Best Beaches on Skiathos: Koukounaries, Banana Beach and Lalaria
Updated October 20, 2026 · 4 min read
The three beaches people ask about need three different ways of getting there. Koukounaries you reach by bus, Banana Beach by bus plus a track or by boat, and Lalaria only by sea. If you want all three in one week, plan one boat day and spend the rest on the south coast.
| Beach | How you get there | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Koukounaries | Bus from Skiathos Town, or water taxi | Soft white sand, shallow green water, pine trees, sunbeds and water sports |
| Banana Beach | Boat, or dirt tracks from the Koukounaries bus terminus | Long crescent of fine sand, umbrellas, daybeds and a beach bar |
| Lalaria | Boat only | Round white pebbles under white cliffs, with a natural rock arch |
Koukounaries and Banana Beach: by land
The public bus runs from the port along the south coast to Koukounaries. The operator lists a journey of about 30 minutes and departures every 15 minutes from 6:45 am, at €2 or €3 depending on the distance. Check the current timetable for your dates on the operator’s site, because frequency changes with the season.
Koukounaries is the island’s most famous beach and is organised, which means it is also the one that gets busy. Banana Beach lies a little further on. The road stops at the bus terminus, so you either walk or drive the dirt tracks, or you arrive by boat. If you have no car, treat the last stretch as something to ask your hotel about.
Lalaria: only by sea
Lalaria sits on the north coast below steep white rock, and there is no path down to it. That is the reason for the boat trips. The cruise to Lalaria, Kastro and Tsougria lists a swim at Lalaria: €48 per person, 7 hours, 4.0 stars from 127 reviews. The Sea and Sun island day cruise passes the Blue Caves and stops at a white-pebbled beach for swimming: €48, 7 to 8 hours, 4.2 from 541 reviews. Its listing does not name the beach, so ask before you book if Lalaria matters to you.
Check availability and prices for the Lalaria cruise
What to know
- Wind and swell can change a boat’s route, and the north coast is the exposed side. Expect the operator to decide on the day.
- Both cruises are full days. If you only want sand and shallow water, you do not need a boat.
- At organised beaches, ask what sunbeds and umbrellas cost before you sit down.
For how the boat trips compare, read around Skiathos by boat or see all Lalaria island cruises. Our pick for the beach you cannot walk to is the cruise to Lalaria, Kastro and Tsougria.
