Athitos or Afytos village is the most picturesque part of Halkidiki in Northern Greece. It is located on the first peninsula of Halkidiki called “Kassandra” and is a real gem with narrow alleys, stone-built houses, and vibrant colors. Since it is a hilltop village, it also offers stunning panoramic views! So, if you are an architecture lover or simply want to visit the jewels of the incredible region of Halkidiki, the village of Athitos should be on your bucket list. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about this unique village of Halkidiki.
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Things to know before visiting Athitos village
Afitos is an old village that resembles the famous Greek islands mainly because of its blue-and-white colors, narrow streets, and incredible ocean views. It is located on the northeastern coast of the Kassandra peninsula (the first leg of Halkidiki) and is only 83 kilometers away from Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece. So, you can easily visit Afytos either from Thessaloniki or from the other parts of the first or second peninsula. Athitos is the perfect blend of nature, architecture, and history. It is also a very photogenic village with many beautiful spots to photograph. However, it attracts hundreds of tourists every summer. So, if you want to enjoy a relaxing time admiring the views and the beauty of this village, we recommend visiting it early in the morning or during the shoulder season (May, June, September).
Although it is a small village, it offers a lot of things to do, as there are many cafés, bars, Greek taverns, hotels, etc. You can easily spend a whole day or even choose to stay in the village to get a full taste of its unique beauty. Keep in mind that watching the sunset from Athitos is a magical moment! If you are coming from a country outside of Europe and plan to spend several days in Halkidiki or Greece in general, we suggest that you purchase a digital e-SIM card to have mobile data once you arrive in the country. Although Greece offers affordable mobile phone plans, most of them include little mobile data, especially if you are going to use the Internet a lot.
How to get to Athitos village?
As we said earlier Athitos is located on the Kassandra peninsula. The closest places are Kallithea, which is known for its vibrant nightlife, Siviri, which is an adorable seaside town, and the world-famous Sani Resort, which is an oasis of luxury. So, you can easily visit it within a few minutes from the above places. Obviously, you can visit it either from Thessaloniki or from the second peninsula of Halkidiki called “Sithonia”. We would not recommend visiting Afytos as a day trip from the third peninsula called “Mount Athos”, because it is a long distance. No matter where you visit the village from, the most convenient way to get around Halkidiki (especially if you are traveling as a family or in a group) is undoubtedly renting a car. Local buses called “KTEL” or private transfers are the other available modes of transportation. However, if you want to enjoy the ultimate freedom to explore even the most secluded places or beaches, renting a car is the easiest and probably the only way to do it.
Where to stay?
Halkidiki caters for all tastes and budgets when it comes to the accommodation. Despite its size, Athitos offers a variety of accommodation options, from boutique hotels and villas to cozy apartments. The best way to experience local life is to stay in a small village like Afitos. However, if you want to have more accommodation options at better prices, you can stay in larger places, such as Kallithea, Poseidi, Pefkohori, etc. Wherever you want to stay, we highly recommend booking your accommodation as well as your tickets in advance, because Halkidiki is one of the most popular places in Greece in the summer.
Best things to do in Athitos
1-Take a walk through the narrow alleys of the village
Strolling through the narrow alleyways of this unique village is our favorite thing to do. It is a real pleasure to walk through the picturesque alleys, admiring the colorful flowers, the wonderful sea views, and the old cute houses. As you can see from the photos below, the locals used to hand-paint the cheese tins (feta) and turn them into true works of art. However, if you want to have the village of Afitos to yourself, you should visit it early in the morning (around 8 am) to avoid the crowds, especially in July and August. Even at 9 am, you will find the first tourists having their morning coffee and breakfast.
2-Enjoy a meal at the local taverns
In Afitos, there are many cafés and bakeries, serving delicious Greek breakfast or brunch. The same goes for restaurants, traditional taverns, and fast food. So you can enjoy any kind of meal while admiring the endless blue. We suggest making a reservation if you want to find a good place during the high summer season. If you love seafood, the local restaurants will not disappoint you! Every time we visit them, we leave with the best impressions, with full hearts and stomachs. What is better than having a delicious Greek meal while enjoying the breathtaking ocean views?
Needless to say, it is a magical experience to have your dinner at sunset. The pastel colors of the sky and the lights of the village create a unique setting, perfect for romantic dinners and photos. In case you cannot find available tables at the seaside restaurants, you can still find incredible restaurants with a beautiful atmosphere in the village.
