Skopelos Honeymoon, Greece

Covered in pine and oak forests, fruit trees and olive groves, the ruggedly scenic island of Skopelos is one of the greenest islands in the Aegean Sea and offers all you need for a tranquil Greek Island honeymoon or romantic getaway.

Picture-perfect coves lie beneath terraced cliffs and are fringed with wide golden-sand and white-pebble beaches that shelve into crystalline water.

Renowned as one of the most attractive port towns in Greece, Skopelos town (Chora) is characterised by traditional architecture, steep staircases, bubbling fountains, stone-built mansions and tiny white chapels.

Things to do and see
Explore the town’s narrow, picture-perfect cobbled streets and alleyways, home to white-washed houses with blue painted doors and windows, flower-bedecked balconies and red tiled roofs that sprawl across a hillside overlooking a sheltered bay.

Be rewarded with panoramic views from the ruined hilltop walls of the Venetian-era kastro (fortress), built in 340 BC by Philip II of Macedonia. Then pop into the 17th century basilica of Adios Athanassios, the oldest church in town, built on the ruins of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Athena.

A walking trail south of Chora’s main beach leads to some of the island’s finest Byzantine monasteries and churches including: the historic Monastery of Evangelistic, now home to a nunnery; the abandoned Asia Barbara, with its 15th century frescoes; and Adios Prodromos, which contains a stunning iconostasis.

The hilly interior of Skopelos is ideal for hiking, biking and horseback riding adventures to Mount Paoki (546m) in the southeast and Mount Delphi (681m), which sits in the middle of the island. Nearby and west of the lush Kara Valley lies Sendoukia, containing four ancient rock-cut tombs.

Skopelos offers a good range of holiday accommodation in the beach resort district of Panormos and in Skopelos town. You can also find a good range of bars and dance clubs, as well as taverns playing rembetika music – the Greek version of American blues.

Best time to visit Skopelos?
The best time to honeymon in the Sporades is during the mid season (May, June, September and October) when the sky is sunny and temperatures average a warm 23˚C. Mid season also provides more reasonable hotel prices and generally less crowds.

The summer months of July to August average 26˚C but are best avoided if you don’t enjoy crowds as Skopelos is generally swamped with European and Greek holidaymakers. The winter off-season, from November through February, is generally quiet with high rainfall. The Sporades are not as hot as the Cyclades.

Location – Skopelos is located in the Aegean Sea, southeast of the Pelion Peninsula in northern Greece. The Sporades comprises the islands of Skopelos, Skiros, Alonnissos and Skiathios, plus a number of smaller islands.

Getting there – By hydrofoil, Skopelos is just 20 minutes from Skiathios. Time-pressed holidaymakers can fly directly into Skiathios from Athens. How to get to Skopelos . . .