# Ultimate Guide to Toroni, Halkidiki > Two kilometres of sand with the Byzantine Lekythos fortress at one end, Porto Koufo next door and Sithonia at its calmest — the full guide. At Toroni, history literally wades into the sea: at the north end of the two-kilometre beach, the walls of the Byzantine fortress of Lekythos stand on a rocky tongue in the water — the remnant of a city Thucydides already wrote about. Today it's a quiet coastal village in southwest Sithonia, where the tavernas and the sand still set the pace. ## The beach [Toroni Beach](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/toroni-beach-sithonia) stretches about 2 kilometres in front of the village — enough space that even in August you never feel squeezed. Much of it is free, with umbrellas and sunbeds fronting the tavernas. The water is clean, with a gentle slope — and the view from the sea towards the fortress is one of Sithonia's most distinctive images. Within a short radius: [Tristinika](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/tristinika-beach-sithonia) (2.7 km) — long, free, with a beach bar at one end — [Porto Koufo](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/porto-koufo-sithonia) (2.4 km) and [Aretes](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/aretes-beach-sithonia) (3.9 km). Slightly north lies quiet [Diaporti](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/diaporti-beach-sithonia) with its shallow passage to Pounta islet. All options: [beaches near Toroni](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/toroni/beaches). ## The Lekythos fortress and ancient Toroni Ancient Toroni was founded in the 8th century BC and played a part in the Peloponnesian War — Thucydides devotes pages to it. The Lekythos fortress, on the rocky promontory at the beach's northern end, is its most spectacular survivor: you walk there along the sand, and the sunset behind the walls is among Halkidiki's most photogenic. The archaeological site is open and free. ## Things to do - **Porto Koufo**: Greece's deepest natural harbour, 2.4 km south — fish tavernas by the water, with [Tzitzikas](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/restaurants/tzitzikas-porto-koufo) a classic stop for fresh fish. - **Kavourotripes & the east coast**: Based in Toroni, Sithonia's other side (Sarti, Kavourotripes) makes an easy day trip. - **Cycling**: The [Sithonia cycling trail](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/activities/sithonia-cycling-trail-sithonia) passes nearby — southern Sithonia has the peninsula's quietest roads. ## Food and stay The beach tavernas serve with your feet in the sand — fish, meze, local wine. Accommodation means rooms, studios and small complexes behind the beach; browse [stays in the area](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/listings). ## Practical - **Distance**: ~135 km from Thessaloniki (2h), on Sithonia's west road past Neos Marmaras. - **Parking**: Comfortable compared to the northern resorts — free along the road. - **Best period**: June-September; in September the fortress, the empty sand and the light make the year's best scenery. ## Practical notes for international visitors Toroni is the choice for travellers who want "Sithonia at its purest": two kilometres of sand without beach-club soundtracks, tavernas serving fish off the boat, and the ruined Lekythos fortress as an evening walk. The drive from the airport (just under 2 hours) filters the crowds — which is exactly the point. Combine it: Porto Koufo's fish tavernas are 5 minutes south, and the sunset behind the fortress is best in September when the light drops lower. Carry cash for the beach tavernas. ## Frequently asked questions ### Who is Toroni for? Anyone wanting a long, calm beach with tavernas and history — no beach clubs, none of Sarti's density. Mostly families and couples. ### Does it combine with Porto Koufo? Perfectly: a swim at Toroni or Tristinika, sunset at the fortress and a fish dinner at Porto Koufo — all within a 3 km radius. More: [the Toroni page](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/toroni) and [Sithonia's best beaches](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/blog/keyword-oi-kalyteres-paralies-sithonias). --- Source: Type: BlogPosting · Halkidiki, Greece