Greece

According to mythology the smallest Ionian Island came about when Poseidon plunged his trident into Corfu.

Paxos broke away from the bottom and became a love nest that Poseidon shared with his consort Amphitrite, and his trident remains the official emblem.

In reality Paxos is a peaceful island of olive groves, crystal clear waters and pocket-sized seaside villages.

The east side has gentle coves with pebble beaches, while the west is all vast limestone cliffs sculpted by the sea into caves, giant stacks and a natural arch.

You can hop on a water taxi from the main port of Gaios to get to beaches like the exotic bay of Vrika, maybe the most beautiful beach in all of the Ionian.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Paxos:

1. Vrika Beach, Antipaxos

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Vrika Beach, Antipaxos

The vine-covered island of Antipaxos is only ten minutes by water taxi from the harbour at Gaios.

A crossing will cost around €14, and the main goal is this Caribbean-style white sandy beach.

Vrika Beach is also a family favourite as it enters the sea on a smooth gradient and has lots of safe, shallow water.

This has the kind of shimmering turquoise tones you’d expect from a tropical paradise.

Remember to take photos and try to convince your friends that you haven’t used Photoshop! There are two tavernas on the beach, renting out sun loungers for free if you stay on the terrace under the pergola, or for €4 each if you’d prefer to be on the beach itself.

2. Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos

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Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos

In any other place the twinkling waters at Voutoumi would be full of sun-seekers, but as this beach is eclipsed by nearby Vrika you’ll never have to fight for space.

You can get there direct by water taxi from Gaios, or walk the trail from Vrika in 20 minutes.

The advantage of Voutoumi is that there’s only a single beach bar, and instead of rows of beds in expectation of crowds, the sun loungers are only set up one by one as people arrive.

Voutoumi is a horseshoe cove with white pebbles, contrasting with the deep green of the vegetation behind.

Up the trail a short way from the beach is a taverna with a lovely view of the beach and Paxos behind.

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3. Tripitos Arch

Source: Desislava Lyungova

Tripitos Arch

Less than three kilometres south of Gaios is one of the island’s great natural landmarks.

The journey is tricky but brief, as you have to drive on an unpaved road through olive groves before parking up and descending a short, steep track.

The arch is the remnants of a collapsed sea cave, and at its highest point is 20 metres above the water.

On foot the bridge is broader than it might seem and you can cross it to a stack topped with bits of scrub.

The Tripitos Arch can also be viewed from the water on one of the tours to the Blue Caves, which we’ll cover next.

4. Blue Caves

Source: Desislava Lyungova

Blue Caves

The massive west coast of Paxos has limestone cliffs that in places have been hollowed out by the sea.

The Blue Caves can only be seen by boat, and are larger enough that many vessels can pass right through.

Tour boats will stop to let you dive into the transparent waters, swim through the caves and climb on a few of the smaller outcrops.

You can make the trip on a large boat with lots of other visitors, or keep it private by taking a skippered vessel or just hiring your own motorboat for the afternoon.

Make sure to set a course for Ortholithos, a monolithic outcrop near the entrance to the Pappanikoli Cave.

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5. Gaios

Source: Gordon Bell

Gaios, Paxos

The main settlement on Paxos, Gaios has a harbour buffered from the sea by the small island of Agios Nikolaos.

The main point of departure for ferries and boat trips Gaois is also a working fishing port, and there’s a line of small wooden caïques tied to the quays.

In from the water is a small web of lanes with more cafes and tavernas than you can count.

You could pause at the main plaza, with a memorial to the Greek War of Independence and a looking across to the evergreen Slopes of Agios Nikolaos.

At entrance to the harbour is another small island, Agia Panagia, with a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary that attracts throngs of worshippers for the Assumption on 15 August.

6. Agios Nikolaos Castle

If you have your own motorboat or yacht, allow a moment to go ashore at Agios Nikolaos, the small island that protects the natural harbour at Gaios.

The castle crowning the island was built in the first half of the 15th century by the Venetian lord Adam II San Ippolito, to deter pirate raids and guard against the rising threat from the Ottoman Empire.

The castle has been abandoned for centuries, but a surprising amount of its original architecture survives, like a cistern, watchtower, parcels of its walls armed by cannons and a gunpowder magazine.

If you have more time to explore, there are also two small churches on the island, to St Nicholas and St John.

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7. Erimitis Beach

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Erimitis Beach

One of only two beaches on the west coast accessed by land, Erimitis (Hermit) Beach has only existed for a little over a decade.

It was born in 2007 when a chunk of the cliff collapsed, creating a small bay framed by vast white limestone bluffs.

At one point there’s an overhang in the cliffs, giving some needed shade to the pebbles below.

This part of the island can catch the wind and occasionally has strong currents, but people visit mainly for the drama of the cliffs.

At sunset the white rock takes on a beguiling orange hue.

The journey isn’t easy, as you’ll need to shimmy down a steep track with loose rocks, but that will be forgotten once you witness the grand seascape.

