Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pórto Carrás and around
Beyond Tristiníka, you edge back into high-tech-resort territory, epitomized by Greece's
largest planned holiday complex,
PÓRTO CARRÁS
(
W
portocarras.com), comprising four
upmarket hotels that range from mock-Byzantine to futuristic and 3-star to luxury.
Established by the Carras wine and shipping dynasty, it features an in-house shopping
centre, golf course and vineyards, while from the expansive private beach in front, you
can indulge in every imaginable watersport.
The nearest proper town to all this, with
banks
(ATMs) and a
post office,
, is
Néos
Marmarás
, a little fishing port with a small beach. Nowadays, it's popular with Greeks
who stay in a score of modest hotels and apartments.
Parthenónas
A detour inland to
PARTHENÓNAS
, the lone traditional village on Sithonía, will give
you some idea of what Sithonía must have looked like before the developers moved in.
Crouched at the base of 808m Mount Ítamos, it's 5km up from Néos Marmarás and
reached via a good road lined with pine and olive groves. Parthenónas was abandoned
in the 1960s in favour of the shore, and never even provided with mains electricity; its
appealing houses have now largely been restored into chic residences.
Nikíti
The clockwise loop is completed back at the neck of the peninsula in the pleasant resort
of
NIKÍTI
, which can of course be used as a reasonable first base. Although there is
nothing too spectacular about the seafront here, the old village on the inland side of
the main road is full of venerable old stone houses and contains a few decent options
for staying and dining.
4
GETTING AROUND
SITHONÍA
By bus
Services are sparse: depending on the season,
there are up to five daily around the west coast to Sárti, and
up to three a day direct to Vourvouroú, but just a single
daily KTEL connection, in August only, between these two
endpoints. A complete circuit is only really feasible with
your own transport.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
As with Kassándhra, finding somewhere to stay is only ever a problem during the short peak season in August, and there
is plenty of choice for campers. Locating a hotel open off-season can be more of a challenge. Sithonía presents the best
eating
options of anywhere in Halkidhikí.
VOURVOUROÚ
Diaporos
T
23750 91313,
W
hotel-diaporos.com.
Rather grand edifice with lush gardens and huge, well-
appointed
room
s, as well as its own rooftop restaurant.
May-Sept.
€70
Dionysos
Behind the beach
T
23750 91214.
Reasonable
campsite, part of which faces the beach, with ample space
and good shared facilities, including a shop and café.
April-Oct.
Ekies All Senses Resort
T
23750 91000,
W
ekies.gr.
Ecologically minded, high-luxury resort, set in vast
landscaped grounds at the southern end of the village,
with
desig
ner rooms, a gourmet restaurant and enticing
pool.
€100
Itamos
T
23750 90429.
With a manicured courtyard, this
taverna offers a wider menu at fairer prices than the
seafront joints. Try the pork in wine sauce for
€7.50 and the
smooth barrelled wine.
May-Oct noon-2am.
ONWARDS TO SÁRTI
Ì
Armenistis
T
23750 91487,
W
armenistis.com.gr.
One of the best-developed campsites on the peninsula and
a major hangout for ravers from Thessaloníki. Often stages
gigs and festivals.
May-Sept.
PÓRTO KOUFÓ
Ì
Boukadoura
On main road
T
23750 51012,
W
boukadoura.gr.
The menu contains over 100 dishes,
among which are some unusual creations like seafood
spetsofáï
and a rich lobster
makaronádha
for only
€15.
June-Aug daily and some weekends Sept-May
noon-1am.
Ì
Porto Koufo
On the beach
T
23750 51207,
W
portokoufohotel.gr.
Attractive whitewashed complex
of spacious rooms with subtle decoration, large bathtubs
and b
ay-v
iew balconies. Buffet breakfast included. May-
Sept.
€50
