How to get to Skopelos Island, Greece

When most people imagine Greece, their minds go straight to the white-washed buildings with blue domes above the sparkling sea, or Instagramable alleyways draped in pink bougainvillea. These gorgeous scenes are often from the Cyclades islands like Santorini and Mykonos, which have become iconic thanks to their beauty and easy access for tourists.

But what about the islands that fly under the radar, the ones that aren’t quite as simple to reach?

That’s where Skopelos comes in, Greece’s true hidden gem. While the Cyclades may be famous for being both beautiful and easy to get to, how to get to Skopelos (the island where they filmed Mamma Mia!) is a bit more of a journey. And I’ll be honest it’s not the kind of island you can hop onto from Athens with a quick flight or ferry ride.

But trust me when I say, the effort is 100% worth it. Some of the most stunning places in Greece require a little extra planning and time to get to, and Skopelos is no exception.

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Getting to Skopelos

Now, there are no direct ways to get to Skopelos from Athens. You can either take a ferry from one of the ports mentioned below or fly. Mind you, if you decide to fly, there are no airports on Skopelos, so you will have to also take a ferry if you fly.

Flying Near Skopelos: Your Best Options

Wondering how to get to Skopelos by air? Well, you’ll have to get a bit creative, as there is no airport on the island itself. Due to its lush, mountainous terrain, Skopelos doesn’t have the right geography for an airport. But don’t worry, you’ve got a few options that make getting to Skopelos by air manageable.

The closest airport is Skiathos International Airport (Alexandros Papadiamantis), located on the nearby island of Skiathos.

During the summer season (typically from June to October), Skiathos receives direct flights from several European destinations, including the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy (and more!), making it a convenient option for international travelers. If you’re flying from within Greece, there are also domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki available year-round.

Once you land in Skiathos, you’ll be just a quick 30-minute ferry ride away from Skopelos. To get to the ferry port, I recommend grabbing a taxi at Skiathos Airport, which is about 5 km from the town center (or the port is a 30-minute walk if you’re into that sort of stuff). From there, ferries to Skopelos run frequently, especially during the summer months. You can book your ferry ticket online ahead of time or head to the ticket office at the port.

Check out my more detailed guide on how to get from Skiathos to Skopelos!

If you can’t find a direct flight to Skiathos from a certain European destination, another option is to fly into Athens or Thessaloniki. From either of these cities, you can either catch a domestic flight to Skiathos or take a combination of buses and ferries to reach Skopelos.

Taking the Ferry to Skopelos

When planning how to get to Skopelos, the ferry will be the most essential part of your journey. Since the island doesn’t have its own airport, the only way to reach Skopelos is by sea, so the ride is part of the adventure! There are two main ports in Skopelos: Skopelos Town and Glossa (Loutraki).

Most ferries dock at Skopelos Town, the island’s central hub, which is ideal if you plan to rent a car or scooter to explore the island further. Glossa, on the other hand, offers a quieter alternative, located near some of the island’s more remote areas.

Skopelos is connected by direct ferry routes from several key ports in Greece, including:

• Skiathos: A popular starting point if you’re flying into Skiathos International Airport. If you decide to spend a few days on Skiathos (if you have the option, you should!), multiple ferry companies, such as Sea Jets and Hellenic Seaways, operate from here to Skopelos. Read more details here!

• Volos: This is one of the busiest mainland ports for Skopelos. Depending on the ferry and time of year, this ferry ride can take anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on the ferry you take. You can get to Volos from Athens via bus, making it a more accessible option from the country’s capital. If you don’t have a car, you can take a direct bus to Volos from KTEL Liosion Bus Terminal B in Athens to Volos.

• Mantoudi (Evia): This route offers one of the fastest options from the mainland, with ferry times to Skopelos taking just over an hour, however, it’s a journey to get to. It’s about a two-hour drive from Athens and the last hour is through really windy, mountainy roads. There’s also a limited number of accommodations in the area and the ones that are available are still a bit a ways from the port; just something to consider if you thought about staying in the area to break up the trip.

