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The Best Beaches in Skopelos

Greece › Skopelos › Beaches
By Santorini Dave

View from above of a white pebble beach with emerald water and a sailboat moored away from shore

Beautiful Limnonari Beach on Skopelos’ south coast

See Also
• Where to Stay in Skopelos

Skopelos Beach Basics

Skopelos is the greenest island in the Sporades group of islands off the east coast of mainland Greece; wonderfully lush, with thick forests covering most of the island. Many of the beaches are surrounded by lovely pine trees almost touching the sea.

The best beaches are on the island’s south coast and west coast. The deep green forests that grow close to the beaches provide a stunning complement to the turquoise-colored sea. Many of the beaches are rocky, with a mix of small white pebbles and sand. The best golden sand beaches are Kastani, Limnonari, and Agnontas.

A small and picturesque beach, Agios Ioannis, sits beside the famous Mamma Mia! chapel perched atop a craggy 300-foot cliff. The beach is located in the northeast corner of the island, 8 km from Glossa port and 24 km from Skopelos Town.

View of a white Greek chapel on a cliff, from above

The clifftop church of St John (Agios Ioannis) – the filming location for the wedding scenes in Mamma Mia!

Agnontas Beach is set in a small fishing village in a protected bay with calm waters and excellent seaside tavernas and accommodations.

Stafylos Beach is the closest beach to Skopelos Town. For accommodations, try the Mando Beachfront, boasting its own private swim platform and great snorkeling. The Stafylos area is very hilly and the road into the beach is quite steep. Stafylos Beach has stand-up paddle board and kayak rentals, and one beach bar/snack bar.

  • The best family beaches are Stafylos Beach, Agnontas Beach, and Panormos Beach. Great for swimming and sunbathing.
  • The best beaches for water activities on Skopelos are Milia Beach (15 km from Skopelos Town) and Stafylos Beach (5 km from Skopelos Town).
  • Panormos Beach offers the most amenities and boasts a relaxed atmosphere — with a handful of tavernas and beach bars, a supermarket, and a range of accommodations within walking distance of the beach.
  • Currently, no beaches on Skopelos have Seatrac equipment, which provides unassisted sea access for people with mobility issues.

10 BEST BEACHES OF SKOPELOS

1. Kastani Beach

Pebbly beach lined with sun beds, their thatched umbrellas making circular shadows on the sand.

This beach was made famous by the movie Mamma Mia!, a silver-shingle beach with dreamy blue and crystal-clear waters that’s backed by lush pine forest. The seabed is soft and there’s a gentle slope into the water. This beach tends to attract a younger adult crowd and can have more of a party-like atmosphere accompanied by louder music, especially later in the day. The beach bar is large and the grounds are sprawling with many seating options including sun loungers on the beach and the grassy lawns.

Bus stop: 300 m from beach. 15 km from Skopelos Town.

  • Recommended Kastani Beach Hotel
    No hotels at this beach; the nearest hotels are at Adrina and Panormos Beaches.
Rows of shaded sun beds on a wooden platform.

Kastani Beach Bar, with lots of shaded seating options, overlooks the beach and the small islet of Dassia.

2. Limnonari Beach

Beautiful cove beach with turquoise water and pine-covered hills behind.

Limnonari Beach is spectacular with emerald waters tucked into a hidden cove, with steep green hills, and a soft sandy beach. The waters are calm in this protected bay. The beach area has a rustic laid-back vibe, and sunbeds are available from two beachside tavernas – one boasts a pool, Apanemo Restaurant & Beach Bar.

Bus stop: none at the beach – nearest is near the main road – 2 km walk/10 mins away. 8 km from Skopelos Town.

Shaded seating area in a beach bar overlooking the sea

Apenemo Restaurant and Beach Bar features a swimming pool and overlooks the beach. Limnonari Beach is a favorite spot for yachts and pleasure craft to anchor up for the afternoon

3. Milia Beach

Rows of sunbeds almost touching the water on a beautiful pebble beach.

One of the island’s longest (750 m) and most beautiful beaches, with clear blue waters, striking green pine trees that touch the shores, and a stunning landscape with views of a small islet, Dassia. Milia Beach is divided in two by rocks, and there are rocky outcroppings on one side with a seabed that has slabs of rocks (that can be slippery – best with water shoes). The Milia Beach Bar serves drinks and light snacks. The section of the beach just past the rocks has a mix of sand and pebbles.

This is the best beach for water sports with rentals and lessons of water skis, inflatable rides, and canoes. Milia Beach is good for snorkeling, and you can also snorkel to nearby caves. The sunsets are beautiful here. There are change rooms on the beach, and a great restaurant, too – Milia Restaurant. Car parking is available near the beach bar, or at the restaurant.

Bus stop: 400 m from the beach. 14 km from Skopelos Town.

  • Recommended Milia Beach Hotel
    No hotels at this beach; the nearest hotels are at Adrina and Panormos Beaches.
Shaded sun lounge chairs at a beach restaurant.

Halfway along Milia beach and past the rocks, Milia Restaurant offers lots of amenities and great food. Their specialties are lobster spaghetti and lobster giouvetsi.

4. Adrina Beach

View from afar of a white beach on a pine covered island in Greece, lined with sun beds.

