Rental Rooms at Fantasia House in the Old Village

Fantasia House rental rooms/studios are conveniently located in the Old Village of Alonnisos just 20 or 30 meters from the plateia (i.e., town square) and 60 meters from the city bus stop. Fantasia is owned and operated by Panayiotis Kostas and his wife Vasso. We have known him for over 20 years and consider him to be a very good man. The picture to your right gives you a clear idea of the “look” of Fantasia House and the lush vegetation that surrounds the property.

Fantasia House’s location is perfect if you’re interested in staying in the Old Village because it’s right in the middle of everything. From there, in just a matter of five minutes or less you can walk to any cafe, restaurant or taverna, to the grocery store, or to the bus/taxi stop for traveling down to the port town of Patitiri. In addition, if you’re interested in walking longer distances there is a hiking trail to the beach at Micros Mourtias that is also only a few minutes away. And, you also can find your way down to the beach at Megalos Mourtias by foot in perhaps 30 – 35 minutes or less (depending on your age and physical condition).


All rooms include comfortable beds along with a bathroom en suite, and feature air conditioning and a television. In addition, each room has its own terrace that offers wonderful views to the east and south, including toward the uninhabited islands called the Two Brothers and the island of Evia. The photo to your left gives you an idea of what you’ll be able to gaze out at while seated on your terrace.
For additional information or to book a reservation, click here to visit the Fantasia House website.

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Summer Workshops and Courses in the Alexander Technique

For over a decade Penny O’Connor (pictured to your right), a certified member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, conducts both group courses and individual private sessions for those interested in this powerful self-improvement technique. If you’re not familiar with it, Alexander is a gentle hands-on teaching known to restore  natural health, poise and vitality; relieve neck & shoulder tensions, back pain, breathing disorders and stress; develop excellence in the performing arts and sports; and re-awaken consciousness.

Lessons are offered on Alonnisos for both the general public and for teachers and trainees as well, and are available from mid-June to mid-September. For detailed information visit the Alexander in Greece website or send an email directly to Penny by clicking here.

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Grocery Stores in Patitiri and the Old Village

There are a number of grocery stores/supermarkets in Alonnisos, but for the purposes of this post I’m only going to talk about ones we regularly visit that are located in Patitiri, Votsi, and in the Old Village.

PATITIRI GROCERY STORES

In the port town of Patitiri there are actually five different grocery stores, and we’ve shopped at all but one of them. In general, all stores carry the same basic items at similar prices, but each one also tends to offer items unique to that store. For example, one particular summer one store was offering a higher-end Dunkelweisen variety of German beer in 500ml bottles, while another uniquely offered a very low-priced beer called Hansa in 330ml and 500ml cans. The other stores we visited had neither of these. So, what we’ve found over the years is that we wind up visiting three to four stores on any given shopping trip to make sure we get everything we want. The following is a summary of each of the four stores we tend to visit, and this list is not in any order of preference.

Evaggelia Anagnostou Market

Pictured to your right, this grocery store is located directly across from where the hydrofoil boats arrive. It is operated by Evaggelia Anagnostou. It has a good selection of all basic grocery items and a good assortment of liquor as well. It also offers some souvenir type merchandise.

Dina’s  Super Market


Pictured to your left, this store is located perhaps four blocks from the port on the street that also includes the National Bank of Greece. It’s just beyond the huge pine tree that sits in the middle of this street as you travel up. The market is operated by a charming woman named Dina, and she is assisted by her son and other family members. Over the years we’ve shopped here Dina has always been very friendly and welcoming. This market has a good selection of products across all categories, a deli counter, and also offers a walk-in cooler with a good selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Pappou Market  

The Pappou Market (pictured to your right) is located about 60 meters from the the super market mentioned above and on the same side of the street as well. It is currently operated by two daughters of Eleni Pappou, the original “boss,” though Eleni is still involved in the business. The daughters, Dina and Marfoula, are very friendly and helpful, and they both speak very good English. In fact, we have found that all of the staff that works at the Pappou Market have great customer service skills. Marfoula’s daughter Elena is exceptionally kind and welcoming, as is the deli counter man named Gente. When we lived in Alonnisos for the entire summer of 2000 we developed solid friendships with Dina & Marfoula and as such over the years we have tended to shop a bit more at this market than any of the others. This store has a very good selection of grocery items and liquor, fruits and vegetables, the deli counter, and a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.

