Welcome to the “Alonnisos Insider” Site

Posted on September 26, 2016 by alonnisos

Welcome to the Alonnisos Insider Site! As a frequent visitor to Greece (i.e., 16 trips between 1997 and 2019) I’ve learned many things about traveling there, and am particularly knowledgeable about Alonnisos island. My primary intention with this site is to provide readers with valuable insights into the island itself, including guidance with respect to:

  • The primary methods of getting to/from Alonnisos
  • Detailed information about what to see and do when visiting there
  • Courtesy listings for rooms, studios and homes available for rent on the island

In addition, I share “insider information” through my opinions regarding the best-of-the-best restaurants and other service providers in Alonnisos. In this regard, please note that any recommendations I make here regarding specific businesses are simply my experiences and suggestions, and of course, they should not preclude you from visiting and experiencing other establishments or using other service providers during your stay on the island. Also, please note that the photos used in the slide show at the top of this page are courtesy of Vasilis Photography in Alonnisos.

If you are using a PC or laptop, the best way to use the site is to refer to the Category Archives box to your right, as it provides a summary of all topics covered.

NOTE: For those visiting this site using a smartphone or other mobile device, please page down to the bottom to find the nav-bar content, which includes links to specific categories of posts (e.g., “Alonnisos-Restaurants”, “Getting to Alonnisos from Volos,” and many, many more).

If you have any questions regarding anything on this site, or have specific questions about Alonnisos, contact me via email by clicking here.

If you have found value in this website and are a member of Facebook, please click on this link to be taken to the Alonnisos Insider page on Facebook, where you can choose to “Like” the site. This will help us to spread the word about the Alonnisos Insider. Thanks! Also please note that I regularly share new photos on that page.

Important Notice: The date and time stamp at the bottom of every post is not  reflective of the “newness” of the information shared. Note that as of July 1, 2020 I have updated all posts that required update. I also update older posts when necessary whenever I make another trip to Alonnisos. Also, please note that to keep this site “pure,” none of the links on this site provide compensation to me or this website for any click-throughs.

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Private Health Clinic in Alonnisos – Cosmohealth

Posted on January 30, 2021 by alonnisos

For many years on Alonnisos, the only medical facility that was available to both local residents and visitors was a basic clinic that had limited diagnostic capabilities and staffing. In many instances, while the resident doctor and staff always did their very best to be of service, the reality was that anyone who experienced a serious medical issue or had an accident of some type and really needed medical care, typically had to take the next available boat to Volos to receive assistance.

While that clinic still exists today, in 2019 a new private healthcare clinic called Cosmoshealth began operations in the port town of Patitiri, one which offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options, as well as access to a large assortment of medical doctors. Today the Cosmoshealth private medical facility operates throughout the year, and during the summer tourist season its operation is extended over a 24/7 basis with medical staff that can support emergencies as well. In addition, during the rest of the year Cosmoshealth offers a wide variety of medical specialties, following monthly issued programs that are adjusted according to ferry schedules and weather conditions too.

The medical specialties covered in this outpatient healthcare facility are Ultrasonography and Angiological Triplex exams performed by a Doctor of Radiology, Gynecology/Obstetrics, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Endocrinology/Diabetes care, Neurology, Urology, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, Dermatology, and General pathology. Faithful to its vision, Cosmoshealth continuously develops its services, aspiring to ensure improved health and a better life for all.

Cosmohealth is located on the north portion of the Patitiri ring road. Examinations must be pre-scheduled by phone (+302424065555, +306942467768). Payments are private and all major credit cards are accepted. Patients with private insurance coverage are welcome as well, since after the completion of the examinations and the medical services, Cosmohealth provides a detailed Medical Report along with a financial receipt for the patient to submit the claim for payment to their private health care insurance company.

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The Alonissos App from Zesti.gr

Posted on February 17, 2020 by alonnisos

For an additional information resource about Alonnisos beyond this blog, anyone who visits the island with a smartphone really should download and use the Alonissos App prior to your trip (see screen shot to your right). This advanced, user-friendly application was created by a team of people who truly know Alonnisos, and who had the requisite technical expertise to design this top-flight information resource.

The Alonissos App is a dynamic guide for those visiting the island, as well as anyone who is interested in doing so. To ensure it remains up to date, information is added continuously to assist users in effortlessly navigating to find the best the island has to offer. With this powerful app, users can easily identify where to stay, what places to visit, where to swim, where to dine, and much more (see sample screen shot to your left).

In addition, users can personalize the guide by adding favorites, ratings, and comments about the places they visit so others can benefit from the knowledge of their experiences. When a user locates a place they want to visit, they simply need to tap below the map to navigate there. The screen shot below shows a sample page about the Old Village of Alonnisos.

The Alonissos App is powered by the Zesti platform, and because the company works closely with the people of the Alonissos and the local Municipality, the content is constantly updated. Users also can click on the feedback button within the app to make suggestions for additions or improvements to it.

