Skiathos is the most developed of the Sporades islands, and for good reason — it has over sixty beaches, most of them sandy, many of them backed by dense pine forest that runs right down to the waterline. It is a small island, just 12 kilometres long, but it packs in enough coastline to keep a beach-hopper busy for weeks.
Skiathos Town, on the southeast coast, is the island's only real settlement: a compact harbour town of red-roofed houses, narrow lanes, and a waterfront lined with restaurants and bars. Two small peninsulas frame the old port, and the Bourtzi — a pine-covered headland between them — is one of the most pleasant spots for an evening walk. The town gets lively in summer, especially along Papadiamantis Street, the main pedestrian strip named after the island's most famous son, the 19th-century writer Alexandros Papadiamantis.
The south coast is where most visitors spend their time. A single road runs from Skiathos Town west to Koukounaries, passing a string of organised beaches along the way — Megali Ammos, Vromolimnos, Agia Paraskevi, and others. Buses run the route regularly. The north coast is wilder and harder to reach, with beaches accessible only by boat or on foot through the pine forest. Lalaria, a dramatic pebble beach framed by a natural rock arch, is the most famous of these.
The island is well connected in summer, with direct charter flights from across Europe and fast ferries from Volos and Thessaloniki. Outside July and August, Skiathos quiets down considerably — June and September are the best months for good weather without the crowds.