The Most Beautiful Bays and Beaches of Sithonia (Halkidiki, Greece), a Road Trip Itinerary for Independent Travel Based on Our Personal Experience.
The best attractions are natural, the best rest involves periodic changes in scenery, and the best beach is a combination of rocky bays, sandy shores, and azure waters. For all of this, we go to Greece, to the Sithonia Peninsula on Halkidiki.
Don’t let Halkidiki’s reputation as a package-tourist mecca scare you. Organized tourists mainly gather on the neighboring “finger” – Kassandra. Sithonia is almost entirely left to independent travelers, and it is in this part of Halkidiki that you will find a scattering of the most beautiful Greek beaches, bays, and coves.
The information is drawn from personal experience of two trips to Halkidiki, greatly aided by the advice of locals with whom we stayed during these travels.
The infrastructure of most places is limited to parking, often just a dirt area or a spot along the rocks or sea. Almost everywhere there is a beach bar and sun loungers. Sun loungers are free if you use the bar – just buy one or two drinks, and the prices are the same as elsewhere on the coast. Beer, of course, is more expensive than in the supermarket. Near some bays and beaches, there are mobile cantinas – mini-buffets where you can eat/snack and drink.
There are no hotels nearby, at most a campsite, and often nothing at all. Just step aside from any of these places, and you’ll find yourself alone, even in the peak season.
Vourvourou
Let’s start from the northwestern side of Sithonia, with the area called Vourvourou. Vourvourou is adjacent to several small islands, near which is the Blue Lagoon. You can reach it by motorboat, which you can rent in the village on the shore – there is a wide selection, and the price is 60-100 euros per day. The entire water area around Vourvourou is worth visiting specially to spend time on these islands. Be sure to bring food and drinks with you. Plan for a whole day.
On the Vourvourou coast itself, there are a couple of good seaside restaurants, in case you have evening plans.
Near the Vourvourou area is the popular Karidi Beach. It’s worth visiting if you have the time, though there’s no infrastructure – just the sea and pine forest. In the season, Karidi Beach is packed with people, so if you prefer solitude, come in September. This rule applies to almost the entire coast of Sithonia and Halkidiki.
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Camping and Lakara Beach
Lakara Beach is the classic combination of sand, azure sea, and picturesque rocks all around. Like in many beautiful places in Greece, there is a campsite here – Lakara. But everyone is allowed onto the campsite’s territory, and the beach is free. You’ll only need to pay if you want to leave your car in the campsite’s parking area – they have their own parking at the entrance. They let everyone in. Parking costs 5 euros. There’s no parking on the road.
There aren’t many people, even in August – just enough to enjoy swimming and relaxing on the beach if you want to lie on the sand.
The campsite is mainly inhabited by Bulgarians, many of whom have full-fledged tent setups with gardens, TVs, and the like.
Because the campsite is on the beach, and many think it’s closed to outsiders, and because it’s not particularly visible from the road, there aren’t many people by the sea. If you’re on Sithonia during peak season, you can safely go to Lakara.
From Vourvourou to Lakara Beach is 6 km.
Bahia Bay and Beach
After Lakara, about three kilometers later, there’s a sign to Bahia Beach. The beach is tiny and squeezed on all sides by rocks. You can drive right to the sea along a dirt road – if you’re careful, any car can make it. Parking is free.
You can climb the rocks and take photos of the beach from above.
Orange Beach (Portokali Beach)
A truly hippie-Rastafarian place on Halkidiki, very beautiful and just as popular.
Orange Beach is a must-see for organized tourists. They are brought here briefly by boats to admire the natural beauty of the Portokali Bay and coastline.
At Portokali Beach, anyone can pitch a tent for free. There are a few cantinas, toilets, and changing rooms in the public part of the beach.
The beach is divided into several sections, as if half an orange was laid flat and pressed down. Only a small part of the beach is set aside for sun loungers, which are packed with people even in September. I recommend coming here early in the morning and spending a couple of hours wandering the rocks and swimming.
