Skiathos is a major tourist destination in Greece. The small island in the northwest Aegean Sea is similar to mainland Greece with its rich history and great weather, but has the added bonus of a whopping 27 miles of coastline and numerous white sandy beaches perfect for enjoying the summer heat.
July is both the hottest and driest month of the year in Skiathos, and this marks the start of the 3 month long 'beach season'. Temperatures range from 22.5 degrees celsius overnight, to around 33 during the midday peak, and rainfall is a minimal 4mm on average, with most days being completely dry.
Nestled into the hillside, the award winning KanapitsaMareHotel & Spa offers spacious accommodation from £51 per night. The highlights here are the Lithos bar built directly into the mountain, and the sea water pool.
The sea temperatures are at their highest between July and September, so the coast and beaches are often a main draw at this time of year. Koukounaries Beach is the island's most famous sandy location, and visitors are flock here for the amazing scenery. Meaning 'pine cones' in Greek, Koukounaries Beach is covered in umbrella pines, creating a lush green wooded area right behind the beach itself, so there really is the best of both worlds here. The beach is 1 mile long and sees a lot of visitors during the summer, particularly Greek and British families. It's quite a sporty beach, with many water sports on offer.
The OliveLandRestaurant is a great place to dine with a view. Purpose built on terraced levels, this clifftop eatery offers all diners a table overlooking Skiathos Town, the Aegean Sea and the neighbouring Tsougria and Arkos islands. Serving up a traditional Greek Mediterranean fare, this establishment uses only local ingredients, including Skiathos' own olive oil.
