Skopelos Town: The harbour and town looking towards the yacht quay
The whitewashed walls and terracotta roofs of Skopelos ring the large semi-circular bay. Tavernas, cafes, up market boutiques and jewellers ring the quay.
Behind this, it’s a world of steps and flowered alleys as you make your way up the hill. There’s little traffic as there’s not much room for roads!
Skopelos is Skiathos’s posh sister. It’s much quieter and less obviously a tourist town. The town was designated a “Traditional Settlement” in the 1970’s so new buildings must match the existing style, hence the lack of neon signs. The calm that prevails has made it a popular retirement choice for north Europeans.
The town, like the rest of the island, used to thrive on the wine industry until a blight in the 1940’s wiped out the vineyards. Some local wine is still available though, along with a feta like local cheese, made from the islands own unique breed of goats.
Skopelos Town: Harbour and town with yachts on the stub jetty, right
Scattered around the town are some 120 churches. If you can manage the walk up the hill, the ruins of the Venetian castle are worth a visit and affords some excellent views. There is also a folk art museum.
As the island’s capital and the main ferry port, the town is the main transport hub and the obvious stepping off point for anywhere else on the island you want to visit that you can’t sail to.
You should find everything else you need in Skopelos; there are banks and ATM’s, a pharmacy and healthcare centre, and a post office. It also provides all the necessary provisioning opportunities (included some large supermarkets on the edge of town) to restock your Sporades yacht charter.