Around Vourvourou
Heading north from Vourvourou towards Ormos Panagias, Talgo beach has one of Halkidiki’s most famous beach bars that organizes concerts. Lagonisi beach is a popular family spot in a beautiful setting. From the Ormos Panagias harbor take a Mt. Athos cruise which is one of Halkidiki’s most favorite tours. Going south of Vourvourou you reach the beach bar zone with many beloved beaches such as Bahia beach, Rodia beach, Zografou beach and Oneirou beach, each is uniquely different and attracts a different crowd.
Talgo beach is a small sandy beach organized by a beach bar that is one of Halkidiki’s most popular concert destinations. In between Ormos Panagias and Vourvourou, this beach fills up with young people that come from all over Sithonia looking for a party.
The beach bar organizes half of the beach with sun-beds and umbrellas that come with a minimum for ordering drinks and food. On weekends the crowds are big as people come to be entertained with concerts, which are advertised everywhere on posters.
The beach is sandy with shallow water. There are some pebbles in the beginning but then turns to a sandy bottom. The water is calm and well sheltered from winds, so if it is windy anywhere else you can always come to Talgo for escape. The south half of the beach is free from sun-beds, so you can put down your towel if you prefer.
Top 5 things to do in Ormos Panagias
Ormos Panagias is actually the harbor of Agios Nikolaos that has grown up to become its own holiday destination in Sithonia. Almost everybody who comes to Sithonia comes to Ormos Panagias as part of the hordes of tourists who daily embark on the famous Mt. Athos cruises.
- Cruise to Mt. Athos on a pirate’s ship to see 1000 year old monasteries
- Find freedom on the vast Triani Ammouda beach
- Ramble through the cramped streets of nearby Agios Nikolaos
- Buy the days catch at the Ormos Panagias seafood market
- Join the fun of the annual Diaporos Regatta
Mount Athos Cruise
On a beautiful late September morning, we get up early to rush down to Ormos Panagias, an attractive little harbour town on the east side of the Sithonia peninsula of Halkidiki. The weather is beautiful for this time of year. Sunny and with a temperature in the high 20’s, the conditions couldn’t be more perfect to experience a day cruise in the north Aegean sea. Our destination? Cruising along side the ancient monasteries of Mount Athos.
About Mount Athos Monasteries
This is one of the top reasons for tourists to come here. Mount Athos is a monastic republic, walled off from the rest of Greece. The only way to enter is by boat through a port of entry and then by foot to the monasteries. The catch is that no women are allowed and the daily number of visitors are restricted by entry permits that are obtained in advance. So the next best thing is to go on a boat tour that cruises up the western side of the Athos peninsula.
Cruising to Mount Athos
As you depart in the morning, the trip to the southern tip of Mount Athos is about 2.5 hours.
If you are fortunate, you may even be entertained with dolphins that play in the waters of the Aegean and from time to time accompany the ship on its journey.
Mount Athos monasteries
Around noon, you reach the monasteries that start from the southern tip of Mount Athos and are scattered along the shore of the Athos peninsula. A guide gives a well-prepared description of all the monasteries and their history in Greek, English and German. Some of this architecture is dated back 1000 years and were built on foundations that go as far back as the 4th century AD. Find out more information about the monasteries of Mount Athos.
The peninsula has been inhabited by monks for the last 1000 years. The untouched surrounding forests give you a beautiful view from the boat of densely forested slopes with ancient monasteries clinging to cliffs, framed by a dramatic background.