What my Teenagers loved about Skiathos Town
We went to Skiathos last May and fell in love with the island. It’s such a gorgeous island, and Skiathos Town in particular was so good! If you want to know more about the island as a whole, check out my Skiathos beginner’s guide.
Skiathos is the most developed of the Sporades islands and is small but perfectly formed. With over 60 sandy beaches, an incredibly reliable bus service, and beautiful whitewashed buildings, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. My teens loved it and have been asking to go back ever since. Read on to find out what they loved about Skiathos Town.
Travelling with Teenagers
Travelling with teens is a lot different to travelling with little kids. Don’t get me wrong, each age comes with its own challenges, but teens… It’s just another level! They know what they like, what they want, and they aren’t afraid to whine and complain if they don’t get what they want. My number one tip for travelling with teens is to go somewhere that they might find interesting. Skiathos ticks this box.
Another tip I have is to either make sure the roaming package on their phone is up to scratch, or you are staying somewhere with free WiFi. No one wants to plan to have their kids on their phones at all times. This means they’ll be able to send a snap to keep their streaks, and you won’t have to hear them complaining about not sending it. It also means that when they do get fed up with each other and you (which they inevitably will), they can escape to their phone for a while instead of taking it out on everyone.
Trust me, I’ve dealt with taking it out on everyone. It ended with food being thrown in a restaurant, one frustrated teen, one upset teen and a very embarrassed mum and dad.
How to get to Skiathos Town
The beauty of Skiathos being so small and having an amazing bus service is that it is so easy to explore. Wherever you are staying, you’ll be no more than 30 minutes from Skiathos town. The easiest and cheapest way to get there is by bus. It runs from 7 am – 1.10 am and costs between €2-€3 each way, depending on which stop you are getting on and off at.
For Skiathos town, I recommend getting off at bus stop 4, which takes you to the top of Papadiamantis Street. This is the main pedestrianised shopping street. Its beautiful cobbled streets, whitewashed buildings and a selection of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars mean there’s something for everyone to see. If you follow the street the whole way down, you end up at the port.
Alternatively, if you are staying in Koukounaries, they have an hourly ferry service, too. It takes a little more time and costs around €5 each way, but it is a nice way to see the island from a different perspective.
Mamma Mia!
The 2008 Abba soundtracked movie, Mamma Mia! was partly filmed in Skiathos and neighbouring Skopelos. My daughter is a huge fan of the movie, so visiting Skiathos town gave her the opportunity to see where some scenes were filmed. Down by the old port, you can see where the dads were running for the ferry. There’s also the clock tower at Agios Nikolaos Church as Sophie writes her wedding invitations at the beginning.
Another unique experience is the open-air cinema in Skiathos Town that plays Mamma Mia! 4 times a week. If you are a big fan of the movie and sitting in an open-air theatre, singing along with like-minded people, this is the experience for you! Book in advance, it sells out pretty much every showing. You can do so by following the open-air cinema Facebook page.
Good Food in Skiathos Town
This place is a foodie heaven. The teenagers and grown-ups absolutely loved it. We went into Skiathos Town for brunch a couple of times, and it was phenomenal. There are many different places, but two that we really rated were The Lab, located on Papadiamantis Street. This place is so good, small and easy to miss, but the freddo cappuccino and my yoghurt granola bowl were so good. The kids had pancakes – one Dubai style, super sweet, super instagrammable and totally yummy, the other salty pancakes, which consisted of bacon, eggs and a cheese sauce. The other great spot we found was Pecan, right by the old port. The stuffed croissant was so good!
There’s also an abundance of cake shops and places for sweet treats. My son turned 12 when we were there, and he really wanted to celebrate with a milkshake – he’s a simple soul. We were told by many that the best milkshake was at a place called Yumme Gelato. Located at the bottom of Papadiamantis Street, it was fairly easy to find. They sell a huge selection of gelato, frozen yoghurt, desserts and of course, milkshakes. It really helped that it’s so pretty, and a photo on the swing in front of the flower wall is a must.
Plane Spotting
Maybe it’s just my family, because they have a mum who is obsessed with planes, or maybe everyone is a bit intrigued? Either way, Skiathos airport is at the far end of Skiathos town, and you can walk to the end of the runway and watch the planes come and go. To get here, if you walk down to the bottom of Papadiamantis Street and turn left, and walk along the sea front, you will eventually reach the runway. The walk is maybe 15 minutes or so. We stopped on the way for a drink not far from there, and sat by the sea front, the planes come in right over your head.
When you get to the end of the runway, it’s really important that you stand behind the lines and read the signs. There have been far too many people who ignore these signs and end up injured. I love watching the planes, but use your brain and understand just how powerful those engines are!
Shopping in Skiathos Town
If your teens love shopping, there are loads of places for them to shop in Skiathos town. The main shopping street is full of all kinds of different shops, from souvenir shops to boutique shops. My son loves to go away and come home with a new football kit; there are plenty of shops selling these. My daughter is now at an age where she’s looking for something nice rather than tacky; there are so many lovely shops. The great thing is that the streets are mostly pedestrianised too and quite flat, so if you do have a buggy and smaller children with you or a wheelchair its all accessible.
Getting Pictures for the Gram
Above all else, Skiathos Town is extremely aesthetic and perfect for photos! If your teens are anything like mine, it matters what the photos look like! Lots of lovely spots to take photos and share with friends on Snapchat and Instagram. Because if it’s going to get attention, then it’s gaining bonus points!
Cats
Skiathos Town, and Skiathos as a whole, has a big stray cat population, as does the rest of Greece. Skiathos Cat Welfare Association cares for and looks after them. Skaithos town has a lot of cats, as this is where a lot of the volunteers come to donate food and help capture and neuter the cats using donations made by the public. For us, cats are part of daily life (we currently have 5 at home), so we are more than happy to give them food and fusses on holiday too!
Skiathos Town is So Pretty
Overall, it’s just so pretty. My teens, who usually whinge when I talk about stopping and looking at the sea, but they loved sitting and taking in just how gorgeous this place is. The water by the port is so clear, with the backdrop of the white-washed buildings and cobbled streets, this place is an absolute dream!
I’ll be back for sure, and I know my teens will too, as will their friends who have seen photos and heard all about it from my kids. It’s unreal.
Travelling with teenagers can be… an experience.
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Becky x
