2 Best Sights in Greece

Take a horse and carriage or stroll the seafront promenade to the old harbor, Palio Limani, from the bustling new harbor, Dapia. As you wander by the waterfront, you might imagine it as it was in its 18th- and 19th-century heyday: the walls of the mansions resounding with the noise of shipbuilding and the streets humming with discreet whisperings of revolution and piracy. Today, the wood keels in the few remaining boatyards are the backdrop for cosmopolitan bars, cafés, and restaurants; the sailing boats linger lazily in the bay. Walk up the hill to the ocher-hued chapel of Panagia Armata for unforgettable sunset views.

Skopelos is at the edge of the largest swath of protected waters in the Mediterranean, covering 2,200 square km (849 square miles). Within the park, only neighboring Alonnisos is inhabited; other islands and islets are the domain of goats and falcons, while dolphins and highly endangered Mediterranean monk seals swim in the pristine waters. Boats ply the waters of the park on day excursions from Skopelos, stopping at remote beaches and such outposts of civilization as the islet monastery of Megistis Lavras. Travel agencies and eager captains advertise the trips, easily arranged with a walk along the port.  For more detailed information on the marine park see the Alonnisos section.