Sithonia beaches map greece. Sithonia, Halkidiki – route along the most beautiful bays and beaches

This natural paradise is located in the Aegean Sea, between Athos and Kassandra, washed from the east and west by the gulfs of Singitikos and Toronic, respectively. The Sithonia Peninsula is about 50 km long and 25 km wide, with a population of 13 thousand people. Here you can see a magnificent combination of untouched beaches, valleys and mountains. Both tourists and local residents people come here for a calm, measured holiday in small picturesque coastal resorts. The region is famous for its sandy beaches with crystal clear sea water and the surrounding relief cliffs. The beauty of the landscapes of Sithonia is so amazing that it seems like an unreal photo or a painted picture.

Cyclists, divers, and golf fans will appreciate the peninsula. Along the rugged coastline There are many famous campsites with small coves ideal for swimming. However, if you think that Sithonia only has to offer beach holiday, then you are very mistaken. Medieval temples, ancient ruins and others historical monuments located throughout the peninsula. Gourmets will be able to enjoy Greek cuisine, the freshest seafood and fine wines.

• Area: 515 km²;
• Water area: Aegean Sea.

Climate

This part of Greece has a mild Mediterranean climate: warm winters give way to hot, dry summers. Mountain ranges, surrounding the peninsula, protect it from strong winds, so the waves here rise very rarely, and the water warms up well. Summer air temperatures usually range between +30…+36°C, although sometimes they reach +45°C. The air is quite dry and there is practically no noticeable heat. Coastal waters warm up to +25…+26°C. The most hospitable weather in Sithonia is from mid-April to the end of June and from the beginning of September to the end of October.

Major resorts

Nikiti is the administrative center and largest settlement of Sithonia. Like most local towns, it is divided into an old village located in the interior of the peninsula, and a coastal settlement that has become famous resort. A settlement of just a few houses was formed in the 14th century, but by the 15th century the population had grown and Nikiti acquired the status of an independent village. In 1821, during the Greek Revolution, the Turks completely destroyed this settlement. However, by 1827 the village was rebuilt. Today this place has a developed infrastructure and combines recreation both at sea and in the mountains - Mount Itamos rises very close. You can take walks, bike rides, or go up in a jeep.

If you visit the old village, be sure to try real Greek coffee, see the Church of St. Nikita, built in 1867, and stroll through the narrow streets with houses made in the style of traditional Macedonian architecture. Also, Nikiti is the largest beekeeping center in Macedonia.

In the western part of the coast, the busiest is the small resort town of Neos Marmaras. It got its name from refugees from Turkish Marmaris who settled here, and on the site of a fishing village, New (Neos) Marmaras grew up. There is a church, a port, numerous cozy restaurants, residential buildings and apartments for rent. Archaeological finds in this area indicate an ancient Byzantine settlement, from which the remains of an ancient fortress have survived to this day. While in this city, try to visit the traditional Greek village of Parthenonas, located on a hill of 350 m and extending 6 km deep into the peninsula. Preserved here local flavor and unique architecture of residential buildings. From here you can see the island of Kelifos and the Toroneian Gulf. From Parthenonas there is a famous hiking trail leading to nature reserve Itamos.

A few kilometers to the south there is another ancient settlement- Toroni, dating back to the 8th century BC. Now it is a popular quiet resort aimed at family holiday. Developed tourist infrastructure, beautiful clean sea, sandy beaches, awarded, and lack big waves attract travelers with small children. However, there are also cultural and historical attractions: the remains of the ancient Acropolis, the walls of the Lykythos fortress, the Temple of St. Athanasius. At the bottom of the sea, a few kilometers from the coast, lie the ruins of an ancient city.

In the summer season, Sarti becomes the most populous village in the eastern part of the peninsula. It is replete with many hotels, apartments, cafes, restaurants and bars to suit every taste - every tourist will find something of their own. Many taverns are located right on the coast. This is a great place for budget holiday with affordable prices. There are beautiful views from everywhere here. majestic mountain Athos. There are few man-made attractions in Sarti - not far from the port, there is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A small functioning chapel has been erected on the beach.

The resort is suitable for inexpensive shopping: souvenir shops and shops offer a large selection of beach accessories and clothing at low prices. Three-kilometer Sarti beach, with pure water, fine sand and a gentle entrance to the water, equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, but wild, undeveloped areas are also left. Waves are very rare here.

Beaches

The coastline of the peninsula is very long and has a large number of beaches, 6 of which have the Blue Flag award for developed infrastructure and cleanliness. Some are located in close proximity to the resorts described above, while others are located far from the villages. The best beaches in Sithonia are: Sikya, Sarti, Toroni, Karidi, Tripotamos, Tristinika, Lagomandra, Elia, Antemous, Armenistis, Sithonia.

