Greece Guide
The Sporades and Évvia
The three northern Sporades, as their name suggests, are scattered off the central mainland, their hilly terrain betraying their status as extensions of Mount Pílio; they're also culturally, historically and administratively very much part of Magnisía province, centred on Vólos. Archetypal Aegean-holiday islands, with fine beaches, lush vegetation and transparent sea, they're all packed out in mid-summer. Skiáthos, nearest to Pílio, is the busiest of the trio thanks to excellent sandy beaches, nightlife and an airport, but Skópelos, with a healthy pine forest and idyllic pebble bays, is catching up fast. The quietest, remotest and least developed, Alónissos, is part of a National Marine Park, and attracts more nature lovers than night-owls.
Skýros, the fourth inhabited Sporade, lies well southeast, having little historical (or logistical) connection with the others. It has best succeeded in retaining its traditional culture, though tourism and real estate sales are accelerating.
Between Skýros and central Greece, enormous Évvia (classical "Euboea") extends for nearly 200km alongside the mainland. Although in spots one of the most dramatic Greek islands, with forested mountains and rugged stretches of little-developed coast, it attracts fewer foreign tourists, perhaps because it lacks that certain mid-Aegean island feel. Nonetheless, mainlanders throng the island, erecting holiday homes around several seaside resorts.
Highlights
1 Lalária beach, Skiáthos White oval stones and turquoise waters, backed by steep cliffs and a natural rock arch, form a photogenic contrast to the island's other, mostly sandy, bays.
2 Skópelos Town Wooden shutters, ornate balconies, domed churches, atmospheric passageways and luxuriant vegetation make this one of the most alluring island towns in Greece.
3 National Marine Park of Northern Sporades Spend a day – or longer – on a boat exploring the visitable islets of this pristine reserve, with their wildlife, monasteries and secluded bays.
4 Skýros An outrageously pagan carnival, a striking hillside Hóra and traditional interiors are all found on one of the least spoiled islands in the Aegean.
5 Dhimosári Gorge, southern Évvia Traverse the wildest corner of the island on a mostly cobbled path descending from Mount Óhi.
6 Límni, northern Évvia A proud, characterful port with beautiful horizons to the west and clean pebble beaches either side.
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