8. Paxos Museum

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Paxos Museum

On the waterfront in Gaois, the Paxos Museum is housed in the former school building, dating to 1906. The exhibits offer a small but engaging timeline of human habitation on Paxos: The first room has Palaeolithic flint tools, pottery from Classical Greece and guns swords and everyday utensils from the Venetian period.

The kitchen has Ottoman and British scales, oil lamps, traditional ceramics and cooking implements, while the largest room has a 17th-century bed, along with beauty products, accessories and clothing from the turn of the 20th century.

Out in the courtyard are grindstones from olive presses and ceramic vessels once used to measure oil.

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9. Kipiadi Beach

Source: photo stella

Kipiadi Beach

The longest beach on Paxos is also one of the most far-flung.

Alone on the east coast, Kipiadi Beach is a 300-metre sweep of large white pebbles in front of uninhabited coniferous woodland.

To get there you have to take an unpaved road down from Longos, and then walk a little way down a track.

There are headlands at either end of the beach, keeping the wind out, so there will be lots of yachts anchored in the bay.

The absence of a taverna or beach bar means you should bring a parasol and anything else you could need.

As it deepens, the crystalline water has mesmerising bands of colour from light turquoise to dark blue.

10. Mongonissi Beach

Source: Desislava Lyungova

Mongonissi Beach

Tucked inside a natural harbour between Paxos and Mongonissi Island, this beach is the only one with sand on Paxos.

The sand may be artificial, but it makes a nice change if you prefer a softer surface to the usual pebbles.

The sheltered water meanwhile is always clean and transparent.

As Mongonissi is on a harbour there’s a constant flow of water taxis and private yachts, some of which can be extremely posh.

You can rent a pair of sun loungers for €5 for a day, or for free if you dine at the Mongonissi Beach taverna.

Come by car, or catch a water taxi from Gaios.

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11. Monodendri Beach

Source: photo stella

Monodendri Beach

The north coast has the only other “organised” beach on Paxos.

Monodendri Beach is a pebbly bay, traced by two beach bars and a taverna.

The two beach bars, Bastas and Ben’s Bar, provide sun loungers, which are a necessity on the pebbles.

These are included with drinks or a meal, and there’s full waiter service if you want to be really indulgent.

Watching the glimmering light blue waters you won’t be able resist going for a dip, although swim shoes might be useful to cross the pebbles.

The beach does drop off quite quickly from the shore, but isn’t such a problem as the surf is light and the sea is a comfortable temperature in July and August.

12. Hiking

Source: bikemp

Hiking, Paxos

At around 13 kilometres long and five kilometres wide, Paxos is an island large enough for adventure on foot, but not so large that you can get hopelessly lost.

Linking adorable villages like Ozias and Boikatika are tracks, flanked by drystone walls and trodden for centuries by mules and villagers.

These are usually colour-coded or marked with signposts and cairns, and it’s also possible to download a map to keep you on course.

Most of the island’s interior, from the little harbour village of Lakka in the far north down Gaois, is taken up by olive groves in scenery littered with old mills and chapels.

If it’s too hot for a walk the drive between these two settlements is a treat.

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13. Diving

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Oasi Sub

Lakka is the home of the island’s diving centre, Oasi Sub.

People intent on getting PADI certified can bone up with an e-learning course at home to get most of the paperwork out of the way.

After that you’ll need four or five days of training to be fully qualified to dive anywhere on Earth to a depth of 18 metres.

Kids can take part in “Bubblemaker” excursions, in which they’ll get used to wearing the equipment in safe, shallow water in the company of an instructor.

Oasi Sub also offers snorkelling safaris, which are worthwhile given the high underwater visibility in the Ionian.

And if you’re already an experienced diver there are drop-offs, reefs and a wreck waiting for you.

Non-divers can join you in the boat and swim in the tranquil waiting for you to resurface.

14. Stone Carved Cisterns of Sarakinos

Source: paxos-map.com

Cisterns Of Sarakinos Paxos

In the village of Boikatika there are signs leading to this special site in a system of ashlar drystone walls.

You’ll get to this tree-shaded place in under five minutes, to be met by covered stone-built cisterns.

These water reservoirs have been hewn from the bedrock and then covered with little shelters in different shapes and sizes.

They look like small dwellings until you peer inside and see the cavities for storing water.

15. Paxos Music Festival

Source: paxosfestival.com

Paxos Music Festival

Arrive on Paxos in the summer and you’ll coincide with the Paxos Music Festival, which has run every summer for more than 30 years.

The festival, devoted to jazz, folk and classical music, has grown with each edition, from performances in the founder’s garden to a programme of concerts at the old schoolhouse in the village of Longos.

The festival is a platform for upcoming international and Greek musicians, and welcomed more than 30 performers in 2017. Some of the more famous guests included the pianist Valeria Vetruccio, folk guitarist Andy Irvine and composer Edoardo Bruni.

