Hot sunshine, fabulous beaches, secluded coves, shimmering blue seas and friendly tavernas – you can enjoy all this and more on a holiday in Halkidiki. Halkidiki consists of three peninsulas - Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos - extending out from northern Greece into the Aegean Sea. The Kassandra peninsula, with its sandy beaches washed by calm, shallow waters, is home to the town of Hanioti and the resorts of Kalithea, Sani and Pefkohori. The central ‘prong’ is Sithonia with its wilder appearance covered in pine forests, a rugged landscape and secluded sandy bays, making perfect terrain for hikers and bikers. Its resorts include beach hotspots of Agios Ioannis and Spathies. The Mount Athos peninsula, with its southern part out of bounds to the public as it is male-only ‘monks republic’, is home to the towns of Olympiada and Ouranoupolis. Discover Polygyros, Halkidiki’s capital city, with its fascinating archaeological museum and the maze of streets in the old town. The cosmopolitan city of Thessaloniki, only 100kms away from Halkidiki, has museums, cultural sites, shops, restaurants and bars to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a quiet family holiday, a sunshine getaway with friends or a romantic break for two, then a holiday in Halkidiki is the perfect choice. What's more, flights to Greece take less than four hours from the UK, so Halkidiki is never too far away! If you’re interested in any other destinations for your Greece holiday, flights to other Greek islands like Skiathos and Corfu are also just four hours. Rhodes holidays are always a popular choice!
Beachlife is the main focus of holidays in Halkidiki with an abundance of stunning beaches to enjoy, from quiet secluded coves, to busier stretches with water sports. Diving is a popular choice with plentiful marine life, tunnels and caves to explore off the shorleine. The pine forests around Halkidiki offer a great opportunity for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding. Don't miss a boat trip to view the monasteries on mystical Mount Athos. A trip to the Cave of Petralona and the nearby Anthropological Museum in Polygyros is a great way to find out more about Halkidikis culture. If you fancy a bit of retail therapy then head to Thessaloniki to explore top designer boutiques and classic antique stores.
Halkidiki has something for everyone when it comes to nightlife. Hanioti has outoftown clubs, while party animals should head to the famous Kalithea beach for the best nightlife. Quieter nightlife can be found at the small fishing villages such as Skioni and Marmaras. Just 100km from Halkidiki is the buzzing city of Thessaloniki.
There are many places to dine out on a Halkidiki holiday from restaurants serving international fare or locally caught seafood to traditional tavernas with Greek specialities on the menu. Start your meal with a meze of appetisers including taramosalata, tzatziki and dolmades and follow with traditional Greek favourites of mousakka or calamari with baklava for dessert. Aniseedflavoured Ouzo is the preferred aperitif and the robustly flavoured Retsina wine is the popular accompaniment to any meal.