Palamari: Skyros' Bronze Age Town
Palamari is a fortified Bronze Age settlement on the north coast of Skyros, buried under the sand for 3,500 years. What to see at the free archaeological site, and why it matters.
Last updated 29 June 2026
Long before Chora, before the Skyrian horse was a legend, there was a fortified town on the north coast of Skyros. Palamari is one of the most important Bronze Age sites in the Aegean, and you can walk through it for free.
In short: Palamari, on the north-east coast of Skyros, is the excavated remains of a fortified Bronze Age settlement, an organised, walled town that lay buried under the sand for some 3,500 years. Entry is free, and many of its finds are displayed in the island’s archaeological museum. It pairs well with the quiet northern beaches and wetlands.
A town from the Bronze Age
Palamari was no simple village but an organised, fortified town, with houses, public buildings and a sophisticated system of fortifications, evidence of a prosperous community trading across the Aegean in the third millennium BC. Much of it lay hidden beneath the sand for around 3,500 years; part of the settlement has since slipped beneath the sea. Its original name is unknown.
Visiting the site
The excavations sit by the shore in the island’s north-east, with free entry, and are considered one of the must-see sights of Skyros. Walking among the low walls and foundations, you get a vivid sense of how an ancient Aegean town was laid out and defended. Most of the finds from the dig, pottery, tools and everyday objects, are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Skyros, so the two make a natural pair.
Pair it with the north
Palamari sits among the island’s quietest country, near the wetlands that make northern Skyros a haven for migrating birds. Combine your visit with a walk and some birdwatching around Palamari and Trachy, or a swim at a nearby northern beach.
FAQ
What is Palamari? A fortified Bronze Age town on the north-east coast of Skyros, excavated to reveal houses, public buildings and defensive walls.
How old is it, and is there an entry fee? It dates to the Bronze Age and lay buried for roughly 3,500 years. Entry to the site is free.
Where can I see the finds? In the Archaeological Museum of Skyros, in Chora.
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