The Alonissos App is free for smartphone users, and is available for both the iOS and Android operating systems. Local island businesses interested in advertising through the app pay an annual fee. To download the app for use on an iPhone, visit the Apple AppStore using this link; Android OS users can get the app through the Google PlayStore by clicking here.

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Getting to Alonnisos from Athens via the port of Mantoudi in Evia

Posted on January 15, 2020 by alonnisos

People on their way to Alonnisos who arrive in Athens, and who do not want to fly to Skiathos (for an ensuing boat transfer to Alonnisos), or who are unable to book a flight to Skiathos, can travel to the port of Mantoudi on the island of Evia in order to get to the island using the following options:

Option 1: is to take a coach bus to the port of Mantoudi on the island of Evia, followed by a ferry to Alonnisos. To book reservations for the ferry click here.

To reach Mantoudi by bus from the Athens airport you will first need to take the X93 city bus to the Bus Terminus B bus station in Athens. To see a long-distance bus schedule for buses departing from Bus Terminus B click here. The total time it will take you to get to Mantoudi from the airport via Bus Terminus B will be perhaps as much as 3.5 hours, but could be more based on traffic conditions. The estimated time for the bus ride itself from Athens to Mantoudi is approximately 2.5 hours. To book reservations on this bus click here. Choose the departure point as Athens and the arrival point as Kymasi.

One other note, in addition to bus X93 from the airport, you also can reach Athens City Centre via the Metro Train line. Ask the information desk at the airport for directions to the on-site Metro station (it’s on the lower level). If you do take the Metro, you’ll want to take it to the Attiki Station in Athens, as it’s the closest station to Bus Terminus B for your next travel segment to Mantoudi. Note that travel via train instead of bus gets you to the city center in perhaps half the time. Please likewise note that based on advice from a friend in Athens, for safety sake it’s best to take a taxi from the Athens Attiki Metro Station to the main bus terminal.

Option 2: To Mantoudi via Taxi/Limo

If you aren’t as much concerned about cost as you are about comfort and speed, you also have the option of taking a taxi/limo from the Athens Airport directly to Mantoudi. While this would obviously be more expensive than bus travel, if two or more people are traveling together the price is much more reasonable and it’s clearly more convenient.
If you are interested in taking a taxi/limo, I highly recommend the services of a driver in Athens named Spiros Halkides. Not only is he a great guy, but he also speaks fluent English from his experience in living in New York for many years. Here is his contact information: Telephone: 30-2109944771 (H) & (30)-6944285686(MOBILE). To visit Spiros’ website click here. To contact Spiros via email, click here.

(As an alternative to the above information, there is a website called RometoRio that has a bookings page dedicated to the Athens – Mantoudi segment. Click here to visit it.)

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Greek Key Properties – Real Estate Services

Posted on May 26, 2019 by alonnisos

Greek Key Properties is a real estate sales company in Alonnisos offering expert services delivered by Panos Taliadoros, an established real estate sales & support professional. His experience in this area includes several years serving as a branch manager for a large agency in the U.K. prior to relocating to Alonnisos in 2015.

As a full-time resident of the island, Panos (pictured on the left) has in-depth knowledge of the nuances of the Alonnisos real estate market, and is readily accessible not only by email and phone, but also in person 7-days a week. He is committed to delivering total transparency and honesty to both sellers and buyers, giving them the confidence to count on him to assist them throughout the transaction process.

Born in the U.K. of Greek-Cypriot parents, he is very much at home on Alonnisos and can empathize with the “Greek culture” first hand. He likewise is a great ambassador for promoting the island through social media and advertising.

Panos has the necessary experience and communication skills to work successfully with all parties involved – sellers, buyers, and their legal representatives as well. In addition, he has established relationships with architects on the island and other home-related service providers to assist buyers interested in customizing their homes to meet their specific preferences.

For more information about Greek Key Properties and the services it offers please click here. visit  To contact Panos directly via email with any questions, please click here.

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Insurance Services in Alonnisos

Posted on March 24, 2019 by alonnisos

A trusted friend of ours, George Tsoukanas, is now offering top-quality insurance services for Alonnisos residents as well as homeowners on the island who are from the EU and other countries too. He can provide access to coverage for homes, businesses, autos, and motorbikes from an assortment of well-respected insurance suppliers.

To contact George via email about the various types of insurance coverage he has available, please click here.

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Recommended Apartments in Skiathos – Fresh Rooms

Posted on December 4, 2018 by alonnisos

For our trip to Alonnisos in 2018 we once again needed to overnight in Skiathos, as we arrived an hour later than the last boat for the evening left that particular night in mid-July. Since we were only staying just the one night, we simply wanted a clean, safe, and cost-effective place that was near to port so we could catch our ferry to Alonnisos the next day. In the past we stayed several times at a hotel outside the city center, however, this year the price was way too high (i.e., 100 Euros) for just a one night stay after a late evening arrival.

