Linaria is a small and quite a new village that is situated on the west coast of the island of Skyros. Although it is quite small it appears the be sort of quietly lively even out of season, and shops and restaurants are opened. We thought Linaria was a pleasant place to visit. The village was founded in 1828 and, located in a wind protected bay and built against a hill in the shape of an amphitheatre. At the top of the hill stands the largest church of the island, the Agios Nikolaos Linarias, with its high bell tower. From the square that surrounds the church there is a beautiful view over the surroundings and the village itself. Linaria is also the village where the ferries arrive that connect the island with the other Sporades islands such as Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos (high season), and with the small town of Kimi on the island of Evia, and with this to the mainland of Greece. Most of the inhabitants of Linaria live of fishing and some of them work in the tourist industry. The distance to the capital of the island, Skyros Chora, is nine kilometers. The village has a regular bus connection with the Chora.

Linaria has remained a quiet small harbour, with sailing boats and fishing boats, and there are some accommodations, restaurants, souvenir shops, mini markets, a bakery and a gas station. There is a small village beach just north of Linaria and more beaches can be found in close proximity, such as Acherounes beach (distance about 800 meters). This beach is popular with families with small children because it is situated in a protected bay. The water is shallow and quite warm. Acherounes beach is an organised beach where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas (high season only). It is quite large and consists of mainly coarse sand. It is easy to go into the water here.

In the tourist season there are excursions from the port of Linaria with caiques (small wooden boats) to the sea caves of Pentekali, Diatrypiti, Yerania and Spilia which can be found in the white chalk cliffs, and to the small islet of Sarakino south of the island of Skyros, where a beautiful sandy beach can be found that is called Glyfada. The south coast of Skyros is rocky and dry and the rocks rise steeply from the sea. The beach of Sarakino is located in a protected cove on the south side of the island in a bay with turquoise coloured water.

Lykomides Studios and apartments had the highest rating for accommodations on the island of Skyros (2018) and it is run by a warm, hospitable, enthusiastic and wonderful woman with the name of Soula Pappa. She was so kind that she offered up a whole day to pick us up at the hotel where we stayed and she drove us around the island in her 4x4 to show us places that we would probably not have found by ourselves, and drove us over beautiful roads that we would not have picked. Thank you Soula for making our holiday on Skyros even more memorable that it would have been if we would have organised everything ourselves.

This property is 1 minute walk from the beach. Located in Linaria Port of Skyros, the family-run Lykomides offers air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi and a balcony overlooking the Aegean Sea. Restaurants, bars and mini markets can be found within a short walk.

Decorated with dark-wooden or wrought-iron beds, the rooms of Lykomides are equipped with air conditioning, TV and a fridge. Each unit includes a private bathroom stocked with a hairdryer.

Skyros Town lies within 12 km from Lykomides, while Skyros National Airport is at 25 km. Staff at the front desk can arrange car rental to explore famous beaches, such as Molos at 14 km and Atsitsa at 17 km. Free public parking is possible nearby.

This property also has one of the best-rated locations in Skyros! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area. Couples particularly like the location - they rated it 9.5 for a two-person trip. This property is also rated for the best value in Skyros! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.

Check availabilities and prices & book Lykomides in Linaria on the island of Skyros - click here.

Psariotes Taverna is situated in the harbor of the village of Linaria. We order the spaghetti with lobster, fish, a Greek salad and half a liter of white wine. The service is extremely friendly and we get a free starter. The spaghetti with lobster tastes good. It is a very big plate and therefore I cannot eat it all. Unfortunately one fish was okay but the other fish had not been cleaned properly. The Greek salad was fine.

Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Magari Taverna is also situated in the harbor of the village of Linaria, right next to the Psariotes Taverna where we ate the lobster and the fish. Here we order the Greek salad, the fava with anise, the Skyrian cheese pie, half a liter of white wine and twice the grilled sardines. Again the service is extremely friendly, but then again: the people on Skyros are all so incredibly sweet. The food is very good and original. The wine is delicious, the bread is fresh and we do not have any comments at all.

Our verdict: a 9 out of 10