The name Skiathos is derived from the word "skia", meaning shade and "athos" for Mount Athos. It is argued by some that Skiathos cannot be 'in the shade of Mount Athos', but tradition has it that this is the origin of the name. The island is an extension of the wooded Mount Pelion on the mainland and its lush vegetation is ensured by an underground river which flows under the sea, popping up in the numerous springs on Skiathos. Belonging to the Sporades family of islands, it is 3 nautical miles away from the coast of Pilio and 38 from Volos.

Skiathos is only 48sq km in area, 12km long and about 9km wide with a population of approximately 6000 people. A cosmopolitan island attracting tourists from all over the globe, even in the winter months one can meet people from other continents. Skiathos is covered in lush pine forests and olive trees which the locals still cultivate for the olives and to produce oil from. The island boasts over 60 beaches where you can swim in the clear blue Aegean sea and lie on the warm golden sand during the summer months. With a coastline of 44km one can easily go beach hopping.