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15 Best Things to Do in Paxos (Greece) .

Less than an hour from the port of Piraeus by “Flying Dophin”, Agistri is a small island in the Saronic Gulf.

Agistri is tiny, and it takes just ten minutes to drive from the northern village of Megalochori to Limenaria in the far south.

In between are unpopulated hills where wild oregano, figs and lemons grow among the pine forests.

Agistri’s coast is rocky and trimmed with cliffs and dense woodland that comes right down to the sea.

Some of the best places to bathe are just rocky platforms where you can lower yourself into glowing pools of clear water, but there’s a family-friendly sandy beach in Skala.

On land you can try horse riding or rent a bicycle, while by water there are kayak adventures, wreck dives and speedboat trips to a host of destinations on the Saronic Gulf.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Agistri:

1. Aponisos Beach

Source: Aerial-motion

Aponisos Beach

Not a beach in the traditional sense, Aponisos Beach is a private bathing area on rocks with ladders and steps down to crystal clear waters.

The sea at Aponisos is sheltered by the indented coast, as well as the private island no more than 200 metres offshore.

Entrance costs €5, and this includes the price of a sun lounger, sun shade and a drink.

You can borrow an air mattress or tube to drift on the water, while the fish restaurant by the beach is rated as one of the best on the island.

Don’t forget to bring snorkelling gear as these crystalline waters abound with sea life.

2. Skala

Source: Aerial-motion

Skala, Agistri

Together with Megalochori, Skala is Agistri’s main port, handling traffic from Piraeus and the neighbouring island of Aegina.

Skala is also the most upmarket settlement on the island, with its fair share of accommodation, complemented by tavernas, cafes bars and even a nightclub on the edge of the village.

If you’re dining out in Agistri, chances are you’ll find yourself in Skala, and one of the delicacies you have to try is barbecued octopus.

Skala also has the shallowest and best appointed beach on Agistri, so is the destination of choice for families.

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3. Dragonera Beach

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Dragonera Beach

Just off the road from Megalochori to Limenaria, Dragonera Beach is a pebble bay framed by pine-capped rocks on the west coast.

The beach has a single row of sun loungers and sun shades, rented out by a little kiosk on the shore.

This is the only sign of tourism at Dragonera: Behind are uninhabited coniferous hills, and if you’re feeling adventurous you could wade around the rocks to the north to find a quiet place to bathe.

The sea at Dragonera is a captivating turquoise colour, with rippling surf that should be safe for all-comers.

4. Megalochori

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Megalochori

The island’s capital, Megalochori is still no more than a village in size, with a population of little more than 500. Alongside Skala it is the settlement most geared towards tourism.

In Ancient Greece the harbour in Megalochori was used as a naval base, while today it’s a simple fishing port with nets piled up on the quayside.

Ferries also arrive from Aegina, as well as “Flying Dophins” from Piraeus.

Allow some time to poke around its whitewashed alleys, bright with fuchsia flowers, and track down the village’s landmark, a windmill dating to 1812. Finish with an ice-cold frappé at a cafe.

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5. Chalikiada Beach

Source: Constantinos Iliopoulos

Chalikiada Beach

On the east coast, Chalikiada Beach is a pebble cove guarded by high cliffs.

You’ll want to pause over the view before you step down the beach, to see Aegina and Moni Island in the distance.

Thanks to its more intimate setting, Chalikiada Beach is the only beach in the Agistri and Aegina area to cater to naturists.

The shore pitches quite steeply into the water, and the currents may sometimes be too much for non-swimmers, but will be fine for everyone else.

It’s best to come prepared to this remote beach, but if you need anything Skala is only a few hundred metres away.

It’s not unusual to see a small village of tents on the beach as people often camp out here in the summer.

6. Limenaria

Source: Aerial-motion

Chapel near Limenaria

A small tangle of lanes bear in the south of Agistri, Limenaria is a trip worth making for the scenic 10-minute drive that gives you panoramas of the Saronic Gulf and islands.

Limenaria is embedded in a valley and you’ll see the village from above before zigzagging down the slope.

This sleepy little place has just a single taverna, which comes highly recommended.

The village bursts into life on 7 July when the golden-domed Church of Agia Kyriaki is the centre of a folk festival.

Moments to the east is the tiny port of Mariza, where there’s a pool ladder on the rocks for the clear waters below.

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7. Water Sports

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Kayaking

One of the great things about the Saronic Gulf is that the sea is sheltered from the infamous Meltemi Wind, and when the weather’s calm it’s possible to navigate its waters with manpower alone.

In Skala you can get in touch with the adventure sports company, Go Kayak Greece, which arranges kayak tours with qualified guides who have in-depth knowledge of the island, its nature and history.

These can be half-day or full-day trips, or shorter excursions.

A popular destination is the small island of Metopi, between Agistri and Aegina.

There you can visit the little Theodori chapel and on evening trips you’ll watch the sun setting over the Saronic Gulf.

