Discover Halkidiki Greece: Top 7 things you need to know

Halkidiki Greece is one of the most popular destination in Greece. It’s very close to Thessaloniki so it’s the first vacation option for the citizens of a city with a population which counts more than a million. Anyway Halkidiki is the top destination for tourists from all over the world. A rumor in Greece says ”There is nowhere like Halkidiki” which we agree and we will confirm it too, stay tuned.

Where is Halkidiki

Halkidiki Greece is a part of Macedonia in Northern Greece and specifically is located in central Macedonia, Southern and next to Thessaloniki. Chalkidiki it’s like a peninsula of Macedonia’s mainland and its coast line is one of the longest in North Aegean.

In the Southern part of Halkidiki Greece there are 3 peninsulas, Kassandra peninsula, Sithonia peninsula and Athos peninsula. The Kassandra one, in the SouthWest part of Chalkidiki which is like an island cause of the New Potidea’s canal close to Moudania city between the mainland and Kassandra. The Sithonia peninsula which is located in the South part of Chalkidiki and the Athos peninsula which is located in the SouthEast part of Chalkidiki, where the famous Holy Mount Athos is.

Halkidiki Map

If you ever see an aerial photo of Halkidiki Greece with its 3 peninsulas, you can easily imagine the trident of the Greek ancient god Poseidon, although locals are calling those 3 peninsulas ”legs of Halkidiki”.

In the following google map you can see exactly where Halkidiki Greece is located.

The Mountains of Halkidiki Greece

• There are 4 big mountains in Halkidiki Greece:
  • The Mountain Athos, located at the end of the third peninsula of Halkidiki, the Mount Athos peninsula, it’s 2033m high and it’s shape is like a pyramide. Join a cruise to Mount Athos and discover it.
  • The Mountain Cholomontas, lie in the North-Central part of Halkidiki, full of oak, pine, fir and chestnut trees, it’s the second tallest mountain in Halkidiki (1165m heigh).
  • The Mountains Stratoniko and Kakavos, are located in the North-East part of Halkidiki, both of them have about 360km² land and their highest tops are 926m and 913m high
  • The Mountain Itamos, located on Sithonia peninsula, locals are calling it Dragoudelis mountain too. It is 811m high and it’s forest is about 2000 years old.

The 4 seas of Halkidiki Greece

• The are 2 gulfs along the coastline of Halkidiki Greece:
  • The Singitic gulf (Siggitikos), located in the North East part of Halkidiki, between the Sithonia peninsula and the Mount Athos peninsula. Join a fun cruise in Siggitikos gulf
  • The Toronean gulf (Toroneos), located in the Nort West part of Halkidiki, between the Kassandra peninsula and the Sithonia peninsula.

• Eastern of Chalkidiki is the Strymonian gulf (Strimonikos).
• Western of Chalkidiki is the Thermaic gulf (Thermaikos).

The history and the ancient sites of Chalkidiki

The first Greeks came in Halkidiki around the 8th century BC from Chalkida and Eretria which are parts of Evia island in Central Greece, after that Greeks where continue coming in the area from Andros and other parts of Greece.

The history

• Later the area have been conquered by the Philip II and Chalkidiki became a part of Macedonia.
• After the Macedonian wars Chalkidiki became a part of Roman Empire.
• A few centuries later Chalkidiki has been a part of Byzantine Empire.
• The 1430 became a part of Ottomans Empire.

Greek War of Independece started in 1821 and Chalkidiki was an active member of it. Finally the area was incorporated into the Greek Kingdom after the Balkan Wars in 1912, and in 1922 the first Greek refugees from Turkey came to restart their lives here.

The ancient sites

All over the area, there are ancient sites you can visit, let’s discover them:

• Akanthos (7th century BC), location: Ierissos Village.
• Aphytis (8th century BC), location: Aphytos Village.
• Mende (9th century BC), location: near Kalandra Village.
• Olynthus (7th century BC), location: New Olynthos Village.
• Neposi castel (5th century), location: Palaiochori Village.
• Potidaea (600 BC), location: New Potidea.
• Scione (700 BC), location: New Skione.
• Stagira (655 BC), location: Stagira-Olympiada.
• Toroni (3rd century BC), location: New Toroni.
• Xerxis canal (5th century BC), location: Nea Roda.
• Petralona Caves (700.000 BC), location: Petralona.

Halkidiki Nowadays

Locals in Chalkidiki are engaged mostly in tourism, fishing, farming stockraising and mining.

