Skópelos (Skopelos) in Greece

Located off the coast of Greece in the western Aegean Sea, Skopelos is an island of modern amenity and ancient charm. As one of the largest islands in the Northern Sporades island group, Skopelos has traditionally been important as a place of trade and shipping. In recent years, it has become a popular tourist destination, with scenic views and historical attractions.

According to island legend, Skopelos was founded by Staphlyos, the son of Dionysos and Princess Ariadne of Crete. In legend, Staphylos was celebrated as the son of the god of wine. Because of this reputation, Skopelos traditionally was known for its wine. From a more historical perspective, the island was first colonized by Cretans, who introduced grapes to the island.

Over the years, Skopelos saw domination from powerful civilizations such as Athens, Rome, and Byzantine. During World War II, the island fell under Axis control. When the war was over, Skopelos and the rest of Greece regained its independent status, and Skopelos began its steady transformation into the tourism powerhouse it is today.

Number service

24240

Police

24240 22235

Taxi

24240 23240

Tourist Assistance

24240 22998

Skoplelos is a generally safe destination. In the summer there are occasional reports of sexual assault. Numerous motorbike accidents during the summer season.

The summer sun tends to get very strong. You should not take the risk of dehydration, sunburns or even heat strokes lightly. Wear appropriate clothes, maybe with a hat and sunglasses; use sunscreen; bring enough water on excursions and know when to stop exhausting yourself and seek the shade of a tree.

Health Center

24240 22222

Tourism in Skopelos is most popular in the summer months. Although the temperatures are moderate all year, the winter months are often rainy. For this reason, May through September are the most popular travel months, especially since the heat is tempered by cool sea breezes in August. Many retirees opt to make Skopelos their full-time residence, but short trips are often scheduled in the summer.

If you're looking for sun you should avoid November - April. Also remember that July and August are very warm months.

Skopelos is accessible by boat or ferry. Since there are no airports on the island, many international travelers take connecting flights to the nearby island of Skiathos, which takes in flights from a number of airlines with connections around the world. From Skiathos, Skopelos is readily accessible by ferry. It is also possible to arrive at Skopelos by ferry from other nearby ports, including Volos, Athens, and Thessaloniki.

By bus

Skopelos has one main road which links the three main villages by coach several times daily.

By car

It is quite expensive to bring you own car on the ferry so unless you plan to stay for a long time on Skopelos it is better to rent a car. Asphalt roads run across the west coast of the island. Roads in the interior turn out to be little more than dirt paths.

By motorcycle

Motorbikes and mopeds are popular alternatives to cars. Mopeds, specially adapted to be very loud are frequently used by local youths to scare tourists and can go to many places that cars cannot go - for example the twisted narrow streets of Skopelos town. An additional advantage is that they are inexpensive to rent - 10 to 15 Euros a day is the usual price for a 50cc scooter. If you want a nice
cc scooter the price is around 25 eur/day.

If you start a day-trip with a moped, make you sure you do so on a full tank, as gas stations are sometimes hard to find. An extra stop at a gas station can save a lot of nerves. When renting a moped, check if the profile of the tyres is ok and if the brakes work properly. If it is the last vehicle in store, be suspicious - it could be the one that needs a repair badly. Greek law requires helmets while on a motorbike or moped. The fine for not wearing a helmet is 350 Euros (although you will see 90% of all drivers not wearing any helmet...)