Platanias holidays

Holidays to Platanias take you to a peaceful hillside village, just a few hundred metres from a golden-sand beach. There are authentic Greek restaurants here, plus lively bars in Skiathos Town, just 10 minutes' drive away.

A peaceful fishing village

Platanias is a little fishing village on the southern coast of Skiathos, a tiny Aegean Island. It’s a restful place, with just a handful of Greek tavernas and laid-back bars spread out across a quaint hillside village and along the coastal road. And everywhere is easy to get to. The long sandy beach is just a short stroll away, there’s a regular bus along the south coast – and it’s just 10 minutes up the north side to the capital.

Sandy beaches east and west

Platanias boasts 3 beaches, all within 20 minutes’ walk. Platanias’ own beach is only 300 metres from the village centre, with a little church out on the sand. Then there’s Kolios Beach, just east of Platanias, a sandy sweep in a semi-circle bay with crystal-clear, shallow water. And to the west you’ve got Troulos Beach – this Blue Flag number comes with a sailing and windsurfing school in the hotel behind the beach.

Daytrips to Skiathos Town

Skiathos Town is the hub of the island and buses leave from Platanias’ coastal road every 15 to 20 minutes. It’s a trendy, modern place with restaurants and bars along the harbour front, though it also comes with the remnants of old Venetian fortifications. About 10 minutes’ drive on from here is the Evangelistria Monastery, where the modern Greek flag was first raised by nationalist revolutionaries in 1807.