Ultimate Greek Island Getaway – Skopelos In A Week

Go and explore Panormos – see what You can find there and get ready for the next day.
Panormos is one of the three ancient fortified towns of Skopelos. It’s located on the hillside of Paliokastro Hill. If You’re adventurous enough You can hike up the hill where You can still find ruins in very good condition from the walls of the ancient city. From Paliokastro hill You will find a path that leads to the cave of Panas. This place is called Spilia and is the only place of worship for the deity of Panas on Skopelos.

Just by going through the beach along the road when You go by Panormos Boat hire, You’ll find a dirt road and if You move forward along the fence on Your right You’ll see the path, now head to the sea and You’ll find a great spot for chilling and relaxing on the lawn under the trees or on the rocks next to the sea. Tourists don’t go there, because they all just lay on the pebbles at the beach, but the owner is okay and doesn’t mind if You’re just chilling there and don’t leave Your rubbish there. There Your hammock may be handy… It’s a great place to swim too especially if You use Your snorkeling equipment, the sea there is shallower than at the beach, because of the underwater rocks.

After a relaxing half day You may want to get some great Greek food and yet sit back there in nature, eat, and enjoy the company of farm animals such as chickens, gooses, turkeys, and donkey. Gourmet Street Food is something like fast food restaurant but it’s a country food restaurant offering different kinds of Greek country foods, but it all happens in nature at the picnic tables. The food is very good and delicious. The place may be very busy in the summertime.

Kastani Beach is a small bay of white sand surrounded by lush vegetation. It may be difficult to get there for some because the road is very steep and bumpy, but short, and there are a lot of parking spaces even in the midst of summer. But if You want to get the most out of visiting Kastani beach, You should go early in the morning or in the evening, because during the day Mamma Mia movie tours will stop there many times, and the small beach then gets crowded when all of the people gets out of a ferry. Make sure to hike along the coast because You may find some little bays and caves or cliffs for jumping in water just for Yourself.

Undoubtedly, all Mamma Mia filming locations on Skopelos are truly breathtaking and worth visiting. However, the star among all is the tiny chapel of Agios Ioannis, the location where Sophie’s and Sky’s wedding takes place.
Near the Chapel, there is a beach where You can go swimming, for more adventure take Your snorkeling equipment and swim around the rock where the Chappel is located, before walking up the stairs to the Chapel.
Situated on top of a rock overlooking the ocean, the Chapel can be reached by climbing more than 200 narrow steps. As a reward, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the rugged coastline and the beach below.
The beach is gorgeous but a couple of times a day it gets really packed when excursion boats dock there. Usually, they leave after 1-1.5 hours, then you’ll have the beach almost to yourself again.
If You go there on Your own in Your or a rental car be prepared for narrow one-way sized roads with beautiful views, and drive slowly and carefully.

Located along a rocky road, you will find the breathtaking coastline of Amarandos, consisting of small islands, rocky coves, and mesmerizing turquoise water. This snorkeling paradise is not easy to find.
When you travel through Agnontas, keep an eye open for a barely readable sign saying Amarandos on the right side of the road. Whereas if you come from the east, the sign will be to your left.  The surroundings at Cape Amarandos were used for the scene where Sophie runs through the pines singing ‘Honey, Honey’ while she reads parts of her mother’s diary. Unfortunately, the real pine forest where they filmed the scene was caught by fire years ago, almost all the pines are gone, but the area is getting better now. 
Now is the time to catch a view of three pines where they filmed the idyllic sailing scenes of Sophie and her three potential fathers to the song ‘Our Last Summer’. These pines are now the symbol of Skopelos and are one of the most photographed landmarks on the island and among the most famous natural landmarks in Greece.
It’s so easy to spend all day there, especially if You have a hammock with You because the distance between pines is great for hanging a hammock. The sunset there is amazing, and You can swim there and jump in the water from the rocks.