8. Church of Agioi Anargyroi

Source: David Fowler

Church of Agioi Anargyroi

A 20th-century church for the 3rd-century Saints Cosmas and Damian, the cruciform Agioi Anargyroi is one of Agistri’s most photographed buildings.

The church is reflected on the water in Skala, and its main dome and apse are painted light blue.

Like all of the religious buildings on Agistri, it’s a sight to savour from the outside, apart from during the feast of St Cosmas and Damian, on 1 July when it’s the focus of a folk celebration.

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9. Metochi

On the evergreen slopes between Megalochori and Skala, Metochi is a minuscule but endearing residential village with just one taverna.

If you’re on Agistri, you could make the walk or drive up to Metochi for vistas of the north coast.

The village has some of the oldest buildings on Agistri, most whitewashed, with terracotta roofs, bougainvillea blossoms and blue painted windows and doors.

In its elevated position, Metochi is a good springboard for hikes in Agistri’s coniferous landscape, with the scent of wild herbs on the air.

10. Church of Panagia

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this church rests on a rocky podium and is an exhilarating vantage point for north of the island.

Getting there on foot from Skala requires a little effort, and hundreds of worshippers conquer the slope every 15 August for the Assumption.

The Church of Panagia will likely be closed when you come, but most visitors come for the views of Skala and the Island of Aegina.

The church’s whitewashed Cycladic-style walls and campanile are stand out against the blues of the sky and sea.

11. Skala Beach

Source: Aerial-motion

Skala Beach, Agistri

The favourite beach for families on Agistri, Skala Beach is barely 100 metres from the village’s harbour and in view of the blue dome of Agioi Anargyroi.

The location is one of the best things going for Skala Beach as within seconds there’s a good choice of shops and places to eat.

The other advantage is the gentle, shallow water that smaller children will be able to play in.

Skala Beach is also “organised” and there are sun loungers and parasols to rent.

12. Boat Trips

Source: Michail Theofanis

Agistri Boat

Not far from the Peloponnese mainland and surrounded by other Saronic islands, Agistri is in a prime location if you want to see the best of the Saronic Gulf.

Operating out of the harbour at Megalochori is the Jamaica Speed Boat, providing swift transfers to any number of places nearby.

The company serves Ancient Epidaurus, home to one of the ancient world’s greatest theatres, the picturesque and traditional island of Hydra, the Corinth Canal and Poros, an island escape for cultural figures like Henry Miller and Nobel Prize-winning poet Giorgos Seferis.

Alternatively you could make for local beauty spots, to snorkel, paddleboard and swim in shimmering blue pools.

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13. Horse Riding

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Aponisos Horse Riding

The deserted southern half of Agistri is primed for outdoor adventure, and you can now journey through its pine forest and fruit groves on horseback.

Aponisos Horse Riding is in the southwest of the island and caters to both children and adults.

Youngsters can get to know the basics of horse riding at a lesson in a safe environment.

More experienced kids, and adults can also break out on a trek along the coast and around the salt lake in Agistri’s hinterland.

A 90-minute ride will cost €25 per person.

14. Diving

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Diving

Off the southwest of Agistri are sparkling waters with amazing water clarity, with no fewer than nine separate dive sites.

These might be the wreck of the Avantis III container ship or an underwater canyon off the Island of Dorousa concealing a small sunken vessel.

The one dive centre on Agistri is Interdive at Megalochori, run by former commercial divers.

Interdive sails to its dive sites on the wooden Astrolavos yacht and offers free refreshments on board.

Newcomers to diving can study for PADI certification, while seasoned divers can earn more advanced qualifications.

Kids can also be introduced to the equipment and techniques on a “Bubblemaker” course.

15. Aegina

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Aegina

Five kilometres east of Agistri, Aegina is served by one of the regular ferries sailing from Megalochori.

If possible you should visit with a moped or rental car as there are some spellbinding sights to track down.

High on the east coast, overlooking the island, is the Doric Temple of Aphaia from the end of the 6th century BC. The once magnificent pediment is missing from the ruins, which are otherwise almost complete, but there’s a faithful reconstruction at the site’s museum.

A matter of seconds across the narrow strait from the port town of Perdika is Moni Island, roamed by wild peacocks and the scene of one of the best beaches in the region.

Even though Monis Island Beach is just a rocky ledge, the landward-facing water has a pure aquamarine pool that must be seen to be believed.

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15 Best Things to Do in Agistri (Greece) .

On the Saronic Gulf, the small island of Poros is an hour’s ferry ride on a “Flying Dolphin” from the Port of Piraeus.

On its south coast, Poros is separated from the Peloponnese by no more than 200 metres, so it’s one of the most convenient Greek Islands if you’re travelling from the capital by road or boat.

Awaiting visitors is a pine-decked paradise trimmed with sand and pebble beaches on its tranquil south shore.

In ancient times the island was believed to be the home of Poseidon, and the vestiges of a sanctuary to the god can be found commanding the north coast from a hill.

