The history of Skyros begins in the Neolithic era. According to Greek mythology, Achilles was hidden on this island by his mother Thetis, since she was afraid that he would die if he participated in the Trojan war. Thetis asked for the help of Lykomedes, the king of the island, who kept Achilles in his own castle. But Achilles fell in love with Lykomedes' daughter, Didameia, who gave birth to a son, Pyrros. Odysseus, who knew that the Troy campaign would never succeed without Achilles, devised a cunning plan and managed to bring Achilles to Troy. As predicted, Achilles died in Troy, and now it was Pyrros who had to bring the victory. Ulysses also managed to bring him to Troy, where he fought bravely. The island of Skyros has known many rulers and cultures during its tenure so far. The Pelasgians were the first inhabitants of Skyros and the walls they built were the foundations for the following colonists. Around 475 BC, Cimon conquered Skyros and divided the land between the Athenian aristocrats. Skyros was controlled by Athens for almost 400 years, while in 192 BC the Roman imperial forces managed to take control of the island. Skyros changed hands again in 1204 when the Crusaders occupied Constantinople and the island passed into Venetian rule. In the late 14th century, Skyros was ruled by the Turks and now managed to proclaim its independence in 1829 AD.
Book your Flight to Skyros with SKY express from €105*
Explore Our Popular Flights to Skyros with the best airfares!
Thessaloniki (SKG)to
Skyros (SKU)Thessaloniki (SKG)to
Skyros (SKU)Thessaloniki (SKG)to
Skyros (SKU)Thessaloniki (SKG)to
Skyros (SKU)Thessaloniki (SKG)to
Skyros (SKU)Thessaloniki (SKG)to
Skyros (SKU)*Fares displayed have been collected within the last 48hrs and may no longer be available at time of booking. Additional fees and charges for optional products and services may apply.
Plan ahead your flight to Skyros with the Best Deals
From | To | Fare Type | Dates | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
FromThessaloniki (SKG) | ToSkyros (SKU) | One-way / Economy | Depart 08 March, 2025 | From €105* Seen: 2 days ago |
*Fares displayed have been collected within the last 48hrs and may no longer be available at time of booking. Additional fees and charges for optional products and services may apply.
Book your Round-trip to Skyros with SKY express!
*Book round-trip and pay less with -10% on SKY joy+ and SKY enjoy fares. Additional fees and charges for optional products and services may apply.
Explore the city of Skyros
Airport
Skiros Airport (SKU)
Airport, Skyros 340 07
Destination
It may not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a leisure trip to Greece. But it is certainly the destination that will engrave in your mind the most intense and authentic images, flavors, smells and memories, that you will cherish for a lifetime...
Secluded, blue beaches, traditional architecture with sugar cubed-like houses, delicious flavors and frugal horses are some of the beauties that Skyros can offer you, the "wild" jewel of the Aegean. So start your tour on the island of Skyros and it will not be long before you realize why it was the favorite island of the British philhellene poet Rupert Brooke, who died there in 1915, serving the Royal Naval Division during the First World War.
Explore the capital of Skyros, Chora, with its picturesque houses that stand imposingly on its hill, overlooking the sea. Get lost in its picturesque alleys, admire its simple and beautiful architecture, smell the intoxicating jasmine that emerges from the courtyards of the houses and enjoy the island in all its glory.
Taste the traditional delicacies of the island and explore it through its gastronomic wealth. And, since Skyros combines mountain and sea, these contrasts are reflected in the food, where you can try fresh lobsters, but also delicious goat meat - a Greek version of "surf and turf" that is!
And for nature lovers, Skyros could not leave you complaining, as it has a large hiking network that crosses the whole island. It is really an island that will please every type of traveler and is waiting for you to explore it!
