Ammouliani Island: The Only Inhabited Island in Halkidiki

Ammouliani is the only inhabited island in Halkidiki and one of the easiest Greek islands to reach from Thessaloniki. Located in the Singitic Gulf, between Sithonia and Athos, Ammouliani is small enough to feel like a secret and close enough to visit without a flight or a long ferry crossing.

It has about 500 permanent residents, no nightlife, and no large resort hotels. What it does have is clean water in shades that most tourists only see in photos, wild coves with no facilities and no crowds, and the kind of quiet that has become genuinely rare in Greek island tourism.

This is not the right island if you want beach clubs, busy promenades, or reliable restaurant options after 10pm. It is exactly the right island if you want to rent a small boat, find a cove nobody else is in, and spend a day doing nothing in particular. It is also a strong choice for families with young children, thanks to its shallow, calm water, no traffic, and manageable scale.

This article is a guide to Ammouliani: how to visit the island, where to stay, when to go and what to do on the only inhabited island in Halkidiki.

Boat Trips to Ammouliani

If you’re based in Thessaloniki and don’t have a rental car, or if you want to combine Ammouliani with a cruise around the Mount Athos peninsula, several organized boat tours include an island stop.

These depart from Ormos Panagias or Ouranopolis rather than from Thessaloniki directly, so you’ll need to factor in the drive or arrange transport.

Here are some options:

1. Mount Athos tour with Ammouliani island stop

This is a mixed cruise with very good reviews.

It starts from Ouranopolis, the last village with free public access on the road to Mount Athos.

If time allows, visit Ouranopolis, it’s one of the Greek villages I’ve fallen in love with at first sight.

The boat makes a 1.5 hours stop on Ammouliani, where you can enjoy beach time, swim or have a couple of drinks at the beach bar.

Click here to see the details and to book your Ammouliani island & Mt. Athos cruise at the price of today.

If you’re lucky, you may see dolphins during the Athos peninsula tour. I saw lots of them and I fell in love with Greece right away! Also, the deep blue color of the water got me hooked on booking at least one week in Greece every year.

2. Mt. Athos & Ammouliani Cruise from Thessaloniki

If you’re in Thessaloniki and you don’t have a rental car, you’ll want to check out this Mt. Athos & Ammouliani boat tour that starts from Ormos Panagias.

This cruise stops on Banana Beach, on Ammouliani, where you’ll have two hours to do what you want.

On your way back to Ormos Panagias, there will be a bouzouki player on the bat entertaining you with traditional Greek songs.

This tour takes a maximum of 20 travelers and it requires good weather. If it gets canceled due to poor weather, you’ll get a full refund or a different date for the cruise.

3. Mount Athos & Ammouliani Glass Bottom Boat Tour from Ouranopolis Port

This is a sightseeing cruise around the holy monasteries of the western section of Mount Athos.

In addition, it offers an excellent opportunity to explore the only inhabited Halkidiki island: Ammouliani.

Click here to see more details about this boat tour and to book your spot.

Main features of this tour:

• Views of 6 out of 9 of the holy monasteries on Mount Athos, with multilingual commentary
• Pass through the Drenia islet complex, an amazing photo opportunity
• Visit Ammouliani Island for 1.5 hours
• Discover Ouranoupoli’s reef on a glass-bottom vessel

Glass bottom boat tours can be a lot of fun. I remember seeing lots of fish waiting for the boat, as they already knew the crew would feed them.

You may also like my article about islands near Thessaloniki.

Ferry to Ammouliani

The most direct way to reach Ammouliani is by ferry from the port of Tripiti, on the Athos peninsula.

The crossing takes 10 to 15 minutes and ferries run approximately every hour throughout the day. Tripiti is about two hours’ drive from Thessaloniki.

Click here to see the ferry schedule for 2026.

One way tickets Tripiti – Ammouliani cost 3.5 Euro per passenger, 10 Euro per car, and 4 – 6 Euro per motorcycle. The journey takes about 10-15 minutes. There is no need to book in advance for foot passengers; you buy your ticket at the port and board the next departure.

This is the option to choose if you’re staying overnight or spending a full day on the island. The frequency and price make it easy to go back and forth without planning around a specific schedule.

Ammouliani Beaches

Ammouliani has more beach variety than its size suggests. Some are organized with sunbeds and bars, some are wild with no facilities at all, and a few require a boat or a walk to reach.

