Stuart Forster looks at reasons to visit Ammouliani island in Halkidiki, Greece.
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Think of Greek holiday islands and it’s normally the likes of Kos, Crete and Rhodes that spring to mind. Ammouliani, in Greece’s Halkidiki region, is, by comparison, far smaller and much quieter.
Ammouliani
The name of Ammouliani may not be well-known internationally. But it’s a popular destination among Greek holidaymakers looking to get away within their own country and enjoy sunshine, sand and the sea.
The island is in the Gulf of Sigitikos, an area sometimes referred to as the Gulf of Mount Athos. It has an area of just 4.5 square kilometres and is dotted with sandy beaches and small bays.
Secluded bays and beaches
Alikes Beach is one of the most popular destinations for bathers. A beach shack acts as a meeting place and serves refreshments.
By comparison, Karagatsia Beach seems small and secluded. It is hemmed in by steep hillsides,
The bay at Karagatsia offers calm water for swimmers. Locals say that the water around their island offers good visibility for divers and is rich with marine life.
Until the 1920s the island was inhabited by just a handful of Orthodox monks affiliated to the Vatopedi monastery on nearby Mount Athos. However, from 1925 the population began to grow as an influx of refugees settled on Ammouliani.
They were ethnic Greeks expelled from Asia Minor and the islands of Galleme, Passalimani and Skoupia in the Sea of Marmara. The refugees were part of the exchange of populations agreed in the Treaty of Lausanne, signed following the Greco-Turkish War of 1919 and 1922.
Today the island’s permanent population fluctuates at between just 500 and 600 people but rises in the summer. Up to 8,000 people stay on Ammouliani at the busiest time of year.
Ammouliani was settled by fishermen
Many of the settlers who arrived in the 1920s were fishermen and, naturally, they continued to fish off Ammouliani. It was only in the 1960s and 1970s that the islanders began to use their bays and beaches to attract tourists.
Inevitably, on an island settled by fisherfolk, the seafood and fish served in Ammouliani’s restaurants are fresh and highly recommended by the islanders.
July and August are the peak months on Ammouliani but the weather is usually good in June and September too.
There are plenty of inexpensive places to stay on Ammouliani. I visited the 46-room Sunrise Hotel, tel. +30 23770 51273), an unpretentious family-run place offering the warm hospitality that’s traditionally associated with this part of Greece.
Mount Athos Area
If you stay on the island you can cruise around the autonomous Mount Athos peninsula, which is the home of 20 Orthodox monasteries. Only men are permitted to visit Mount Athos, which is often referred to as the ‘Holy Mountain’ by members of the Orthodox faith.
One ancient monastery, Zygou, is on the outskirts of the town of Ouranoupoli and located outside of the restricted area of Mount Athos. You can visit the ruins of the monastery, which was abandoned in the twelfth century and is currently being excavated.
The Halkidiki region is also the home of Mount Olympus, where, according to Ancient Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses sat and looked on at mortals while enduring conflict and intrigue among themselves.
A half-hour drive north of Ouranoupoli are the ruins of the ancient Stageira. The walled city of Stageira overlooks the Gulf of Stymonikos and is best known as being the birthplace of the philosopher Aristotle, in 384BC.
Travel to Ammouliani
Easyjet flies to Thessaloniki from London Gatwick Airport. Ammouliani is 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Thessaloniki’s airport and 130 kilometres (81 miles) from the city centre.
Transfers by bus or taxi to Ouranoupoli take roughly 90 minutes. Then the boat journey between the mainland harbour of Tripiti and Ammouliani takes 15 minutes.
Hotels in Ammouliani
Considering a holiday on Ammouliani island? Search for accommodation on Booking.com:
Further information
Learn more about the island see the Visit Ammouliani tourism information website.
See the Mount Athos Area website for more information about the surrounding region.
For Greek travel and tourism information see the Visit Greece website.
Thanks for reading this article about Ammouliani, a holiday island off Greece’s Halkidiki coastline. Into the region’s cultural heritage? Here’s a look at the symbolism of Orthodox icons.
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A version of this post was initially published on Go Eat Do on 24 April 2013.
Halkidiki Property
January 1, 2014 at 18:36Amouliani it is a very well know holiday destination in Halkidiki for the local people of Northern Greece.
It is a lovely- quiet island with beautiful beach and affordable prices.
I live in Kassandra for many years and i met a lot of people who been in Amouliani.
All their comment were about a beautiful small island where they had a lovely time!
Stuart
January 6, 2014 at 08:41Thanks for your comment. I think that local character was good to see and experience.
Tara
March 13, 2015 at 07:36We have been going to Halkidiki for years now and the whole area is a secret gem. There is so much to see and do. We usually do a day tour by boat from Pefkochori to Ammouliani. And yes we are booked the same place for three weeks this year too. :-)))
Stuart Forster
February 13, 2018 at 16:21I heard it was a popular holiday island among Greek people.