Poros Town, the main settlement is a chic harbour with a seafront promenade and yachts bobbing in the water.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Poros:

1. Poros Town

Source: Masson

Poros Town

Laid out on ancient volcano, Poros Town is in fact an island in its own right as it is separated from the rest of Poros by a small canal.

The waterfront is hemmed by a promenade, with fabulous vistas of the strait and the coastal mountains of Peloponnese.

The line of private yachts adds a dash of class, as do the Neoclassical villas across the road, where the next cafe or taverna is only a few metres away.

You could sit by the promenade’s flowerbeds for a while and watch the ferries and yachts float by.

After that, head in from the waterfront and you’ll be in a cool warren of twisting alleys with local shops and restaurants that are off the radar of most tourists.

2. Archaeological Museum of Poros

Source: Schuppi / Wikimedia

Archaeological Museum of Poros

In Poros Town is an archaeological museum built on a plot donated by the wealthy Koryzis family, children of Alexandros Koryzis who was briefly prime minister in 1941. The museum has artefacts that were mainly discovered on Poros at the Sanctuary of Poseidon, and across the channel at the Sanctuary Aphrodite Akraia in Troezena.

These finds date from the Mycenaean Period in the Bronze Age, all the way up to Roman times.

Mycenaean artefacts include figurines and pottery from tombs in Galatas, and a fantastic clay figurine of a horseman, dating to 1300 BC and unearthed in Methana.

But most interesting of all are the votive bronze vessels and Ionic column capitals from the Sanctuary of Poseidon, which you can visit in the north of the island.

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3. Holy Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi

A bit further east from Askeli Beach is a monastery founded in 1720 after the Metropolitan of Athens, Iakovos II drank from a nearby spring, which supposedly cured his lithiasis.

The monastery is on a pine-clad slope overlooking the water and its main church (katholikon) is rich with art from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The iconostasis was crafted in Central Anatolia and is composed of gilded lime wood, and to its right is the Panagia of the Zoodochos Pigi, an icon of the Madonna painted around 1650. On the western wall of the church is a magnificent Christ Pantocrator, composed around 1780. Before you see all this, flanking the vestibule are the tombs of Nikolis Apostolis and Manolis Tombazis, two decorated naval commanders from the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829).

4. Poros Town Clock Tower

Source: Max Topchii

Poros Town Clock Tower

Rising behind the ferry port is one of the symbols of the island, a dignified clock tower on a rocky pedestal.

The tower is younger than its neo-Renaissance lines make it seem, and was only erected in 1927. To get up to it you have to labour up a stairway, which can be tricky in the midday heat, although the steps are partly shaded by fig trees.

At the top of this rock you’ll know why you made the effort, as you can see the whole strait and the Aderes ridge on the Peloponnese.

The tower also faces west, so the sunsets are photo-worthy up here.

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5. Vagionia Bay

Source: ynlray

Vagionia Bay

At the base of a long steep-sided inlet on the north coast is the alluring Vagionia Bay.

The beach is a blend of sand and pebbles, easing down to waters of startling clarity.

The sea is so clear that if you bring snorkelling gear you can make out the foundations and cobblestone streets of ancient town on the seabed.

On the shore is a single taverna renting out sun loungers for a small fee and preparing trusted Greek classics like souvlaki, tzatziki and tirokafteri.

The remainder of the cove is practically deserted, with no signs of habitation amid the pines, scrub and cypress trees.

6. Askeli Beach

Source: julesjoseph

Askeli Beach

Skirted by eucalyptus trees on the coastal road east of Poros Town, Askeli Beach is a long sandy bay on a gentle bend.

Most of the beach is taken up by sun loungers and palm sun shades in the summer, and these fill up quickly so you need to arrive early in the day.

The private sun loungers belong to hotels, while others are tied to the plentiful beach bars and tavernas around the bay, and are included in the price of a drink or snack.

On the west side is an open space where you can pitch your own parasol and relax on the sand.

The sea at Askeli Beach is inviting, but the shore drops away suddenly, which may not be ideal for youngsters.

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7. Love Bay

Source: Constantinos Iliopoulos

Love Bay

At this coarse sandy cove around three kilometres west of Poros Town, the pines come right down to the beach and almost touch the water.

The beach also has a very soft gradient, with water as shallow and pure as you’ll get on the island.

Aimed at younger sun-seekers, Love Bay has a party atmosphere, and a volleyball net is set up in the water.

There’s single beach bar hiring out sun loungers, and in summer it’s even worth phoning ahead to reserve a spot.

As the beach is one of the most coveted on the island you’ll have to pay €6.50 for a sun lounger, but it’s good value if you want to rub shoulders with a fun crowd in an unforgettable setting.

8. Monastery Beach

Source: Constantinos Iliopoulos

Monastery Beach

Some 200 metres down from the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi is a small sandy beach.

One of the advantages of this place is that even though it’s only 15 minutes by car or taxi from Poros Town, few tourists are willing to come this far.

