Very fine sand, a gentle slope into the water and the Strofilia pine forest behind. It is the bus terminus, so you always get a seat heading west.
Getting there Bus stop 26 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 13
Seatrac ramp Shallow water Watersports Busy in season
Five to ten minutes over the headland from the Koukounaries terminus. The path forks: Big Banana with full watersports one way, Little Banana, the island's naturist beach, the other.
Getting there Bus stop 26, then a walk Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Naturist beach Watersports Deeper water Busy in season
West-facing, so it gets the sunset, and popular with windsurfers. Pay as you go rather than running a tab.
Getting there Bus stop 25 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Seatrac ramp Watersports Deeper water
A narrow pine-shaded strip about 500 metres before Koukounaries, with one operation on it run by the hotel above.
Getting there Bus stop 22 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Deeper water
20
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Very shallow water, and the one beach any source described as having lifeguards daily. The most family-recommended beach on the island alongside Koukounaries.
Getting there Bus stop 20 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 6
Shallow water Watersports
16
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
One of the largest beaches on the island: a long curve of soft golden sand with shallow turquoise water. Stop 16 is also the bus fare boundary.
Getting there Bus stop 16 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 7
Seatrac ramp Shallow water Watersports
15
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Effectively the continuation of Agia Paraskevi. The two are often talked about as one beach.
Getting there Bus stop 15 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Shallow water
14
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
A deep bay sheltered by wooded headlands on both sides, gently shelving and safe for small children. Three beach bars along it at three different price points.
Getting there Bus stop 14 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 5
Shallow water Usually quiet
13
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Consistently rated among the island's best for swimming, and the most commercialised. Expect three rows of loungers and prices to match.
Getting there Bus stop 13, then a walk Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 3
Watersports Busy in season
12
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Wider than Kanapitsa next door and right below the main road. Golden sand and shallow paddling water, with a boat shuttle from the Old Port at one end.
Getting there Bus stop 12 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Shallow water Watersports
12
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Narrow but fully organised, with a scuba diving operation. The peninsula is off the main road, so expect a walk down from the stop and back up again.
Getting there Bus stop 12 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 3
Watersports Usually quiet Deeper water
12
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Organised sand with shallow, gently shelving water and watersports on site.
Getting there Bus stop 12 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Shallow water Watersports
11
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
A small cove where the taverna puts tables straight onto the sand. The shore is narrow, so loungers are limited.
Getting there Bus stop 11 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Shallow water Usually quiet
10
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
Fine golden sand and shallow calm water, with several of the island's larger established hotels behind it.
Getting there Bus stop 10 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 5
Shallow water Watersports
8
Bus stop
Sand · Organised
A sandy bay among pine-clad hills with views to the islets and across to Skopelos. About five minutes' walk off the main road, and there is a water taxi into town.
Getting there Bus stop 8 Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 2
Shallow water Watersports Usually quiet
The closest real beach to Skiathos Town, twenty minutes on foot. The default for anyone without a car, and unusually well served for food.
Getting there Bus stop 6, then a walk Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 7
Seatrac ramp Shallow water Watersports Busy in season
At the end of the airport runway, where aircraft pass a few dozen metres overhead on approach. People come for the planes, not the sand, and the jet blast from departures is genuinely dangerous.
Getting there Bus, then a walk Sand and pebble Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat 1
Naturist beach Usually quiet Deeper water
Car
You need one
Sand · Organised
A long exposed stretch on the north coast for people who want space and do not mind wind. A standard stop on round-island boat trips, so midday is busy.
Getting there Car needed Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Deeper water
Car
You need one
Sand · Wild
The smaller of the two Aselinos beaches, and its taverna is one of the genuinely good north-coast kitchens rather than a reheating operation.
Getting there Car needed Sand Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Usually quiet
Car
You need one
Sand · Wild
The quiet northern side of the island. One taverna, running since 1981, with tables on the sand and the sunset as the point.
Getting there Car needed Sand Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Cash only Usually quiet
Car
You need one
Sand · Wild
A small north-coast beach with no sunbeds and one beach shack on it.
Getting there Car needed Sand Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Usually quiet
21
Bus stop
Sand · Wild
A walk in along a dirt track from the main road. Sources disagree about which stop serves it: 21 and 24 are both described as the Mandraki track.
Getting there Bus stop 21, then a walk Sand Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 2
Wild Cash only Usually quiet
The grey-pebble cove beneath the island's abandoned medieval capital. No sunbeds, one seasonal cafe-bar, and a long way from anywhere.
Getting there Boat, or on foot from the ruins Pebble Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Cash only Usually quiet
White sun-polished stones under sheer cliffs, with the Tripia Petra sea arch at one end. No bar, no kiosk, no toilets, no shade. Taking the pebbles is prohibited.
Getting there Boat only. No road, no path Pebble Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat None
Wild Nothing there at all
Boat
Only way in
Sand · Wild
Hidden sand, and it lives up to the name. Cash only, because there is no network coverage for card terminals.
Getting there Boat access only Sand Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Cash only Usually quiet
Boat
Only way in
Pebble · Wild
A pebble cove on the north coast reached only by boat. Exposed to the meltemi, so the currents matter here.
Getting there Boat access only Pebble Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Usually quiet
Boat
Only way in
Pebble · Wild
A pebble bay on the north coast with one taverna and no sunbeds. You arrive by boat.
Getting there Boat access only Pebble Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Usually quiet
Boat
Only way in
Sand · Wild
Sand, one beach bar, no sunbeds and no road in. Quiet by consequence.
Getting there Boat access only Sand Facilities Bring everything On a windy day Exposed Somewhere to eat 1
Wild Usually quiet
A separate island off the south-east coast, 15 to 20 minutes by taxi boat from the Old Port. Several sandy beaches and a summer-only canteen.
Getting there Taxi boat from the Old Port Sand Facilities Sunbeds and umbrellas On a windy day Sheltered Somewhere to eat Summer-only canteen
Shallow water A separate island
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