3-Go souvenir shopping
Although Athitos is a small village, you will find lots of gift shops where you can buy decorative items or local products, such as olive oil, honey, cheese, and feta, usually sold in neat packaging. The stores are open from early in the morning until late evening in the summer. So, you can enjoy your shopping at any time with your family. In case you are traveling with kids or have a sweet tooth, you can find many local shops for delicious crepes, waffles, Greek desserts such as loukoumades (photo on the left), etc. As we both love ice creams, we cannot recommend enough the popular “Ice Cream Shop” (photo on the right), which has countless ice cream flavors for all tastes!
4-Spend your day at Athitos beach
It is almost impossible to just watch the vast blue from a distance without taking a dip. So, we highly recommend visiting the Athitos beach. It is a 1-kilometer-long beach with beach bars and free spaces, where you can put up your umbrella and towels, and spend a fun day at the beach. Additionally, we suggest that you bring sea shoes with you to avoid any uncomfortable situations because there are sharp pebbles to get into the sea. However, the beach has clear turquoise waters and is ideal for hot summer days.
5-End your day with a drink at the local bars
You can’t leave the village of Athitos without having a drink in one of the most beautiful and romantic settings. This cute village is full of bars with a cozy ambiance and incredible views. We can’t recommend enough to take your love, family, or friends and enjoy a drink in one of the many bars. If you visit it in mid-August, you will be lucky enough to enjoy the full moon while tasting your favorite drinks. However, you should expect overcrowded places during this time of year.
Other nearby places to visit in Halkidiki
1-Kallithea
Less than 5 kilometers from Athitos you will find yourself in one of the most visited places in Halkidiki called “Kallithea”. It offers golden beaches and vibrant nightlife. Due to the beach clubs and nightclubs with famous DJ’s, it is considered the best place to have fun in Halkidiki. You will also find many cafés, bakeries, and taverns. There are pedestrian zones, full of grocery stores, souvenir shops, banks, post offices, etc. This is why it is a great place to base yourself if you want to have everything close to you. As one of the busiest places, it also has car rental offices in case you want to rent a car in a physical store. However, we would not recommend it during peak season, as everything gets very expensive.
2-Siviri
Siviri is one of our favorite seaside towns. It is 15 kilometers far from Athitos and is a great pleasure to spend our time there. It has a long coastline with many amazing swimming spots. There are many beachfront restaurants, beach bars, and cafés with an amazing summer ambiance. The best time to visit it is definitely the sunset with its magical pastel colors. However, it is also one of the busiest periods. So, if you want to enjoy a meal in one of the taverns, we highly recommend that you make a reservation or get there before sunset to find a good spot! Siviri has many rooms to rent, guesthouses, and hotels, which are ideal for couples and families.
3-Sani
About 15 kilometers from Athitos, you will find yourself in one of the most luxurious parts of Halkidiki called “Sani”. It is home to the world-famous Sani Resort which consists of 5 different Sani hotels. If you stay in one of the 5 hotels, you will have full access to all the beaches, restaurants, and swimming pools. As you can imagine, Sani is very crowded in the summer, due to the fascinating marina with yachts, chic restaurants, bars, and luxury boutiques. The surrounding area with greenery and pine trees makes Sani even more impressive. Every summer, Sani organizes art festivals that attract hundreds of tourists. Attending these summer music festivals is one of the best things to do in Halkidiki because they take place around a hillside topped by the 16th-century Stavronikita tower. Most of the Sani beaches are sandy with shallow waters, ideal for families with small children!
4-Pefkohori
Pefkohori is located in the south of the Kassandra peninsula and is the last place we recommend you visit from Athitos (about 22 kilometers). You can easily visit it either by car or by a direct bus. It is another beautiful seaside town with a long coastline. There are many waterfront bars, restaurants, etc. Pefkohori is another amazing place for nights out! We also suggest spending some time strolling through the narrow streets of the village. However, be prepared for crowded places in the high season.
Final Thoughts
Athitos is a real gem and one of the most authentic places in Halkidiki. Since our hometown is Thessaloniki, we have visited Athitos countless times, and each time we fall in love with its beautiful colors and architecture. Nothing is better than having the endless Greek blue while walking in cute streets, or eating Mediterranean food. So, if you are looking for romantic places in Northern Greece, the village of Athitos will not disappoint you!
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