The island is small enough that you can realistically visit two or three beaches in a single day, especially if you rent a boat.

Here’s what each beach actually offers, and who it suits best.

Alikes Beach

Alikes in the main beach on Ammouliani. It is an organized beach, with sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars and restaurants.

Alikes is a very beautiful beach, with fine sand and beautiful, blue water. You can have sunbeds for free, provided that you spend at least 15 Euro on foods or drinks.

Best for: Families with young children, first-time visitors who want facilities and easy access, anyone who wants to combine beach time with lunch without moving around.

Honest note: Alikes gets crowded in peak season. If you’re visiting in July or August and want space, arrive early or plan to move to a quieter beach by midday.

Megali Ammos Beach

Megali Ammos is a very beautiful beach with fine sand and a view to Drenia islands.

Sunbeds and umbrellas on Megali Ammos beach are free with any order from the bar.

Best for: Travelers who want organized facilities without the main beach crowds, photographers, anyone interested in a view of the Drenia islet complex.

Karagatsia Beach

Karagatsia is a wild beach sheltered in a beautiful cove. There are some sunbeds and umbrellas, as well a a generous sandy area where you can put your beach towel directly on the sand.

There’s only one place where you can eat, so it can get a bit busy.

Best for: Travelers who want a quieter alternative to Alikes with some facilities still available, anyone who prefers a cove setting over an open beach.

Agios Georgios Beach

Agios Georgios is a narrow sandy beach that stretches alongside the road. Best for a swim, if you happen to be in that area.

There’s a beach bar where you can have a coffee or other refreshments.

Two sunbeds and one umbrella rental cost 7 euro per day.

Best for: A quick swim while exploring the island by car or scooter, travelers who want a no-commitment stop rather than a full beach day.

Faka Beach

Faka beach is remote and almost isolated. The road isn’t suitable for cars, so you’ll need to walk for at least one kilometer to get there.

Faka beach has an exotic look that makes it very attractive, though. Just keep in mind that there are not facilities here, so you’ll need to bring your food and drinks with you, should you decide to spend some time on this beach.

It’s probably best to visit Faka beach by boat. Boat rentals are available in the port of Ammouliani. The price is 40 Euro per day plus the fuel you use.

Best for: Travelers who specifically want isolation, anyone renting a boat for the day, photographers looking for an unspoiled setting.

Skalakia Beach

If you like off the beaten path places, Skalakia Beach is what you need.

Skalakia is a very quiet beach, with few people and with pristine waters that come in many shades of blue.

Bring everything with you, as this is a truly wild beach.

Unlike Faka, the approach is slightly more accessible, though it’s still not a beach you’ll stumble onto accidentally.

Best for: Anyone who has already seen the organized beaches and wants something completely different, snorkelers who want clear, undisturbed water.

Which beach should you choose?

Best Things To Do on Ammouliani Island

Nobody comes to Ammouliani or other similar islands for fun and nightlife but rather for a peaceful stay.

The best thing to do on this tiny island is to relax and enjoy swimming and snorkeling.

Another interesting thing is to rent a small boat and take a tour on water. These boats are very easy to drive and fairly inexpensive to rent. You don’t need a boat driving license. Rental boat prices are about 40 Euro.

Beware, though, there an extra charge for the fuel you use, and that can be as high as the rental price. That’s still a good deal for having your own boat for a full day, I think.

Taking photos is another thing to do on Ammouliani, particularly if you know how to find the best geographical locations for interesting shots.

Ammouliani Accommodation

Here are some of the best accommodations on Ammouliani.

Trinity the Hotel

Trinity is a basic 2-star hotel in Ammouliani village. It provides quick access to the beach of the village.

Other beaches are less then 3km away from the hotel. Check out the availability and the prices of their rooms here.

Nafsika

Nafsika is a family run property located near the port where ferries from Tripiti arrive.

Basic but comfortable, this accommodation can be the perfect place to call home for a couple of days on Ammouliani. Check out their prices and other details here.

Uposkapha Cave Concept

This apartment is right on Megali Ammos Beach. It is also close to Alykes Beach and Porto Agio Beach.

This makes it perfect for anyone who wants to try a different beach every day. The apartment is 55 sq meters in size and it has air conditioning. It can accommodate up to 5 people.

This would be my top pick for Ammouliani Island. Check out the prices and the available dates here.

Have you been to Ammouliani island? Do you want to read my other articles about Greek islands?