On the left side of Orange Beach is a nudist beach, as indicated by a sign.
Platanitsi Beach
If you drive along the main road by the coast, you’ll see a barely noticeable sign for Platanitsi Beach at the level of a passenger car’s eye. In reality, it’s a large area with a campsite and a long beach, with rocks decorating its edges.
Anyone can enter the campsite. In September, we didn’t pay for parking – it was deserted, and the campsite probably only operates until the end of August or early September.
The beach itself is about two hundred meters of light yellow sand, with beautiful rocks and boulders on either side. If you walk past the rocks, you can find a couple of mini beaches for solitude. But there’s almost always someone there, and usually, they’re nudists.
You can view Platanitsi Beach from above. To do this, exit the campsite area and drive half a kilometer up the road. You’ll see a lookout point and a mobile cantina (café). Make a mandatory stop and enjoy the views of the coast and bay.
Ahlada Beach
After Platanitsi Beach, it’s not far to Sarti. Sarti itself is a dull tourist spot, a haven for package tourists. So, Sarti doesn’t make my list of the best beaches and bays. But just before Sarti, there is a stunningly beautiful bay – Ahlada Beach. There are no signs for it, or I just didn’t notice any, so rely on your smartphone’s navigation.
From this point, there’s a beautiful view of Mount Athos and the sunrise, as it’s on the eastern coast.
Platania Beach
Pass by the flat and long beach in Sarti without stopping and head to the next bay – Platania Beach.
I recommend a long stop here – there’s free parking directly at Platania Beach. Park the car there and go for a walk.
There are walking trails along the cliffs on both sides of Platania Beach. A long scenic trail leads from Platania Beach almost to Sarti Beach – I recommend walking it. I can’t guarantee the cleanliness around the trail, as “wild” campers tend to use the coastal bushes as toilets. But the views along the entire trail are simply magical.
Return to Platania Beach via the same trail. You can also check out the only luxury Talizeti apartments – they have a cool area, but the price bites – 200-300 euros in the season, and there are never any vacancies in the summer.
Goa Beach
This small beach, also squeezed between rocks, is named after the bar, which is the main attraction of this place. Wooden black carved figures, chairs with a panoramic sea view, and a few sun loungers for bar patrons. It’s a very atmospheric place – worth stopping for at least an hour, having a cocktail or beer, swimming, and then continuing on.
Tigania Beach
Tigania is probably the most secret beach in Sithonia. At least, we didn’t find it the first time, as we encountered road repairs, detoured, and about an hour after leaving Goa Beach, we parked on steep cliffs nearby.
To get to Tigania Beach, first, follow the signs or your map to the longer and more famous Krioritsi Beach, which begins right after Tigania Beach. Before reaching Krioritsi, look for signs on the road – the name Tigania Beach will be written on the asphalt. Follow these signs, and don’t forget to check your route on the maps on your smartphone.
Parking is on the cliffs above, you’ll figure it out. Then walk down to the beach.
Tigania Beach consists of three small beaches, a beach bar, and umbrellas with straw roofs. Sun loungers are available and free for bar patrons. If you want to lie down, just buy a drink at the bar and use the lounger-umbrella for free. This system is in place at all similar beaches on Halkidiki.
Tigania is one of the most beautiful beaches: rocks, huge boulders, and azure waters. Many locals and those who have heard about this place come here to relax. Naturally, there are no package tourists with all their fuss and problems. This beach is addictive, and you’ll constantly want to return.
Krioritsi Beach and White Rocks
Right after Tigania Beach, there is Krioritsi Beach. You can walk there, but it’s better to drive and park right on the beach. This way, you won’t have to walk a long way through the sand to reach the “White Rocks.”
“White Rocks” is a place that starts to the right of Krioritsi Beach if you’re facing the sea. It doesn’t have an official name; we called it “White Rocks” because of the color of the boulders and rocks, which are piled up here.
