Sailing the Sporades

Season : May to SeptemberLevel : IntermediateWind : Softened meltemi, 12–20 knots

The Sporades are the Greek islands everyone has seen without knowing it: the Mamma Mia chapel stands on Skopelos, at the top of 200 steps. Pine forests running down to the water, blue-green anchorages, and above all a meltemi softened by the wooded hills: 12–20 knots in July while the Cyclades take 20–30.

The jewel is the Alonissos National Marine Park — Europe's largest at 2,260 km², home of the monk seal. Inside it you pick up the official buoys only, anchoring is forbidden: the price of remarkably clear water. Skiathos, with its airport, is the most convenient base.

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Route

The itineraries — Sporades

Weekend

Option 1 — Skiathos › Skopelos › Glossa, round trip

The Sporades in miniature over three days and 46 miles: Skopelos' Chora with its 123 chapels, Glossa perched above the sea, and the Mamma Mia chapel by dinghy along the way.

Day	Leg	Distance	Highlights
Day 1	Skiathos › Skopelos (Chora)	18 nm	The old white amphitheatre village, night on the harbour quay.
Day 2	Skopelos › Glossa	8 nm	A short day: a swim en route, then the hilltop village of Mamma Mia fame.
Day 3	Glossa › Skiathos	20 nm	Home with a beach stop at Lalaria, reachable only by sea, conditions permitting.

7 days

Option 2 — The Sporades loop and the marine park

Roughly 99 miles from Skiathos with no leg over 20: the villages of Skopelos, Alonissos, then the deserted islands of the national marine park — Kyra Panagia and Peristera, on official buoys.

Day	Leg	Distance	Highlights
Days 1–3	Skiathos › Skopelos › Glossa › Patitiri (Alonissos)	46 nm	The villages of Skopelos, then Patitiri and Alonissos' restored Chora.
Days 4–5	Patitiri › Kyra Panagia › Peristera	20 nm	The heart of the marine park: deserted islands, frequent dolphins, a monk seal with luck. Buoys mandatory.
Days 6–7	Peristera › Skopelos › Skiathos	33 nm	Home in two stages via Skopelos' Chora before hand-over.

When to go

When to go — Sporades

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Advice from sailors

Guides & articles — Sporades

GuideSporades

Sailing the Sporades: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos

Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos: green Aegean islands, a gentle Meltemi and Europe's largest marine park.

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ItinerarySporades

7-Day Sporades Itinerary: Skiathos, Skopelos and the Alonissos Marine Park

A gentle week from Skiathos: Skopelos, Alonissos and Europe's largest marine park in short, easy legs.

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ItinerarySporades

7-Day Sporades and Pelion Itinerary: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Pelion Peninsula

The nature-lover's Sporades: the heart of the Alonissos marine park plus the wooded Pelion peninsula.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you anchor in the Alonissos marine park?

No: inside the national park, anchoring is strictly forbidden. You moor only on the official buoys in the marked coves of Alonissos and its islets — Kyra Panagia, Peristera. That is the price of crystal-clear water and the presence of the monk seal, of which fewer than 800 remain.

What level do the Sporades require?

A relaxed intermediate: the wooded hills and reduced fetch give a meltemi 8–10 knots below the Cyclades — 12–20 knots in July, seas of 0.7–1.8 m. Force 7+ spells affect only 12–18% of summer days, against 35–45% in the Cyclades.

Which month is best for the Sporades?

June: the meltemi is still moderate (10–18 knots), anchorages are quiet and the water is 21–23 °C. September is the other good call, with the sea still at 23–25 °C. In July–August the sailing stays pleasant but Skiathos gets very touristy — sleep over on Skopelos or Alonissos.