Centred around a tranquil lagoon, Koukounaries lies on the south-west coast of Skiathos in the Sporades archipelago. It remained largely undeveloped until 1964, when tourists began venturing beyond Skiathos Town. In addition to its family-friendly beaches, Koukounaries is dotted with traditional tavernas, cafes and bars.
Things to do in Koukounaries
Overlooking a crystal clear bay is Paralia Koukounaries, a sun-drenched strip of sand backed by pine trees. It’s lined with beach bars and restaurants where you can dine throughout the day and is home to the Skiathos Diving Center. Its experienced team offers both scuba diving and snorkelling excursions to explore the island’s underwater world.
A short walk over the Koukounaries Beach Bridge will take you to Paralia Maratha, a narrow beach dotted with umbrellas and sun loungers where you can while away the days. You can continue heading south-east to tiny Paralia Katharina or refresh in the shallow waters of Paralia Troullos. On the other side of Koukounaries’ peninsula is Little Banana Beach, one of the most beautiful stretches of sand on the island.
Spend an afternoon wandering the whitewashed streets of Skiathos Town, which is home to the charming Church of Agios Nikolaus. Delve into Skiathos’ literary heritage at the Home of Alexandros Papadiamantis or browse the historical artefacts on display at the Museum of Naval and Cultural Tradition. Perched atop a rocky cliff on the northern tip of the island is a Byzantine castle, which was once the main settlement on Skiathos.
Getting around Koukounaries
Koukounaries is around 20 minutes’ drive from Skiathos Town and 30 minutes from Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Koukounaries while the town is small enough to explore on foot.