10 Best Nightlife in Skiathos

Skiathos’s Old Port might date back thousands of years, but the salt-washed walkways on the Aegean Sea are still buzzing with many nightlife spots. You only need to mosey down to the quaysides to find a long row of seafood restaurants punctuated by al fresco drinking terraces. There's even a stylish cocktail lounge occupying the historical Byzantine fortress of Bourtzi, close to the ferry terminal.

Things really get swinging on Skiathos Old Port when the evening closes in. Tempting happy hour deals see the price of large beers drop to around €2.50, while other spots do buy-1-free-1 deals on drinks like gin and tonic. If you're hungry, many restaurants serve uber-fresh fish and calamari straight from the grill.

Skiathos Town is the main transport hub and arrival point for travellers to this Greek island. You'll rock up on the ferry straight over from the mainland and you don't have to stop rocking after you arrive, either…

The narrow backstreets swirling around the hilltop Greek Orthodox church are riddled with more bumping bars than you can shake a shot of ouzo at. Start on lively Papadiamanti alley, where you'll breeze through chic cocktail bars in refurbished olive presses. Then head up Polytexniou, which conceals a few neon-hued underground lounges for the later hours.

Koukounaries is one of the few real beach resorts outside of bustling Skiathos Town. Huddled around a little lagoon on the south-western end of the island, it's a relatively family-friendly place with just a dash of hedonism for late-night visitors.

In the main strip, resto-bars serve up stacked burgers and souvlaki in shaded gardens, while sandy bars fringing the beachfront often have al fresco terraces and tempting happy hour deals. Because it's the smaller of the 2 resort areas on Skiathos, Koukounaries only really gets lively in the very height of the summer. Visit in July and August if you want to join the party.

The small town of Platanias has plenty to entertain most holidaymakers in Skiathos. For starters, there are reggae-themed tiki bars right on the edge of its beach, which is considered one of the best on the island’s south coast. You’ll also find wine bars and sports bars in its centre, touting UK pub vibes and pool tables.

If you tire of the venues in Platanias itself, it's super easy to head around the bay to Kolios, Troulos, or even big Skiathos town, which is linked by direct bus during the summer months.

You’ll always find a crowd on the beachfront of Paralia Megali Ammos in Skiathos. The proximity of the main town – within walking distance to the west – means that the sands here are really accessible. But there's more than just chilling on the beach. Hotels offer oodles of rooftop bars and tavernas for you to enjoy, while the shoreline has a couple of surf-style shacks serving beers and cocktails.

The party doesn't have to finish at closing time, either. An affordable taxi can whisk you into the middle of Skiathos Harbour or to the pumping dancefloors of Paraliakos strip in a matter of minutes.