• Agios Konstantinos: Although a longer route, it’s another great option for travelers coming from mainland Greece, especially if you’re driving. It’s a similar drive as it is to Mantoudi, being 2 hours, although not as windy.

For those starting their journey in Athens or Thessaloniki, a combination of a bus and ferry is another way to reach Skopelos. You can take a bus to Volos or Mantoudi and catch a ferry from there. While it might take a bit more effort than getting to some of Greece’s other islands, the scenic ferry ride to Skopelos is well worth it, and you’ll get to see stunning views of the Aegean along the way.

How did I get to Skopelos Island?

So, if you’ve gotten all the info you needed about how to get yourself to Skopelos and you’re ready to head off on your own Mamma Mia adventure, you’re all set! But if you’re curious about my personal journey (one that took over 50 hours of travel, including multiple flights, layovers, car rides, ferries, and VERY little sleep) stick around.

The next section details how I got to Skopelos from El Salvador, and trust me, it was an adventure in itself.

My Own Adventure

I had booked a week-long trip to El Salvador with a friend whose family is from the country. We’d been talking about visiting her motherland forever and finally decided to make it happen. But, like a true travel addict, I was also juggling plans to meet up with my long-distance boyfriend in Greece right after.

Naturally, being young, broke, and slightly over-ambitious, I had to find the cheapest route from Central America to Greece. And, oh boy, did I find it.

My ‘budget-friendly’ option involved a lovely red-eye flight from El Salvador to Newark, New Jersey, followed by a luxurious 10-hour layover in Jersey (hello, diner food!). Then, to top it off, another 10-hour red-eye flight to Athens, Greece. Dreamy, right?

Originally, my boyfriend and I had planned to spend a night or two relaxing in Athens after I arrived, but because our time together was short, we decided to dive straight into the adventure and head straight to Skopelos Island as soon as I landed.

The first red-eye from El Salvador to Newark was actually not too bad. I even got to hang out with a friend during my layover, which made those 10 hours fly by. But the real struggle started when I boarded the plane to Athens. Fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks, but sleep? Nope, my lucky ass barely slept on that flight.

So, by the time I landed in Athens at around 8:30 am, I was running on… let’s say 40+ hours of no sleep. And guess what? The journey was far from over.

From the airport, we decided to drive two hours to Mantoudi Port, which felt like the best option because although the drive was long and took us through windy, nausea-inducing mountain roads, it meant the shortest ferry ride to Skopelos.

A solid choice, right? Well, maybe… unless you’re on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion like I was.

Pro tip: if you’re prone to motion sickness, those twisty roads can really do you in.

Once we made it to Mantoudi, we loaded the car onto the ferry, which thankfully was only about an hour and a half ride to Loutraki Port. But of course, it wasn’t over yet…nope. We still had a 45-minute drive to our hotel just outside of Skopelos Town.

At that point, I wasn’t sure if I was more excited to explore the island or just collapse into the nearest horizontal surface.

I somehow managed to stay awake for another four hours once we checked into the hotel because if I passed out too early, the jet lag would’ve completely destroyed me.

So yes, after traveling for more than two days straight and staying up for over 50 hours, I finally got to rest. While it was definitely an experience, I wouldn’t recommend doing it the way I did, especially when there are easier options available for how to get to Skopelos, as I’ve laid out above.

Final Thoughts

Skopelos is undeniably one of the most beautiful islands in Greece, but it’s not the easiest to reach. However, the journey, whether by flight and ferry or a scenic road trip and boat ride, only adds to its charm. The island’s breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, and serene atmosphere make every minute of travel worth it.

Even with the extra effort it takes, Skopelos has easily become one of my favorite destinations in Greece, and I’d return in a heartbeat. Just with a slightly more efficient plan for how to get to Skopelos next time!