KALOGIANNIS GROCERY STORE IN VOTSI

This grocery store, which is located on the road to Votsi (a bit east of Patitiri) is operated by Thodoris and Gianna Kalogiannis. The store is quite new and features state-of-the art equipment and an excellent selection of grocery items, a deli counter, numerous fresh fruits and vegetables, and a wide assortment of liquor. In the summer of 2023 we also were very pleased to find a selection of specialty organic products at this store. Gianna & Thodoris are very friendly and as welcoming as they can be given their primary language is Greek.

OLD VILLAGE MARKET

The only grocery store in the Old Village is located on the ground floor of a two story building right where the bus from Patitiri stops (see photo to your right). This market features a  fair selection of grocery items, has a small assortment of liquors, and offers some souvenir type merchandise as well.  The advantage of this store is that if you’re staying in the Old Village you can walk to the market instead of driving or taking a bus all the way to Patitiri. The prices may be a bit higher in some instances, but it can be well worth the trade-off in time necessary to get down to the other stores. Maria who operates the store is a lovely person by the way.

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The Port at Kalamakia

The peaceful port of Kalamakia is located perhaps 3 kilometers from the port of Steni Vala, 18 kilometers from the main port of Patitiri, and about 21 kilometers from the Old Village of Alonnisos. Because of these distances, you’ll obviously either need to take a taxi there or have your own rental car or motorbike. Kalamakia is a very picturesque port with excellent views of the island of Peristera off to east (see photo to your right) and also of the uninhabited islands called the Two Brothers. The port itself is actually quite small, with space for only a limited number of fishing boats and/or pleasure craft.

Kalamakia has perhaps five tavernas and also offers rental rooms for those who are interested in being far removed from the crowds in Patitiri and the Old Village. As for a recommended restaurant, during all of our visits we have eaten at “Margarita’s” (pictured to your left) because my in-laws have been going there for many years. In years past we would typically have a big group who traveled with us there on my in-laws’ traditional Greek caique. We have always found the food to be excellent, and Margarita, her husband Nikos, and the wait staff are always welcoming. Since Kalamakia is a fishing port, it’s very common to find fresh fish and crabs available at the tavernas there, but be prepared to spend quite a few Euros for the fresh fish, which is always sold at a per-kilo rate. Also, before ordering fish soup ask for the estimated price of the entire entree.

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Getting to Alonnisos via Athens through the Mainland Port of Volos

If you are unable to book a flight from Athens to the island of Skiathos as the point of departure by boat to Alonnisos, and, you also find that there is no space available on boats leaving from the port of Mantoudi to the Sporades islands, you also have the option of taking a long distance bus from Athens to the mainland port of Volos (pictured to your right) as the departure point. With this option, you will need to book passage on a hydrofoil boat or ferry from Volos to Alonnisos using the Ferryscanner.com website.

To Volos via Long Distance Bus

To reach Volos by bus, from the airport you will need to take the X93 bus to the Bus Terminal B bus station in Athens, and to see the latest long distance bus schedule for buses departing from Bus Terminal B click here. The total time it will take you to get to Volos from the airport via bus X93 and from Bus Terminal B to Volos will be perhaps as much as 5.5 hours, but could be more based on traffic conditions.

The cost for the next segment to Volos on the KTEL Bus to Volos was €27.40 per person in 2013 so it is of course higher now in 2020. If, based on your travel schedule your arrival in Volos is too late to connect with a hydrofoil boat to Alonnisos, you will obviously need to book a hotel in Volos for that evening. To assist you in this regard please review the Category Archives on this page under “Hotel in Volos” for information regarding properties I recommend.

