Skiathos is renowned for a covetable coastline where shimmering blue-green waters meet broad sweeps of champagne-coloured sand beaches, inviting hours of sculpting sand citadels. Sheltered by the island’s hilly, pine-covered interior, the south coast is home to its best-known beaches, while the rugged north remains largely undeveloped and exposed to the open Aegean.
Although much of the southern coastline follows the same captivating formula of calm, sandy bays, each beach has its own personality. Here’s how our favourite family-friendly beaches compare, along with the practical insights we wish we’d known beforehand—because family travel is unpredictable enough without avoidable surprises.
BIG BANANA BEACH – FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SWIM
These are, for us, the most beautiful waters in the Sporades. At the western end of Big Banana, a vast expanse of luminous turquoise shallows stretches so far from the shore that our girls delight in walking seemingly forever before the water finally reaches their shoulders. Beneath their feet, sand flecked with quartz and calcite catches the sunlight, giving the beach a bright, almost shimmering glow.
Its only real drawback is accessibility.
Finding a parking space is the first challenge. Reaching the beach is the second. Even if you’re fortunate enough to secure one of the limited roadside spaces near the entrance to ELIVI, there’s still a 200-metre walk to the shore, including a steep descent towards the end. Families with infants and toddlers may decide the approach is more effort than it’s worth. Those with older children, however, will be richly rewarded.
When we first visited more than a decade ago, Banana was one of Skiathos’ liveliest beaches. Returning with children, we were surprised by how much it had changed.
The road now ends at a barrier, although pedestrians can continue on the jet-black ribbon of asphalt winding through ELIVI’s resort grounds. By Greek law, private developments must preserve public access to the beach. And so as we tread on, trying not to overheat, quiet electric buggies whisk hotel guests between terracotta villas and the sea. The once pine-covered hillside has been transformed into a collection of discreet luxury residences—a development that divided the island’s long-time devotees.
Halfway down, the path forks. To the right is Small Banana, where the island’s long-standing nudist tradition continues alongside ELIVI’s stylish Black Bird beach club. Families will generally prefer continuing left towards Big Banana.
As the final dirt path descends beneath towering pines, the view slowly unfolds. White daybeds scattered across the sand resemble oversized marshmallows against an impossibly blue sea. It is as breathtaking as we remembered.
Ironically, making the Banana beaches less accessible has restored much of their former tranquility. Where visitors could once park much closer to the shore, the longer approach now seems to deter many day-trippers. Even at the height of summer, the resort’s sunbeds sat half-empty during our visit, while independent beachgoers gathered beneath the natural shade of the pines fringing the beach. There is also the option to rent the resort’s daybeds (€40 per pair, or €50 for the front row at the time of our visit).
The only dining option is The Nest, ELIVI’s beachfront restaurant. While menu prices are generally reasonable, portions can feel surprisingly modest—we smiled when a €12 Greek salad arrived with four bites of tomato. Extras quickly add up, with bottled water priced at €5. Perhaps that’s another reason this magnificent beach remains one of Skiathos’ quieter.
VROMOLIMNOS – FOR EFFORTLESS BEACH DAYS
In our view, Vromolimnos is comparably beautiful as iconic Koukounaries, with crystal-clear shallows meet soft golden sand, yet it somehow feels a little more relaxed. Its sheltered bay is ideal for swimming, while the lighter crowds make it noticeably easier to find a parking space (available by the entrance of Skiathos Holiday Suites and Villas) —and, once you’ve conquered that, your own patch of sand.
The beach offers two distinct moods. Skiathos Holidays Suites & Villas rents sunbeds to the public (€20 per pair at the time of our visit), where the atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried. A little farther along, Porto Paradiso shifts the energy up a notch, with tightly arranged sunbeds, oversized beanbags, music that gradually builds throughout the day, and a beach volleyball court.
What surprised us most about Porto Paradiso, however, was the food. Beach clubs aren’t usually where we expect memorable meals, but the kitchen comfortably exceeded expectations. If you’re planning to spend the day at Vromolimnos, we’d happily settle in here for lunch or dinner without leaving the sand.
KOUKOUNARIES – FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS (OR TROULOS AS PLAN B)
Koukounaries is the island’s signature shoreline. Its popularity, naturally, means it gets busy. Fortunately, the atmosphere remains relaxed rather than rowdy, making it an enjoyable choice for families—provided you arrive early enough to secure both parking and a sunbed at one of the four beach bars.
Two free public car parks serve opposite ends of the beach. During our visit, the more popular western car park was spilling over with cars parked and more cars making rounds to find parking, but we found a shaded space without difficulty at the quieter eastern end by the bridge river crossing. From there, a short stroll along a timber boardwalk leads to the beach. We set up our folding chairs beneath the trees, enjoying both the natural shade and a little extra breathing room from the busiest part of the shoreline.
If Koukounaries feels too busy for your liking, retreat two beaches east to Troulos. The water is as inviting, and the crowds noticeably thinner.
