Achladies Bay Holidays

Nestled on the east coast of Skiathos, Achladies Bay is a sleepy Greek village that’s still got its fishing-village charm. It’s backed by lush greenery that goes right up to the golden beach – and along the water there are authentic Greek tavernas and a couple of chilled-out bars too. And if ever you need a break from all that relaxation, the much livelier Skiathos Town is just up the coast.

The beach here is the kind you see on postcards – an expansive sweep of golden sand, backed by woodland, that shelves gently into sparkling blue water. It’s a Blue Flag beach with sunloungers and umbrellas to rent, plus a couple of tavernas at the back. Heading west there’s Kolios beach, a sandy half-moon bay 5 minutes’ drive away that boasts crystal-clear shallow waters. Then just a couple of minutes’ further along is Platanias, a cute patch of sand with a church right on the water.

The island’s capital Skiathos Town is 5 minutes’ drive away. The old town is a maze of cobbled streets, with the 13th century Venetian citadel a real highlight. The town’s most famous writer Alexandros Papadiamantis also has a museum dedicated to him here. From Skiathos harbour there are boats to the former capital to the north of the island. Here you can root around the ruins of the fortified town that was a lookout for pirates in Medieval times.