Almost all beaches are located in bays, so they do not have big waves. The coast along its entire length has both sandy and pebble shores. Most beaches are equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets, changing rooms, bars, etc. Here you will be offered a lot of water activities, and in the town of Tagarades there is Waterland, a huge popular water park whose attractions will delight both children and adults.

Those who like a secluded holiday can swim and sunbathe in numerous secluded coves, away from prying eyes.

Entertainment and shopping

Sithonia has not only historical sights from different millennia, but also natural beauties that every traveler should visit. First of all, these are the world's largest vineyards, located in Porto Carras. The rocky picturesque bays of Kartlaia and the Itamos Nature Reserve on Mount Dragudeli also attract attention.

No trip abroad is complete without shopping, be it a fur coat or a refrigerator magnet. Shopping districts with a large number of shops are located only in major cities peninsulas - Nikiti, Neos Marmaras and Sarti. As a rule, tourists bring olive oil, olives, ceramics, natural cosmetics, honey and alcohol from Sithonia.

Olives in Greece are sold everywhere - in markets and supermarkets; they can be purchased by weight, in vacuum packaging or in jars. You will be offered a huge number of varieties, but before buying them, it is better to try them first. With olive oil it’s already more difficult; it’s worth remembering that cold-pressed oil is the best.

There are several popular places in Sithonia for the production of quality honey. One of the leaders in Europe in the production of this sweet is Nikiti. Its inhabitants have been engaged in beekeeping for more than 500 years. Mostly pine honey is made here.

It is also worth bringing metaxa (local cognac), national wine, and raki (grape vodka) from Greece.

As a Greek gift, you can buy cosmetics; here they are made from natural raw materials based on olive oil. The simplest such souvenir is Greek soap, which is sold both individually and in large sets.

Sithonia surprises and captivates, relaxes and gives strength. Once you get here, you will want to come back again. Beautiful landscapes, stunning scenic views and lots of unforgettable impressions at the resorts of this magical peninsula you are guaranteed.

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Here are the most interesting, the most beautiful, the most famous, the most iconic, and, finally, the most must-see beaches of Sithonia! It is impossible to rank them, it is impossible to put any one beach in first place, all these beaches are wonderful, magnificent and at the same time very different!

• Caridi;
• Oniru Manassu;
• Armenistis;
• Kriaritsi ;
  
• Coviu ;
• Beach in Toroni;
• Portocali - Orange beach (rather, the place itself is interesting - Kavourotripes as a natural attraction);
• Lagonisi;
• Kalogria;
• Kalamitsi;
• Lagomandra;
• Secret Fava Beach;
• Agios Ioannis;
• Tripotamos;
• Agia Kyriaki.

And this is not the most full list best beaches peninsula of Sithonia!

Concerning the best beaches in Sithonia for families with children , then I would make some adjustments to the list above. Firstly, I immediately remember the wide three-kilometer beach in Sarti with very long shallow water and wonderful sand underfoot. Secondly, this is, of course, a chic Caridi - but be prepared that there will be a lot of people there. The rest of the beaches on the list of the best are also great for families with children, but if you need shallow water, then Kriaritsi is probably not suitable.

The Greek beach of Talgo can be found 8 kilometers north of Nikita. This sandy patch of sea coast belongs to the owners of the Talgo bar, who carefully look after the territory and, of course, welcome any tourists. Since there is a bar right on the beach, vacationers can refresh themselves with juices or snack on fruit at any time. In the evening you can come to the bar, drink a delicious exotic cocktail and admire the reflection of the setting sun in the water.

Here blue water, yellow sand and rocky landscape in which you can see bizarre fairy-tale figures. The beach is not considered very large, it occupies about 150 meters, but you can always sit comfortably here.

Agios Ioannis Beach

Agios Ioannis Beach in Nikiti is a long and wide beach with white velvet sand, ideal for concerts and other celebrations, sports, etc.

There are cafes and bars on the beach where you can enjoy a delicious lunch and coffee. You can also rent umbrellas and sun loungers on the beach.

The pine forest gives the beach a special color. On the western part of the coast there is a small island that can be easily reached from all sides. On the island and its surroundings there are ruins of fortifications and other interesting places.

The beach is only 5 kilometers from Nikiti, so you can easily get to it by car. There is parking near the beach.

Beaches of Voirvoirou

The beaches of Vourvourou, or Voirvoirou, are considered one of the most exotic Greek resorts. Vourvourou is a small tourist village with several beaches, off the coast of which there are several small islands.

Vourvourou is considered great place for families with children - there are clean and shallow beaches, protected from the wind. The village has restaurants and taverns serving traditional cuisine. Almost all hotels and private houses are located near the beaches, but not all passages to the sea are convenient - some of them run through private territory, almost always closed.

