day and set off to visit Glossa, stopping at various beaches along the way.
My favourite stop was Panormas Beach, which is a quiet pebbly bay with verdant green water and a handful of tavernas to choose from.
We headed to the sun loungers at Linarakia, at the north end of the cove, and not only were the frappes divine but the service was fun and friendly too.
Kastani is also beautiful but can get busy due to the Mamma Mia tours coming though so you might want to try nearby Milia instead.
4. Sundowners In The Old Town
Part of the beauty of taking the Old Town walking tour was that it introduced us to places we wanted to return to (and photograph like mad) on our own steam.
One of those places was an open-air bar we found overlooking the ocean behind the old church. There are no signs to this bar (I couldn’t even find its name in English) but if you head past the Town Hall to the far end of the port and follow the stairs up past the church you will eventually find it.
Colourful chairs are laid out facing the sea and if you plonk yourself in one eventually a fairly cantankerous old man will appear out of a nearby house to offer you a cold beer. (The sign says they offer cocktails too but it seems they are only available when the owner’s daughter is on hand to make them.)
It’s a stunning setting but be warned that the owner doesn’t like it if he accidentally walks into the back of your shot. And don’t even ask about wi-fi – the telling off we heard someone else get for doing so was hilarious! What a great place to switch off though.
More Info
I travelled to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos on an island-hopping itinerary with Olympic Holidays.
There are no direct flights to Skopelos but it’s an easy ferry or Flying Cat ride from Skiathos – we took the Flying Cat which takes approx. 1 hour.
Browse Skopelos holiday deals here.
Have you been to Skopelos? What were your favourite things to do on the island?
You may also like:
thats Linarakia not Green Blue Bay in your photos..
Lovely post Jayne,
I love Mamma Mia so what a wonderful way to bring it all to life!
The language looks ‘all greek to me!’ 😉 but as I’ve got older, I’ve began to develop a hankering to visit Greece!
And all the way through I was wondering where photos of you were and you’ve put them at the end. fantastic!
Haha yes I hid them at the end 😉
Greece is such a beautiful place, love the architecture. Greece has always been in my bucket list and now i’ll add Skopelos as one of the places to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Whilst doing some research for our upcoming Skopelos trip I came across the Google reviews for a really cute looking cafe … The sheer number of reviews stating the views were incredible but the owners unusually stroppy was ringing a bell with me… So I returned to your blog, and lo and behold you’re talking about the same place. It’s Thalassa coffee bar…https://maps.app.goo.gl/gubHUbpYAi7ghof49. I can’t wait to go to see if we get told off!
Thank you for your really useful blogs and content. Im always inspired and tempted.
Oh my gosh that’s so funny. I feel bad I wrote that about the owner (it seems I was less filtered in 2017!) but also slightly vindicated if others agree. Please report back on your findings hahaha. And have a great trip!