My 7 favourite bars in Skyros

Happy New Year!!! Over the last few days, I’ve had time to relax a little, re-connect with my family, and reflect on the year just gone. On the last day of the last year, I shared my top 9 photos of 2021. Not surprisingly, most of those were from Skyros, where I spent a total of 6 weeks during the summer. Today is the last day of my Christmas holiday and I’m mentally re-visiting my home island. But, before I share the list of my 7 favourite bars in Skyros, let’s have a look at my top 9 photos of 2021.

My top 9 photos of 2021

1. Top left: Bernie, my Skyrian feline friend and I, in Skyros
2. Top centre: a beach in Kea (another island I visited in the summer of 2021)
3. Top right: Lara, my mum and I, in Skyros
4. Middle left: Cambridge
5. Middle centre: Lara and I, in Skyros
6. Middle right: Lara, my mum and I, in Skyros (another one)
7. Bottom left: me, in Kea
8. Bottom centre: Bernie and Lara, at my aunt and uncle’s
9. Bottom left: the whole family (my mum, aunt, uncle, great aunt and I) in Skyros

My 7 favourite bars in Skyros

Korfari

Every time I visit Skyros, I start my holiday with a swim in the clear blue waters of the Aegean. Molos beach, located on the east coast of the island, is one of my favourites. This is a large organized beach, extending south to the coastal settlement of Magazia and north to Pouria and Gyrismata. Most of the accommodation on the island, from rooms for rent to luxury hotels, is located here. Here you will also find bars and taverns just a few meters from the sea.

Korfari is a beautiful bar located in Magazia, next to Stefanos, a tavern famous for the lobster spaghetti (astakomakaronada), the specialty of the island. It is a great place to have a couple of drinks against a backdrop of the moon climbing up the sky.

Anemomylos

Anemomylos (Windmill) is another great bar on the east coast of the island. It is located in Pouria, at the northern edge of Molos (not too far from the tavern Mylos of Balabanis). It is also right next to the chapels of Agios Nikolaos and Zoodohos Pigi. This is a perfect place to watch the sunset, in which case it might be better to get there before dinner.

Cavos

On the west coast of Skyros, there is Linaria, the port of the island. Here arrives the ferry boat Achilles that connects Skyros with Kimi, a coastal town located on the east coast of Evia, as well as with the islands of Skopelos and Alonissos. The name of the ferry boat reminds us of the ancient myth, according to which, Thetis hid her son Achilles in Skyros, to prevent his participation in the Trojan War. Disguised as a girl, Achilles was hidden among the daughters of King Lycomedes. His disguise, however, did not deceive Odysseus, and this is how Achilles ended up fighting in Troy on the side of the Greeks.

In Linaria, there is Cavos, another one of my favourite bars in Skyros. Here you can enjoy the sunset to the sounds of lounge music, which alternates with Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra) every time Achilles arrives in Skyros.

Agora & Akamatra

Built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a 179-meter-high hill, Hora offers panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. Next to the Central Square, there are two of my favourite rooftop bars in Skyros, Akamatra and Agora. Here you can enjoy a cocktail (or two) overlooking the Castle and the Monastery of Agios Georgios.

Oino & Rodon

From the Central Square, it is worth ascending in the direction of the Castle (Kastro), at the top of the hill. Whilst strolling around the snarl of cobblestone alleys that make up the village, you will breathe in the soft yet distinctive aroma of jasmine. The path Megali Strata will lead you to the Castle, home to the thousand-year-old Monastery of Agios Georgios (Saint George), the Patron Saint of the island.

On your way there, you will come across two more of my favourite bars in Skyros, Oino and Rodon. The latter is located right next to the Church of Panagia Melikarou, which is dedicated to Virgin Mary (Panagia). From the roof of Rodon, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Hora.

Further reading

To better prepare for your trip, I would recommend the Lonely Planet Greek Islands Travel Guide.

For more up-to-date information, you can check out the site visit-skyros.gr.

You can also check out my previously published posts about Skyros:

Traveling around Skyros with a local

Skyros: the island of wellness & wellbeing

Happy New Year!!!

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)