One other note, in addition to bus X93 from the airport, you can also 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 also need to ask what stop to use in order to facilitate the most direct access to Bus Terminal B for your next travel segment to Volos. Please note that a one-way ticket on the Metro is approximately €6, and that travel via train gets you to the city centre in perhaps half the time.

To Bus Terminal B via Taxi

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 from the Athens Airport directly to Bus Terminal B for your bus to Volos. The cost of the taxi fare to the bus terminal is approximately 50 Euros . While this is clearly more expensive than bus travel, if you’re in a hurry to meet a bus departure time or simply want more comfort, then this is a great option for you.

With respect to a recommended taxi driver, on several occasions my wife and I, as well as my in-laws and other friends with homes on Alonnisos have used the services of a  driver named Spiros Halkides. All have reported complete satisfaction with his services. Here is Spiros’ contact information: Telephone: 30-2109944771(H) & (30)-6944285686 (MOBILE). To visit Spiros’ website click here. To contact Spiros via email, click here.

If Spiros happens to be unavailable for whatever reason, I also highly recommend the taxi services of an associate of his named Kostas Markouslis. Click here to learn about Kostas’ services and to access his contact information.

Making a Boat Reservation from Volos to Alonnisos using Ferryscanner.com

If you do intend to reach Alonnisos by boat from Volos, then prior to your trip you need to reserve and pay for boat tickets in advance. The Ferryscanner.com site mentioned earlier is fairly easy to navigate, just choose your departure and arrival points and then follow the prompts. In the summer there are typically two (or perhaps three in high season) departures per day from Volos to the Sporades islands (including Alonnisos).

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Old Village – Taverna Aloni

Taverna Aloni in the Old Village has been in business for a long time, and has a very loyal following from locals as well as other European homeowners in the village. One of the most distinctive advantages of this taverna is its location, as it provides for breathtaking views toward the north/northeast (see photo to your right).

The Aloni menu is fairly basic, consisting primarily of traditional Greek salads and spreads, and the main entrees are focused on meats and fish cooked on a charcoal grill. The good is good and the service is as well. For many years The Aloni was operated by a much esteemed local man named Panayiotis, who would keep the restaurant open all year long. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago and is still sorely missed. His widow Vinetta is now operating the taverna but only keeps it open from June to perhaps mid-September. She is assisted by her lovely daughter Ourenia, who is a very friendly and efficient waitress.

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Old Village – St. Maria’s Day Celebration (August 15th)

Each year on August 15th Greeks celebrate “Stis Panayias” (or St. Maria’s Day), which in Catholicism is commonly known as the feast of the Assumption. In Greece this holiday is perhaps the most popular after Easter, as it is universally celebrated across the country. In simple terms, this is a huge party day and night on the island of Alonnisos, and it always attracts throngs of both local people and tourists as well.

 In the early evening, the town council of the island always stages a “mock” wedding that is held in the Old Village. The teenagers who participate in the wedding are dressed in traditional clothing, and follow a time-honored process that involves the wedding party and guests (locals and tourists) weaving through various walkways of the Old Village (see photo to your left) and then ending up at the plateia (town square). Music also is played throughout the event, which further adds to the festive atmosphere.

After the mock wedding concludes, the town council sponsors a massive party in the Old Village that includes a free meal of goat’s meat and spaghetti, and complimentary barrel wine is included as well. As night falls a band begins to perform in the area around the bus top (see photo to your right), and traditional Greek dancing and partying often continues until the wee hours of the morning. To see a brief YouTube video that shows short clips of both the wedding procession through the Old Village and the ensuing party, click here.

If you will be visiting Alonnisos at the time of the St. Maria’s Day celebration, I recommend that you attend these events in the Old Village, as they really are quite fun. Please note that if you are driving a rental car you should plan to arrive in the Old Village several hours before the festivities begin, for as the day wears on it becomes virtually impossible to find a parking space. Your best bet would be to park somewhere in the port town of Patitiri and then take the city bus up to the Old Village. Other options to reach the Village include riding a rental motorbike up there, walking the donkey path from Patitiri, or taking a taxi.