You can get to the islands by boat: tourists usually swim or fish there, renting equipment. You can also simply buy fresh fish here in the nearby fishing village.

The advantages of Vourvourou beaches are also considered to be excellent views of forested mountains. The beaches here are mostly quite narrow, but long and uncrowded.

Kavourotripes beach

Kavourotripes (or Portokali - “Orange”), according to vacationers, is one of the ten most interesting and clean beaches in Halkidiki. Several kilometers of secluded rocky coves, the shores of which are strewn with snow-white fine sand, are known as Portokali Beach (or Kavourotripes).

Some people consider the wild beach a difficult place to access, but regular fans value Kavourotripes precisely for the opportunity to move away from civilization and completely immerse themselves in contemplative sybaritism. The beach can be reached by car - covering just over 23 kilometers from Vourvourou. The reward at the end of the journey will be the crystal clear waters of a paradise of untouched southern nature. Another advantage of the beach is that the sea here is shallow, which is very convenient if you are relaxing with kids.

A few words about the presence of several equal names for the same place. Portocali means “orange”, and Cavourotrypes means “crab holes”. This is how the locals poetically reflected the character of the picturesque coves scattered over several kilometers, the largest of which is known as the main beach. In summer there are a lot of vacationers who come to regular buses, cars (10 minutes drive from Sarti) and pleasure boats.

For comfortable rest in Greece, the Sithonia peninsula in Halkidiki is very suitable. All tourists consider it the most beautiful and most picturesque vacation spot in northern Greece. There are wonderful sandy beaches, amazing nature, a lot of greenery and real Greek flavor. A comfortable swimming season in Sithonia begins in the second half of June and ends at the end of September. Until mid-June, the water is still cold and rain is possible, but in the second half of September there can be strong winds, cloudy weather and, accordingly, waves.

Holidays in Sithonia have some special features. Firstly, there are few hotels here, mostly apartments and small mini-hotels without animation and all-inclusive. Our Russian tour operators sell few tours here; mostly people travel on their own. But if you wish, you can find a decent hotel, although most likely it will not be higher than 4 stars. Most big hotel 5* is called “Porto Carras”, located on west coast near the village of Neos Marmaras.

Secondly, holidays in Sithonia are quite calm, not party-oriented and, as a rule, without fun and noisy discos. This holiday is very suitable for married couples with children. As for attractions, such as palaces, castles, fortresses and museums, there are not many of them, we can say that there are practically none. But you will be delighted by the amazing nature, coniferous forests, clean mountain air and many picturesque sandy beaches. It is for the beaches that tourists come to Sithonia, and the Greeks have their residences and villas here.

Where to relax in Sithonia.

The most famous and popular places holidays and resorts in Sithonia are the villages of Metamorfosi, Nikiti, Neos Marmaras, Toroni, Kalamitsi, Sarti and Vourvourou. All these settlements not big, a couple of streets and that’s it. The largest is Neos Marmaras. But, each of them has everything you need for a normal civilized holiday: shops, pharmacies, equipped beaches and numerous taverns with real Greek food. There are even several supermarkets in Nikiti. In almost every town and village you can rent a car and use it to get to know the peninsula better. The length of the peninsula is only 50 km. By the way, if anyone is scared of serpentines, then there are practically none in Sithonia, all the roads are asphalted and it’s a pleasure to move along them. From Thessaloniki airport to Nikiti, for example, it is only 80 km, which you can reach by car in an hour. The maximum permitted speed on the roads of Sithonia is 90 km/h.

Sithonia. Road to Nikiti.

Southern tip of Sithonia

A road runs along the coast around the entire peninsula, but with public transport Not everything is so good in Sithonia; buses run rarely and are not always on schedule. Therefore, tourists get to the place from Thessaloniki airport either by hotel transfer or by taxi. You can also book a car in advance through a “rent car” and get there in a rented car. It is also very convenient to travel by car around Sithonia and throughout Halkidiki. It is quite possible to travel around the entire peninsula along the coast with stops for swimming and snacks in one day without stress. The length of the entire road around the island is approximately 120 km. By the way, gas stations in these places close at about 7 pm, so plan your route and return time.

On the Sithonia peninsula, which is named after Siton, the son of the ancient Greek god Poseidon, it is very convenient to live in one place and go swimming nearby beaches or the one you prefer. There are almost no cars on the roads, sometimes it will seem to you that no one else lives on the peninsula except you.

On some beaches of Sithonia, along the shore in the water there is a natural stone slab about two meters wide, but you should not be afraid of it, the entry into the sea is comfortable and gentle and this slab will not interfere with your swimming, it is smooth, you will not be able to get hurt, and there are also sea urchins on it No. Step over the slab and swim further. The most cozy, picturesque and not crowded beaches are located on the southern tip of the peninsula and its western coast, which can be easily reached by car. A very important feature of holidays in Sithonia is that there are almost never waves on the beaches, because these beaches are closed on the eastern side by the Athos Peninsula, and on the western side by the Kassandra Peninsula. Waves on the beaches are a rarity.

