Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- In summer, Olympic Airways has about two flights a week between Athens and Skyros. Call the Olympic office in Athens (tel. 210/966-6666) for information and reservations; the local Olympic representative is Skyros Travel and Tourism (tel. 22220/91-123). A bus meets most flights and goes to Skyros town, Magazia, and sometimes Molos; the fare is 5€ ($6.50). A taxi from the airport is about 15€ ($20), but expect to share a cab.

By Boat -- Skyros Shipping Company (www.sne.gr) offers the only ferry service to Skyros; it's operated by a company whose stockholders are all citizens of the island. In summer, it runs twice daily (usually early afternoon and early evening) from Kymi (on the east coast of Evvia) to Skyros, and twice daily (usually early morning and midafternoon) from Skyros to Kymi; the trip takes a little over 2 hours. Off season, there's one ferry each way, leaving Skyros early in the morning and Kymi in late afternoon. The fare is 10€ to 15€ ($13-$20). For information, call the company's office either in Kymi (tel. 22220/22-020) or Skyros (tel. 22220/91-790). The Skyros Shipping Company's offices also sell connecting bus tickets to Athens; the fare for the 3-hour ride is about 15€ ($20). In Athens, Alkyon Travel, 97 Akademia, near Kanigos Square (tel. 210/383-2545), arranges bus transportation to Kymi and sells ferry tickets to the Sporades.

If you're trying to "do" the Sporades and want to make connections at Kymi, the tricky part can be the connection with ferries or hydrofoils from the other Sporades islands. When they don't hold to schedule, it's not uncommon to see the Skyros ferry disappearing on the horizon as your ship pulls into Kymi. You might have to make the best of the 24-hour layover and get a room in Paralia Kymi. (We recommend Hotel Korali, at tel. 22220/22-212; or the older Hotel Krineion, at tel. 22220/22-287).

From Athens, buses to Kymi and Ayios Konstandinos leave the Terminal B (260 Lission) six times a day, though you should depart no later than 1:30pm; the fare for the 3 1/2-hour trip is about 20€ ($26). From Kymi, you must take a local bus to Paralia Kymi. Ask the bus driver if you're uncertain of the connection.

On Skyros, the ferries and hydrofoils dock at Linaria, on the opposite side of the island from Skyros town. The island's only public bus will meet the boat and take you over winding, curving roads to Skyros town for 2€ ($2.60). On request, the bus will also stop at Magazia beach, immediately north below the town, next to Xenia Hotel.

Visitor Information

The largest tourist office is Skyros Travel and Tourism (tel. 22220/91-123; www.skyrostravel.com), next to Skyros Pizza Restaurant in the main market. It's open daily from 8am to 2:30pm and 6:30 to 10:30pm. English-speaking Lefteris Trakos offers assistance with accommodations, currency exchange, Olympic Airways flights (he's the local ticket agent), phone calls, interesting bus and boat tours, and Hellenic Seaways Flying Dolphin tickets.

Getting Around

By Bus -- The only scheduled service is the Skyros-Linaria shuttle that runs four to five times daily and costs 2€ ($2.60). Skyros Travel offers a twice-daily beach-excursion bus in high season and daylong island excursions in a small bus with an English-speaking guide (40€/$52); for many, this may be the best way to get an overview of the island.

By Car & Moped -- A small car rents for about 70€ ($91) per day, including insurance. Mopeds and motorcycles are available near the police station or the taxi station for about 25€ ($33) per day. The island has a relatively well-developed network of roads.

By Taxi -- Taxis can take you just about any place on the island at the standard Greek rates, but discuss the price before setting off; service between Linaria and Skyros costs about 15€ ($20).

On Foot -- Skyros is a fine place to hike. The island map, published by Skyros Travel and Tourism, will show you a number of good routes, and it is pretty accurate.

Fast Facts

The most convenient ATM on Skyros is at the National Bank of Greece in the main square of Skyros town. (Because Skyros's tourist services are relatively limited, we recommend bringing cash and/or traveler's checks for emergencies.) The clinic is near the main square (tel. 22220/92-222). The police station (tel. 22220/91-274) is on the street behind the Skyros Travel Center. The post office is near the bus square in Skyros town; it's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 2pm. The telephone office (OTE) is opposite the police station. It's open Friday only, from 7:30am to 3pm, but there are card phones in town.