Summer in Skiathos

Summer. A time that calls for unlimited ice creams, swimming in the sunshine and wearing all of those clothes that you've waited to wear all year. 

For this summer, my boyfriend and I planned to go on a holiday to somewhere that we hadn't visited before, somewhere that appealed to both of us.

My boyfriend loves exploration, walking and history. I love exploration and lying in the sunshine (guilty). Both of us have a passion for photography therefore, we knew that this place had to offer something for both of us and still be somewhere we could capture our memories with our cameras.

Skiathos is one of the Sporades Islands. There are 24 islands as part of this group however, only four are permanently inhabited: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos and Skyros.

Being famous for its picturesque views, greenery, airport and beautiful beaches, Skiathos offers over 60 beaches around the island which you can get to via boat or public transport from each side of the island.

My boyfriend and I stayed in a hotel up in the hills in the Kanapitsa Peninsula area of the island. The Skiathos Blu Hotel offered sea view rooms, faultless service and unlimited options when it came to travelling to different places. Being situated in the middle of the 26 bus stops across the island, we were easily able to travel to wherever wanted to go, making it easier to discover different places on the island.

Travelling via public transport is so easy and an inexpensive way to see different beaches. Getting off at bus stop 26 allowed us to get to Koukounaries Beach (the biggest beach on the island), Banana Beach (famous party beach), Little Banana Beach (famous nudist beach) and Elena Beach. All of these beaches that we visited were easily accessible via public transport but all involved a walk in order to get to them. Elena Beach was our favourite by far as it was so quiet and out of the way. There were two tavernas open on the beach offering food and drinks which was another big plus for us.

Staying in Skiathos for 10 nights, we were able to plan carefully what we wanted to see in our time away without feeling the stress of not having the time. We were able to have our relaxing beach days and also fit in a lot of sightseeing across our island and the islands of Skopelos and Alonnisos.

In Skiathos it's worth booking a boat trip around the island in order to see parts that you wouldn't usually see unless you hired a car. On our boat trip we went to Kastro, the old capital of Skiathos, which offered amazing views if you walked to the top of the hills and we also went to Lalaria Beach, famous for its crystal clear water and sea arch.

Skopelos is famous for its views, the film Mamma Mia as a lot was filmed in Skopelos and its paradise-like beaches. Alonnisos is famous for its marine park and also beautiful views. All of the 3 islands hold a lot of history which was both interesting and eye-opening. 

Me, being a Mamma Mia fan myself (who doesn't love a bit of ABBA?), was adamant that I was going to book the boat trip to Skopelos to see the places where it was filmed and also to explore another island. 

As part of the boat trip, we were taken to three different beaches used in the film, one of which we ate at a lovely taverna looking over the ocean. Also, we went to go and visit the chapel in which the famous wedding scene was filmed. This was one of my favourite parts of the trip as the chapel is so beautifully built and really surreal...the view from the top was immense. 

After visiting Skopelos, we decided to book another boat trip which took us to Skopelos town and Alonnisos. Being a couple who love to see new places, this was definitely a must for us. Skopelos town had a lot of character, from the labyrinth of side roads and white buildings, to the quiet harbour and small trinket shops. We decided to have lunch here at one of the tavernas looking over the harbour which was lovely. 

Alonnisos too had character and was so picturesque. We were very lucky to have had the opportunity to go and see the 'old town' up in the hills where buildings were destroyed in an earthquake. A lot of these buildings were being painted and rebuilt for the start of the season. There were pops of colour, breathtaking views and friendly people whom we encountered whilst visiting these peaceful islands. We definitely fell in love with these Greek islands and they all offered something different.

From the town with so much personality, tavernas with friendly staff to quiet beaches where you can just hear the waves and your thoughts, Skiathos was definitely the perfect holiday destination for us. We found peace on the beaches where we could enjoy each other's company and we found unforgettable nightlife in bars where we drank and listened to live music.

We realised in our time away that whatever you wish to get out of a holiday, Skiathos offers so much. Whether you're after a relaxing beach holiday or a holiday whereby you spend time discovering hidden corners and different islands, it has it all. 

We were spot on with choosing this alluring island as our first real holiday abroad together. We spoke to many couples during our time here and all of them mentioned the 'charm' that Skiathos possesses, a charm that makes you want to come back more than once. By the end of the 10 days, Skiathos had captivated us, making us realise that all the good we had heard was very much true as we could've certainly stayed there forever. 

Thank you Skiathos for making Oliver and I feel at home on holiday and thank you to Oliver who offers the best company wherever we are in the world. 

I'm so grateful to have opportunities to discover different parts of the world we live in with someone that I love.

I hope that everyone reading has a lovely summer filled with happy memories and sunshine.

"Travel is the only thing that will make you richer"- Anonymous