Explore holidays in Alonnisos
Looking for that elusive, unspoilt Greek island for your next holiday? Picture Alonnisos, where pine trees tumble down to turquoise seas, and pretty beaches invite you to swim in the clearest water in the Aegean. No ritz, no glitz, just an authentic working harbour, a picturesque old town and a scattering of holiday villas where you can enjoy blissfully peaceful days and glorious island views.
Alonnisos is part of the Northern Sporades National Marine park, a protected, land-and-sea wilderness which offers a haven for the Aegean’s most at-risk wildlife, including the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. A holiday on Alonnisos means slow travel at its best, with enough tavernas, beaches and gentle activities to make a wonderfully relaxed holiday without detracting from its serene and timeless beauty.
A selection of our holidays in Alonnisos
* Package prices for UK departures include seven nights’ accommodation, flights and transfers/car hire, based on the lowest rate for maximum occupancy.
Our guide to Alonnisos
In this section...
Introduction to Alonnisos
Alonnisos is one of the Northern Sporades islands in the Aegean, a sea so bewitchingly blue it has its own Pantone reference. The island measures a scant 20km end to end, with just one main road running the length of it, and no airport to disturb the serene, natural beauty. The east coast has easily accessible beaches, whereas the west is wild and untouched, with only tracks to take you down to the sea.
A protected natural world
Alonnisos is the only inhabited island in the vast National Marine Park. The park was established in 1992 and has protected not just the wildlife and marine environment but also Alonnisos itself from any mass development. Aleppo pines, ancient oak trees and Cretan maples cloak and scent the hillsides, with not much more than mule tracks running across them. Take your pick from the string of over 30 beaches and coves that scallop the coastline, some with sunbeds and handful of tavernas for your comfort, others wilder and harder to access but all the more rewarding for it.
New life in the Old Town
Patitiri – meaning grape press, from the days when vines were grown on Alonnisos’ sunny hillsides – is the main arrival point on this airport-free island, where ferries dock regularly from Skiathos (where the flights land) and Skopelos. It’s the end of the line for the excursion boats, and most tourists simply don’t make it this far, keeping the atmosphere authentic. Patitiri has its own beach, and whilst the town itself is mainly modern it has real, old-school Greek charm. When you want a taste of old Alonnisos, you can hop on the local bus and reach the very picturesque old town (Chora) above in about 10 minutes. The Chora is the former capital of Alonnisos, currently home to about 300 permanent inhabitants, many of whom live in discreetly renovated old village houses which keep the architectural character of the original settlement whilst adding a quiet sheen of prosperity.
Climb to the Kastro
At the top of town is the Kastro district. This is the most historic part of the Chora, with old stone houses fronted by wooden balconies that overhang the narrow streets below. Some are exposed stone, others are the classic limewash white trimmed in cobalt blue and all are fabulously photogenic. The labyrinthine layout dates from more turbulent times when the Kastro was fortified by successive Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman occupation, but today it’s the perfect invitation for you to wander without agenda. Dip into the side streets and you’ll discover tiny shops selling locally made crafts, and tavernas with tables crammed companionably onto stone terraces and steep steps. The most coveted tables come with a view, which makes the walk up here all the more worth your while.
Beyond the Chora, a green and peaceful landscape beckons, with sea as clear as a bottle of ouzo, perfect for diving, boating and simply enjoying this precious pocket of protected nature.
At a glance
Map and other regions
Food & drink
The clean waters off Alonnisos make fish a particular treat to eat here. Tuna is the prize catch that features on most menus, served as a steak (great for bone-haters!), in salads or meze dishes. Other highlights are red mullet and sardines, simply grilled and served with lemon and olive oil, as well as octopus, often charred over coals and paired with a glass of local wine or ouzo.
Kakavia is the name of the traditional fisherman's fish soup, made with whatever the day’s fish is, enriched with potatoes and tomato. Pies are another Alonnisos favourite, made variously with cheese, spinach or octopus, encased in golden filo and usually pan cooked rather than baked.
If you want to pack a picnic or have a simple lunch at your villa, local cheeses and cured meats make a hearty accompaniment to a salad of plump tomatoes and tangy red onions. For a sweet treat that’s a speciality of Alonnisos and Skopelos, fouskakias are incredibly moreish, similar to mini donuts without the hole, served warm and topped with honey, cinnamon and walnuts.
Honey is a key Alonnisos speciality, naturally flavoured by the wild herbs that the bees forage for nectar and pollen. It lends richness to desserts, combined with almonds, figs and walnuts for extra sweetness and texture.