Glysteri Beach is a small beautiful pebble beach with a footbridge from where You can jump in the water.  The beach is great and very beautiful, there is maintained parking, a beach bar, and sun beds. You can leave Your car only in the parking because the place is something like private property and You will have to pay for Your parking and staying on the beach. You can choose how to pay for it, for example, You can buy a coffee in the beach bar or rent a sunbed for Your stay but You will have to pay something. Sunbeds may be reserved in the summer so if You want a sunbed book it in advance. 
If talking about water there, they are taking good care of the beach, but if You swim closer to buoys and nets and behind them You will find the water pretty dirty and full of rubbish.
Undoubtedly the surroundings are very beautiful You can even find cliffs nearby to jump in the water further from the beach.
If talking about the Mamma Mia movie then they filmed the arrival of Donna’s friends at this beach and jumping in the water from the cliffs when Sophie sailed with her potential fathers.

Skopelos Town is the first village one sees while reaching the port. This little town which is the capital and main port of Skopelos is quite picturesque with lovely whitewashed houses, flower gardens, and colorful balconies. Its fountains, its many little whitewashed churches, narrow streets, and alleys compose the beautiful setting of the village.
The town is built amphitheatrically amidst lush surroundings with a long labyrinth of alleys reaching the top of the hill where the ancient castle lies. At the bottom of the town, at the port where most of the activities take place during the summer, you will find plenty of restaurants, shops, and modern accommodations.
The picturesque Skopelos town has been designated as a heritage settlement. Numerous steep footpaths lead to some of the most beautiful sites of Chora (as the locals call it) like the 13th-century castle. Today only ruins of the outer walls have survived.
Inside the castle walls is the oldest church of the town, the 17th-century Basilica of Agios Athanassios whose initial edifice was built in the 9th century on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Athena. The panoramic view from the top of the castle is breathtaking and truly magical.
In the heart of the town, there are many churches and monasteries to visit and the beautiful Folklore Museum that displays a fine collection of ceramics, paintings, frescoes, photos, and other traditional objects from Skopelos.

Kraken | Seaside Drink and Dine – is one of the best bars and restaurants in Panormos, where many tourists dine out and drink while gazing on the Panormos beach in the daytime. But in the evening the place still may be busy, they have great cocktails and dishes to offer and they’re good. You can just eat and drink there whenever You want and the prices are good for everything You get. Sometimes service may be slower than You expect but it’s worth a wait.

Rent a boat in Neo-Klima, but do it a couple of days in advance because boat renting is a real business there and You may not get a boat if You do not rent it in advance, best to rent Your boat is almost on the first days when You’re in Skopelos.
Then jump in Your boat and listen to instructions and go on an Epic adventure around the island on the water, because You’ll see all the places You’re already been once more, but from a different viewpoint with Your own boat, and enjoy the life of the locals too. You’ll be able to visit great places and swimming spots you didn’t know about and couldn’t get to without a boat. And of course, You’ll be in these places almost only by Yourself with fewer people around, You can swim through caves and look at great views. The places You must stop by while on the boat will be pinned on the map above so make sure to look through them.

Visit Skopelos once more and it’s obligatory to eat a Skopelos Pie in Michalis Skopelos Pies – even Pierce Brosnan was there when filming Mamma Mia, and the pie is just amazing, and the owner of the place is great and welcoming. It’s not so popular among tourists but may be busy, but before going there carefully look for the working hours, so You can really try their pies out.

While driving around Skopelos on roads surrounded by Pine forests during golden hour one can’t help but jump out of the car and see all the surrounding beauty enlightened by warm light and lush greenery around. The roads during the golden hour just look incredible and it’s worth capturing this beauty, for the days You really need the motivation to move on and explore the world around us. So do it, find a perfect spot on the road, and capture the moments.

I would say that Kastani Beach is my absolute favorite among the other beaches on the island. The sunset on this beach is so beautiful that You must stay there and accompany the sun on its way to the next day. Just stay there and relax in a magnificent atmosphere You can find it there while sitting on the rocks surrounded by pine trees and the sea.