The fabled island of Skopelos is a verdant paradise with secluded beaches where pine trees seem to dip into the sea. The famous musical Mamma Mia certainly captured the island’s beauty wonderfully.
Kastani beach is effortless to reach by car and bus. Its fine white sand and turquoise waters are framed by tall verdant cliffs. Tavernas line the beachfront.
Kastani
For a small island, Skopelos packs a punch when it comes to beaches. The most popular ones are on the more sheltered west side and feature transparent waters, fine white shingle, sublime sunsets and well-organised lidos, bars and tavernas. The rest are wilder, off-the-beaten track and usually untamed by crowds – perfect for those who like to swim in peace.
The pristine Kastani Beach was made famous when it appeared in the Mamma Mia movie scenes of “Lay all your love on me” and “Does your mother know”. It is one of the island’s most sandy beaches and overlooks the uninhabited islet of Dassia.
Located adjacent to Milia beach on the western coast, this long stretch of pebbled coastline is a favourite with families. The beach bar is a great spot for refreshments and the taverna offers a range of traditional dishes from across Greece. The beach also has facilities for renting sun beds and umbrellas.
Panormos
One of the most famous beaches on Skopelos, this sheltered beach has two different white pebbly beaches with transparent waters. It was also featured in the movie Mamma Mia, which further raised its profile. This is an ideal place for swimming and watching the sunset. It is also good for families since it has a couple of lidos with sunbeds and umbrellas.
The secluded beach is surrounded by pine trees and overlooks the green islet Dassia. It is also a great spot for snorkeling since the rocky areas close to the shore attract different fish species.
The sand here is a mixture of fine and coarse pebbles, which makes it comfortable to walk on. There are a few taverns on the beach that serve fresh seafood and fish dishes. You can have a great meal while you are swimming in the blue water. The restaurant owners are Skopelos born and bred, so you can expect delicious food.
Glysteri
Glysteri Beach is an idyllic pebbled beach, tucked in a picturesque cove and surrounded by lush cliff covered pine forests. You might recognize the scenery from the movie Mamma Mia – scenes here were filmed.
Located in the north of the island, this beach has sunbeds to rent and a small beach bar serving cocktails, smoothies, beers, snacks and light meals. This is one of the most family-friendly beaches on Skopelos and a popular choice when it comes to secluded swimming.
It’s a bit more difficult to reach than other beaches on the island and it can be quite windy here as well. However, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of the tiny islet Dassia and Skiathos in the distance. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset.
Agnontas
A little west of Skopelos Town is Agnontas, a stunning pebble beach that sits in a sheltered bay. Shades of green bounce off the crystal clear waters and it’s a perfect spot to spend a few hours swimming, sunbathing or relaxing with a cool drink from the beach bar.
The shingle beach curves around a gorgeous turquoise bay, framed by mountains covered in pine trees. You can explore the rocky coves to find hidden spots to lay back and enjoy the view or head into the beachside tavern for a bite to eat.
This is one of the best beaches on Skopelos for sunsets as it faces west and offers sublime sunsets. It’s also a good spot for families with kids as there are hardly any waves. The beach is easily accessible by car and has a large parking area. You can rent a deck chair or umbrella at the tavern. It is recommended to visit this beach during the week as it gets very busy on weekends.