The beach remains pretty quiet even in mid-summer and as it faces south there are sumptuous views of the Peloponnese.

In 2017 a sun lounger and parasol cost €5 for the day, and there’s a little kiosk on the beach for refreshments.

For a more substantial meal the tavernas in Askeli are just two kilometres to the west.

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9. Russian Naval Station Beach

After the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774 Russian naval bases cropped up all over the Ottoman Empire.

The first Russian naval base on Poros was taken over by the Greek navy after independence in the 1830s, and a new space was offered on this cove on the west coast.

The second base was even larger, and in the 19th-century there was such a large Russian population on Poros that the island had a Russian school.

The base had fallen to ruin by the 20th century and today is a shell behind a small gravel beach with shallow waters and views to Daskalio, a tiny island in the strait with a church.

10. Megalo Neorio

Source: ANJCI ALL OVER

Megalo Neorio, Poros

A brief cab ride or 30-minute walk from Poros Town is a small sandy beach fronting a row of low-key hotels and apartment buildings.

Standing on the small stone jetty in the middle of the beach you can take in the full majesty of the Aderes ridge to the south and west.

Being small, Megalo Neorio isn’t packed with facilities; there’s just a small line of sun loungers and parasols, a kiosk and a taverna on the other side of the road.

But it’s another beach where you can lie in the shade of the pines and a large eucalyptus tree, growing right out of the sand.

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11. Outdoor Activities

Source: S.Borisov

Poros, Greece

Provided you come prepared, Poros is an island made to be seen on foot.

You can walk paths beaten for centuries by villagers and farmers.

Trekking in the aromatic pine-decked hills you’ll journey past olive and citrus groves, historic presses and peaks like Vigla at 358 metres.

One trail leads from Sinikismos, past the fountains of the Virgin Mary and the churches of Profitis Elias and Agios Atathis, to the ancient Sanctuary of Poseidon, which we’ll talk about below.

Found near Vagionia Bay, “Dontas Horses” is a riding centre arranging guided treks along the rocky north coast where you can gaze down from the trail to deserted deep blue inlets.

12. Water Sports

Source: stockphoto-graf

Snorkelling

There are a few reasons why Poros has emerged as a big water sports destination.

First the sea off the south side of the island, especially west of Poros Town has warm, lagoon-like waters as it is almost landlocked between Poros and the Peloponnese.

The Greek islands are notorious of the vicious Meltemi north wind, but Poros is well out pf its path.

In this calm environment there are water sports centres at Neorio and Askeli, with tubing, banana boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding all on the menu.

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13. Sanctuary of Poseidon

In a dominant position, with views north over Vagionia Bay are the remains of an ancient temple to Poseidon at a site that was used from the Bronze Age onwards.

The Sanctuary of Poseidon is one of those archaeological sites where you’ll need to use a little imagination, but is a worthwhile stop while you’re exploring the island.

Demosthenes, one of antiquity’s great orators, took his own life by drinking hemlock at this very place.

Faint foundations are all that remains of the temple, dating from the end of the 6th century BC and once composed of 6 x 12 columns.

Also on the site are four stoae (covered walkways with columns) and the remains of an imposing propylon (gate).

14. Lemon Forest

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Lemon Forest, Poros

On Peloponnese, across the narrow strait from the port of Poros, are colourful plots of lemon and orange groves, amounting to one large forest that you can stroll through.

It all lies in the countryside around the port of Galetas and was immortalised by a much-loved novel written by Kosmas Politis in 1930. Many of the trees are no longer cultivated for their fruit, and it’s not hard to see which plots are still being tended and which have been left to the weeds.

A walk through the forest, estimated to contain 25,000 trees, will last an hour or so, leading you into olive, cypress and pomegranate groves among the citrus trees.

15. Citronne Gallery

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Citronne Gallery, Poros

Partly because of its proximity to Athens, Poros was an escape for a few Greek cultural figures in the 20th century, like the novelist Georgios Theotokas or the poet and Novel laureate Giorgos Seferis.

So it’s only right that you should squeeze in a bit of culture in between trips to the beach.

Named after the lemon grove made famous by Politis, the Citronne Gallery is in an 18th-century house in Poros Town, just around the promenade from the ferry port.

The gallery is open only for three months during the summer and stages temporary exhibitions.

Some of the prominent artists represented at the Citronne Gallery over the years include the Critical Realist painter Yiannis Psychopedis, sculptor Costas Varotsos and photographer Robert McCabe.

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15 Best Things to Do in Poros (Greece) .

A fertile island in the Northern Sporades, Skopelos hit the big screen in 2008 when it appeared in the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!. Tourists come for the day, from Alonissos and Skiathos especially to see Kastani Beach and the enchanting Agios Ioannis Church, which both featured in the film.

But Skopelos is much more than a quick sightseeing opportunity.

For starters, the island has more than 360 churches and monasteries, some posted on the photogenic slopes of the Palouki or Delphi mountains.