They are also producing: fresh fishes, olives, honey, olive oil, wines, raki, tsipouro, ouzo, cheese, feta, milk, pasta, liqueur, marmelades, mushrooms, vegetables, herbs, vinegar, salted fishes, mussels, was and candles, cherries, meat (chicken, pork, beef, turkey, goat), fruit juices, tea, cereals, nuts, apricot, grapes, kiwi, vine leaves, corn, eggs, lentils, chickpeas, etc.

The 5 Municipalities guide

You can easily understand and discover Chalkidiki by dividing it into separate parts. Let’s start saying that there are 5 different Municipalities on Halkidiki Greece. In every Municipality we will note every village and their points of interest.

• Mainland part (Polygyro’s Municipality): This part includes all the area which is in the North Central of Halkidiki Greece, here you can find mostly mountain villages:
  1. Polygyros Village (the center of Chalkidiki, shopping center).
  2. Paleokastro (the old castle, the dragon cave).
  3. Taxiarhis (agritourism, mushroom festival, horseback ridin).
  4. Vrastama (hiking, the cave of Saint Efthimios).
  5. Agios Prodromos (honey, delicious souvlaki, Olinthio river).
  6. Plana (Havrias river, Havria bridge, source of sour water cave).
  7. Sana (Ammitis canyon, ancients spot).
  8. Kalives (seaside, olives).
  9. Gerakini (seaside, blue flag, anastasitiko).
  10. Kelli (olives, cheese, the cave of Saint Efthimios).
  11. Olinthos (olives, ancient Olinthos).
  12. Metamorfosi (August festival, pine tree forest).

• West part (Propontida’s Municipality): This part includes all the areas which is in the west side of Halkidiki Greece, seaside and mountain villages:
  1. Nea Moudania (fisherman port, shopping center).
  2. Agios Pavlos (August festival, viticulture).
  3. Nea Iraklia (seaside, blue flag, Sahara beach).
  4. Nea Gonia (gastronomy, handmade pianos).
  5. Nea Silata (traditional settlement).
  6. Rodokipos (raki, folk art museum).
  7. Sozopoli (traditional settlement).
  8. Agios Mamas (September festival, wildlife protection zone).
  9. Papa Aloni (blue flag, Agios mamas beach).
  10. Portes (potideas bridge, potideas canal).
  11. Dionisiou (seaside, blue flag).
  12. Mouries (seaside, blue flag).
  13. Nea Potidea (fisherman port, marina).
  14. Simantra (August festival, carnival festival).
  15. Flogita (blue flag, water sports, museum).
  16. Nea Triglia (farmer village, olive trees).
  17. Eleohoria (hot spring fields, greenhouses).
  18. Krini (18th century church, folk art museum).
  19. Nea Tenedos (farmer village, hot spring fields).
  20. Nea Plagia (wildlife protection zone).
  21. Metohi (seaside).
  22. Petralona (petralona cave, Mount Katsika).

• Kassandra peninsula part (Kassandra’s Municipality): This part includes all the area which is on Kassandra peninsula, mostly seaside villages:
  1. Kassandria (shopping center, traditional settlement).
  2. Afitos (traditional settlement, July festival).
  3. Kalandra (Posidi beach, ancient spot).
  4. Paliouri (honey, olive oil).
  5. Kallithea (nightlife, ancient spot).
  6. Pefkohori (nightlife, glarokavos).
  7. Nea Skioni (fisherman port, blue flag).
  8. Nea Fokea (June festival).
  9. Agia Paraskevi (thermal springs spa, honey).
  10. Fourka (skala fourkas, nightlife).
  11. Kriopigi (blue flag beach).
  12. Kassandrino (olive oil, honey, April festival).
  13. Polihrono (Watersports, Mavrobara).
  14. Hanioti (Ammoudes, ancient spot).

• Sithonia peninsula part ( Sithonia’s Municipality): This part includes all the area which is on Sithonia peninsula, mostly seaside villages:
  1. Nikiti (14th century church, marina).
  2. Agios Nikolaos (festivals, trani ammouda).
  3. Ormos Panagias (cruises, fisherman port).
  4. Vourvourou (Karidi, crystal blue waters, pine tree forest).
  5. Diaporos (9 islands, canoeing spot, crystal blue waters).
  6. Metaggitsi (Salonikiou, olive oil, honey).
  7. Neos Marmaras (cruises, nightlife).
  8. Parthenonas (great view, folk art museum).
  9. Kelifos (island).
  10. Sikia (blue flag, fisherman port).
  11. Porto koufo (natural port).
  12. Sarti (blue flag, 3km beach, Mount Athos view).
  13. Toroni (camping, ancient spot).