Alonnisos wines are sadly rather rare now since most vines were wiped out by disease in the 1960s, but you can sometimes find locally produced table wine known as black wine due to its dense deep red colour. You won’t go thirsty however, with menus offering wines from all over Greece and beyond, plus the typical Greek beers like Mythos and Alfa available everywhere.
Beaches
Tzortzi Glaros
Around 5km north-east of Patitiri, this narrow beach has a traditional taverna under the vines and a sandbar just off the beach, so a good spot for younger kids to paddle. Our Actaea Beach House is located right here.
Chrysa Milia
Around 6km north-east of Patitiri, this is regarded as the best sandy beach on the island, with a few sunbeds, a popular taverna and shallow clear water.
Kokkino Kastro beach
Around 7km north-east of Patitiri, the name means ‘red castle’ in Greek, referring to the cliffs and the ancient remains found here. Soft sand and turquoise sea.
Leftos Gialos
Around 10km north-east of Patitiri, this pebble beach has stunning clear water and pine forest that dips down almost to the shoreline. Two stylish beach clubs with lounger drinks service and cool background music – as close to an Ibiza vibe as Alonnisos gets!
Glyfa/Stena Vali beach
Close to Steni Vala village, this is a broader bay with a mix of sand and pebbles and some sunbeds for hire. The village is well known for its fish tavernas, bringing yachts to the sheltered harbour in the summer months.
Agios Dimitrios
Around 15km north-east of Patitiri, a crescent of coarse sand lapped by emerald water makes this a much photographed spot, yet it feels charmingly undeveloped save for a couple of handy tavernas.
Gerakas
Around 20km north-east of Patitiri on the north coast, with a wild and natural feel that’s noticeable even by Alonnisos standards. The access road is rough and there are no beach facilities – it’s literally the end of the road in Alonnisos, and can be windy in the height of summer.
Milia
Things to do
Explore the Chora
Perched above the Aegean, Alonnisos’ enchanting Chora (old town) blends whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and pirate-era history. Reborn after the 1965 earthquake, its atmospheric lanes lead to café-filled squares up to the old Kastro, where fragments of the original Venetian fort have been incorporated into some of the newer buildings; the sea views are spectacular.
Visit MOM
The monk seal info centre in Patitiri is full of video and interactive displays where you can learn more about monk seals and the protected marine ecosystem of the park. If you’re looking for a souvenir, shopping here supports vital conservation work.
Diving
Incredible water clarity, rich marine biodiversity and the presence of several offshore wrecks make this a mecca for divers. There are 14 sites where diving is permitted within the marine park, and three island dive schools who can rent you gear and provide advice and instruction as needed.
Hire a motor boat
The calm protected bays and beaches around Alonnisos are ideal for pottering about in a small boat, which can be hired without a licence. Stay east or south for the most sheltered spots, especially if the meltemi wind is up in summer.
Alonnisos Museum
Located near the sea in Patitiri, this local history museum gives a great insight into life on Alonnisos through the ages, featuring a wide range of exhibits from pirate weapons and items rescued from shipwrecks to machines and artefacts from traditional island crafts and industries.
Marine Park cruises
A range of different size and style boats go out to explore the marine park from Patitiri. Itineraries vary, but expect to see smaller islands, caves and shipwrecks, with lunch and a swim stop usually included. Monk seal sightings are extremely rare, but you are likely to encounter common, striped, or bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles and a host of seabirds.
The Road Less Travelled
We asked our local representatives to share a few of their favourite ‘off the beaten track’ experiences. Here are some of their suggestions…
Golden hour
Lots of people head to the Kastro for sunset, but if you’re prepared to walk a little way, you’ll get a more peaceful experience at Kalovoulos. Take the gravel path from the main Chora car park and walk about 15 minutes, following the sign for Kalovoulos and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view as the sun sets in a blaze of pink, lavender and gold behind neighbouring Skopelos.
Take a walk
The unspoilt nature of Alonnisos lends itself well to walking, and there’s a handy local app for guidance. You can follow trails – many of them are ancient mule paths – from village to village, or head up to higher ground for panoramic views of the coast and over to neighbouring Skopelos.
Kyra Pamania
This little island is uninhabited save for a solitary monk who lives in the monastery here. Catch a boat here from Patitiri or Steni Vali for walking in the cooler months and snorkelling in the famously clear sea of the marine park.
