Discover Alonissos, The Relaxed Sporades Island

A green and quiet island, Alonissos is located in the Sporades Island group, next to Skopelos and Skiathos. It is an island of outstanding natural beauty and is home to a natural marine park. The waters there are beautiful and clear which makes it a perfect place to go and snorkel or scuba dive. Whilst it may not be as well known as its neighbours, it’s a great place to relax and let the world go by. In this article we’ll show why this island is well worth a visit, whether it be for a day trip or to stay longer term.
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How to Get to Alonissos
Alonissos doesn’t have an airport and as such has to be reached by ferry. We recommend flying into Skiathos and then catching a ferry from there. These run fairly often amongst the Sporades islands as well as from Volos, Evia and Agios Constantinos. You can fly directly into Skiathos from the UK at London City, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Gatwick. 

The Towns
The best way to understand the relaxed atmosphere of the island is in the towns and villages. In the towns and villages of Skiathos and Skopelos you can sometimes get a commercialized feel and there is much more of a busy atmosphere, on Alonissos this is never the case. This is immediately apparent when you arrive into Patitiri, the islands port town. Friendly locals will greet you at every turn as you walk along the pristine waterfront lined with boats of all sizes. There are cafes and tavernas in the harbour area which provide a great place to sit and enjoy food and drinks, whether in the day or at night. As you walk through the town you are surrounded by greenery and light-coloured houses climbing up the hillsides.

Joined to Patitiri is the village of Votsi, the village’s windy streets are full of accommodation but there are few eateries there. Votsi's roads wind down towards its own smaller harbour next to which lies a pebble beach. Boats line the peaceful waterfront of the harbour, there sits a pub with tables both in and out of the shade allowing you to sit and relax with a drink. The oldest buildings on the island can be found in Chora, the islands traditional and current capital. The narrow streets are packed with tables from restaurants serving sumptuous Greek cuisine, the smells alone are exciting to the senses as you walk through this vibrant area. Whilst the whole island has a very traditional feel, the streets of Chora are what you imagine when you think of a Greek island. For this reason it can get busy but it is a must visit.

Beaches
When you think relaxing, you think beach. Luckily for you Alonissos has them in abundance. Most of the beaches on the island are pebbled, but this works wonderfully in the summer when they heat up and warm you through whilst you lie there. You will not find many more picturesque beaches in the Sporades than those on Alonissos. They are often surrounded by rock faces that are topped by lush foliage and scenic houses. Some of the best beaches to check out are Chrissi Milia, the only sandy beach on the island, as well as ones at Glyfa, Rousoum Gialos and Agios Petros. The waters off the beaches of Alonissos are turquoise and stunningly clear making excellent places for scuba diving and snorkeling. Most of the dive centres run out of Patitiri but there is also one in Steni Vala in the middle of the island.  

The Marine Park
Located in the north of the island and encompassing a number of the smaller islands just off the coast of Alonissos. This marine park is home to a diverse range of wildlife including a number of endangered species such as the Mediterranean Monk Seal. Fishing practices are carefully monitored so that it doesn’t negatively impact the wildlife and maintains the biodiversity of the area.

We hope you have enjoyed a glance into the relaxed nature of Alonissos which makes it perfect if you want to get away from it all. To find out more about the rest of Greece, take a look around our website or call us on 01157843388. If you know where you’re looking to book, call us, email [email protected] or fill in our contact form with what you’re looking for. Don't forget to follow us on social media to find out the next Destination of the Week and for all your Greek Holiday needs. If you've been to Alonissos, where was your favourite place? What was the best thing you did, or do you think we missed anything? Let us know in the comments or on social media, just click the buttons below which take you to our social pages

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