Skyros

Skyros is an island in the southern Sporades Islands of Greece. The main town is also named Skyros, but is known locally as the Chora, as are the main towns on numerous other Greek islands.

Understand
During the summer the island population swells dramatically from 3,000 to 8,000, but the island doesn't feel exploited or overcrowded.

History
According to Greek mythology, Theseus died on Skyros when he was thrown from a cliff. Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, was from Skyros (or Scyros, as its name is sometimes transliterated), as told in the play by Sophocles, Philoctetes (line 239). In c. 475 BC, according to Thucydides, Cimon defeated the Dolopians (the original inhabitants) and conquered the entire island. From that date, it was colonized by Athenian settlers and became a part of the Athenian Empire. It was on the strategic trade route from Athens to the Black Sea. Cimon claimed to have found the remains of Theseus, and returned them to Athens. In 340 BC the Macedonians took over the island and dominated it until 192 BC, when the king Philip and the Roman Republican forces restored it to Athens. Rupert Brooke, the famous English poet, is buried on Skyros, having died on board a French hospital ship moored off the island in 1915, during World War I.

Get in
The north side of the island is 17 km from the town of Skyros.

By plane
Skyros Airport is served by both domestic and international airlines. The airport is near the village of Trachy.

By boat
Skyros has a ferry service with the following ports: Evia (Kymi), Skopelos, Alonissos. The best ferry service is the ferry from Kymi in Euboea to Linaria.

Get around
Especially to get to the secluded beaches you have to rent a vehicle, while for the main beaches between Kyros city and Molos the public bus service is sufficient

See




Beaches
In addition to the beaches mentioned here, there are many more, but sometimes difficult to reach. Some of them are practically only accessible by boat



Eat
Around the island you will find very nice beach restaurants everywhere. The food is usually good and differs only slightly. Fast food, pizza, gyros etc. are also abundant, especially in and around the capital.

Drink
Skyros is a rather quiet island without the noisy mass tourism of other Greek party islands, so the nightlife takes place at a low level. You should not expect big disco nights or wild parties, just a few bars and beach bars to enjoy a drink. These bars offer a wide variety of music styles, from Greek to international songs, but still quite relaxed. The nightlife of Skyros focuses mainly on the capital. There are also a few beach bars in Molos and Magazia, which are converted into lounge bars in the evening. Bars in Skyros are usually open until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning,

Sleep
Most of the accommodations are located at Skyros Town and Molos, because here, apart from the well-known beaches, you will find some nightlife, which is rather dull on the rest of the island.

Stay safe
You can safely move at night on the island, crime is virtually non-existent, except possibly pickpocketing. Beware of poisonous snakes between rocks and abandoned houses.

Go next
Excursions to the surrounding islands of Euboea and the other Northern Sporades Islands are only possible with great expenditure of time and not as day trips