With 60 seashores on Skiathos, you may suppose you don’t want any extra concepts of issues to do in Skiathos with children. And it’s true that not like some greater island comparable to Kos or Corfu, this pretty Greek island within the Sporades doesn’t have as many massive identify sights.
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However do drag your self away out of your lounger a few instances. With 5 days on the island, we managed a time out in Skiathos City, in addition to a day on the water with a Skiathos boat journey that additionally visited Skopelos, to not point out a fast wander round Koukounaries, close to our lodge Elivi Skiathos.
If you happen to’re within the space, make a cease at Alamar restaurant for some fabulous calamari, Greek specialities and pizza, considered one of our favourites from the journey. And if not? Listed here are my high suggestions for the very best issues to do with children in Skiathos.
Exploring Skiathos City with children
Wandering the streets of little Greek cities is one thing I might do for hours on finish – and as both my maps or my sense of path was taking part in up, we discovered ourselves doing that much more than I had deliberate in Skiathos City.
However when it’s so picturesque, who minds?
We hopped onto just a little water taxi from Koukounaries seaside close to Elivi Skiathos which whisked us across the headland in about 20 minutes to the previous port at Skiathos City – all for six Euros for adults, 3 Euros for kids aged below 10.
Even the boats bobbing round on the extremely clear inexperienced waters appeared like that they had come straight from a postcard. Eating places line the waterfront, bars with brightly colored cushioned seats in between and the occasional little store or artwork gallery. Additional alongside, the Bourtzi, a small fortress sitting proper out on the water can be now a gallery.
If you happen to’re after a correct fortress, you must head to the northern finish of the island, to the Kastro, the place the island’s inhabitants fled within the 14th century to keep away from pirate assaults. It’s proper subsequent to Lalaria, one of many island’s greatest seashores, so maybe it’s no shock it took them a number of hundred years earlier than Skiathos City turned the capital as soon as once more.
The twisting whitewashed alleys appear completely timeless although: occasional splashes of color from flowers and taverna indicators brighten the quiet streets, steps climbing as much as the clock tower close to Agios Nikolaos church for a wonderful view down over the red-tiled roofs and out to the ocean.
Within the distance, in addition to among the uninhabited small islands of the bay, you may see neighbouring Skopelos on the horizon.
Having caught our breath there, we browsed alongside the memento retailers of Papadiamanti Road – my daughter and I each emerged with bracelets, though I coveted fairly a little bit of the fantastically glazed ceramics as nicely. She coveted an enormous variety of issues, however was distracted with ice cream…
The road is called after Skiathos’s most well-known son, novelist Alexandros Papadiamantis, whose dwelling has been transformed right into a museum.
Closed once we strolled previous, I’ve obtained to confess my information of his work is fairly nicely zero – however as a substitute we headed to a different little museum, equally tucked away down a facet road, that’s an sudden gem and considered one of my favorite issues to do in Skiathos with children.
Skiathitiko Spiti was as soon as a household dwelling and we had been greeted by a fourth and fifth technology descendant as we arrived, who then confirmed us round the home frozen in time from the early 20th century.
Downstairs, you may virtually hint the passage of time by the items adorning the room: a gramophone from 1910, and reverse it a radio from the Twenties. Dropped at the island from the USA by a member of the family who lived for a time in Boston, it nonetheless performs in the present day.
The lights, which might as soon as have used candles or fuel have been transformed to electrical energy, however in any other case look simply as they’d have executed.
There are conventional attire on present, with unexpectedly heavy materials for this sunny spot and complex golden embroidery, to not point out loads of deep wine and burgundy colors, the normal shade of the island. Upstairs, we walked previous a loom which could have been used to make among the equally deep crimson rugs.
Within the bed room, a bride’s marriage ceremony chest is full of a few of its unique treasures, whereas images of the household stare down from the partitions – joined within the touchdown by a portrait of King George I of Greece and his queen.
In response to household legend, this royal pair helped save the home from being burned down through the Nazi occupation, when German troopers had been taking revenge for the demise of considered one of their very own.
Seeing the portrait of the German-born monarch, assassinated many years earlier than, they saluted – so the story goes – and moved on.
True or embellished, I don’t know, however fortunately the previous home did survive and may be very value wanting spherical for a couple of euros, with wartime memorabilia additionally on show (together with a letter of commendation from the British to 1 former inhabitant for his assist to the Allied forces) and previous possessions.
