The four inhabited islands of the Sporades include Skopelos (of Mama Mia! filming fame), Skiathos, Skyros and Alonnisos. With green pine forests and lush vegetation that meet sandy golden shorelines, there is a distinctively green beauty to these parts.
THE ISLANDS
Skiathos is the more cosmopolitan and lively of the four islands. Skopelos, popular, but not overly so. Alonissos is an Eden of rare flora and fauna, including the Mediterranean monk seal. While far-flung Skyros is quiet and rocky oddity of the group.
GETTING THERE
Travel by plane to Skiathos International Airport and island hop to discover the rest by ferry. There is also a small domestic airport in Skyros.
Ferry travel is trickier as there’s no direct ferry from Athens’ Piraeus port. The next largest port alternative is in Volos on the mainland. From Volos, the shortest journey is to Skiathos, which takes 1 hour and 45 minutes.
You can also take a road trip to the small port in the village of Mantoudi in North Evia (a 2-hour drive from Athens). Continue with a ferry ride to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. The fastest ferry journey is to Skopelos which takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, operating on select days of the week. The ferry to Skyros, on the other hand, departs from a small port in Kymi in East Evia. The journey through Evia can get mountainous and windy, but it’s an opportunity to discover a less travelled side of Greece.
Skyros, the outlier of the group, is a little disconnected from the Sporadic island hopping itinerary. Not connected by large ferry operators that run between Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos, Skyros Ferry Services connects it with Skopelos and Alonissos.