Chalkidiki

East of the Greek mainland in the empire of Alexander the Great lies the Chalkidiki peninsula with its 3 fingers. Here you will find the longest and most beautiful exotic beaches surrounded by pine forests, a dreamy coast with a fascinating backdrop and the holy Mount Athos. Here you will find not only dream beaches but also archaeological sites and museums. Not to forget the rich Macedonian cuisine which was influenced by the Orient. The three fingers of the peninsula are called Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos. The Chalkidiki coast offers many small bays but also long sandy beaches. All 96 large beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag for the quality of the sea water. The longest sandy beaches are west of the Chalkidiki peninsula on the Kassandra finger. The peninsula offers the best conditions for children, as the gently sloping beaches are also sheltered from the wind and there are hardly any waves. Yes, it is as if the sea were a large lake. Here you can get small children used to life by the sea. The choice of hotels on Chalkidiki is large, but there is also a large selection for self-catering in beautiful boutique hotels, apartments and holiday homes with a very high standard but also inexpensive accommodation and all-inclusive family hotels. The places are well developed for self-catering and have a good infrastructure with supermarkets, bakeries, taverns and of course the famous fast food stalls. A day trip to the Macedonian capital Thessaloniki should not be missed on your vacation. In Thessaloniki is one of the most important archaeological museums in Greece. The city's landmark is the "White Tower". Stroll through the long city promenade right by the sea to Aristotle Square. We always use the parking lot of the Hotel Makedonia Palace, which is close to the promenade and the archaeological museum. This parking garage is accessible to everyone and not expensive. Thessaloniki is a treasure trove and offers a large shopping center. And many old churches.



The Kassandra finger, 70 km from the capital Thessaloniki
The landscape of Kassandra is easily accessible as it is not so mountainous and offers dream beaches. It is the most developed finger. Night owls who love nightlife will also find it here. Most of the large beaches offer a wide range of water sports. The most beautiful beaches on the Kassandra peninsula are Sani, Paliouri, Polychrono, Paliouri, Kalithea. Nearby is Kalithea with nightclubs where you can party until dawn. Siviri and Kriopigi is a quiet, clean beach with crystal clear water stretching on a hill with pine trees. On the beach there are fish taverns, restaurants, bars and cafes. One of the largest resorts of the Kassandra Finger is Pefkoshori (translated as the pine village). Pefkoshori consists of the old upper village with a small square with several taverns and cafes, which is separated from the lower village on the beach by the main road. The tourist part is the coastal part, in the upper village the locals live.
The coastal town of Afitos is the most beautiful village in Kassandra with well-preserved old houses and narrow streets in the upper part of the coastal village.

The coastal village of Kriopigi, translated as "cold spring", is located 4 km from the larger town of Kalithea and 82 km from Thessaloniki airport. In the village center there is an old water spring that offers warm water in winter and cold water in summer. It is said that whoever drinks from this healing spring will live to be over 100 years old. Isn't that a reason to spend your vacation there? The clean and fine sandy beach stretches for about 8 km and is located. The beach has also been awarded the blue flag for its good water quality. It is a beach with several bays, some of which extend from the pine forest to the beach and offer shady spots. The town is a modern, lively holiday resort with clubs and bars, restaurants and taverns with international cuisine. In the old town of Kriopigi, the more inland area comes through the typical Macedonian town structure with traditional houses. The highlight of the excursion destinations are the caves of Petralona or the boat trip around the monastic republic of Athos. Visitors can find water sports from various local providers in the various bays of Kriopigi.

The Sithonia Finger
Here there are still undeveloped beaches surrounded by pine forests with a few lively villages with hotels and pensions. Water sports are also offered on the beach here. Sithonia is more mountainous than Kassandra. Unlike Kassandra, you have to drive around the island if you want to change location, as there are mountains in the middle. While the west side is very hilly with many sandy beaches, some of which are difficult to access, the east side is flatter.



Recommended day trips
The small offshore island of Ammouliani (only 12km2 km, 580 habitants) is easily accessible from the coastal town of Tripiti. Here the pine forests go down to the beach.

From the coastal village of Ouranoupolis you can book a boat tour around Mount Athos. On this round trip you can see the fascinating monastic republic from the water.

The coastal town of Nikit is one of the oldest villages in the northwest of Sithonia. In the 14th century the village was known as the largest honey producer in Europe. The historic part of Nikiti with old restored stone houses and small streets is located on a hill with a wonderful view of the sea. The ruins of the St. Sophronius Basilica from the 16th century are also recommended.

The largest natural harbor in Greece Porto Koufo

The Manassu Beach Bar is the most interesting place to go out, located directly on a beautiful bay.

For children aged 6 and over and teenagers, the largest water park in Greece, Crazylаnd, is on the beach of Glarokavos near Pefkos. Open in the summer months from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The boat tour from Pefkohori (Kassandra Peninsula) to the uninhabited island of Kеlifos the ship makes several swimming stops in small bays.

The natural wonderCape Possidi is a large sand spit whose surface - morpho changes depending on the weather.

Snorkeling on the Kassandra Peninsula
Chalkidiki is known for its crystal-clear water and the richness of its underwater world with the best conditions for snorkeling adventurers. On the west coast of Kassandra on the rocky section between the beaches of Elani and Sani or on the rocky section of the Vаlitsа bay or in Potidea.

for snorkeling on the Sithonia peninsula
Without a doubt, the snorkeling paradise of Chalkidiki is the Sithonia peninsula with the following snorkeling paradises: Porto Kali, Kriaritsi, Kalamitsi and Agios Ionannis, Armenistis, Kalogria, Toroni, Porto Koufo, Lagomandra, Porto Carras, Koviou, Stiladario, Agia Kiriaki, Spathies, Korakas and Azapiko.

The Drenia Islands archipelago
The Drenia Islands, also known as the Donkey Islands, are located off the Chalkidiki peninsula. From there you have a breathtaking view of the holy Mount Athos and its monk republic. The Drenia Islands offer fine sandy beaches and crystal clear water with various water sports options. You can get to the Drenia Islands either from Ouranoupolis on a day trip by boat. Or you can rent a boat yourself and drive to the islands, which is what we did.