The Best Beaches of Sithonia: 18 Bays Worth the Drive

Sithonia has far more beaches than any one holiday can cover, which is why a list helps. This guide groups 18 of them by coast, starting from Sarti on the east side and working round the southern tip to the south-west and the west coast. For each we cover the sand, the facilities, Blue Flag status and the drive from Sarti.

How we picked these beaches

These are the beaches we send our own guests to most often, from the long organised village beaches to small coves with no facilities at all, so there is something for every kind of day.

Distances are measured by road from the centre of Sarti to the beach, as a free-flow drive. Read them as "about", because summer traffic and dirt tracks add time.

One note on Blue Flags. They are awarded per season and can be withdrawn. The official 2025 Blue Flag Greece map lists these Sithonia-municipality beaches: Eleon, Salonikiou, Livrochio 1, Porto Carras 1 and 2, Marmaras, Paradisos, Lagomandra, Elia (two entries), Kalogrias, Nikiti 2, Makria Lagada, Armenistis, Platanitsi, Sarti 1, Sykia and Toroni. The official 2026 list, announced in May 2026, prints 19 Sithonia names, including Sarti 1, Sykia, Toroni, Platanitsi, Armenistis, Nikiti 2, Kalogrias, Lagomandra, Marmaras and Porto Carras. Flags are awarded season by season, so check the Blue Flag site for the year you travel, or see our guide to Blue Flag beaches in Sithonia and Chalkidiki.

The east coast: facing Athos

The east coast looks across the Singitic Gulf towards Mount Athos, and it is the coast nearest to us.

Sarti

The village beach runs for about 2 to 3 km, depending on where you count from. The sand is fine, the water shallow, and the beach is organised with sunbeds, umbrellas and showers. It holds a Blue Flag as "Sarti 1". It is about 0.8 km, roughly 2 minutes, from the village centre. For more on the village itself, see our complete guide to Sarti.

Platanitsi

North of Sarti, Platanitsi is sandy and about 550 m long. Part of it is organised inside a camp, with a beach bar, sunbeds, showers and lifeguards, while the right-hand side is free. It holds a Blue Flag. It is about 4.8 km, about 6 minutes, from Sarti. Camp entry is roughly EUR 3.5 to 5 per car and changes with the season, so ask at the gate.

Kavourotrypes

Kavourotrypes (Καβουρότρυπες), also called Orange Beach, is a roughly 5 km stretch of white-rock coves between Armenistis and Platanitsi. That puts it close to Sarti, about 6.7 km and 10 minutes away, and not at Vourvourou as is sometimes claimed. The sand is fine, the rocks are smooth and white, and only the central Portokali cove is organised. The road is a dusty dirt track, with some stretches taken at about 20 km/h. It has no Blue Flag in the 2025 or 2026 lists. Our article on Kavourotrypes, the Orange Beach covers it in depth.

Armenistis

Armenistis is wide and long, organised inside a camp and often crowded. It is listed with a Blue Flag in 2025 and 2026. Camp entry is about EUR 6 to 7 and can change from season to season. It is about 13.7 km, about 17 minutes, from Sarti.

Karydi

Karydi (Καρύδι) is in Vourvourou. It has golden sand, white rocks around it and a lagoon-like shallow pool facing Athos. It is unorganised, with small canteens, so bring your own gear. It is not on the Blue Flag lists. It is about 27.9 km, about 31 minutes, from Sarti. See Vourvourou and Diaporos Island for the area around it, and our Karydi Beach guide for the beach itself.

Trani Ammouda (Livrochio)

Trani Ammouda is one of Chalkidiki's largest sandy beaches, organised with umbrellas, sunbeds and beach bars. It is on the east coast near Agios Nikolaos and Ormos Panagias. It is about 1.8 km long, with sand that ranges from coarse in places to soft and golden. It holds a Blue Flag as "Livrochio 1", and Livrochio and Trani Ammouda are the same place. It is about 37 km, about 37 minutes, from Sarti.

Salonikiou

Further north-east towards Agios Nikolaos, Salonikiou is about 1.2 km for the beach itself, with the whole coast about 2.5 km. The sand is fine and Salonikiou beach has no beach bars, though the Krotiri sub-beach has a small bar and loungers. Parts of it hold the Blue Flag. It is about 47.5 km, about 46 minutes, from Sarti.

The southern tip

South of Sarti, the coast bends round the tip of the peninsula.

Sykia

Sykia (Συκιά) is sandy and uncrowded, with fine sand and only a small part organised. It is listed with a Blue Flag for 2025 and 2026. It is about 7.5 km, about 12 minutes, from Sarti to the beach settlement.

Klimataria

Klimataria is on the south-east coast, with fine sand, sunbeds, several restaurants and long shallows. It is busy in season. It is not on the Blue Flag lists. It is about 11.4 km, about 17 minutes, from Sarti.

Kalamitsi

Kalamitsi is a wide sandy beach at the southern tip, described as well organised, with sunbeds, umbrellas, a beach bar and some water sports. A small islet a few metres offshore is good for snorkelling, and a camp of the same name sits in the next cove. It is not on the Blue Flag lists. It is about 15.9 km, about 19 minutes, from Sarti.

