Skala

Skala, the island's small but sophisticated main town, is where almost all the shops and restaurants are located. It's a popular port of call for cruise ships, and in summer the huge liners often loom over the rooftops. There's not much to see in the town, but it is lively and very attractive. Most of the town center is closed to cars and, since strict building codes have been enforced, even new buildings have traditional architectural detail. The medieval town of Chora and the island's legendary monasteries are perched above Skala on a nearby hill. Take a 20-minute hike up to Kastelli, on a hill overlooking Skala, to see the stone remains of the city's 6th-to-4th-century BC town and acropolis.