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Sightseeing in Skyros

Chora, the most picturesque village of Skyros, is built to a semicircular plan on the east slopes of mount Olympos, in the shadow of the medieval castle and the Byzantine monastery of Ai Giorgis Skyrianos. Follow the uphill road, Megali Strata, that goes through Chora, and discover the traditional settlement with its whitewashed cubic houses, the beautiful Skyrian interior decoration wood-carved furniture, the narrow cobbled streets and the yards with jasmine and bougainvillea. It is an ideal place for visitors to stay since in addition to being picturesque it has many bars, shops and small tavernas.

Make a stop in the “square of Eternal Poetry’’ [Eonias Poiisis] in Chora to see the solitary statue of poet Rupert Brooke who having followed the British Navy to Skyros during World War I, died on the island in 1915, at the early age of 27. The monument was sculpted by Michael Tombros in 1931, in honour of the Philhellene poet. Enjoy the fantastic view from here to the Aegean Sea.

The Byzantine castle of Chora, which is located at the highest point of the island at an altitude of 179 metres, was built on top of the ruins of the ancient Acropolis and was the seat of King Lycomedes. According to the myth, it was here that Theseus King of Athens was killed, and where Achilles was hidden, dressed as a woman, to escape going to the Trojan War. Climb up to the Castle to admire the impressive lion on the entrance and the picture of the entire whitewashed village before you, framed by the deep blue of the Aegean Sea.

Other villages of Skyros worth visiting are Linaria, the port of the island, which will also be your base for nearby excursions, and where you can try fresh fish, the seaside villages of Magazia and Molos, below Chora, which are also ideal places to stay, the village of Aspous in central Skyros, with the organised Achili beach, the quiet seaside village of Atsitsa, the verdant Pefkos and the picturesque Agios Fokas in the west part of the island, with its fantastic sandy and pebbly beach, as well as the Treis Boukes in the south, a natural harbour with three entrances.

It is also worth making a stop at the Archaeological Museum in Chora to see its collection of typical artefacts from the rich history of the island, that experienced its peak in the Mycenaean period. Since Skyros is famed for its wood carvings, don’t miss the folklore collection as it represents a traditional house of Skyros, known for its characteristic wooden furniture, functionality and operability as well as ceramics, wood carved furniture, embroidery and traditional costumes.

One of the first local folklore museums in Greece, the Manos Faltaits Historical – Folklore Museum was established in 1964 and is housed in an old mansion of a well-known noble family of Skyros with Byzantine ancestors. It is worth visiting for its location alone as it dominates one tower of the ancient Pelasgian walls where an ancient temple used to stand. The main part of the Museum’s collection comprises decorative and everyday use items of a Skyrian house, formerly known as the ‘’Aloni’’, the life and soul of the house. A large part of the collections also includes Skyrian wood carvings, textiles, ceramics and the documents archive which contains manuscripts dating from the Byzantine era, the period of Turkish occupation, and documents of the ‘’Filiki Etaireia’’ (“Society of Friends”) relating to the Greek revolution of 1821, and from the time of Kapodistrias and the Ottoman era.

The Archaeological Site of Palamari is located 13 km north west of Chora, at the northeast coast of the island. It is one of the most important prehistoric fortified villages in the Aegean of the early and middle Bronze era (2500 to 1800 BC), with obvious city planning – streets, central ducts and building ruins. After ‘’diving’’ in the past take a real dive in the crystal blue waters of the beach with the same name.

The ancient seaside quarry at Pouria is one of the most impressive sites of the island, located north of Molos village. The name Pouria comes from the wild morphology of the area, since the sandy coast is full of tufa and rocks that penetrate the sea. The mystifying scenery is complemented by the chapel of Agios Nikolaos, ‘’perched’’ on the rock, as well as the old windmill that today operates as a restaurant.

What to do in Skyros

Take a boat trip from the port of Linaria to tour the island, to go to small Sarakino island with its wonderful beaches or to swim at inaccessible beaches in Skyros and explore sea caves.

Make a stop at a farm to see the rare, miniature Skyrian horses from close up and, why not, also go for a leisurely ride on one along the island’s beaches and footpaths.

Admire and take back with you some of Skyros’ famous handmade folk art products, such as the elaborate ceramics, wood carved goods or embroidery. As you travel around the island you will find various places selling folk art articles as well as workshops where you can see the artists at work.

Beaches

Skyros has many beaches. The most popular is the large U-shaped beach connecting the villages Molos and Magazia, below Chora. Take a swim in Palamari, in Gyrismata, in Agios Petros of the pine clad Atsitsa, Agios Fokas, Kyra-Panagia and Theotokos.

If you want to explore the bottom of the sea, there is a diving school in Linaria for unique close-ups of the colourful underwater world of the Sporades.

Food

Skyros is a Gastronomic paradise for lovers of lobster, which is abundant on the island. It is famous for its pasta with lobster and pasta with sea urchin. The cuisine of the island is rich in kid goat meat, as well as the cheese pie of Skyros and the ‘’teroptaria’’ with frumenty and rice, the local fava bean, the ‘’marmarita’’ (with pumpkin and mizithra cheese, baked on a ceramic plate), the ‘’yaprakia’’ (dolmades of Skyros), the snails, the oil pie with Xinotyri cheese, the agalipokeftedes (meatballs of Skyros), the fresh mizithra and xinotiri cheese, the marzipan sweets and syrupy fruit spoon sweets.

Cultural Events

A great time to visit Skyros is during Carnival since customs and traditions dating back to the Middle ages are preserved intact to this day. The Carnival of Skyros is the main event where the customs of “Geros”, “Korela”, “Fragos” and “Trata” (reciting satirical lyrics) are revived during this period (Triodiou) and transform the island in a busy fair, where the Dionysian characteristics are dominant.

If you are lucky and happen to visit the island on the day before a wedding or a christening, you will taste pancakes with honey offered as a treat to neighbours and visitors by the relatives, in a dish wrapped in a clean cloth, which, according to tradition, you must return unwashed.

Skyros is ideal for those who love local religious feasts. The following are those that stand out: the feast of Agios Ermolaos, on 26 July, – access to the chapel is by boat from the cove of Molos – of Agios Artemios, in a cave of Mountain Kochylas, on 18 October, and of the island’s patron Saint Agios Georgios, with a brass band litany of the saint’s icon.

Transport from the airport

You will land in Skyros at Skyros National airport, which is located 14 kilometres from Chora and 23 kilometres from Linaria, the island’s port. From the airport you can get around the island by the regional buses of Skyros (KTEL Evias) or by taxi.

Although not yet a mass tourist destination, Skyros with its special character is becoming increasingly popular especially among those seeking a unique holiday destination. Book a flight for Skyros with Olympic Air and discover this hidden secret of the Sporades.