My daughter’s favorite discovery? The household of tortoises which dwell out within the backyard, full too of big containers for olive oil, in addition to among the instruments and equipment used over time, together with to crush the olives.
And as we wandered again right down to the harbourfront, for lunch at Kabourelias – one of many string of eating places lining the port, have the halloumi and orange jam with a chilly Mythos – it was an enchanting peek at life right here over the many years, and the tales which disguise behind these whitewashed partitions.
Try my full information to Greece with children right here
One of the best Skiathos boat journey
There’s one thing particular in regards to the water of the Aegean. Extremely clear, even shut in to the island cities, and each shade from clear emerald to glowing turquoise to the deepest velvety blue, I can’t think about a vacation on a Greek island with out the ocean being on the coronary heart of it.
Even if you happen to’re not attempting a Greek island hop, there’s all the time a ship journey to attempt. And if you happen to’re in search of a Skiathos boat journey, you’re spoiled for alternative.
There are day journeys which take you across the island, together with to Lalaria seaside (accessible solely from the water), there are the water taxis to whisk you in to Skiathos City, and there are day journeys which mix among the better of Skiathos with a jaunt to Skopelos.
Skiathos’s greater sister is understood most for its Mamma Mia hyperlinks (though a couple of bits of the movie had been shot on Skiathos too, for any die-hard followers exploring the Sporades) – you don’t have to remain there to go to, though there are many issues to do in Skopelos to tempt you.
With extra crystal clear water, abandoned coves and the prospect of recognizing dolphins between the 2 islands, we had been on the entrance of the queue to enroll in a ship journey.
Diamanti Crusing was advisable by Elivi Skiathos – and our two fellow passengers for the day, who go to the island twice a yr, instructed us they’d tried half a dozen boat journeys and now return for a time out with Captain Babis each time.
I can see why – and never simply because he’s very liberal with the chilled white wine over snacks and lunch.
Commandeering the 2 beanbags on the entrance of the sundeck, in addition to one of many cushions close by, I don’t suppose I might have felt extra relaxed – watching Skiathos City recede and the little islands within the bay go previous as Minnie settled down along with her guide, I might have sighed for sheer contentment.
The solar was shining, the ocean was each shade of blue and inexperienced, we had swimming and extra hours chilling out forward – after which there have been the dolphins.
My six-year-old is one thing of a dolphin good luck allure: to date she’s seen them on a boat journey in Florida, splashing across the Gulf of Oman on one other boat journey from Muscat and even briefly on one other boat tour in Langkawi.
However I hadn’t counted on having a glimpse within the Aegean. The pod – maybe a dozen robust – was actually decided to placed on a present, leaping by the water, a number of darting below the boat to emerge the opposite facet, circling round us in ones and twos, and eventually a synchronised soar by three dolphins as a closing farewell flourish earlier than they sped off into the waves.
I defy anybody to not really feel as joyous watching because the wild dolphins had been swimming.
Reaching the west coast of Skopelos, I think I used to be relatively much less swish within the water – which in Could, in these northerly Greek islands, was positively on the cool facet.
Toasty from the morning solar, I even managed to steer Minnie in to the water with me, and we swam over to the tiny seaside, water clear sufficient to see the seabed and a sunbleached tree mendacity on the sand.
Alas I hadn’t thought to convey my telephone’s waterproof case.
That set the scene for our day: we’d anchor off shore, take the prospect to swim or snorkel, or just drink within the views over plates of bread with taramasalata and tzatziki.
There are noodles and snorkels to borrow (though not towels, so if you happen to solely convey one factor, make it that) – cautious of the ocean urchins spikily protecting the rocks, I pulled by myself masks to drift over tiny silver and black fish into just a little cave.
A closing deal with – after fish pasta for lunch with bread and salads – was being pulled alongside behind the boat by itself little float, the place Minnie and I lounged (and ate Greek yoghurt with honey and nuts) earlier than racing throughout the waves.
The day journey price us 100 Euros every together with transfers from our lodge, although you’d virtually actually pay much less if you happen to guide direct. You may also rent the boat solely for the day if you happen to’re travelling in an even bigger group.
To examine ferry costs to Skopelos or different Greek islands, examine right here
*First printed 2019, final up to date 2024*
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Disclosure: Our lodging in Skiathos was courtesy of Elivi Skiathos, however we paid for flights, our boat journey and all our actions ourselves. Incorporates affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee.
Photos copyright MummyTravels