• Mount Athos Area part (Aristoteli’s Municipality): This part includes all the area which is in the East side of Halkidiki Greece, combination of mountain, seaside and island villages:
  1. Arnaia (folk art museum, honey).
  2. Varvara (waterfalls, hiking).
  3. Gomati (Develiki, Pirgos).
  4. Ierissos (Akanthos, Shipyards).
  5. Nea Roda (Komitsa, Xerxis canal).
  6. Ammouliani island (cruises, drenia, banana beach).
  7. Ouranoupolis (Cruises, ferrys to Mount Athos).
  8. Olimpiada (ancient Stagira, mussel farming).
  9. Stratoni (mines skouries, mountain Stratoniko).
  10. Stratoniki (August and December festivals, hiking).
  11. Megali Panagia (agritourism, olive oil).
  12. Neohori (hiking, red beans).
  13. Paleohori (hiking, woven).
  14. Pirgadikia (September festival, fisherman port).
  15. Stanos (hiking, September festival).
  16. Stagira (Aristotelis park, towers of 16th century).

• Mount Athos peninsula part (Mount Athos): Geographical Mount Athos is a part of Halkidiki Greece, but it is governed as an autonomous polity. It is an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism. Mount Athos is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are two ways to explore the peninsula, the first one is by visiting Mount Athos as pilgrim or by joining a cruise to the west side of it. There are 20 monasteries of Mount Athos on the peninsula:
  1. Dochiariou monastery
  2. Xenophontos monastery
  3. Saint Panteleimonos monastery
  4. Xiropotamou monastery
  5. Simonos Petra monastery
  6. Osiou Grigoriou monastery
  7. Dionisiou monastery
  8. Saint Paul monastery
  9. Great Lavra monastery
  10. Vatopedi monastery
  11. Iviron monastery
  12. Hilandar monastery
  13. Koutloumousiou monastery
  14. Pantokrator monastery
  15. Zografou monastery
  16. Karakalou monastery
  17. Filotheou monastery
  18. Stavronikita monastery
  19. Esfigmenou monastery
  20. Konstamonitou monastery

Halkidiki cruises

There are Halkidiki cruises departing every day from Ormos Panagias port and Ouranoupoli port. Explore the west side of Mount Athos or join a cruise to the blue lagoon areas of Halkidiki Greece.

Join a halkidiki cruise to the west side of Mount Athos. See, feel, learn, enjoy on board. We highly recomend it to you.

Best beaches in Halkidiki Greece guide

Chalkidiki’s coastline is about 550km long, so there are more than a thousand beaches you can explore. There are so many choices for every taste, like sandy or rocky shores, golden or bronzer, black or white sands, there are varieties even in the sea colors. In Chalkidiki we guaradee you that you will surely find the type of the beach you are searching for. Let’s discover the best beaches in Halkidiki, this is our Athos Sea Cruises team TOP 40:

1. Vourvourou beach
2. Karydi beach
3. Alikes beach
4. Kavourotrypes beach
5. Trani Ammouda beach
6. Drenia beach
7. Armenistis beach
8. Kalamitsi beach
9. Agios Georgios beach
10. Sani beach
11. Lagonisi beach
12. Banana beach
13. Agios Ioannis beach
14. Kalogria beach
15. Karagiatsia beach
16. Komitsa beach
17. Paradisos beach
18. Polychrono beach
19. Toroni beach
20. Varkes beach
21. Sarti beach
22. Hanioti beach
23. Possidi beach
24. Kallithea beach
25. Porto Koufo beach
26. Pefkohori beach
27. Skala Fourkas beach
28. Platanitsi beach
29. Siviri beach
30. Nea Moudania beach
31. Nea Potidea beach
32. Fava beach
33. Kovio beach
34. Lagomandra beach
35. Linaria beach
36. Tristinika beach
37. Valti beach
38. Psakoudia beach
39. Metamorfosi beach
40. Kryopigi beach

Hotels Villas Bangalows Resorts and Cambings in Halkidiki

In Chalkidiki you can find every type of accomondation you’d dreamed to stay on your vacation. Everyone can afford their vacation here, from 5 stars hotels, all inclusives and resorts, to holiday rentals, apartments and cambings, there is a huge variety of prices per night.

• More than a hundred top rated resorts and hotels
• A thousand holiday rentals
• Bangalows
• Villas
• 40+ organized camping areas
• and more..

Halkidiki Resort Guide

Here we will mention some of the best Resorts – Hotels in Halkidiki Greece:

• Sani resort in Halkidiki, Sani beach
• Porto Carras resort in Halkidiki, Nea Moudania
• Eagles Palace resort in Halkidiki, