Wondering how to get to Skopelos island in Greece? Look no further!
This guide has been written by someone who lives on the island and covers every possible way of making the journey in 2022. Getting to Skopelos requires a little more effort than travelling to a lot of other Greek islands.
This is because there is no airport on little Skopelos and the island is a relative distance (107km) from the Greek mainland. As such, you typically need to take at least two, or more, methods of transport to get here.
Is it worth it? Absolutely!
Getting to Skopelos:
Why Visit?
Skopelos island is one of the most stunning, and underrated island getaways in Greece and arguably, the entire Mediterranean. The pine-clad Sporades island boasts pristine beaches and secluded coves paralleled by cerulean waters. It is home to breathtaking hiking trails that lead you through miles and miles of uninhabited paradise.
This is the greenest island in the entirety of the Mediterranean sea. The fact that getting to Skopelos is tricky, paired with the fact that few people are aware of it in the first place, means that there are only a fraction of the tourists here that you will find on other islands.
Skopelos is featured as the fictional island of Kalokairi in the Hollywood movie Mamma Mia. When you arrive, you can explore the various filming locations from the movie – most notably, the clifftop church of Agios Ioannis Kastri.
Opt to stay in the Chora for ease of getting around and in order to have plenty of excellent Skopelos restaurants right on your doorstep. From there you can take day trips out to Stafylos, Neo Klima, Agnontas, etc.
How to Get to Skopelos Island in Greece
First things first, if you are wondering how to get to Skopelos island in Greece, you need to know that you must take a ferry to get here. The only thing that varies is your starting point.
If you are visiting Skopelos as part of a wider Greece itinerary and you find yourself nearby in Volos, you can take a ferry from there. Alternatively, if you are in Athens or Thessaloniki, you can catch a domestic flight from one of these locations to the island of Skiathos which sits next to Skopelos.
If you are visiting Greece with the sole purpose of travelling to Skopelos, you may find it easiest to book flights to Skiathos. From there, you can easily take a short ferry from Skiathos to Skopelos.
Getting to Skopelos by air
There is no airport on Skopelos. This is because the island is hilly, mountainous, and there is no suitable place for planes to come in to land.
The closest international airport is situated on the adjacent island of Skiathos. Both domestic and international flight routes travel into Skiathos’ Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport. Alternatively, you can fly into other international airports in Greece.
Flying into Skiathos
Tourism in the Sporades is seasonal and the summer season runs between June and September. It is easier to find direct flights in this period.
You can find flights to Skiathos departing from various European cities across Europe. Numerous reputable airlines service the airport, including Jet2, SkyExpress, Olympic Air, and Aegean Airlines. You can use a flight comparison site such as Skyscanner to search through all of the options available and secure the best flight deals.
Direct services from Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom run to Skiathos during the summer months. If you are not able to get a direct flight to Skiathos, you can also connect in Athens or Thessaloniki.
Connect in Athens or Thessaloniki
If you cannot find a flight to Skiathos, you can enter Greece by flying into Athens or Thessaloniki. Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport is the largest in the country and has the most flight options.
From there, you can fly on a domestic flight to Skiathos or you can travel overland and then by ferry, as you prefer. Several Greek domestic airlines fly to Skiathos, including Aegean and Olympic Air.
Try to reserve your tickets in advance to secure the best deals. If you travel out of season (from October onwards), you can find tickets for as little as €25 one way.
You may be surprised how much prices vary from one day to another. Having some slight flexibility on your travel dates can save you a relative amount of money. These platforms enable you to see a grid of every flight departing from your location to Greece across an entire month.
That way, you can choose the most economic choice for you. Purchase your luggage at the same time as purchasing your flight to avoid any unexpected additional expenses later.
The flight from Athens to Skiathos takes approximately 45 minutes. The journey takes around the same amount of time if you are flying from Thessaloniki to Skiathos.
Take the ferry across from Skiathos
Upon arrival at Skiathos airport, you need to make your way to the port ready for the ferry crossing across to Skopelos. Fortunately, Skiathos airport is located very close to the port. You can take a cab for around €10 and the journey will take you less than 10 minutes.
The ferry will stop at two different ports in Skopelos: Glossa/Loutraki and Skopelos town. Assuming that you are opting to stay in or around Skopelos town, or Stafylos, it makes sense to take the ferry to Skopelos town. If you are staying in Palio Klima or Neo Klima, it makes more sense to get off the boat at Glossa.
Crossings from Skiathos to Glossa/Loutraki in the northern part of the island take approximately 20-30 minutes. Ferry crossings from Skiathos town to Skopelos town (Chora) take around an hour.
The port of Agnontas is not a scheduled stop. However, this is sometimes used in the event of stormy/adverse weather that makes it tricky to arrive at Skopelos port.
If this happens, don’t worry. There will be a free bus waiting at the port to take you onwards to Skopelos town, as well as plenty of cab drivers waiting around just in case you need to get to a different part of the island.
How to Get to Skopelos from Athens
If you decide to travel overland from Athens to Skopelos rather than take a domestic flight, you need to take a bus and then take the ferry from Volos. Alternatively, you can travel from Athens to Agios Konstantinos port and take a ferry from there.
To get from Athens airport to the city center, you can ride the X93 bus to its final stop at the KTEL Liosion bus station. There is no direct train from Athens to Volos (you have to change lines in Larissa) so the bus is the best option.
A one-way ticket costs €24 and the journey takes approximately four hours. Bus services depart every two hours between 07.00 am and 21.00 pm.
