Beach guide
The beaches of Skiathos range from small, secluded and difficult to access coves at one extreme, to kilometre-long stretches of sand complete with beach bars and watersports at the other. Which ones you choose will be a matter of taste, but do try to visit a variety of different types – they all have something to offer.
Xanemos beach. Photo by Jonathan Knott.
Watersports are offered at many beaches on the south coast. Prices are normally displayed clearly by the huts. Typically, parasailing costs 50 Euros, waterskiing or wakeboarding 30 Euros, and a pedalo or canoe 5-15 Euros.
Some beaches (particularly the most popular ones) have showers and some basic changing facilities. Music is sometimes played from watersports huts or beach bars. To varying degrees, it is normally possible to find quieter spots (with the exception of Banana, where the music is all-pervasive – see below).
The attractiveness of Skiathos' beaches. Photo by Jonathan Knott.
On almost all beaches it is possible to hire sunbeds (normally priced at 8 Euros for an umbrella and 2 sunbeds or 5 Euros for an umbrella and 1 sunbed). On the most popular beaches these are placed very close together (this is particularly true on the south coast). On most beaches there is little natural shade.
Regular water taxis travel from Skiathos Town to and from Tzaneria, Kanapitsa, and Achliades. Some beaches are known by a variety of names, which can be a little confusing (for example Mandraki/Xerxes and Platanias/Agia Paraskevi).