Flights, ferries, car & moped hire, etc.

- How to get there -- Car & Moped Hire-- Ferry & hydrofoil schedules--Flight Finder -

Skiathos is in the northwestern half of the Aegean, nestling in the lee of the Pelion Peninsula. It is out of the main stream of the northern Meltemi winds but still gets cooling breezes throughout July & August. It has its own airport which caters to international charter flights as well as local flights. The nearest major town on the mainland is Volos which is roughly three hours away by ferry or one & a half by hydrofoil. Athens is fifty minutes by local flight, roughly four hours by hydrofoil & bus or six hours if you have your own car & take the ferry. Hydrofoils & ferries go to Aghios Konstantinos, on the mainland, half way between Athens & Volos.
There are occasional connections from Thessaloniki in the summer months.

HOW TO GET THERE

May through October, there are regular charter flights from most major cities in Europe. These usually go with package holidays but are also available as "flight only". Check with your local travel agent. Press them for flight only as they will always try to sell you a package holiday and may even say that flight only does not exist or the planes are full (not true). Alternatively fly to Athens (there are also cheap night charters) with Olympic, or your national carrier, & then take a local Olympic flight to Skiathos. Check our Flight Finder pages. EasyJet now does incredibly cheap flight to Athens & Thessaloniki from Gatwick, Heathrow and London Luton Airport.
Olympic Airlines (if they still exist!) fly every day to Skiathos. You can book on their web site www.olympicairlines.com

To get from Athens airport to Skiathos, you need to take a taxi from the airport to the "Alkyon" office at 97, Akadamias Street at Kaningos Square (not far from Omonia Square). The price for this should be around 25 Euros. If you have plenty of time, take the Underground to Omonia Square and walk up to Akadamias Street at Kaningos Square.
The bus leaves every day in the winter at 07:00 (except Fridays and Sundays when it leaves at 13:00) and usually twice a day in the summer
(see http://www.gtp.gr for schedules. When checking the times from Aghios Konstantinos to Skiathos, allow 3.5 hours BEFORE the time from Aghios Konstantinos to catch the bus at the Kaningos Square! )
The bus connects with the hydrofoil for Skiathos at Agios Konstantinos and you buy a ticket all the way through.
Allow at least 2.5 hours from your planes arrival to get your bags and get to the Alkyon office.

The hydrofoil service "Flying Dolphins" is most reliable & the only service in Greece that is nearly always on time! There are also Hydrofoils from Volos (halfway between Athens & Thessaloniki) & this is the best place to take a car ferry from if you are coming by road

For a listing of car ferry and hydrofoil services throughout Greece. http://www.gtp.gr

Web sites for ferries & hydrofoils:

Olympic Airways: Tel. 01 9616161 -o- Flying Dolphins from Athens: Tel. 210 3843220

For Olympic flight schedule Athens/Skiathos click here.

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CAR & MOPED HIRE

If you want to experience the island to the full, it is well worth while hiring a car or a moped. With transport you can get to the bits that you would otherwise perhaps not see. Certainly, although the bus service is excellent, they are inevitably crowded leaving town in the morning & returning in the afternoon. Apart from a small bus service to Kalivia & Evangelistra Monastery, the buses only run on the main road from town to Koukounaries & back. A car or moped frees you from this crush & gives you control over your itinerary. For some of the accommodation we recommend, some form of transport is necessary as these are off the beaten track.

See: business/index.htm RENTAL CARS & BIKES for a listing of car & moped hirers.

A small note of warning: do PLEASE be very careful when riding a moped as you are very vulnerable especially when traffic is heavy in the high season. We have seen too many people ruin their holiday by having an accident or burning themselves on an exhaust pipe. We only recommend mopeds for experienced moped & motorbike drivers.

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