Exploring Skiathos without a car: Skiathos public transport guide

A complete guide to visiting the Greek island of Skiathos by public transport, where buses, taxis and boats make it easy to explore the beaches, towns and historic sights of Skiathos without a car.

* This site contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

There are so many gorgeous Greek islands to choose from, but one bonus for me is somewhere you can explore without needing to hire a car. Good public transport means lower costs, no worrying about damaging the car or driving on the other side of the road. And the Greek island of Skiathos has some of the best public transport I’ve found.

If you want to visit the more remote areas inland or along the north coast it is useful to have a car or moped. But you can easily visit the island’s main beaches and sights without one.

This guide to Skiathos public transport shows you how to get around Skiathos without a car, using the island’s affordable, frequent buses as well as taxis and boats.

Getting around Skiathos by bus

Skiathos has an excellent bus network, especially between Skiathos Town and the beach resorts along the south coast of the island. And it’s also easy to get to and from the airport. Bus services are run by Skiathos Transports, who have a fleet of modern, white buses.

Where do the Skiathos buses go?

Skiathos’ main bus route runs from Skiathos Town to Koukounaries beach, travelling along the south coast of the island. The route has 27 stops – starting at stop 0 in Skiathos Town, which is next to a primary school to the north of the New Port (see map).

Look out for a sign on the front of the bus saying Koukounaries (Κουκουναριές).

This route runs along the coastline via a string of beaches and small towns, including Megali Ammos, Vasilias, Achladies, Tzaneria and Troulos, until it terminates at stop 26 next to Koukounaries beach. The whole journey is only 15km, so the stops are fairly frequent, and you should have one nearby if you’re staying on the south coast.

This Skiathos bus map shows the 27 stops on the main route along the south coast.

The stops are marked with green signposts with the number printed on, and some have shelters to wait in. The journey from Skiathos Town to Koukounaries takes around 30 minutes, and the bus turns round and heads back pretty much straight away.

The bus timetable varies by season. But during high season, services normally start around 7am and finish around 1am, with buses running every 10 minutes. You can check the Skiathos bus timetable at bus stops, at ticket kiosks and on the bus company’s website.

New for 2025, Skiathos Transports also have a live tracker on their website, where you can click on the bus stop you want and it tells you when the next bus is due.

The south coast buses do get busy, especially from 5pm when lots of people are heading back into Skiathos Town after a day at the beach. You’re most likely to get a seat if you board at an earlier stop, otherwise you might have to stand – or wait for the next bus.

You can also travel by bus from Skiathos Town to the airport. These buses run every 30 minutes from 6.45am until 11.15pm during high season and take less than 10 minutes.

And there are a few other, less-frequent bus services around Skiathos, which you can use to visit Evangelistria monastery or some of the more remote beaches:

• Skiathos Town to Evangelistria Monastery: a small minibus makes the trip up into the hills to the monastery around once an hour, taking 15 minutes each way.
• Skiathos Town to Xamenos beach: the monastery minibus also runs along past the airport to Xamenos beach seven times a day in summer, taking 10 minutes.
• Skiathos Town to Panagia Ikonistria/Aselinos beach: there’s also a bus service to Panagia Ikonistria (for the monastery or dog shelter) and Aselinos beach on the north coast of the island, which runs ten times a day in summer and takes 40 minutes.

How much do Skiathos buses cost?

Skiathos bus fares depend on how far you’re travelling. There are two different tickets available, costing €2 and €3. Tickets are valid for a single journey only, there isn’t a return ticket. And there are no discounts available, but kids under six travel for free.

From Skiathos Town to any stops along the south coast before Agia Paraskevi (stop 16), to Evangelistria Monastery or Xanemos beach costs €2 one way.

If you’re travelling further along the coast from Skiathos Town to Koukounaries (or any stops between 17 and 26), to the airport or Aselenos beach it costs €3.

How do I buy a ticket?

You can buy tickets either from the bus driver or at one of the four ticket kiosks – which are at bus stop 0 (the port), stop 4 (Αkropolis), stop 26 (Koukanaries) and the airport.

You can pay for your tickets using either cash or card. Just tell the driver/ticket clerk the name or number of the stop you want to get off at. The numbering system makes it easy to tell when you’re getting near, but there are now announcements on board too.

Getting around Skiathos by taxi

You can also use taxis to get around Skiathos – though there’s a limited supply and they get very busy in high season, so be prepared to wait, especially in the evenings. There are taxi ranks outside arrivals at Skiathos Airport and in the New Port (see map).

The route between Skiathos Town and the airport is the most popular, and costs €8–€10 going to the airport and a bit more travelling from the airport. Though if you’re staying in Skiathos Town, beware that much of the old part of town is pedestrianised cobbled streets, so the taxi might not be able to get all that close to your accommodation.

The taxi rank in the New Port lists sample fares from Skiathos Town – expect to pay €10 to Evangelistria Monastery, €7 to Melagi Ammos beach, €15–17 to Troulos and €20–22 to Koukounaries. Though you often have to pay extra if you have luggage.

Getting around Skiathos by boat

Another, more scenic way to get around Skiathos without a car is by boat. There are a number of different options, from boat trips to shuttle boats and water taxis.

Shuttle boats connect Skiathos Old Port to several beaches along the south coast during the summer, including Vassilias, Achladies, Kanapitsa, Troulos and Koukounaries. These small wooden boats are a good alternative to buses, with a lovely sea breeze on a hot day.

The shuttle boats normally run once an hour, with a break around lunchtime, starting around 10am with some finishing at 5pm and others going on into the evening. You can see times and prices (around €4–€7 one way, with discounts for children) displayed on boards at the piers. You don’t need to book ahead and can just buy a ticket onboard.

You can also get around Skiathos by water taxi – Skiathos Water Taxis are based in Koukounaries but cover the whole island as well as going further afield to Skopelos, Alonissos and the mainland. Or you could hire a boat* for the day to hop your way around the different beaches and visit more remote places like Kastro and Lalaria Beach.

There are also several day trips by boat to the nearby islands of Skopelos and Alonissos.*

Getting around Skiathos on foot

The final way to get around Skiathos without a car is on foot. There are over 200km of hiking trails across the island, and 26 different marked circular walking routes have been developed by German hiking enthusiast Ortwin Widmann who lives on the island.

They range from 1.8km to 11km and routes include Evangelistria Monastery to the medieval ruins of Kastro, Koukounaries to Mandraki and Elias beaches on the north coast, and a circuit around the Agios Georgios Wetland on the edge of Skiathos Town.

The routes are well maintained and marked with red and white markers. There is often a map at the nearest bus stop to show you where to go, or you can pick up a paper map. Widmann’s book detailing the hikes is also available in shops in Skiathos Town.

Looking for somewhere to stay in Skiathos?*

Save for later

You might also like