Ouranoupoli

A seaside town at the entrance to the Athos Peninsula, where women cannot enter the Holy Mountain. From here you can take a boat along the coast to see the monasteries, or go to Amouliani Island for swimming.

Ouranoupoli lies on the west coast of the Athos Peninsula in the Chalkidiki prefecture of the Central Macedonia region of Greece. It is the last town of the secular world before Mount Athos, and the boundary of the monastic self-governing territory lies just a few kilometres east of the town. Founded in the 1920s by refugees from Asia Minor, the town is landmarked by the Byzantine tower by the harbour, known as the Prosforion Tower. Because Mount Athos only admits male pilgrims with permits by boat, most visitors take coastal excursion boats from here to view the monasteries along the western shore from the sea. Male pilgrims get their permits at the Pilgrims' Office in town, then take a ferry from the harbour to Dafni.

There are plenty of places to swim around town. The beach in front of the town and Trimiti Beach can be reached on foot. A small boat can take you to the shallows of the Drenia Islands for swimming. A ferry from Tripiti Harbour takes about 10 minutes to reach Amouliani Island, where beaches such as Alikes have white sand and clear water. On the eastern edge of town are the ruins of the medieval Zygou Monastery.

The best season is June to September. May and October are comfortable with fewer visitors. In winter, boat trips are greatly reduced and most hotels close.

Getting there: Thessaloniki Airport is about 120 km away, roughly 2 hours by car. KTEL long-distance buses also run directly to the town. Plan for 2 to 3 days.

Notes: excursion boats must keep their distance from the Holy Mountain coast and cannot land. Women are not permitted to enter Mount Athos. On summer weekends, Thessaloniki visitors flood the area, so book accommodation in advance.

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