The history
Sightseeing
Byzantine Castle
The Byzantine Castle of Skyros, built at the highest point of the city and overlooking the whole area, has a long history behind it. This stone fortress was built in the Byzantine era to protect the island from the enemies and pirates who often destroyed the Aegean islands at that time. The architecture of the Castle is simple but strong. Above the main entrance, you will see a marble lion built into the wall. Although there are only a few ruins of the old fortifications, the Castle of Skyros offers a magnificent view across the city and the sea. Inside the Castle there is a large church, the glorious Monastery of Agios Georgios, which is a dependency of the Monastery of Megisti Lavra on Mount Athos. The Byzantine Castle is within walking distance of the city center of Skyros, Chora.
Monastery of Agios Georgios
The Monastery of Agios Georgios is located in the Castle above Chora, the capital of Skyros. This monastery was probably built in the middle of the 13th century and originally belonged to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. The monastery belongs to the monastery of Megisti Lavra on Mount Athos since the Middle Ages. The sites have been well preserved since their construction during the Venetian and Ottoman conquests of the island. The main church of Agios Georgios was built between 1599 and 1602, as shown by the marble sign on its bell tower. The interior of the church has valuable frescoes and a wood-carved altarpiece. In 2001, the monastery was severely damaged by an earthquake and completely renovated. Recently, the monastery reopened and one can visit during the day. From the balcony of the west side, the visitor can enjoy a magnificent view of Chora and the island.
Skyros Pony
The mountains in the southeast of the city of Skyros host the unique breed of ponies that exist on the island since their introduction by the Athenians in the 8th century BC. This rare breed is found only in Skyros and today there are only a few hundred. Since the old times, ponies have lived, evolved and developed their unique characteristics here isolated from the rest of the Greek islands and the mainland. Skyros' ponies are extremely short and small, since the availability of food in the mountains, in which they live, is low. They have small heads, wide-eyed, bold outline, and long manes. It is said that these small horses, famous for their durability, were used by Alexander's army during his conquests in Asia. Today, on the island of Skyros, the pony population has declined, mainly due to the mechanization of agriculture. However, the locals love and protect them, with many state and non-governmental organizations ensuring their survival.
Local gastronomy
Lobster spaghetti
You can't visit Skyros and not try the most famous specialty of the island - lobster spaghetti. Skyros lobsters are among the most famous in Greece and so such a dish could not be absent from the local gastronomy of the island. Words are too poor to describe this dish... The lobster is cooked with onion, garlic, tomato, cognac, dill, salt, pepper and other herbs, where it takes its time and slowly brings out the rich sea aroma and the sweetness of its flesh. The spaghetti is cooked al dente and finally combined with the sauce and lobster, creating explosions of flavors to anyone who tastes this dish.
Skyrian goat meat (katsikaki)
Apart from the rich sea delicacies of Skyros, the island is famous for its meat. Specialty is the famous Skyrian goat meat, which you will find in many restaurants of the island and you should definitely try it. Its meat, tender, juicy and full of flavor, is cooked in various ways that brings out the high quality of the meat. It is so delicious because it feeds on fresh greens and herbs from the mountains of the island. You will find it on parchment paper, with lemon sauce, roasted or even braised with potatoes in the oven. One thing is for sure: Whichever version you may try, you'll lick your fingers!
Useful information
Police: +30 22220 1274
Airport: +30 22220 91607
Hospital: +30 22220 92222
Port: +30 22220 93475
Discover best flight deals to Skyros
- Flights from Thessaloniki to Skyros
- Flights from Mykonos to Skyros
- Flights from Paris to Skyros
- Flights from Kefalonia to Skyros
- Flights from Warsaw to Skyros
- Flights from Larnaca to Skyros
- Flights from Corfu to Skyros
- Flights from Zakynthos to Skyros
- Flights from Samos to Skyros
- Flights from Paros to Skyros
- Flights from Mytilene to Skyros
- Flights from London to Skyros
- Flights from Munich to Skyros
- Flights from Frankfurt to Skyros
- Flights from Dusseldorf to Skyros
- Flights from Rome to Skyros
Â