I couldn’t find anything about this place on the internet, and we learned about its existence from locals – Oksana and Yannis, with whom we stayed on Sithonia.
White Rocks is a great place for those who love solitude, to shoot photos before sunset, or just to wander among the kingdom of boulders and sand.
Plan for at least two hours to visit, and with swimming and the beach, you can spend the whole day here. Don’t forget to bring food and drinks with you. There’s nothing nearby, no infrastructure. The only human habitation on the beach is a small campsite called Christina, which is very cute. In the “bear corner” of the beach, near the “White Rocks,” there are always a few tents set up.
The nearest apartments to Krioritsi Beach are in the village of Sikia, where we also stayed.
Kalamitsi Beach
If you continue further southwest on the Sithonia Peninsula, after Krioritsi, you’ll reach the long and popular Kalamitsi Beach.
Despite its touristy nature, two things attract us here:
- The opportunity to eat by the sea; there are many restaurants and cafes along the beach.
- On either side of the long Kalamitsi Beach, there are also many rocks with partially overgrown walking trails. These trails offer beautiful views of the beach and the boats at its edges, and there are almost no people there.
These rocks and the food are worth stopping for. You can park for free along the beach if you find a spot, of course. In the season, it will be tough to do so.
Porto Koufo and Toroni
I’ll briefly touch on these locations. Briefly, because there are no beautiful bays here. Porto Koufo is a natural bay, surrounded by rocks on all sides, and again, the food is good here. There are many fish taverns and restaurants along the shore.
Toroni is a beach that’s gaining popularity among tourists. It’s a long and not very wide strip of sand, with lots of greenery and well-developed infrastructure. There is a lot of different accommodation available. For those who value beach infrastructure, clean seas, and a relatively small number of package tourists, I recommend Toroni for a seaside vacation.
If you’re driving from Kalamitsi towards Porto Koufo, make a stop at the lookout near Panorama Restaurant.
How to Find Affordable Accommodation in Sithonia – Halkidiki
We search for accommodation on two platforms – Booking.com – Sithonia – a wide selection of accommodation without risk, with reviews that allow you to choose what you need, and real prices that don’t differ from those when booking directly, with the option to cancel the reservation.
How to Get to Sithonia
The nearest airport to Sithonia is in Thessaloniki, and from there it’s about 140 km to the Sithonia coast, or about two hours by car. Be sure to read up on how to get from the airport to Halkidiki.
The simplest and most convenient way is to order a taxi online through the popular Kiwi Taxi service – the driver will meet you with a sign bearing your name. He’ll then take you to the bus station or any location of your choice.
We prefer to rent a car directly at the airport and continue our journey by car. For car rental in Greece, we use this site – it gathers the best local rental companies, with pleasant prices and clear rental conditions, no nitpicking when returning the car, and minimal formalities when picking up the car.
Where to Find Cheap Flights to Greece
I use the aviasales website for searching and booking flights; I haven’t had any problems so far and am satisfied. Use the low-price calendar – it often saves me time.
Where to Rent a Car for Traveling Around Halkidiki
We find it boring to stay in one place without a car. For car rental in Greece, we use the LocalRent site. It brings together local rental companies.
The site also operates in countries like Turkey, Thailand, Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and Montenegro. They have proven themselves well during our trips to Cyprus, Georgia, and Montenegro. Prices are a bit lower than on Rentalcars, the cars are varied, there are options without a deposit, and of course, free cancellation.
I recommend it if you’re traveling in Greece, Cyprus, Montenegro, Turkey, Thailand, or Georgia.
Useful Links for Traveling in Greece
- Booking and finding hotels and apartments – Booking.com – Sithonia
- Finding cheap flights – aviasales
- Ordering a transfer from Thessaloniki airport online – Kiwi Taxi
- Car rental in Greece – LocalRent
