As you enter the village, you'll see "Happy Market" supermarket on your left. Shortly after, take the first right at the fork, then drive straight for approximately 300 meters until you reach our private parking.

Free private parking is available just 20 meters from the house — reserved exclusively for our guests.

• Bed linen & towels (body and face)
• Shampoo, shower gel & hand soap
• Toothbrushes
• Hair dryer & iron
• All the basic essentials for a comfortable stay

Use the remote → press ON/OFF. For best comfort, set it to 24–26°C.

The house is heated by the air conditioning (heat mode), or by radiators on request — just let us know. A dehumidifier is also provided during the winter months.

• Electric hob (cooking rings) — turn the dial, the indicator lights up.
• Coffee machine, kettle, toaster on the counter.
• Fridge, freezer & basic cookware are all yours to use.
• Dish soap & sponges under the sink.

In our area there is no recycling separation — all rubbish goes into the same bag. Please tie the bag and drop it in the green community bins on the corner of the street.

Sail along the western coast of the Holy Mountain, just 500 m from shore — see 8 monasteries up close. Stop at Ouranoupoli (~1h 45min). Multilingual commentary on board. Operates April 15 – October 15.

A small archipelago of nine islands with turquoise water that doesn't look real. Group cruises, or rent a small boat for yourselves and explore at your own pace.

30 hp boats — no license needed. Anchor in your own private cove, swim, snorkel, picnic on board. The most magical day if you're comfortable on the water.

One of Europe's most important prehistoric caves — stunning stalactites and a 700,000-year-old human skull found inside. Open 08:00–20:00 (summer). Photography not allowed.

A hilltop park at Aristotle's birthplace, with interactive physics experiments based on his work (prisms, compass, parabolic mirrors). Sweeping views over the Aegean. Daily 09:00–18:00.

The roof of Sithonia — pine forest, rocky landscape, and a 360° panorama of both gulfs and Mount Athos from the fire-watch tower at the top. Bring 1 L water per person; avoid midday heat.

Greece's "co-capital": the White Tower, Roman Rotunda, Ano Poli old town, the waterfront promenade, and outstanding food. Don't skip Modiano Market or a bougatsa from Bantis.

Sykia faces east — so the magic hour here is sunrise, not sunset. The Holy Mountain glows pink across the gulf as the sun comes up. Worth setting one early alarm.

• From Sykia Beach — toes in the water, coffee in hand.
• From the Kartalia cliffs (south of Sarti) — dramatic silhouettes.
• From the upper village — quieter, with rooftops in the foreground.

Drive 30 min west to catch the classic Aegean orange-over-water:

• Tristinika — long west-coast beach, perfect for golden hour.
• Toroni — wide bay with full unobstructed view.
• Mount Itamos viewpoint — both gulfs at once, the whole peninsula at your feet.

• Klimataria — almost always calm, even in August.
• Cape Drepano (south tip) — wild coves and dramatic rocks, near-total solitude. Bring water.
• Kriaritsi — long stretch of wild coves accessed by dirt roads. For adventurers with supplies.

Not for drinking — please use bottled water for drinking. The tap water in our area is hard (high mineral content), so it's only recommended for cooking and washing. Bottled water is available at every mini-market and supermarket in the village.

Some, especially in August and after rain. The house has nets and we provide an electric plug-in repellent. If you're sensitive, bring a personal repellent spray — local pharmacies and supermarkets also stock citronella candles, plugs and natural sprays. Sleeping with the balcony door closed and the A/C on solves 90% of it.

Almost never. Jellyfish are rare in Sithonia — when they do appear they're usually the harmless brown ones (Cotylorhiza). The stinging purple ones (Pelagia noctiluca) are uncommon here. Locals swim in this water every day all summer.

June and September are the magic months — warm sea, perfect weather, no crowds. July and August are classic Greek summer (hot and busy). May and early October are quieter and great for those who don't need to swim every day.

• June: 25–30°C air, 22–24°C sea
• July–August: 28–33°C air, 24–26°C sea
• September: 28°C air, 23°C sea

Most tavernas, mini-markets and gas stations accept cards. But cash is useful for small purchases, the bakery, the farmers' market and at remote beach kiosks. There's an ATM in Sykia village — withdraw before the weekend in August, as small-village ATMs occasionally run out.

We provide beach towels for your stay. Most organized beaches rent sunbeds and umbrellas (€8–15/day for a pair). For quiet wild beaches (Klimataria, Cape Drepano), bring your own umbrella — there's little shade. Water shoes are useful for pebble beaches like Karydi.

Essentials we recommend:

• Strong sunscreen (SPF 50+) — the Greek sun is intense
• A wide-brim hat & sunglasses
• Reef-safe sunscreen for snorkelling
• Light long-sleeve shirt for evenings (cooler near the sea)
• Comfortable walking shoes for villages with stone streets
• Water shoes if you plan to visit Karydi or rocky coves
• A small dry bag for boat trips

If we don't have guests checking in that day, absolutely yes — usually free up to a couple of hours, with a small fee for half-day stays. Just message us the day before and we'll do our best to accommodate.

Very fast — we use Starlink, so the connection is excellent throughout the house and even in the yard. Perfect for video calls, streaming and remote work. No signal drops, even in peak summer.

Greek pharmacies close for siesta (roughly 14:00–17:30) and on Sundays. There is always an emergency pharmacy (διανυκτερεύον φαρμακείο) open in the area — the sign on any closed pharmacy will tell you which one. Or message us and we'll check for you.

Siesta is sacred
Between roughly 15:00–17:30, the village goes quiet — shops close, people rest. Lower your voice and lean into the calm.

Dinner is late
Locals rarely sit down before 21:00. Tavernas stay lively until midnight. Order several mezedes for the table and share — that's the way.

The kerasma (κέρασμα)
At the end of a meal, you'll often get a free dessert (fruit, halva, loukoumi) and a shot of tsipouro. It's a gift from the house — accept it with a smile and a warm "Efcharistó".

Tipping is appreciated, not expected
Service isn't included. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% in cash on the table is the standard. It's a thank-you, not a tax.

Always greet
When you walk into a shop or taverna, say "Kalimera" or "Yia sas". It's polite — and a tiny gesture that locals notice and appreciate.