The beaches of Sithonia are the main attraction of this peninsula of Halkidiki . Despite the fact that beautiful Sithonia is only 50 kilometers long, its beaches are so diverse, as if they were the beaches of several different countries or at least different seas. The beaches of Sithonia are considered one of the cleanest in the world: many of them have the European Blue Flag, and absolutely all the beaches of Sithonia will delight you with the cleanest sea!

The beaches of Sithonia are free (with rare exceptions). On any beach you have the right to lay your towel on an empty spot and sit on the sand for free. But if you want to sunbathe in comfort, you will have to pay to rent a sunbed and umbrella. Inexpensive. On most organized beaches of Sithonia, the following system is currently in effect: to rent a sunbed and umbrella for the whole day, it is enough to buy one drink at a bar on the beach: as a rule, it is the beach bars that provide sunbeds and umbrellas. But I was surprised to discover that on some of the most “promoted” beaches of Sithonia, ordering drinks is no longer enough; sunbeds are asked to be paid additionally - 2.5-3 euros per person.

Some Sithonia beaches are well organized and have all the necessary infrastructure, others are completely wild, and on some beaches you will probably be the only people! Although there is an explanation for everything, you can’t count on comfortable swimming on such absolutely secluded beaches.

On many Sithonia beaches, rock formations reach the shore, which form more private areas, cozy mini-beaches. Most of Sithonia's beaches are located in picturesque bays that protect them from large waves. There are a lot of such bays here! There are also amazing beaches in Sithonia, where pine trees go straight to the water, forming a natural shadow (Elia, Lagomandra).

We didn't visit all the beaches of Sithonia, but we visited many of them. I will be happy to share my experience, my reviews and warm - even hot - impressions about the beaches of this Greek peninsula.
When describing the beaches of Sithonia, for convenience and simplicity, I will talk about the left and right sides of the beach, each time assuming that you are looking towards the sea.
So, the links below are mine reviews of Sithonia beaches with photos .

All beaches of Sithonia

(moving clockwise, starting from the northeastern part of the peninsula):

• Thessaloniki - a long sand and pebble beach;
• Chinia - beach with pebbles and stones;
• Livrochio (Trani Ammuda) - quiet and calm sand beach in the north of the village of Ormos Panagias;
• Lagonisi - beautiful and interesting beach south of Ormos Panagias;
• Talgo - beach with a famous beach bar;
• Galini - small secluded beaches in small bays (we honestly looked for them, but didn’t find them, apparently we were unlucky);
• Fteroti - wild small narrow beaches;
• Livari is an interesting beach with a long sandy headland;
• Vourvourou;
• The famous Karidi beach;
• Fava - the professor's secret beach;
• Wild Beach of Bar;
• La Cara beach with camping (aka Kutlumusu);
• The fine pebble beach of Zografou is part of the Porto Eleia campsite;
• Party beach Bahia;
• Banana Beach with bar and music;
• Excellent organized beach of Oniru (Manassu);
• Blue Flag Armenistis beach and campsite of the same name;
• The popular Portokali beach in the unusual town of Kavourotripes;
• Beach and camping Platanitsi;
• Sarti is a resort town with a Blue Flag beach;
• The uncrowded sandy beach of Platanias (Akti Platania);
• Small atmospheric beach of Goa;
• Agridia Beach in a sheltered bay;
• The long, uncrowded sandy beach of Valti - a good option for camping;
• The wild, unequipped Griavas beach - perhaps it’s not worth traveling here especially from afar;
• Wide, very long, but not too picturesque Sikya beach;
• Three sandy beaches in cozy bays, which are famous for their taverns: Linaraki, Pigidaki and Turkolimnionas;
• Kriaritsi Beach is one of the best in Sithonia;
• The town of Kalamitsi - three wonderful sandy beaches;
• Natural harbor of Porto Koufo;
• Toroni is a resort town with a magnificent beach and the ruins of an ancient fortress;
• Wonderful sandy beaches of Destenika and Tristinika north of Toroni;
• Aretes - 3 wild beach in one bay;
• Azapiko Beach is a wild, spacious sandy beach, not the most convenient for swimming;
• The four sparsely populated beaches of Agios Georgios are not very suitable for swimming;
• Stiladario Beach - here there is sun all day;
• Spalatronisia - beach and fish tavern;
• Discreet Koutsupia Beach;
• Green beach of Agia Kyriaki with natural shade;
• Beaches of the huge hotel complex Porto Carras;
• Beaches on both sides