Sporades Island Ferries

The Sporades are a compact island group off the eastern coast of mainland Greece, tucked between the Thessaly coastline and the northern Aegean. The three main inhabited islands are Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos, with the rarely-visited Skyros sitting somewhat separately to the south. What makes the Sporades distinctive is their greenery: unlike the bare, rocky Cyclades, these islands are covered in pine forest that runs right down to beaches of pale sand.

The main gateway from the mainland is Volos, a port city in Thessaly with good train and bus connections to Athens and Thessaloniki. From Volos, it takes roughly 90 minutes to reach Skiathos by high-speed ferry, two hours to Skopelos Town, and up to four hours for the full run to Alonissos. In summer there are also services from Thessaloniki and from the smaller mainland port of Agios Konstantinos, which is more directly connected to Athens by road.

Hellenic Seaways is the primary operator on Sporades routes, with both conventional and high-speed vessels. Skiathos is the busiest island in the group and the one with an airport, which makes it a practical entry point for international visitors who want to combine a flight with island hopping. Skopelos is quieter and arguably more beautiful, and its fame from the Mamma Mia film has not yet tipped into overcrowding.

One important detail about Skopelos: the island has three ferry ports. Skopelos Town is the main one, but Glossa (in the north) and Agnontas (used in bad weather) also see services. Always confirm which port your ferry uses.

Alonissos is the least visited of the three and sits within a designated marine national park, which means clean water, good diving, and a noticeably more relaxed atmosphere. Ferries run year-round between Volos and the Sporades, though the schedule thins significantly from November to March.