Skyros

Skyros

Skyros is the largest and southernmost of the Northern Sporades, 208 square kilometres, but geographically apart from the rest — a large island with two distinct halves joined by a narrow isthmus, mountainous and rocky in the south and green and forested in the north. Its main town Skyros, or Chora, sits under a Venetian castle on a huge rock above the sea, with the port of Linaria below, while the island’s interior holds farms, pine woods and rare Skyrian horses.

Known for its distinct folk culture — the Goat Dance carnival, hand-carved wooden furniture, ceramics and embroidery — Skyros has a history as an Athenian naval base and later a place of exile, and was the place where Rupert Brooke died and is buried. With beaches like Molos, Magazia and Atsitsa on the north coast and wild cliffs south, it feels more isolated than its Sporadic neighbours, with its own dialect and traditions.

The 209 sq km southernmost Sporades island 30 km off Evia with two halves

Skyros is the southernmost of the Sporades archipelago off the east coast of mainland Greece along with Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos, part of the Northern Sporades assemblage in northwest Aegean, located some 30 km away from Kymi the eastern port of Evia island and some 100 km, 25 nautical miles east of Euboea, relatively isolated with nearest landmark 22 nautical miles communication channel port of Kimi in Evia west of Skyros. At 209 sq km, also listed as 20,700 ha, 208 km², 210 sq km 81 square miles, 223.10 square kilometres, 210.6 km², it is the largest in the Sporades group, largest island of Northern Sporades, located central Aegean, with population about 3,000, in 2003, around 4,000, 2,500 inhabitants spread over capital also called Skyros or locally Chora and many tiny fishing hamlets, with coastline 130.4 km, 130 km, and main port on west coast Linaria.

Diverse landscapes: sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, lush pine forests, green forests of Mediterranean flora and most hamlets cover north side, while south is more barren and rocky dominated by Mount Kochila, Mount Kochylas Peak 788m, Kohilas at 792 meters. Capital Skyros has castle kastro that dates from Venetian occupation 13th to 15th centuries, Byzantine monastery Monastery of Saint George, and Brooke Square. Tourism still in its infancy, infrastructure still being developed.

This is for you if you want largest Sporades but quietest, two-island feel with forested north and wild south. It is not for quick hopping; ferry via Achilleas about 1 hour 40 minutes from Kymi and car highly recommended.

Achilles’ chariot ponies, Rupert Brooke’s olive grove grave and the magnetes name

FYI Skyros is famous chiefly for 2 things: its raucous primitive carnival and its population of wild pony-sized horses directly descended many believe from horses which pulled Achilles’ chariot and memorialized on Parthenon friezes — Skyrian ponies indigenous miniature horses tiny long-maned beauties only found here, only a few hundred remain, legend they are descendants of Achilles’s chariot. ICYMI mythology heavy: Theseus was said to have died on Skyros murdered by its king, Achilles spent part of youth here, Achilli Beach landlocked bay on eastern shore is place where hero Achilles is said to have departed for Troy, loveliest place where on clearest summer days you can discern distant shores of Troad. Nuance: around 2nd millennium BC island known as The Island of the Magnetes where Magnetes lived and later Pelasgia and Dolopia and later Skyros, and grave of English poet Rupert Brooke is in an olive grove by road leading to Tris Boukes harbour — a war poet buried on an island tied to Achilles.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyros | island capital also called Skyros locally Chora main port west coast Linaria island has castle kastro dates Venetian occupation 13th 15th centuries Byzantine monastery Monastery Saint George grave English poet Rupert Brooke olive grove road leading Tris Boukes harbour many beaches coast own breed Skyrian ponies
  2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287218926_Skyros_a_very_dry_grassland_Greek_island | small island 20700 ha 2500 inhab Northern Sporades assemblage northwest Aegean sea located some 30 km away Kymi eastern port Evia island
  3. https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/mountain-hike/greece/kochylas-peak-788m-skyros-island-greece/298412874/ | island Skyros Aegean belongs northern Sporades 208 km² size lies 25 nautical miles east island Euboea
  4. https://www.nowvisitgreece.com/skyros-island/ | largest island Sporades mix traditional Greek charm natural beauty covers area approximately 210 square kilometers 81 square miles situated about 50 kilometers mainland Diverse Landscapes mix sandy beaches rocky cliffs lush pine forests
  5. https://in2greece.com/skyros-island-information-and-travel-guide/ | southernmost Sporades archipelago east coast mainland along Skiathos Skopelos Alonissos At 209 sq km largest Sporades group population about 3000 most living capital town Chora main Magazia beach area
  6. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/greece/articles/top-reasons-why-you-should-visit-skyros-island-greece | visit Achilli Beach place hero Achilles said departed Troy spot adorable rare ponies home Skyrian horses tiny long-maned beauties only find Skyros few hundred remain legend descendants horses pulled Achilles chariot
  7. https://www.grecomap.com/skyros | Kohilas at 792 meters famous chiefly 2 things raucous primitive carnival population wild pony-sized horses directly descended many believe horses which pulled Achilles chariot memorialized Parthenon friezes

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Last Updated on September 2, 2026 by admin