How to Get to Skopelos: Every Way In, and the One to Pick

Skopelos has no airport; the nearest is on Skiathos. Most visitors arrive by ferry from the mainland ports of Volos, Mantoudi or Agios Konstantinos, and international travelers often fly into Skiathos first for the short sea crossing. The mainland route takes more hours, but it suits drivers and anyone who would sooner skip a flight.

How do you get to Skopelos from Athens?

From Athens you can fly to Skiathos and take a short ferry, or travel overland to a mainland port and sail from there. Both work, and flying is easier.

The realistic options:

• Fly Athens to Skiathos, then ferry to Skopelos.
• Go by car or bus to Volos, then ferry.
• Drive to Mantoudi on Evia, then ferry.
• Go to Agios Konstantinos, then ferry. Agios Konstantinos is listed as one of the mainland ferry ports for Skopelos, but timetables can change from year to year, so check the current schedule before you plan around it. Volos and Mantoudi are other mainland ports to consider.

Flying to Skiathos, then the ferry

The flight from Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" to Skiathos Airport "Alexandros Papadiamantis" takes 2 hours 15 minutes, and it is the usual gateway for international travelers. Travelers landing in Thessaloniki can also connect to Skiathos, or drive about 124 miles (200 kilometers) to Volos and sail from there.

From Skiathos, boats run to Skopelos Town and to Glossa (Loutraki) in the north. For a hotel near Glossa, that is the faster landing. In summer, expect a few boats a day.

Driving or taking the bus to the mainland ports

Volos is about 4 hours from Athens by car or by intercity bus (KTEL). The train also works, via Larissa with a connection, and drivers will find ample paid parking at the port. Agios Konstantinos is closer, about 2.5 hours by car, and you can reach it from the Athens airport by bus or private taxi. Mantoudi is about a 2-hour drive from Athens.

The mainland routes take extra planning, since you arrange your own transport to the dock.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Skopelos?

No plane lands on Skopelos itself, so the choice is between flying to Skiathos and sailing from the mainland.

Flying wins on time and simplicity. From Athens, the flight takes 2 hours 15 minutes and the hop across from Skiathos is short. The mainland route means about 2.5 to 4 hours on the road from Athens, then a crossing of roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to about 4 hours 15 minutes depending on the port and the boat.

The ferry wins if you are bringing a vehicle: on a mainland car ferry you load once and drive off on the island.

The picks, plainly:

• First trip: fly to Skiathos, then the boat. Fewest moving parts.
• Family with luggage: Volos or Mantoudi by car, onto a conventional ferry.
• Without a car: bus to Volos, then the conventional ferry.

How long is the ferry to Skopelos?

Crossing times depend on the vessel and on which of the island's three ports you land at: Skopelos Town (Chora), the main and busiest hub; Glossa (Loutraki), below the hilltop village of Glossa; and Agnontas. Timetables differ a little by operator and season, so plan around these ranges:

• Skiathos to Skopelos Town: 30 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Skiathos to Glossa (Loutraki): roughly 15 to 30 minutes, the fastest route onto the island.
• Volos to Skopelos: 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes by conventional ferry, around 2 hours 20 minutes by high-speed catamaran or hydrofoil.
• Agios Konstantinos to Skopelos, in seasons when the route runs: from about 2 hours 15 minutes to a little over 4 hours, depending on the boat and port.
• Mantoudi (Evia) to Skopelos: from about 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on stopovers. These boats serve Glossa, Agnontas and Skopelos Town, and each sailing stops at different ports, so check the timetable.

Conventional ferry versus fast boat

Conventional ferries are slower and carry cars. Catamarans and hydrofoils cut the time sharply but run mostly in summer. In winter they largely pause, and the conventional car ferry from Volos becomes the dependable year-round link, so outside the warm months, don't count on a hydrofoil.

Several companies run these routes, including SeaJets, Aegean Flying Dolphins, San Lorenzo Ferries, Sporades Lines and Mantoudi Lines.

How do you get to Skopelos from other islands?

Skopelos sits between Skiathos and Alonissos, and ferries link all three. Skiathos is the easy crossing covered above, and Alonissos is about an hour away by ferry.

The short island links make island hopping simple. A night on Skiathos or a few days on Alonissos fits neatly around a Skopelos stay, and boat day trips run from Skopelos to both islands. If you fly into Skiathos late, you can spend the night there and cross the next day, once you have checked the timetable.

How do you book ferries to Skopelos?

Start with the route, then the date. Check the operator timetable for your exact dates, because boats run less often outside the summer months and schedules shift from season to season. July and August are the busiest months, especially around August 15, so book early, and reserve car space first if you are driving.

Boarding typically begins 30 to 60 minutes before departure, so be at the dock early.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

At Skopelos Town, the center is within walking distance of the harbor. The town climbs the hillside around the water, white houses and red roofs rising toward the old Venetian fortress. Hotels in the old town are often an easy walk or a short taxi ride, but the streets climb steeply, so pack light or take the taxi if you have wheeled bags.

Glossa village sits high above its port at Loutraki, so you'll want a taxi, a bus or a rental car to get up. The same three options take you from Glossa or Agnontas to Skopelos Town.

For a stay near one of the popular beaches, or in Glossa or Neo Klima, plan on the bus or your own wheels. Higher-end hotels sometimes offer a port shuttle for an extra fee. The central bus station is in Skopelos Town, with routes to places like Stafilos, Agnontas and Glossa. Buses are cheap, but they run infrequently even in summer, and sometimes irregularly.

Taxis wait in central spots; agree on the fare first, since a minimum charge may apply. Many visitors rent a car because it makes the beaches and the northern villages far easier to reach, and several rental agencies sit in central spots around town. The roads wind, and Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union, so take the curves slowly.

What do Americans need to travel to Skopelos?

U.S. citizens can enter Greece without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, and you should be ready to show proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket or other proof of departure if asked. Carry your passport or another photo ID at all times while in Greece. If you plan to drive, Greek law requires a valid U.S. driver's license along with an international driver's permit, and that applies even when the rental company doesn't ask to see the permit.

What should you check the day before your ferry to Skopelos?

Recheck the ferry timetable and confirm which Skopelos port your boat actually lands at. Then look for strike notices: transportation strikes in Greece can shut down seaports and airports with little warning. Leave a buffer of at least a day between your last ferry and your international flight home.