41 Best Sights in The Sporades, Greece

A short walk south of Magazia, Pouria offers good snorkeling, and nearby on the cape is a small treasure: a sea cave that has been transformed into a chapel. There may be no amenities on the beach itself, but there is a little hotel nearby where one can get refreshments. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming; walking.

It'd be hard to miss the classical bronze statue, "To Brooke," an honorary tribute to the heroic Edwardian-era English poet Rupert Brooke, whose nude and very masculine depiction created quite a stir when unveiled in 1931. Every street seems to lead to the statue, with a 180-degree view of the sea as a backdrop. In 1915, aged 28, Brooke was on his way to the Dardanelles to fight in World War I when he died of septicemia in a French hospital ship off Skyros. Brooke was a socialist, but he became something of a paragon for war leaders such as Winston Churchill.

Pilgrims to the poet's grave should follow the wide dirt road through the Vouno wilderness down toward the shore. As you reach the valley, you catch sight of the grave on your left. Brooke was buried here in 1915 after dying of sepsis from an infected mosquito bite while aboard a French hospital ship anchored off Skyros. His marble grave in an olive grove was immortalized with his prescient words, "If I should die think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field / That is forever England." Restored by the British Royal Navy in 1961, the grave site is surrounded by a stout wrought-iron and cement railing. You can also arrange for a visit by taxi or caïque in Skyros Town.

The first major center in Europe for holistic vacations has been bringing visitors to Skyros for more than 40 years. Participants come for a two-week session, staying in straw huts or in the main building, in a peaceful environment surrounded by pines and facing the sea. Studies and courses include windsurfing, creative writing with well-known authors, art, tai chi, yoga, massage, dance, drama, and sound-healing. Courses also take place in Skyros Town, where participants live in villagers' traditional houses. Skyros Centre's courses are highly reputed. Contact the UK office well in advance of leaving for Greece.

Scattered farms and two tavernas, small houses with rooms for rent, and one or two pleasant hotels line the road to the seaside, where fragrant pines meet the cool, crystal-clear, calm waters. There's a simple canteen that serves snacks and refreshments (and even mojitos at sunset), and a lifeguard stand. Nearby, prehistoric walls, a watchtower, and an unplundered grave suggest that this was the site of an important prehistoric settlement. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard, parking (no fee); showers. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming; walking.

At the northwest side of Skyros, above Ayios Petros, this is a relatively secluded beach reachable by dirt road followed by a little stroll down a goat path. Nearby is the off-limits military base. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; snorkeling; solitude; swimming; windsurfing.

Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, Prodromou now operates as a convent. Besides being unusual in design, its church contains some outstanding 14th-century triptychs, an enamel tile floor, and an iconostasis spanning four centuries (half was carved in the 14th century, half in the 18th century). The nuns sell elaborate woven and embroidered handiwork. Opening days and hours vary.

In this 19th-century mansion, furnishings, precious icons, and quotidian antiques from around the world make this a fine showcase of the life and traditions of a local family of high standing from a time when Skopelos was a hub for a well-traveled, politically influential, and highly cultured society. Andigoni Vakratsa and her father were doctors who offered free medical services to the poor. Head upstairs to view the living room (it was used only for very special occasions) where you can admire a traditional island engagement dress with its 4,000-pleat skirt. Opening hours vary.

One of the better beaches close to Skiathos Town, Vassilias is lined by pine trees that lean thirstily toward the shallow seashore, providing shade under their aromatic branches. A rustic canteen and some beachside restaurants serve refreshments, outfitters offer all sorts of sea-based adventures, and rows of shaded sun lounges are lined up for rent. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The name comes from the valanium (Roman bath) that once stood here on the coast due south of Skopelos Town. The bath has long since disintegrated under the waves, but the fresh spring water used for the baths still trickles out from a cave at the far end of the beach. To get here, follow the footpath that starts at Stafilos Beach over the forested hill. This extra hike is seemingly off-putting to many beachgoers, keeping Velania isolated and quiet. Today it's broadly favored by nudists. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; snorkeling; solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking.

One of the most popular and busiest beaches on Skiathos has a party vibe, along with waterskiing, which is especially good in the afternoon when the sea usually calms to a lakelike smoothness. On the far end of the beach, away from the pulsating tunes and rumbling boat engines, there's space to lay out a towel and soak up the sun. There's also a decent little taverna. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming.