Best Beaches in Skopelos (The ‘Mamma Mia’ Island)

This past summer, I was lucky enough to live out my Mamma Mia! dreams on the stunning Greek island of Skopelos, where some of the first movie was filmed. Scenes like “Honey, Honey,” “Lay All Your Love on Me,” and “The Winner Takes It All” (and more!) were shot on this picturesque island, making it a must-visit for any Dancing Queen. However, beyond the movie magic, Skopelos has some of the most beautiful beaches and natural landscapes that I’ve ever seen. During my time there, I had the chance to explore several of these breathtaking beaches. Some were a bit tricky to get to, but every one of them was worth the trek. In this post, I’ll share my personal picks for the best beaches in Skopelos, including easy-to-reach gems, as well as hidden paradises.

Panormos Beach

Panormos was the first beach I visited on the island, and many praise Panormos as one of the best beaches in Skopelos. It’s easy to get to, as we found plenty of parking right along the road and the beach itself was only a few steps away. Of course, it depends on what time of the day (and time of year) that you go. The waters are a gorgeous blue and a dream to swim in. Panormos is a pebbled beach so there is no sand, but there are usually plenty of spots along the beach to lay out. There are also sand beds for purchase at some of the local restaurants. It was really nice to visit Linarakia Restaurant for lunch and get a Greek salad (my favorite!) with scenic views of the beach.

How to Get There: Panormos Beach is about 20 minutes away from Glossa and Skopelos Town. It’s best to drive or take a scooter, but there is a bus from Skopelos Town that will take you directly to Panormos and leaves about every 4 hours. Just be aware that I’ve heard from other travelers that the bus can be unreliable and if you miss it, then you’ll have to wait hours for the next, so plan ahead!

Paralia Agnontas Beach

Angontas is another pebbled beach and quite smaller than Panormos. What I liked about it was how accessible it was. There was plenty of parking, there’s a bus station right by the beach and there’s a small port for boats and ferries. The water is so clear, it’s great for snorkeling. If you arrive early, you’ll have a good chance at nabbing a sand bed before the crowds and families arrive. There are also three restaurants on the beach. We ate at Mouria Fish Tavern and loved the Greek salad and the traditional Skopelos cheese pie (you must try it at least once while you’re visiting the island!).

For my fellow history buffs! Agnontas Beach is named after the ancient Olympic runner Agnonta (also known as Agnon), who returned to the shores of this beach in 596 BC after his victory in Olympia. To honor this, the area was named after him. He was even depicted on silver coins during the classical era. Just a cool reminder of the island’s past and its connection to the ancient Olympics.

How to Get There: Luckily there is organized local transport to and from Angontas from Skopelos Town with daily buses. There is also plenty of parking right by the beach in a lot located right across the road. If you’re driving your own vehicle, the beach is about 40 minutes away from Glossa and 15 minutes from Skopelos Town.

Kastani Beach

Ready for it? Kastani Beach is where a lot of scenes from Mamma Mia! were filmed! Scenes like ‘Our Last Summer’, ‘Lay All Your Love on Me’, and ‘Does Your Mother Know?’ were filmed here, so it’s a really cool beach to visit if you’re a fan of the movie. You can get food and drinks at Kastani Beach Bar and rent sand beds right by the water. There’s also plenty of sand to layout on as the beach is pretty long.

The waves are either really big or pretty tame, it just depends on the time of day and the winds at that time. When we visited, it was pretty windy and the waves were (apparently) big. Growing up in Southern California, I’m used to swimming in the huge waves of the Pacific Ocean, but my Greek boyfriend was intimidated by the size of these waves.

How to Get There: By car, Kastani Beach is a 25 minute drive from Skopelos Town and 20 minutes away from Glossa. From the main road it’s at the bottom of a narrow curved road. If you don’t go during peak times, there’s plenty of parking at the bottom right outside Kastani Beach Bar. There are also plenty of Mamma Mia! tours (bus and boat) you can book from Skopelos Town that will make a stop at Kastani Beach if you prefer not to drive yourself.

Perivoliou Beach

Perivoliou Beach is located on the North East Side of the island. It’s a secluded cove that you have to take a rocky staircase down to (so if you have special mobility, this may not be the best beach option for you). But the rock formations that line the beach are gorgeous and give the cove a little bit of shade from the heat (when the sun’s in the right place). There are also sand beds along the beach and a beach bar at the top of the stairs that offers drinks and other refreshments. Because the beach is surrounded by rocks, the waves can get a little big and rough on windy days. Just a warning if you’re like my boyfriend who doesn’t like to swim in big waves.

How to Get There: Perivoliou is less than 15 minutes away from Glossa and 50 minutes away from Skopelos town by car. Unfortunately, there is no public transportation that will take you to Perivoliou, so you will need to rent a car or scooter. There is plenty of parking on the rock above the beach near the bar and we had no problem finding a spot right near the path leading down to the shore.

Spilia Beach

Okay — Spilia was an unexpected surprise. It turned out to be one of my favorite beaches I visited on Skopelos! After following a windy, rocky, downhill path for about 15 minutes, a gorgeous beach amongst the rocks emerged. The stunning sea caves that lined the rock cliffs and crystal clear waters were something I’ve never seen before. And the waters were calm and waveless since the beach is protected by its high rocky cliffs. Because the beach is a hike to get to, it was more private and less crowded than some of the other beaches on this list. It was really cool to explore the different caves along the beach (some are only accessible by swimming).

