The verdict on Banana Beach
- Who it suitsActive and social travellers who want windsurfing and watersports, a young buzzy crowd and bars playing music from lunch until late on a genuinely pretty bay.
- Best spotThe water for the watersports, with the afternoon breeze; for a calmer swim take the sand early before the music starts, or slip over the rocks to Little Banana.
- One thing to knowThis is the loudest beach on Skiathos with high sunbed fees in peak season, so it is a poor choice if you came for quiet and a great one if you came for the scene.
Published 16 February 2026. Last reviewed 14 April 2026
Banana Beach, the big one of the two Banana coves and often signed as Big Banana, is where Skiathos goes to make noise. It is a genuinely lovely curve of soft gold sand wrapped in pines, but the draw here is the energy: bars with a beat, a young social crowd, and a steady run of watersports churning up the bay through the afternoon. The old name of the whole inlet was Krassa, before the banana shape of the two beaches stuck.
For the active traveller this is the most fun beach on the island. Windsurf rigs, jet skis, parasails and tow rides all run in season, and the south facing bay picks up enough wind in the afternoon to make wind sports a real proposition rather than a gimmick. If you want to actually do something on the water rather than just lie beside it, this is your beach.
The honest catch is the volume and the price. In July and August the music is constant, the crowd is wall to wall, and the organised sunbeds dominate the sand at fees that climb steeply in peak weeks. It is the wrong beach for a quiet swim or a family nap, and the right one for a party day. The simple fix for a calmer hour is to come early before the rigs and the speakers start, or to walk over the low rocks at the end to Little Banana.
Come to Banana Beach for the watersports, the bars and the buzz, and time the swim for the morning. For calm shallow family sand nearby head to Koukounaries, for a quiet naturist cove right next door try Little Banana, and for a wild boat only contrast see Lalaria. For verified venues and day passes use our Skiathos beach clubs directory.
Clubs and bars on Banana Beach
Banana Beach is a public beach lined with bars, tavernas and watersports operators, and we never invent venues, prices or status. Sunbed fees and which operators run shift by season, so anything we cannot confirm we list as to be confirmed. For verified beach clubs and day passes, use the Skiathos beach clubs directory.
Beach bars on the sand
Music bars and tavernas run the length of the back of the beach with loungers, shade, food and cocktails. Sunbed fees run high in peak weeks, so the current rate is best confirmed on the day.
Watersports operators
Seasonal centres run windsurf gear, jet ski, parasailing and tow rides off the sand, making this the island's busiest watersports bay. Exactly which operators run varies year to year.
Banana Beach, Skiathos, Greece
Banana Beach lies on the south coast near the west end, just over a low pine headland from Koukounaries. Take the frequent south coast bus to the Koukounaries stop and follow the signed path across the headland, about ten minutes on foot, or drive and use the parking area behind the bay. Water taxis also call here in season.
Because the beach is public you can settle on the free sand or take a sunbed set from one of the bars, though the peak fees are steep. Bring sun cover and water, keep clear of the marked watersports lanes when you swim, mind that there is no reliable lifeguard, and treat the calmer morning as typical rather than guaranteed.
Reserve a sunbed near Banana Beach
Send your details and we will help arrange a beach bar, sunbed set or watersports session near Banana Beach and along the Skiathos coast. We confirm current rates and availability with the venue before you commit. Nothing is charged here.
Banana Beach FAQ
Why is it called Banana Beach and is it the same as Big Banana?
Yes, Banana Beach and Big Banana are two names for the same beach, the larger of two curved coves in a bay once known as Krassa. The curve of the sand gives the banana name. The smaller cove around the rocks is Little Banana, a separate quieter naturist beach.
Is Banana Beach good for watersports?
Yes, it is one of the most active beaches on the island. Operators run windsurfing, jet ski, parasailing and tow rides in season, and the bay catches enough afternoon breeze to make it a real wind sports spot rather than just a place to float. Which centres run varies year to year.
Is Banana Beach a party beach?
It is the liveliest beach on Skiathos, with bars playing music and a young social crowd, especially in July and August. It is fun if that is what you want and tiring if it is not. For the same gorgeous bay without the volume, come early or head over the rocks to Little Banana.
How do you get to Banana Beach?
It sits on the south coast near the west end, close to Koukounaries. Take the frequent south coast bus to the Koukounaries stop and walk over the low pine headland on a signed path, about ten minutes, or drive and use the parking area. Water taxis also serve the bay in season.
When is the best time to visit Banana Beach?
June and September give warm water and the lively feel without the full August crush, and the morning is calmer before the music and the wind build. If you want the windsurfing, the afternoon breeze is your friend, while if you want a quiet swim, get there early.