Skiathos is among the most scenic and verdant of the Greek islands and with its easygoing holiday ambience, lush scenic beauty and sublime seascapes, demands nothing more than to simply be enjoyed. The island's main attraction is undeniably its superb range of beaches and a lush interior of pine-clad hills that beg to be explored - and it is said to have a greater number of sandy beaches than any other Greek island. With powder soft sands shelving gently into the sea and virtually no strong currents, bathing is very safe, so it is no surprise that in the peak of the summer season, the lure of the shores are simply too hard to resist. There is also an air of cosmopolitan sophistication about the island, no better illustrated than by chic Skiathos Town, a picturesque cluster of whitewashed, red-tiled houses sprawling between two hills. A sophisticated town with chic boutiques and tempting antique shops, in its day, Skiathos was the St Tropez of the Greek islands and Skiathos Town still retains much of its heyday glamour. Sleek yachts are moored in the pretty harbour while their owners sample the fine restaurants and smart shops in a town that simply oozes style, yet has retained all of its traditional Greek charm and village life continues more or less unchanged in the steep, narrow lanes, along the pretty quayside. Beneath pine-cloaked hills and beside the most sumptuous beaches, a few tavernas nestle alongside a smattering of simple, whitewashed holiday homes. So low-key you wouldn't even call them villages, these are perfect for a quiet holiday without the crowds, yet within easy reach of nearby towns. Skiathos's scarcely visited hinterland is equally inviting and offers a superb terrain for walking, through a landscape of long gently rolling hills, shady olive groves and lush orchards.
