Alonissos

Quiet, green, and easy to love — Alonissos gives you a proper island town (Chora), relaxed harbors, and clear-water bays. Peristera sits right next door for a standout swim stop.

  • Best for: Calm bays + traditional town evenings + clear-water swim stops
  • Typical conditions: northerly winds, pick lee-side bays and avoid exposed plans
  • Main port: Patitiri
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Gialia and Vrisitsa beaches in Alonissos

Alonissos at a glance

Alonissos is the laid-back side of the Sporades — a working port at Patitiri, the beautiful old Chora up on the hill for evenings out, and a mix of bays and small harbors for easy day plans. Peristera pairs naturally with Alonissos too: it’s close enough for a simple hop and adds one of the most memorable water stops of the week.

  • Sailing style: Easy hops, lots of bay time, relaxed day pace
  • Anchoring: Clear water; popular bays fill up — arrive with daylight and space
  • Mooring: Small harbors can be tight; be ready and keep it simple
  • Ashore: Chora for views + atmosphere; Patitiri for the main waterfront
  • Good to know: In N–NE, avoid exposed north-side plans — stay on the comfortable side and keep a Plan B
Map of Alonissos showing Patitiri and nearby anchor areas

Patitiri • Alonissos Chora • Chrisi Milia • Steni Vala • Shipwreck • Peristeri

Stop-by-stop tips

Patitiri Port

Patitiri is the practical hub of Alonissos — an easy arrival, a waterfront you’ll actually enjoy, and the simplest base for visiting Chora without moving the boat.

  • What to do (don’t skip): evening waterfront stroll, then pop up to Chora for views and a very different feel.
  • Approach & berthing: active port with ferries/day traffic — arrive with time and stay predictable on approach.
  • Shelter / conditions: generally protected, but a gentle up-and-down surge can roll through the harbor — set fenders a bit lower and leave the boat room to move.
  • Getting around: Chora is an easy hop by bus/taxi from the port — ideal for an evening visit.
  • Tip: don’t leave Patitiri for late in the day if you want an easy arrival — come in with daylight and options.

Alonissos Chora (Town)

Chora is the “postcard” Alonissos — stone lanes, views, and that classic hilltop island atmosphere.

  • Access: easiest by bus/taxi from Patitiri (or nearby stops).
  • Best time: late afternoon into sunset — cooler, calmer, and the views land better.
  • Food & drinks: perfect for dinner or sunset drinks with views — it’s one of the best “evening out” moments on Alonissos.
  • Tip: wear good shoes (it’s uphill and cobbled), and keep a simple timing plan back to the boat.

Chrisi Milia Bay

A beautiful, safe bay with crystal-clear water and generally good holding — one of the easiest “feel-good” stops on Alonissos.

  • Approach & anchoring: clear water and good holding — set well and give yourself room.
  • Mooring / lines: anchor-only for a day stop; if you want to overnight, you can do anchor + long lines to the rocks (extra care and daylight setup).
  • Tip + Plan B: if it feels crowded, don’t squeeze in — pick another nearby bay with the same “clear water + easy swim” feel and come back later.

Steni Vala Harbor

A small, photogenic harbor with a calm feel — great views, and some of the best tavernas right by the water.

  • Approach & berthing: small, and a spot can be hard to get in season — arrive early if you want it.
  • Depth / quay: it’s not deep everywhere along the pier, so go slowly and don’t assume uniform depth.
  • Mooring / lines: if the quay is full, it’s sometimes possible to secure lines after the pier to the rocks and use the dinghy for the last few meters.
  • Tip: set up neatly and keep it simple — this is a tight little harbor and space matters.

Peristera’s Shipwreck

Crystal-clear water and one of the most memorable stops in the area — perfect for a long swim. In calm conditions, it can also work for an overnight with a proper setup.

  • Mooring / lines: anchor-only as a swim stop
  • Overnight option: anchor off and run long lines ashore.
  • Traffic: it can get busy, with boats coming and going — keep clear space and stay alert.
  • Tip + Plan B: if it’s crowded, shift to Vasiliko Bay nearby for a calmer stop.

Peristeri Bay

A beautiful nearby bay on Peristera — the kind of place you choose when you want calm water and a protected anchorage.

  • Why stop here: clear water, quiet atmosphere — a great “reset” anchorage when you want something calmer.
  • Shelter / conditions: very protected; in bad weather it can feel like a safe-harbor substitute.
  • Mooring / lines: best with anchor + long lines ashore – closer to the beach.
  • Anchoring caution: some boats stay anchor-only — leave room for their swing and keep your lines clear of their arc.
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Practical Tips

Coastline choice

Alonissos: the NW side is rocky and less forgiving; the SE side is where you’ll find the nicer, easier bays.
Peristera: it’s the opposite — the west side works well, while the east side is rocky.

The “channel” route between the islands

That coastline pattern creates a natural, comfortable corridor: travel between Alonissos (east side) and Peristera (west side). It’s the practical way to move around with fewer surprises, and it keeps good anchor options close if you need to change plans.

Ports & harbor movement

Patitiri (port comfort): you can get a persistent up-and-down surge even when the weather looks calm. Set fenders a bit lower, leave enough slack for movement, and keep lines tidy so the boat can work without jerking all night.

Quick checklist

  • Prefer Alonissos SE for bays; treat Alonissos NW as the rocky/exposed side
  • Use the Alonissos–Peristera channel as your “your comfortable route” with easy fallbacks
  • If the port is full: don’t force a tight berth — use one of the nearby safe anchorages instead and come back when it’s calmer/less crowded.

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