Ryan & Bryn
Things to Do
Vourvourou Beaches
Vourvourou is s seaside tourist resort in eastern Sithonia, well known for its natural beauty and its nine small islands where the virgin nature and the secret charming beaches make it very special! Worth it to see: The bay of Kriftos, a secret gem, is of great interest; hidden on the north side of Diaporos, it used to be a shelter for pirates. The coral reef of Vourvourou seems to be very impressive for divers, it is a good chance to live a unique experience. The “Great Wall” (Megas Tichos), a small peninsula north of Vourvourou.
Kalamitsi Beach
Kalamitsi beach is considered a medium sized beach and is located on the southern tip of Sithonia. Situated in a beautiful bay, the water is quite sheltered and calm. The bay has a direct opening to the sea, which allows for remarkably clear water. The beach is well organized with some great restaurants, trendy beach bars and lots of sports opportunities, such as paddle boat, canoe rentals and scuba diving. There is plenty of space on the beach and most of it is not organized, so if you prefer to throw down a towel and not pay for a sun bed, it is an option. The sand is soft, no pebbles here, and the soft sand continues far into the water, making it a great place to play and an option for families.
Koviou Beach
Bryn's favorite beach. A small bay wedged in the rocky coastline between Ai Yiannis and Kalogria, about 6km south of Nikiti. There are big rocks and a lot of fish which makes it a great snorkeling spot. The water has a magnificent crystal turquoise color; the sand on the beach is white and warm under the hot summer sun. You can park up at the top of the road and climb down the rocky path to the beach. There is more parking near the Hotel Makednos turn, a little further up the road.
Kalogria Beach
The beach is long and narrow and consists of good soft sand. What makes Kalogria such a lure is actually more the water than the beach. The water is shallow and calm and ideal not just for children to play, but for those who like to swim far out or float on an air mattress. The rock has excellent snorkeling and don’t be surprised to see many novices learning how to dive. What’s great about Kalogria Beach: Shallow and calm water perfect for water sports. Organized, but not overly. Great for children.
Kavourotripes Beach
Orange beach is also called Portokali and Kavourotripes, the latter one meaning crab holes. This pretty well describes this beach that is actually many small beaches or small white sand coves that are found over kilometers of coastline. Be brave and explore as there are many small beaches that are difficult to reach and these ones usually have few people. The main beach is organized by a beach bar and is overcrowded with sun-beds and umbrellas, by 11am you won’t be able to find an emply chair. People keep crowding in until the cliffs and rocks around have bodies sunbathing in almost every crevice. If you are unfortunate to not find a place there are other beaches further up the coast where you may find space to relax. The last couple of years have seen more food stands being set up for the needs of the crowds. The water is an uncomparible green-blue and very transparent, the sand is powdery soft. Snorkeling around the rocks is also recommended.
Lagomandra Beach
Lagomandra beach is actually 2 beaches that are considered ‘Blue Flag’ beaches. Located north of Neos Marmaras, Lagomandra beach is one of the more popular ones in the area. The beach is very well set up for water sports and is great if you are looking for some activity. The large hotels across the road bring many tourists to the beach, so they manage the beach organization. There is a section on the northern beach that has a beach bar with sun-beds and umbrellas, the rest of the beach is open. The southern beach is where the water sports is organized from. Both beaches have soft sand and are fantastic for swimming and floating on your air mattress. The northern beach gets deeper more quickly and the southern beach is shallower. The pine grove is a nice plus, as it offers shade while you can still be on the sand. What’s great about Lagomandra Beach: Well organized for water sports and good for children. You can enjoy beautiful sunsets from this beach.
Hike from Nikiti to Agios Nikolaos
Nikiti – Agios Nikolaos – Nikiti Walking time: 4 hours Elevation: 215 m Starting from the school in Nikiti, head north through the old town of Nikiti. Then you start to climb through the pine trees and olive groves on your way to Agios Nikolaus. The village is over the mountain from Nikiti and a distance of 2 km from the port of Ormos Panagias. Agios Nikolaos is famous for it’s 19th century architecture. The locals produce honey and of course their tsipouro (the local ouzo) is definitely worth a shot. The route back takes a different way and is a little shorter.
Old Nikiti
The old village Nikiti is a charming traditional settlement just across the road from the new part. The old village is over 700 years old. Here, walking on narrow paved small streets, you can admire the beautiful, restored, stone houses, with the internal courtyard, laid out by a stone tile and with wooden balconies with flowers. It is possible to walk to St. Nikita's stone church and then to go down on the area with the big maple and to sit in a tavern, enjoying traditional cuisine. Worth it to see: The dominant building where the church of Agios Nikitas (dated from 1870) is located, standing at the top of a hill. Just below it, there is the old elementary school, a building of the same age. The school has now been renovated and it houses the Historical & Folklore Museum of Nikiti. ✓ Don’t miss it: A walk in the narrow roads of Nikiti old village is a travel through the past, an absolute “must” for every visitor!