How to Get There: The beach is accessible by boat or, more popularly, by car or scooter. It’s about 15 minutes away from Glossa and 45 minutes away from Skopelos Town. You can park your vehicle by the Church of Panagia Evangelistrias and follow the nearby trail down to the beach. The path is long and rocky and somewhat slippery, so just remember that when deciding what to carry with you on your beach day, in addition to the shoes you wear. And again, if you have special mobility, the path to and from the beach can be challenging even for those without mobility concerns, especially on hotter days.

Stafilos Beach

Stafilos Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island, probably due to it’s close proximity to Skopelos Town. It is also considered one of the best beaches in Skopelos, as it has a long sandy beach and mesmerizing green/blue waters. Perfect for some snorkeling and swimming. The beach is surrounded by gorgeous pine trees and if you get there early, you can grab a sand bed and umbrella. This is also one of the few beaches with a lifeguard on duty. There is a nudist beach called Velanio you can also visit if you follow the path on the East side of the beach.

For my fellow history buffs! Stafilos Beach is named after the legendary Cretan prince, Stafylos. According to local history, Prince Stafylos, along with his brother Peparithos, were among the first inhabitants of the island. Around 1600 BC, Stafylos chose this area to establish a small settlement. A rocky cliff that extends into the sea is believed to be the location of Prince Stafylos’s tomb (put it into Google Maps and you’ll be able to see it for yourself). Not far from the burial site, archaeologists discovered his golden sword, which is now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Athens.

How to Get There: Stafilos Beach is a 10 minute drive from Skopelos Town and 50 minutes from Glossa. I remember the parking at Stafilos was not fun. The road is narrow as lots of cars park wherever they can along the road when the lots get full so I recommend getting there as early as possible if you’re driving to avoid any stress. There is also a pretty frequent bus from Skopelos Town to Stafilos Beach in the summer months. Just be aware that the bus stop is at the top of a steep downhill that you will have to walk down and then back up (about 800 meters), in addition to some stone steps once you reach the beach.

Hovolo Beach

Hovolo Beach was a really nice and family friendly beach. There’s plenty of room for visitors to spread out and the waters are calm, beautiful and peaceful. There are three gorgeous coves you can visit, one you have to trek through the sea to get to, but all unique and worth the effort. There is a cafe right next to the beach but if you plan on making your way down the shore or to one of the coves, then it might be best to bring some refreshments and snacks with you. The white cliffs and pebbled sand against the turquoise waters are definitely something to see during your time on Skopelos.

Hovolo was also ranked by Telegraph as one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. While Hovolo was gorgeous and I think worth the visit, I firmly believe that the number one beach and one of the BEST beaches in Skopelos is the next one on my list…

How to Get There: Hovolo is a 20 minute drive from Glossa and a 30 minute drive from Skopelos Town. You’ll drive through the town of Neo Klima and when we visited, there was plenty of parking in the areas behind the beach. There is also a daily bus with a stop at Hovolo from Skopelos Town.

Milia Beach

Milia Beach was my absolute favorite beach on Skopelos island. Why? It was easy to get to, the waters were warm and as clear as a pool, and it was a long beach so there was more than enough room to spread out away from other beach goers. There’s a restaurant on Milia Beach where you can grab lunch and a beach bar to rent lounge chairs and grab refreshments from.

You can also bring your own towel and umbrella (this is what we did) and grab any open spot along the beach for a calmer vibe away from the music and crowds of the establishments. And the southern most point of the beach is a hot spot for nude sunbathing (just something to remember if you wanted to work on any tan lines!). We loved Milia so much we came back here twice, when we were supposed to see as many unique beaches as possible during our week on the island. For me, Milia is a must-visit and one of the best beaches in Skopelos.

How to Get There: Milia is about a 20 minute drive from Glossa and 35 minutes from Skopelos Town. The beach is right next to Kastani Beach (the Mamma Mia! beach), and it’s best to get there by car or scooter. If you go during peak season (July through August), it’s best to get to the beach by 11am so you can get a parking spot. There’s usually enough parking, but if you go during the busy times, you might leave your luck up to chance.

Out of the 28 Greek Islands I’ve visited so far, Skopelos boasts some of the most beautiful beaches and natural landscapes I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve never swam in such clear blue waters or seen lush, green forests that line breathtaking beaches. It’s extremely clear why Mamma Mia! was filmed on such a pristine island. While Skopelos is home to some of the best beaches in Skopelos, it’s not the easiest island to get to, nor is it as heavily marketed as destinations like Santorini, Paros, or Naxos—and honestly, that’s for good reason. The island’s untouched beauty and peaceful charm would be overwhelmed if it were to become as crowded as those more popular spots. Skopelos’ infrastructure and quaint towns simply wouldn’t be able to handle the influx. It’s a special place, and it deserves to be treated as such. So, if you do visit, make sure you respect its uniqueness and cherish it for the hidden gem that it is.

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