So, I came across information about Fresh Rooms on Booking.com and made a reservation. The owner/manager Michalis (Michael) was very friendly and hospitable. The room itself was fairly basic but clean and with AC as well. There was no Wi-Fi to my knowledge, but we really didn’t care since we would only be there a short time. We didn’t have a “view” but that didn’t matter to us either. The price at the time was 50 Euros, which was just fine. Note also that the place is up on a hill so there are some steps to climb.

We really liked the location because it’s right off the main road and it took us just five minutes to walk to the center of the port that evening for dinner at our favorite restaurant in Skiathos (i.e., Paraxenos – awesome food by the way). The next morning Michalis was kind enough to drive us to the port (less than 1km) since we had the suitcases to deal with and were running a bit late; we really appreciated that.
Bottom line, in our case this was a great place to stay in Skiathos based on our itinerary as pass-through travelers. Based on this experience, we would definitely stay there again on our way to Alonnisos.

For more information about Fresh Rooms, please click on this link to its page on Booking.com.

 

 

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Land for Sale – Old Village Area

Posted on August 7, 2018 by alonnisos

One of the things I really appreciate about Alonnisos is the impromptu connections I’ve made over the years that truly are organic (i.e., not arranged) in nature. Last week, for example, I went to the cemetery to pay my respects to people we knew who passed away since we left last year. In doing so, I had the great pleasure of meeting a mother (Machi) and daughter (Maria) who were carefully tending to the grave of their husband/father. Maria and I struck up a conversation in English and it was a lovely chat indeed. She mentioned that she had some land for sale, and in response to that I decided to write this post and include information about it here on AlonnisosInsider.com.

The parcel of land for sale is a seaside plot of 2,203 square meters (total) with olive trees located on the west side of Alonnisos near the southern end of the island. It is just 500 meters away from the Old Village, has easy access through an existing road, and importantly, the required building license, forest clearance, and proper documentation are already prepared. The property is situated on a hill and is ideal for building a home/cottage. The price for this plot of land is 60,000 Euros.

For more information about this property, or to ask any questions, please click here to send an email to Maria Kalogianni.

Also, please note that to keep this site “pure” AlonnisoInsider.com does not receive any compensation for this post or any others.

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Marabu All Day Bar in Patitiri

Posted on August 4, 2018 by alonnisos

Recently I learned about a cafe called the Marabu All Day Bar, which is located right on the waterfront in Patitiri, so I thought I’d write a quick post about it. Marabu offers 25 percent discount on selected items daily from 17:00-19:30 (i.e., 5:00pm – 7:30pm) and has the following Happy Hour prices:

  • Large beer (draught or bottled): 3.0 Euros
  • Glass of wine: 3.0 Euros
  • Selected cocktails: 6.0 Euros

Next time you’re in Patitiri be sure to check out Marabu to enjoy the beverage of your choice, and to take advantage of the great view as well.

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ElectroNet Alonnisos – Wide Selection of Electronic Products, Excellent Service

Posted on August 4, 2018 by alonnisos

Recently, the 20-year old refrigerator in our family home in Alonnisos began to fail so we had to face the fact that it was time to replace it. While some folks on the island suggested that we shop for it on the Internet, I really felt it was better to deal face-to-face with local people for a purchase such as this. As such, I visited the ElectroNet store in Patitiri several times to do research in order to make a decision as to which fridge to buy. Each time I stopped by there I was greeted warmly by the salesperson, Smaragdi, and she patiently listened to my questions and answered them all.

The other day we finally purchased one at ElectroNet and it was delivered just three hours later by one of the owners, Panayiotis, and two other men who clearly knew what they were doing.  They not only brought the new fridge, they also took the old one away for only 20 Euros.

I am pleased to say that the entire experience was very positive, and as such I highly recommend ElectroNet as a source in Alonnisos for just about any electronic product (I actually bought a new coffee grinder as well that day).

ElectroNet is located across from the car park near the big bakery on the main street heading up to the port. The telephone number  is 2424-0-66069, and to contact the store via email, click here.

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I&M Motorbike Rental in Patitiri Now Renting Cars Too

Posted on July 29, 2018 by alonnisos

For anyone interested in renting a car in Alonnisos, I am pleased to report that I&M Motorbike Rental is now offering cars for rent as well. They have two new Citroen C1 passenger cars available for daily rental this summer (2018, see photo to your right). Both cars have manual transmissions and rent for approximately 50ϵ/day during high-season (August) and 45 ϵ/day in May – June and in September.

Based on my very positive experiences over 21 years with the owners, Ilias and Maria and their fine son Apostolis, I can say without question you won’t find a better place to rent a car or a motorbike in Alonnisos.

I&M’s Patitiri location is  on what we call “the back street” up from the port on the west side of Patitiri. The photo to your left of Ilias and his father Apostolis was taken back in 2011 and provides some insight as to what the storefront looks like. It’s easy to find because there’s usually a large number of motorbikes parked across the street from it. To contact I&M by phone call (30) 2424-065010 (where 30 is the country code). To reserve a car (or motorbike) via email click here.

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