Kriaritsi

Kriaritsi has views across to Athos and about 800 m of sand in small bays, with beach bars and camping. The regional board calls access "one of the most challenging", via signs south of Sykia. It is not on the Blue Flag lists. It is about 16.2 km, about 23 minutes, from Sarti.

The south-west: sunset side

The south-west coast is the one for sunsets, and you cross the peninsula to reach it.

Toroni

Toroni (Τορώνη) has almost 2.5 km of wide sandy shore, with restaurants, beach bars and hotels along the coast. It is listed with a Blue Flag in 2025 and 2026. It is about 29.5 km, about 34 minutes, from Sarti to the beach. See our Toroni Long Beach article for more.

Tristinika

Tristinika is on the road south of Neos Marmaras, about 3 km before Toroni. The sand is fine, the beach is about 1.5 km long, with a well-known beach bar and a camp on the far side. It is known for sunsets and is not on the Blue Flag lists. It is about 24.2 km, about 40 minutes, from Sarti.

Azapiko

Azapiko lies midway between Neos Marmaras and Porto Koufo. The sand is coarse and white with pebbles in places, the water is deep and clear, and there are no facilities, so bring water and food. A chapel of Agios Georgios on a rocky outcrop splits the beach in two. It is about 26.5 km, about 42 minutes, from Sarti.

The west coast: between Nikiti and Neos Marmaras

This coast faces Kassandra, and it is the farthest from Sarti.

Lagomandra

Lagomandra has two small sandy coves split by a rocky promontory, with pine forest running down to the sand. There are beach bars, sunbeds, toilets, a water park and water sports, and it is accessible for disabled visitors. It holds a Blue Flag (listed as "Lagomandra Beach Hotel"). It is about 52 km, about 51 minutes, from Sarti.

Elia

Elia (Ελιά), the "Olive Coast", is about 2 km long and narrow, partly sand and partly small sharp pebbles, so water shoes are advised. There is pine shade, and it is mostly undeveloped and free, with some hotel sections. Two Blue Flag entries exist, "Elia/Acrotel" and "Elia 2/Anthemus". It is about 50.6 km, about 51 minutes, from Sarti.

Kalogria

Kalogria is about 650 m of soft golden sand, shallow, with beach bars over much of the shore but a free section remaining. There is a reef offshore for diving. It holds a Blue Flag as "Kalogrias". It is about 45.9 km, about 45 minutes, from Sarti.

Agios Ioannis

Agios Ioannis is near the main road, with parking. A luxury hotel now occupies most of the beach, while the western part is still reachable and unspoiled, with an old cave. It is not on the Blue Flag lists. It is about 43.7 km, about 45 minutes, from Sarti.

Quick comparison

Myths and mix-ups

• Psakoudia is not in Sithonia. It is a village in Polygyros municipality on the Gulf of Torone, about 5 km east of Gerakini, and not near Sarti. It is about 60 km and about 61 minutes away. It does hold Blue Flags, but under Polygyros.
• Kavourotrypes is not at Vourvourou. It is close to Sarti, about 6.7 km by road, as above. Some older lists show it as a Blue Flag beach, but it is absent from the 2025 official map.
• Livrochio and Trani Ammouda are one place. It is sometimes placed on the west coast, but it is on the east, near Ormos Panagias.

Planning: wind, dirt roads and timing

On the Sarti stretch, wind and waves occur on average about every third day, and sheltered coves such as Achlada, Orange and Mega Portokali are the ones to head for on rough days. Kavourotrypes has a dusty unpaved road, Kriaritsi has hard-to-find access and Azapiko has no facilities, so plan water and food accordingly. For a list that stays closer to the village, see our best beaches near Sarti, and for the wider peninsula, the complete guide to Sithonia. On blustery days, our beaches for windy days in Chalkidiki article is the place to start, and several bays are also easier from the water, as in beach hopping by boat in Sithonia.

Sunbed prices vary from bar to bar and change every year, so ask before you settle in. Our guide to Greek beach rules, free access and sunbeds explains what to expect.

Where to stay

If you want to be on the east coast with several of these beaches within 20 minutes, Sarti Thea Boutique Rooms sits on the hill above Sarti harbour in Achlada, with free parking on site for beach days by car. Our rooms all have a sea-view balcony, and you can look at dates on our booking page.

Practical info

• Base: all distances are from Sarti village centre, free-flow, and approximate.
• Closest to Sarti (within 20 minutes): Sarti, Platanitsi, Kavourotrypes, Armenistis, Sykia, Klimataria and Kalamitsi.
• Across the peninsula (30 to 40 minutes): Karydi, Toroni, Trani Ammouda and Tristinika.
• Longer drives (40 to 55 minutes): Azapiko, Salonikiou, Kalogria, Agios Ioannis, Elia and Lagomandra.
• Car: essential. Dirt roads lead to Kavourotrypes and Kriaritsi.
• Check before going: the current Blue Flag list, camp entry fees at Platanitsi and Armenistis, and facilities at the less developed beaches.