Athos is less known for tourism compared to Kassandra and Sithonia, but it offers an excellent opportunity for a nice and meaningful vacation. Athos is perhaps the only destination in the north of Greece that has not yet been conquered by mass tourism, although it is an increasingly popular destination every year. The easternmost part of Halkidiki is Mount Athos, better known as the Holy Mountain, because only Orthodox monks live there.
Photo: David Mark - Pixabay
It is home to 20 Orthodox monasteries, including one Serbian, Bulgarian and Russian monastery and forms an autonomous state under Greek sovereignty. Only monks are allowed to live on Mount Athos, and currently about 2,000 monks live there.
The largest number of monasteries were built on the very shores of Mount Athos, and in combination with the magical nature that surrounds them together they create a picture that will certainly leave you breathless. There are several vacation spots on the finger itself, so we will present them in order.
Amuliani island
Amuliani island is the only inhabited island of Halkidiki, with an area of 4.5 km2 and located 120 kilometers from Thessaloniki. The island can be reached by ferry from the port of Tripiti in approximately 15 minutes. The price of transportation is about €2 per person, and about €10 for a car, and in the summer months ferries leave every half hour.
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The first morning ferry leaves at 7:45 a.m. from Tripiti to the island, and the last one at 8:05 p.m.
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The first morning ferry from the island to the mainland departs at 7:15 a.m., and the last at 7:45 p.m.
See more details about the timetable here.
Photo: frimufilms on Freepik
As soon as you land, take the road through the main town, over the hill to the other side of the island – the one facing Sithonia. You will come across a large parking lot, a lake and a beautiful large sandy beach where you can swim, rest, and refresh yourself in a cafe.
The island of Amuliani has 600 inhabitants, whose life and economy are based on fishing and tourism. It belongs to the municipality of Stagira Acanthus, the area where Aristotle was born.
On the island there are several taverns and fish restaurants, enough accommodation, including several camping sites, bars, minimarkets and shops. It is several km long and about 2 km wide. Isolated bays are ideal for those looking for peace and relaxation, although you will hardly find them empty in the height of the season. The main beaches are Alikes, Agios Georgios, Megali Ammos and Karagatsia. Most are very sandy and you can visit them with your car, with the fact that the roads to some beaches are partly gravel, but not bad. On the island, there are also organized minibuses that drive to the beaches, as well as horse-drawn carriages. Given that the island is small, there is no night life, no clubs, and no special tourist attractions, so we would only recommend it to families and couples who want a quiet vacation.
Jerisos
Jerissos is located 120 kilometers from Thessaloniki, 80 kilometers from Poligyros, and with 3,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest towns in the region of Halkidiki, and at the same time the oldest and largest town in the municipality of Stagira Akanthus. It is a small fishing village that offers visitors an unusual feeling of relaxation and tranquility. Former fishermen's houses have been turned into houses with apartments for the different tastes of numerous tourists. There are taverns, beach bars, shops, mega markets and other tourist facilities.
Near Jerisos is Arneo, a place known for the largest number of centenarians in Greece.
Jerisos is first and foremost a place for a peaceful and relaxing holiday, often given the epithet of a romantic place. But that does not mean that there are no places where you can complete your time, on the contrary, on the promenade by the sea there are also several restaurants that serve fresh sea fish from the fishermen of Jerisos. There are two large supermarkets in the town, one from the famous Greek chain Masutis and the other from the Lidl chain. The market is on Tuesdays, it is well stocked, and the prices are more favorable than in markets. There is also an aquarium in the center of town, as a cute and original detail that is interesting to tourists. If it happens that there is wind in Yerissos, usually there is no wind on the west coast, so on those days we recommend you to visit Xiropotami beach on the west coast, which is about 5 km away from Yerissos.
On the beach there are umbrellas and even more free space for visitors with their own equipment, changing cabins and showers. The beach has slightly coarser sand, the depth is gradual, but there is no long shallow. Choosing Jerisos for a vacation will be the most satisfying for those who like quiet vacations and uncrowded beaches. There are plenty of small and large wild beaches on the stretch from Jerisos towards the Olympics, where you can enjoy yourself.
Nea Roda
Nea Roda was built on the southernmost part of the Athos peninsula, 130 kilometers from Thessaloniki. The picturesque village is paved with narrow streets and traditional stone houses with courtyards full of flowers, but on the other hand, a lot of new buildings have been built in recent years. At the opposite end of Nea Roda is a small port, where every day you can buy fresh fish and seafood from local fishermen at very reasonable prices. For your stay here, you can choose accommodation with a sea view and friendly service from the owner.