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Tzortzi Gialos Beach

Like Chrissi Milia and Kokkino Kastro, Tzorti Gialos beach is quite popular with tourists, and particularly so during the high season in late July and August. We have been to this beach several times over the years, and each time we found it to be an enjoyable experience. What is really novel about Tzortzi Gialos is that the sea is quite shallow for perhaps the first 30 – 40 meters. In fact, you have to go out quite far before you’re in a position where you’re standing up and your head is not above the water level.

 Like most Alonnisos beaches, Tzorti Gialos is comprised of stones as opposed to sand. That means for optimum comfort you’ll need to use a heavy-duty beach mat, or have an air mattress (lie-low in the UK) to lie on. There may be chair and umbrella rental there, but I’m not certain. To see a brief YouTube video that shows the view of this beautiful beach from the sea, click here.

Tzortzi Gialos is perhaps nine kilometers from Patitiri and about 12 kilometers from the Old Village. Because of this distance, walking there would be impractical for the vast majority of people, so you’ll need to either rent a motorbike or a car to get there, or take a taxi. The drive offers some very nice scenery on the way, and the last part of road down there winds through a beautiful pine forest with a heavenly fragance.

This beach has services (i.e., food, drink & restrooms at the taverna). The last time we were there we found the food to be quite good, so I assume that would still be the case. As you can see from the photo on your right, the taverna is conveniently located very close to the sea.

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Giorgos Snack Bar on the Patitiri Waterfront

If you’re in Patitiri in the evening and are interested in a good quality meal, but you want something more economical in price, I highly recommend you check out Giorgos’ Snack Bar (see photo to your right). Located right on the waterfront in Patitiri, this restaurant has a small number of tables, all of which provide a nice view of the harbor.

 The menu here features traditional Greek gyros and souvlaki (i.e., shish kebob), and you can purchase Greek salads as well. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and bottled water are also available. We have always had good experiences at this snack bar, and Jorgos, the owner, is very friendly.

Giorgos Snack Bar is located between two cafes/bars right above Patitiri Beach. With your back to the sea in the area of the port where the Flying Cats/Dolphins usually arrive, it’s to your left and just above the Patitiri beach.

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Old Village – Plateia Area and the Xagiati Sweet Shop & Cafe with Live Entertainment

The upper portion of plateia area (town square) of the Old Village of Alonnisos provides a spectacular view to the east (see photo down  to your right). To reach this part of the village, from the bus stop walk up to the point where the road ends at a small café (this is actually the main plateia). There is also a very historic church located opposite-right of that cafe. Then, turn left and follow the plaka/cobblestone path further until you reach a plateau with steps to your right (see photo to your left). From that area you will be able to take some great photos.

To see a brief YouTube video of the view from this area, click here.

When you climb those steps you will then be part of what I call the “Old Village promenade,” the main path that cuts through the village, weaving it’s way past restaurants (estiatorios) including “The Kastro” operated by my friend Nectarios, as well as various shops, including the Gallery 5 art gallery and candle store (pictured to your right) operated by the Danish artist Bente Keller.

The Xagiati Sweet Shop & Café with Live Entertainment

 At the very end of the promenade is a very popular sweet shop and restaurant called “Xagiati,” which has become one of the most popular locations in the Old Village because of its home-made sweets, fresh brewed coffees/cappuccinos, and aperitifs. While initially Xagiati offered only sweets, today it also includes other food choices, dishes that are lighter faire than those offered at estiatorios and tavernas.

 The proprietor is a very friendly and hard-working woman named Meni (pictured to your right), and based on the fact that Xagiati is always packed with customers, you know for certain the food is excellent. In addition, in recent years Xagiati has been offering excellent evening entertainment in the form of musicians performing both Traditional and Modern Greek music.

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