Back at sea level, the beaches are a dreamy pebble coves under softwood forest and with clear, light blue waters.

Skopelos is also one of the most verdant islands in the Aegean, growing fruit like plums which go into a delicious traditional pork dish.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Skopelos:

1. Skopelos Town

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Skopelos Town

The largest and oldest settlement on Skopelos, the Chora is a mass of whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs, clinging to stiff hills on a sheltered natural harbour.

The centre of the town is free of cars and has a tangle of alleys and stairways flanked by traditional houses draped with bougainvillea.

Like the rest of Skopelos you’ll never be far from a cute church; there are 120 in this town alone, the oldest having stood since the 11th century.

Occasionally a street will deposit you at a scenic terrace overlooking the harbour and Mount Palouki, or a cloistered little square in the shade of a plane tree.

2. Agios Ioannis Church

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Agios Ioannis Church

Even if Sophie’s wedding scene hadn’t been filmed at this church in Mamma Mia!, Agios Iannis would still be a must-see.

It’s a church set atop an improbably steep outcrop buffeted by the wind and waves.

From the isthmus below in front you have to 198 steps to reach the church 100 metres above the sea.

The climb might be tricky but it will all be forgotten when you reach the terrace and see the delightful cove way below, and the yachts bobbing in clear waters.

In the wake of the film, the church has become the hub of a lucrative wedding industry, and houses an icon of St John that according to a local legend was discovered alone atop the rock.

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3. Churches and Monasteries

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Skopelos Church

The Agios Ioannis Chapel is just the tip of the iceberg for scenic religious sites on Skopelos.

You can’t go more than a few steps without bumping into a chapel, church or monastery.

There are more than 360, which is amazing when you consider how small Skopelos is.

Most are private constructions and will be closed when you visit, but will be worth the journey for the views, especially if they’re in the natural park around Palouki in the southeast.

Of that 360, 40 are monasteries, and if these are still inhabited the approximate, universal opening times are 08:00-13:00 and 17:00-19:00. As with any Eastern Orthodox building, it’s considered respectful to keep shoulders and legs covered.

4. Panormos Beach

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Panormos Beach

At the small namesake resort, Panormos Beach is in a cove that cuts several hundred metres inland.

This location is about 12 kilometres away from Skopelos Town by road, and the beach is served by the island’s buses.

Despite being small the resort at Panormos puts a range of facilities at your fingertips where it’s tavernas, cafes, a mini market, an ATM or a water sports centre, right by the water.

Facing west, Panormos also gets a wonderful sunset, which you can watch between the pine-covered hills framing the entrance to the cove.

The beach is pebbly, and the tranquil waters are different shades of blue depending on their depth.

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5. Kastani Beach

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Kastani Beach

Facing the rounded profile of the small Dasia Skopelou island on the west side of Skopelos, Kastani Beach has a few strings to its bow.

Firstly, it has more sand than any other beach on the island, even if there’s also a band of little pebbles by the water’s edge.

In 2007 Kastani Beach was another shooting location for Mamma Mia!, and tour boats roll in all day long to drop off groups of sightseers, or people who simply want to relax by these sparkling waters.

Kastani is free or mass tourism, or even a single beach bar: Enclosing the beach is nothing more than fragrant coniferous forest on high slopes, and a small grassy area.

6. Agios Riginos Monastery

Resting in the hills above Skopelos Town is the monastery for the island’s patron saint.

Alive in the 4th century, St Riginos was the first bishop of Skopelos and participated in the Council of Serdica, a gathering of some 170 bishops who condemned the teachings of the presbyter, Arius.

St Riginos was martyred in 362 under the orders of the Roman Emperor Julian, and his sarcophagus is in the monastery’s beautiful courtyard.

The current building is from 1728, but is on top of a Byzantine monastery going back much further.

On the feast of St Riginos (25 February) there’s a mass pilgrimage to the monastery, also attended by worshippers from Alonissos and Skiathos, and something to witness firsthand.

There’s no longer a monastic community here, but the shop sells items like honey, olive oil and wine made by monks and nuns around Skopelos.

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7. Milia Beach

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Milia Beach

The next beach down from the Panormos, Milia Beach is a pebble and coarse sandy beach that unfurls for more than a kilometre.

People who can’t be without the comfort of a sun lounger and waiter service can stay by the Milia’s beach bar on the north end.

But if you crave a little privacy you can wander south and will be sure to come by an empty patch of sand near the rocks.

The glassy, aquamarine water is so clear you can spot everything on the seabed in perfect clarity.

Skirting the beach is scrub, dense pine forest and no sign of a single house.

Like Panormos and Kastani, if you linger on Milia Beach until the evening you’ll catch a magical sunset.

8. Hovolo Beach

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Hovolo Beach

Heading towards the northwest coast, Hovolo is a pebble beach in front of impassable white limestone cliffs with tufts of dark green vegetation.