Adrina Beach is the only designated Blue Flag beach on the island of Skopelos, with brilliant clear waters in a gorgeous turquoise-colored cove. There are two hotels on Adrina Beach – Adrina Beach Hotel and Adrina Resort & Spa. There is no access by car to this beach unless you are a guest at these hotels.

Bus stop: at the entrance to Adrina Beach Hotel.

View from a dock over the water to a mid-sized hotel behind a white pebble beach.

The wonderful Adrina Beach Hotel offers scuba lessons and equipment rentals at their beautiful private beach.

5. Agios Ioannis Beach

Sailboat in a beautiful tree-covered cove.

This tiny rocky beach has a view of the island’s most famous white chapel (the Mamma Mia! wedding venue) perched atop a massive rock in the sea. Visitors can climb to the church (199 steep steps) for incredible views. A single taverna sits above the beach and provides sun loungers and umbrellas. Good spot for diving and snorkeling. Rural and scenic location in the countryside, 8 km east of Glossa port. The very narrow and winding road into the area boasts impressive views.

No bus service to this beach.

  • Recommended Agios Ioannis Beach Hotel
    There are no hotels at this beach; the nearest hotels are in Loutraki, around 5 km away. We especially like the Aegean Wave Hotel.
The steep, rocky path leading up to Agios Ioannis church, where the wedding scenes from Mamma Mia! were filmed.

The steep, rocky path leading up to Agios Ioannis church, where the wedding scenes from Mamma Mia! were filmed.

6. Panormos Beach

Cafe tables set in the sand and shaded by sun umbrellas on a beach in Greece.

Panormos Beach is a small resort area with located in a flat wide bay that is sheltered from north winds, so the waters are calm. An assortment of accommodations – both traditional Greek, and modern – are within walking distance of the beach. There is also a small supermarket. The seabed deepens fairly close to the shore, so families with very young children may prefer Agnontas Beach or Stafylos Beach. Panormos Beach has a lifeguard and there are a handful of beachside tavernas.

Bus stop: at the beach.

Puffy sun beds surround a hotel swimming pool.

The modern infinity pool at Panormos Beach Hotel has luxe sunbeds and views of nearby Panormos Beach.

7. Stafylos Beach (aka Stafilos)

Late afternoon sun shines on sun umbrellas and sunbathers on a beach in Greece.

The closest out of town swimming beach from Skopelos Town. This narrow stretch of coarse sand is a great spot for families as it’s protected from the north winds. Beach bar, sunbeds, and umbrellas are available – as are kayak and SUP rentals. There is an excellent restaurant – Stafilos Restaurant —situated above the beach, boasting incredible views and delicious food. Car parking can be tricky as space is limited and there is no designated beach parking lot.

2nd beach: at the eastern end of Stafylos Beach there is a path leading to Velanio Beach, a quieter alternative to Stafilos Beach with good snorkeling. Clothing optional. One small beach bar.

Stafylos Beach bus stop: 500 m walk downhill to the beach. 5 km from Skopelos Town.

A woman points a camera at scenic rock formations over a beach.

Stafylos Restaurant is 50 meters uphill from Stafylos Beach, offering delicious seafood and epic views.

8. Agnontas Beach

Distant view of a beach taverna and sun beds on a beach on the island of Skopelos

Sandy beach with several excellent shoreside tavernas and a mini mart too. Located along the island’s main road, this beach is on the bus route, making it ideal for anyone without a car. Small fishing boats use the harbor and a few ferries arrive from Skiathos.

Bus stop at the beach. 8 km from Skopelos Town.

Beach restaurants with rows of tables up against the sand.

Traditional Greek tavernas line the Agnontas Beach.

9. Neo Klima Beach

Emerald green water washes over a pebbly beach in Greece

Two small pebble beaches sit on either side of the marina here, with boat rentals available. Additionally, just around the south corner from Neo Klima Beach — and reachable only by foot over some rocky sections of beach — lies beautiful Hovolo Beach, a wild and exquisite beach with no amenities.
Note: Above the village of Neo Klima is Delphi Mountain, the highest point on the island, offering some of Skopelos best walking trails.

Bus stop: 300 m from beach. 14 km from Skopelos Town.

Motorbike parked outside of a small Greek taverna with open-air seating.

A few eateries are just steps away from Neo Klima Beach.

10. Chora Beach (Skopelos Town)

Small sandy beach near a town in Greece, with a ferry boat in the adjacent harbor
While this beach is not the island’s most appealing, it’s super easy and convenient if you want to stretch out on a beach towel without having to leave town. The location is a busy one as it’s beside the ferry port, but does provide a “front-row seat” to the comings and goings in the harbor. The beach has no amenities, so bring your own drinks and snacks.

Bus: beach is beside the island’s main bus station in Skopelos Town.

Outdoor hotel pool next to a green lawn.

Aeolos Hotel has a great outdoor pool deck and is walkable to Chora Beach in 5 minutes.

Summary: My Favorite Beach Hotels on Skopelos

Best Skopelos Beach Hotels

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave I’m Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a quick guide on visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my small team and I provide guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece - as well as favorite places to stay in some of my favorite cities - like London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Florence. Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.