According to legend, the giants Otos and Ephialtes once dislodged massive rocks from the peaks of Mount Pelion and hurled them into the sea to test their strength. This gave the world the magnificent Sporades archipelago. The gods cloaked these new islands in a lush mantle of a thousand shades of green, and when they reached the last, the easternmost island, they emptied their baskets filled with fragrant gifts: pines, cypresses, holm oaks, juniper bushes, sage, thyme, and oregano, flowers for every season, heather, orchids, honeysuckle, poppies, cyclamen, gladioli, and black cumin… one of the most beautiful gardens of the Northern Sporades was created.
As you approach the island of Alonissos, rising from the deep blue sea, you sense that this place is something special. The scent of pine, wild oregano, sage, and thyme fills the air, mingling with the fresh sea breeze. Lush forests, secluded coves, and pristine beaches define the landscape of this unspoiled Greek island.
From south to north, a diverse array of vegetation unfolds, creating a panorama of rare beauty alongside the gently shifting silhouettes of the surrounding islands. The harmonious interplay of rugged cliffs and shimmering sea lends a special magic to every view. Alonissos is a place to leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind—an island where you encounter nature not as an intruder, but on tiptoe, allowing its beauty to remain enchanted, not awakened. Here, Greece reveals itself in its most primal and poetic form.
The west coast of Alonissos is characterized by impressive cliffs that plunge steeply into the deep blue sea. Along the hiking trails, breathtaking viewpoints open up time and again – on clear days, the view even extends to Mount Athos on the horizon. The east coast, in contrast, is gentler: here, the land gradually slopes down to the sea, forming a succession of picturesque bays, beaches, and small villages with views of the neighboring islands of Peristera and Dio Adelphia.
In the south, pine forests and olive groves dominate the landscape, while the more barren north, with its mountainous terrain covered in Mediterranean scrub, offers a fascinating contrast.
Alonissos is an ideal destination for nature lovers and active vacationers alike. Hikers, swimmers, snorkelers, and divers will find perfect conditions here to discover the island in all its facets – from the tranquility of secluded coves to the spectacular panoramic views across the Aegean Sea.
Two features set Alonissos apart from the 226 inhabited islands of Greece:The island is part of the Northern Sporades Marine National Park, one of the largest and most pristine protected areas in Europe. Between deep blue waters and rugged cliffs, a refuge for rare plants and animals unfolds – a paradise where even the elusive Mediterranean monk seal finds sanctuary.
But Alonissos holds yet another treasure: Greece's first underwater museum. Off the small neighboring island of Peristera, in the tranquil depths of the Aegean Sea, lies a shipwreck some 2,500 years old – an impressive testament to ancient seafaring – a sunken world of amphorae and history, reverently referred to as the "Parthenon of Shipwrecks.“