The beach is on the south end of Neo Klima, and requires a bit of persistence to get to: Between Hovolo and Neo Klima is a bulge in the cliffs and you have to stay close to the rock and wade through a little water to get there.

After a few metres the beach opens out again and you’re met by crystalline pale blue waters and a pebble shore dotted with little outcrops.

There are no facilities at Hovolo, but that’s half the fun, as it’s only short walk back to the resort at Neo Klima.

And even though it isn’t easy to get to this divine little beach fills up quickly in summer.

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9. Venetian Castle

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Venetian Castle, Skopelos

At the site of historic Peparithos in Skopelos Town is what remains of the town’s castle.

This was renovated by the Venetians in the 1200s but has been fortified since antiquity.

Not much is left apart from the walls, which are ever present above Skopelos Town.

You should still battle up the steps from the waterside because the castle has the best vantage point of the town and Mount Palouki on the other side of the harbour.

On busier days people will line up for a selfie or panoramic photograph of this magnificent scene.

10. Limnonari Beach

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Limnonari Beach

There can’t be many beaches where you can sunbathe while watching wild goats hopping from rock to rock.

But that’s just what can happen at Limnonari Beach just under 10 kilometres from Skopelos Town.

The name of this beach means “small lake”, which surely refers to the calmness of the sea in this cove, where private yachts are anchored a little way from the shore.

The beach is pebbly, so it pays to pick a sun lounger: Half of these are managed by the beach bar, and the other half by a taverna.

All come with the price of a drink or meal.

Those peaceful waters are safe for littler members of the family and also perfect for some snorkelling.

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11. Evangelistria Monastery

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Evangelistria Monastery

On the protected slopes of Palouki, 3.5 kilometres from Skopelos Town is another monastery in an inspiring landscape.

The Evangelistria Monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is from 1712 but lies on the ruins of an earlier monastic settlement dating to 1676. At the time of writing there were still two nuns at Evangelistria, and the building continues to be surrounded by its historic defensive wall.

In the courtyard is a covered fountain with an in inscription for the 18th-century founder Hadji-Stefanis Daponte (father of the famous writer Kaisarios Daponte). The church interior is radiant for its profusion of gold leaf, an 18th-century iconostasis crafted in Constantinople, 14th-century icons and frescoes evoking chapters from the Old and New Testaments.

12. Sendoukia Carved Graves

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Sendoukia Carved Graves

The large sheets of bare rock near the crest of Mount Kyra have signs of human intervention in the form of ancient graves cut from the stone.

There are four in total, each roughly 2.5 metres in length and partially covered with big slabs of slate that have been turned over as a sign that the graves were plundered long ago.

The age of the graves is not certain, but they are most likely from Roman or early-Christian times.

Kyra is also known for its pure mountain spring, while the Monastery of Efsthathios is a brief walk down the slope from the graves.

The other big draw is the view over the strait to the island of Alonissos.

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13. Boat Trips

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Skopelos Boats

The Northern Sporades are grouped closely together, so in the space of a day you could easily go ashore at both Skiathos and Alonissos respectively.

The best, and most flexible way to make this sort of trip with a private or semi-private skippered yacht from the harbour at Skopelos Town.

For a larger vessel, shared with other voyagers there’s Ena, which will take you to deserted bays and provide you with snorkelling equipment.

If you’re lucky you may catch sight of a dolphin pod or seal in the clear water, and at lunch you’ll have a barbecue on board.

A more personal pick is the smaller Aegea, captained by the experienced sailor Vasilis.

Together with a swimming dog named Pirati, he’ll take you where ever you want to go, as long as you help trim the sails when needed.

14. Water Sports

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Snorkelling

With a coastline that is burrowed with snug little coves Skopelos is a fine destination for water sports that needed gentler water, like kayaking, snorkelling or stand-up paddleboarding.

The latter has exploded in popularity over the last ten years, and at Panormos there’s a dedicated paddleboarding centre.

Sporades Stand-up Paddle Boarding makes the most of the 700-metre inlet at Panormos, which has two branches.

Open to most ages, it’s an activity that won’t take long to master, and within half an hour of a guided paddle most people will have little trouble keeping their balance.

Being on the west coast, the centre also organises special sunset tours, and you can follow up your trip with a drink at one of the tavernas in Panormos.

15. Diving

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Skopelos Dive Center

The eye-popping water clarity in the Northern Sporades should put diving in your holiday plans.

The Skopelos Dive Center has bases on both shores, at Chora and Panormos, and offers, PADI training and excursions to dive sites around Skopelos and further out to sea.

If you’re really committed and complete the e-learning courses online you could go from a beginner to full PADI certification in under a week.

Experienced divers can take a refresher course or study towards a professional licence in Skopelos.

If you’re up to speed, excursions set sail for reefs, sea caves, wrecks, deserted islands and the marine life-rich waters beneath the iconic Agios Ioannis Chapel from Mamma Mia!.

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15 Best Things to Do in Skopelos (Greece) .