Sarti between the beach, Dragoudeli and history

With a beach stretching for more than two kilometres, Mount Dragoudeli and the story of its founding, Sarti offers several ways to experience a stay. Swimming and water sports go hand in hand with opportunities for hiking and a local history that leads from Ofiousa to Lavrio and finally to the settlement in the Sarti area. This lets you choose whether to focus your trip on the coast, outdoor activities or cultural discovery.

Beach, boat and mountain

Sarti’s beach stretches for more than two kilometres and is suitable for swimming and water sports. Mini-cruises setting off from the small harbour sail around Mount Athos. These water-based experiences offer distinct options for planning your holiday: the beach is all about swimming and water sports, while the cruise takes you around Athos. As trips may vary by season, check in advance whether a sailing is available during your travel dates.

Mount Dragoudeli rises behind Sarti and offers hiking opportunities with views of Athos across the way and the Aegean horizon. For more active holiday days, the mountain provides an alternative to swimming, water sports or a mini-cruise.

A local history shaped by origins and settlement

Sarti’s founding is connected with the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The village was founded by refugees who had previously lived on the island of Ofiousa (Afisia) in the Sea of Marmara. They first stayed in Lavrio; from 1923 to 1925, they settled in the Sarti area.

Places of remembrance and a museum

West of Sarti lies the Agiopavlitiko Metochi of Xiropotamou Monastery, known as “Kryfo Scholeio”. The Church of Zoodochos Pigi stands right next to it; the first families lived there after arriving from Lavrio. Above Platanitsi, the ruins of watermills that belonged to the Xiropotamou Monastery metochi there have been preserved. Plane trees and pine trees grow around the ruins. The story of the first families and the surviving watermills offer distinct historical points of reference in the area.

The Sarti Historical & Folklore Museum has two exhibition rooms. The Afisia Room is dedicated to the old homeland, while the Sarti – New Afisia Room focuses on the new homeland. The collection preserves artefacts, documents, photographs, oral testimonies and genealogical records relating to the history of the community. These different materials offer a range of ways to explore this history, while the two rooms set the old and new homelands side by side. The museum does not have fixed opening hours; contact it before visiting.

Choose Sarti to suit your interests

When looking for holiday accommodation in Sarti, a good starting point is the kind of trip you want: would you rather focus on the beach and water sports, hiking on Mount Dragoudeli or the history of the community?

Discover more destinations: Metagkitsi, Kalamitsi, Vourvourou, Neos Marmaras, Akti Salonikiou, Ayios Nikolaos, Sykia, Nikiti

For the wider travel guide: Sithonia.