What makes Nea Roda exceptional is the clear sea and the beautiful sandy beach that has the blue flag of the Mediterranean.
Nea Roda is a small town with a nice, paved promenade by the sea and a small harbor. Restaurants and cafes with a fantastic view of the sea are lined along the small šelitašita, perfect for enjoying food, drink and the view. There are also several smaller playrooms for children within the cafe. The place is perfect for a quiet vacation. Nea Roda does not have a developed night life, clubs and discotheques, so it is not attractive for young people who want to have a good time.
Olympics
Olimpiada is a beautiful village located in Strymonikos Bay and 95 kilometers from Thessaloniki. The combination of the countryside with the comforts of the modern world offers a complete tourist offer and attracts visitors from all over Greece and abroad.
Photo: frimufilms on Freepik
Only 1 km away is the village of Stagira, the birthplace of the great philosopher Aristotle. Tradition says that the Olympiad was named after the mother of King Alexander the Great, Olympias. Excavations in Stagira began in 1990 and the objects that were discovered are exhibited in the museum.
The resort itself has several apartments, taverns, cafes and a fast food restaurant. Tucked away in the hills and greenery, this place has not yet been damaged by mass tourism, and it still does not have a large number of accommodation facilities. Above the whole place there is a fortress from which you can see the whole place and the sea beautifully, so it is a wonderful place for an afternoon walk if you get tired of the beach. At the beginning of July, don't miss the festival dedicated to shellfish. The place itself has all the necessary services, gas stations, ambulance, post office, supermarkets, shops, taverns, restaurants, cafes, souvenir and jewelry shops.
This is a wonderful, peaceful place for a real vacation, because there is no night life and noise, loud music and stress.
Triptych
Tripiti is a small port located a few kilometers before Ouranopolis. Small ferries depart from there that connect Amuliani Island with the mainland. It is a very beautiful village, with lush vegetation, beautiful beaches and turquoise water. It is an ideal destination for those who want to escape the crowds, but still want to be close to the nightlife. In the tourist offer, Tripiti offers several hotels, rooms, studios and apartments for a comfortable stay for every visitor. The beaches in the area are fantastic and you can also visit Jerisos and Nea Roda.
Ouranopolis
Although it is only 120 kilometers from Thessaloniki, Ouranopolis is not a place of mass tourism. It is called the "heavenly" or "paradise city" for a reason, because it is surrounded by Orthodox shrines and the crystal blue sea. Ships depart from this port for the largest Orthodox sanctuary, Agion Oros - Mount Athos, and it is also a port for fishermen who return in the evening with their nets full. There are daily boat tours around Atosakao and trips to the Drenia Islands. The largest is known as "Donkey Island" and has good sandy beaches and summer taverns.
Photo: Dimitris Mourousiadis - Pexels
Right next to the port, the Byzantine tower of Prosforio dominates.
This imposing building from the 14th century is the best preserved temple in Halkidiki. Today it is a unique museum of Christian antiquities and a symbol of the city.
The promenade on the west side of the village, next to the harbor, has a number of restaurants and cafes. In the town there are also pharmacies and tourist shops, cafes and taverns, as well as mini markets and bakeries. What is particularly interesting when it comes to this resort is that almost every morning tourists have the opportunity to buy fresh, freshly caught fish from local fishermen, but also to drink wine that was prepared on the nearby Mount Athos in one of the many Orthodox monasteries. The place itself is very nice and has a special charm, a large number of shops and taverns. Considering that believers on the way to Mount Athos come to the place, there are also a large number of shops where you can buy icons, lamps, incense... The beach in the place is not particularly beautiful, but there are several luxury hotels with beautiful beaches nearby that can be used by visitors who are not hotel guests. The most famous building is the Byzantine tower of Prosforio, which is located next to the port. It was built by the Vatopediou monastery in the 14th century. It is a tall stone structure with narrow window slits and wooden balconies on the upper floors. The tower has been restored and now works as a museum of Christian antiquities.
The Strattons
The place Stratoni lies in the bay, about 102 km from Thessaloniki, and dates back to the middle of the 19th century, although in 1932 it was badly damaged by an earthquake and most of the village was completely rebuilt.
Stratoni, which has about 1,000 houses, has a long mining tradition dating back to the period of classical Greece.
Alexander the Great is thought to have used gold and silver from local mines to finance his campaigns.
The mines are located about 4km west of the port and are still working, containing significant amounts of lead, zinc and silver. At Stratoni there is a long sandy and rocky beach facing south-east and descending steeply into the sea, behind which is scrub and trees.