You can check the latest schedules here. The bus terminal in Volos is just a five-minute walk from the ferry port.
How to Get to Skopelos from Thessaloniki
You can find a lot of flights from various European cities to Thessaloniki and opting to fly into Thessaloniki rather than Athens can really reduce your travel time to Skopelos. Public transport in Greece is pretty good.
Buses from Thessaloniki to Volos depart 7 times per day and the journey takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. Upon arrival at Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia, you need to take the X1 bus (or a taxi/transfer) to the Macedonia Intercity Bus Station.
From there, you can board the bus to Volos. A one-way ticket costs €21 per person. You can check the latest timetables here.
How to get to Skopelos from Volos
One of the most convenient ways of getting to Skopelos from mainland Greece is to take the ferry from Volos. Ferries and hydrofoils depart four times a day during the peak season.
During winter in Greece, ferries still depart once per day as people live on these islands all year round. The ferries call first at Skiathos and then continue onwards to Skopelos and Alonissos.
The journey takes approximately four hours each way by car ferry or two and a half hours by hydrofoil. You can browse the latest schedules here.
It is advisable to buy your tickets in advance of departure, especially if you are travelling in July or August. Tickets can be purchased online via Ferryscanner.
They can then be collected at the port ticket office on the day of departure. Alternatively, you can get a mobile ticket that will be scanned on your phone when you board the boat.
You may wish to consider staying overnight in Volos to break up the journey and experience the charming port front town of Volos.
Consider breaking up your journey in Volos
Volos is essentially like a miniature version of Thessaloniki. It is famous for its tsipouradiko hangouts that line the seafront and the bustling square of Agios Nikolaos.
Volos, like many regions of Greece, has its own special local cuisine. While in town, you may wish to consider ordering yourself a “peinirli”. This is a soft, flavourful dough stuffed with tomatoes and cheese.
This is affectionately known as “local pizza”. Volos is also a great jump-off point for visiting the Pelion villages of Makrinitsa, Damouchari, and Afissos.
How to get to Skopelos from Agios Konstantinos
If you are travelling up from Athens to Skopelos, it may be more convenient for you to take the ferry from Agios Konstantinos rather than trek all the way to Volos. Agios Konstantinos is about 2.5 hours away from the Greek capital.
Ferries and hydrofoils depart from Agios Konstantinos at similar frequencies to services from Volos. There are approximately four boats per day in the period between June and September.
There are no rail services that run the entire way to Agios Konstantinos. The most convenient way to get here from Athens is to take the KTEL Fthiotidos bus.
The ferry boat from A.K to Skopelos takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. You can disembark at Loutraki (Glossa) or Skopelos town.
How to Get to Skopelos: FAQs
Do you still have any burning, unanswered questions about how to get to Skopelos? Hopefully, you will find the information that you are looking for below!
Where do you fly to get to Skopelos?
The closest airport to Skopelos is Alexandros Papadiamantis international. This is the most convenient place to fly into to travel to the island.
How long is the ferry from Athens to Skopelos?
There is no direct ferry from Athens to Skopelos. To reach Skopelos, you can either travel overland to Volos and then take a ferry or you can fly from Athens to Skiathos and then take a ferry.
How long is the ferry from Santorini to Skopelos?
There is no ferry from Santorini to Skopelos. The two islands are located in completely different Greek island groups.
Santorini sits in the Cyclades archipelago, in the southern part of Greece. Meanwhile, Skopelos can be found in the Sporades, northeast of the mainland.
If you want to get from Santorini to Skopelos, you need to fly to Skiathos and then take a ferry. Alternatively, you can fly from Santorini to Athens, travel overland, and then take a ferry.
How do you get to Skopelos from the UK?
The most convenient way to get to Skopelos from the UK is to fly to Skiathos and then take a ferry. You can find direct flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, London, Leeds, East Midlands, Newcastle, and Edinburgh for as little as £50 one way.
Jet2 and TUI offer almost daily flights to Skiathos. Many package deals to the region are also available.
Can you fly into Skopelos?
No, you cannot fly into Skopelos. The island does not have an airport.
The nearest airport is Alexandros Papadiamantis international on the neighbouring island of Skiathos. From there, you can take a short ferry or a taxi to Skopelos. Alternatively, you can fly into Athens or Thessaloniki and connect from there.
Parting Words
Reaching Skopelos Island in Greece, famously known for its appearance in the “Mamma Mia” movie, is a scenic journey that begins at Mantoudi in Evia.
While the ferry ride takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, it offers a delightful voyage through the serene beauty of the Aegean Sea, setting the stage for an unforgettable Greek island adventure. Securing ferry tickets in advance is recommended, especially during peak season, but finding tickets on the spot might also be possible.
Do you have any additional questions or queries about getting to Skopelos? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
I have been living in Greece for almost five years now and based myself in Skopelos for eight months in 2020/2021.
I am happy to help as best as I can. Safe travels!
1 reply to “How to Get to Skopelos Island in Greece: 2024 Local’s Guide”
Hi there
I live in Australia and am hoping to do a Greece road trip taking in islands off the mainland this August. In researching this area I have hit some snags and I have a few questions.
We were hoping to stay in Volos and do a day trip to Skopelos but I do not want to be on a ferry for 4 hrs. I cannot see any hydrofoil information.
We will be there in August so I am assuming that is peak timetable?
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thank you
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