Glossa

Glossa is in Skopelos.

Understand
Glossa sits high on a hill on the northwest side of Skopelos, the opposite end from main Skopelos town. It gazes across the sparkling Mediterranean sea to Skiathos and down to the peaceful harbour of Loutraki. Glossa is still an area that appears to have not yet been discovered by mass-tourism and with it’s steep cobbled alley-ways, flanked by traditional houses, trailing bougainvillea and firmly-adhered-to siesta, you will delight in this truly Greek experience.

Climate
The temperature is slightly cooler in Glossa than in Skopelos town due to its hillside location. In the height of summer the days are long and hot, in spring and Autumn you will need little more than a cardigan to keep away the cool morning and evening breezes and winters are generally mild - although snow does descend on Glossa every few years.

Get in
By Boat Loutraki (Glossa) is the first stop both from Skiathos harbour and the mainland. If you are lucky enough to arrive at night you will be mesmerised by the sight of Glossa: strings of twinkling lights strung delicately across the hillside.

Glossa is a 15-minute boat-ride from Skiathos and 3 hours from the Port of Aghios Constantinos.

If you have baggage then you will need to take a taxi (about 5EURO) or bus from the port to the village of Glossa.

By foot
With just 1,000 houses and only a few alleyways accessed by car, Glossa is a small village easily (and best) explored by foot.

By bus
There are several buses each day that leave from the bottom of the village and take you to the port of Loutraki (10 minutes) and the many beaches and villages dotted along the coastline before finally arriving at Skopelos town (1 hour).

Do
You could spend a few hours first exploring the beautiful architecture of this traditional town. Colourful balconies, interesting ruins and fascinating houses can be found as you wander through the myriad of charming cobbled streets.

Take a stroll down to Loutraki harbour (30 mins) for a swim in the crystal blue Aegean waters, but make sure you get the bus back if you’re not up for a hike!

However, walking is a big pastime in this area with an array of flora and fauna to be appreciated at varying times of year.

This is a good place for birdwatchers in the spring. Some of the birds seen in 2009 include: Hoopooe (late March / early May), Bee Eaters (mid April / late June) Golden Oriole (late April / early May), Red Backed Shrike (mid May).

Take a bus to Skopelos Town for souvenir shops and cafes where you can sit and watch the comings and going of this delightfully Greek white washed harbour. Spend an evening there in one of its many lively tavernas and enjoy some traditional bouzouki music.

Eat
In Glossa there is one café-restaurant, one grill house, one souvlaki bar, one taverna and two café bars.



Drink




Sleep




Go next
You can take one of the regular boats from Loutraki Port or Skopelos Town across to the neighbouring islands. If you want a bit of action, try Skiathos with its pubs, clubs and restaurants or should you like an even quieter experience than Glossa, you can head across to Alonissos.

It is also relatively easy to catch a ferry to the mainland. Volos and Aghios Constantinos are the biggest ports and from there you can catch a bus to central Athens where you can enjoy a weekend break.