Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The crossing
Roughly thirty minutes on the fast craft and up to about seventy-five on a conventional ferry, with several sailings a day through the season. The same boats continue to Alonissos.
Two ports, and it matters
Skopelos has two:
- Glossa (Loutraki), at the north-west end, nearest to Skiathos and the first call. It is a small port beneath a hillside village.
- Skopelos town (Chora), on the east coast, the main town and where most of the rooms are, about forty minutes by road from Glossa.
Some sailings call at one, some at both. Check which, because arriving at Glossa with a booking in Chora costs a bus ride you did not plan.
Why cross at all
Because the two islands are opposites, and most people only see one.
Skiathos has the airport, the nightlife, Koukounaries beach and the crowds. Skopelos is larger, greener, quieter and almost entirely forested in pine, with a beautiful tiered town and very little development.
Skopelos is also the island where much of Mamma Mia was filmed, including the chapel of Agios Ioannis sto Kastri, perched on a rock reached by about a hundred steps cut into the side. It is still a working chapel and a genuinely striking place regardless of the film.
Doing it as a day trip
Easy, and common: morning boat over, afternoon boat back. You get the town and one beach.
Staying is better. Skopelos in the evening, once the day boats have gone, is the quiet the Sporades are actually for, and the island is big enough to need two or three days.
Practical notes
- The fast craft stop first in wind, and the Sporades channel blows.
- Buses run Glossa to Chora and down the south-east coast; a car helps but is not essential.
- The season is short. Sailings thin sharply from October.
Last checked August 2026. Sporades schedules are strongly seasonal - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
How long is the ferry from Skiathos to Skopelos?
Roughly thirty minutes on high-speed craft and up to about seventy-five on a conventional ferry.
Which port does the Skopelos ferry arrive at?
Either Glossa in the north-west or Skopelos town on the east coast, depending on the sailing. They are about forty minutes apart by road.
Can you do Skopelos as a day trip from Skiathos?
Yes, comfortably, with a morning boat over and an afternoon boat back. Staying overnight shows you considerably more.
Where was Mamma Mia filmed on Skopelos?
The chapel of Agios Ioannis sto Kastri, on a rock reached by around a hundred steps, along with several beaches on the island.
Which is better, Skiathos or Skopelos?
Skiathos for the airport, beaches and nightlife; Skopelos for pine forest, a quieter town and far less development.