Skyros is the hardest of the Sporades to reach, which is part of why it stays uncrowded. There are two options.
By ferry: The main ferry route runs from Kymi on the island of Evia (which is itself connected to the mainland by bridges) to Linaria, the port on Skyros's west coast. Crossing takes about two hours. Ferries run twice daily in summer and at least once daily in winter. Getting to Kymi from Athens takes around two and a half hours by bus.
By air: Sky Express and Olympic Air operate small-plane flights from Athens to Skyros National Airport, with the flight taking under an hour. The airport is small and the planes are small — book early in summer.
Skyros Town is about 10 km from Linaria port. Taxis meet the ferries; otherwise rent a car or scooter from agencies in Skyros Town. A scooter is the ideal way to explore the island's terrain.