CHALKIDIKI
With its three ‘fingers’ stretching into the North Aegean, the Halkidiki Peninsula is the most popular holiday getaway for Northern Greeks. The first finger, Kassandra, has fared worst, filled with unimaginative holiday villas, concrete and trinket shops. The second, Sithonia, has escaped most of the excesses and contains some truly magical beaches. The easternmost promontory largely belongs to the monastic community of Mt Athos (Agion Oros), open only to male pilgrims.
In summer, budget accommodation in Halkidiki is nonexistent and getting there from Thessaloniki can be exasperatingly slow.In its best spots, Halkidiki has long, sandy beaches surrounded by aquamarine seas and pine forest and is particularly inviting in September, when the waters are warmest and the crowds have dispersed.
The Kassandra Peninsula is what happens when Greek urbanites go on vacation and bring their motorcycles, concrete sidewalks and consumerism with them. It’s not an oasis of tranquillity, but if you’re after nightlife it’s great. Kallithea on the east coast is the centre of the action. Along with fleshed-out discos and bars, it has a long but crowded beach. Posidi and Nea Skioni are on the quieter western shore. Siviri has a sandy beach, but is overdeveloped. Generally not recommended for family vacations, but you can visit the place for nightlife. Escapist Sithonia has better beaches, more spectacular nature and a more relaxed feel than Kassandra. The southern end and eastern coastline have beautiful beaches; outside high summer, they’re yours. The coast road loops around Sithonia, skirting wide bays, climbing into pine-forested hills and dipping down to the resorts. The west coast has good stretches of sandy beaches between Nikiti and Paradisos, notably Kalogria Beach, Lagomandra Beach, Elia Beach, Ayios Ioannis, Spathies. Beyond, Neos Marmaras is Sithonia’s largest resort, but also with a noisy crowd. From Neos Marmaras the road climbs into the hills, from which roads (some dirt) descend to more beaches. Development here is scarcer and you can find isolated beaches. Toroni and Porto Koufos, small resorts on Sithonia’s southwestern coast, offer relaxing beaches and a cute yacht harbour sheltered in a deep bay, with fish tavernas. Sithonia’s southern tip, still relatively isolated, is rocky, rugged and dramatic. Rounding the road’s southeastern tip, spectacular Mt Athos rises across the gulf. Kalamitsi, though it has a gorgeous beach, is suffering from overdevelopment. There’s boat rental at North Aegean Diving Centre ( 23750 41338), which also does dives and courses. EAST COAST Sarti, further up the coast, is a quiet resort with some nightlife, rooms and eating options. It has a long, sandy beach and great views of Mt Athos, which can also be seen by boat excursions run by Sarti travel agents. Kivotos ( 23750 94143)on the central waterfront offers great grilled fish on a table in the sand. Owner Daniel can help with finding rooms. Between Sarti and Panagia the loop roads meet up and things get more interesting. Sithonia’s best beaches are here. Rent a scooter to explore; 6km north of Sarti is a turn-off leading to Kavourotrypes (Crab Holes) – several small rocky coves great for swimming. Some 13km further north is popular Vourvourou. A short dirt road from the centre leads to Vourvourou’s best beach, Karydi. Backed by shady pine trees, this beach is an ideal mix of sand, rocks and solitude. Another sandy beach is at Ormos Panagias, 1km north. The celebrated Athonite monasteries occupy the southeastern part of Halkidiki’s third (easternmost) finger. Land entry is not allowed from the secular part of Athos (dominated by nondescript package tourism, though with some fine beaches) into the mountainous monastic part. The narrow strip at the northwestern, secular edge of the Athos Peninsula features on its northern coast the town of Ierissos, where regular ferries service Athos’ east-coast monasteries, and on the southern coast Ouranopoli, where ferries depart for the west-coast monasteries and their administrative centre at Karyes. If you’re not going to monastic Athos, visit Ammoliani, a tiny island with fine beaches, domatia, camping and tavernas. Get there via ferry (six daily) from Trypiti on the south coast of the peninsula. Ouranoupoli, which is located on the southwestern coast of the Athos Peninsula, is a low-key tourist village with good nearby beaches. It is, however, better known as the major jumping-off point for Athos’ monastic community. Along with daily ferries for pilgrims, daily sightseeing boat cruises circle the Athos Peninsula from here. This gives females, banned from monastic Athos, a chance to see something. Alternatively, hiring a boat lets you visit the sandy, uninhabited Drenia archipelago, one nautical mile offshore. Mt Athos (Agion Oros) special oblation hereKassandra Peninsula
Sithonian Peninsula
Athos Peninsula
Sources:
Frommer’s
Greece
7th Edition
by John S. Bowman, Sherry Marker, &Peter Kerasiotis with cruise coverage by Heidi Sarna.
You can buy it from Amazon.co.uk with a more detail analysis, with recommended strolls in cities of Greece, a very well published guide helping you saving time on your vacation. This link is not an affiliate link; it’s a free suggestion nothing more.
Also for mount Athos Lonely planet is our source you can visit the home page here for more detail and instructions. All the material, maps and descriptions, is a property of the respective owners. Any complaints will be answered immediately and can be sent to Ingenious Solutions Ltd™
