Sporades

There are four inhabited islands in this mountainous and pine-forested northern archipelago: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos and Skyros. People go to Skiathos for the exquisite beaches and the nightlife; if you’re there for anything else, you’ll probably leave quickly.

Skopelos is less commercialised than Skiathos, but is following hot on its trail. There are some lovely sheltered beaches, but they are often pebbled rather than sandy. Alonnisos is still a serene island, partly because the rocky terrain makes building an airport runway impossible. The water around Alonnisos has been declared a marine park and consequently is the cleanest in the Aegean, and every house has a cesspit so no waste goes into the sea. Skyros is less developed than the other three, designed to attract posers rather than package tourists.