Holidays to Koukonaries, Skiathos
Overview
Koukounaries nestles comfortably in the south-west of Skiathos island. Seeing as its name comes from the Greek for ‘pinecone’, it will come as no surprise to find that the village sits amongst the hilly pine woods of the island. The fresh woody aroma adds a fragrant touch to the air.
Koukounariesis well-known as the location of the most beautiful beach in Skiathos, and arguably the whole of Greece. The long curved strip of white sand is backed by a nature reserve and a peaceful lake. Although the beach can get busy during the day, the resort has a quiet, rural feel; it’s popular with families and nature lovers.
Throughout summer, you are almost guaranteed to be basking in glorious sunshine in Koukounaries. Temperatures are likely to soar well above 30°C and the sun will adorn the sky for 12 hours every day. In July and August, Koukounaries is very dry and rain is a rare sight throughout summer. If you want to visit Koukounaries during the cooler months of spring or autumn, you will find warm days and cooler evenings. This could be a better choice of time to visit if you like to do a lot of walking and visiting tourist attractions.
Beaches
Cheap Koukounaries holidays offer a relaxed and calm retreat from everyday life. Koukounaries has the most photographed beach on the island, and holidays here are certainly made for lovers of sand and sea.
With nearly a mile of warm yellow sand, Koukanaries Beach is one of Greece’s most scenic. If the sun gets too hot, there is shade to be found from pine trees along the back of the beach looking out across the sparkling blue of the Aegean Sea. With Blue Flag awards, the beach is extremely clean and the water is shallow for quite some way from the shore. Around the beach area, you will find traditional tavernas and cafes. Active holidaymakers can choose to windsurf or waterski. Away from the beach, visitors are offered a selection of shops, restaurants and bars to enjoy.
For those looking for a livelier beach, it’s just a kilometre to Banana Beach, which has a DJ and busy bars. If it gets too busy, track down ‘Hidden Beach’ tucked away down a dirt track near Aghia Eleni.
Things To Do
Koukonaries has plenty to offer for those who love the outdoors; aside from the watersports centre, there are also several coastal walking tracks and a riding centre offering pony treks through the woodland trails inland. Behind the beach, there’s a beautiful nature reserve with a lake and park, where you can go for a leisurely stroll or settle in for the day with rugs and a picnic.
Koukonaries lies on a purpose-built coastal road that connects it to most of the major resorts in Skiathos, so it’s easy to reach other resorts by bus or car. Skiathos Town is the best choice for a day trip; it’s the island’s main town and has a marina, old town, fashionable boutiques to explore, and a much larger selection of bars and restaurants. You can also visit the beaches at Kolios or Troulos for a change of scenery or a short boat trip will take you to the medieval fort of Kastro, the former island capital that was used to look out for pirates.
Food And Drink
Koukounaries offers a variety of place to eat, from traditional Greek tavernas to more international restaurants, meaning there is food available for any taste. Traditional dishes can be found in the tavernas of Koukounaries, from meze platters to seafood specialities.
In the evenings, Koukounaries is quiet and calm. The hotels in the village provide much of the entertainment, and the local tavernas, bars and restaurants offer a quiet but fun night out. For a livelier evening, you can reach Skiathos Town in less than half an hour and find a more full-on nightlife.
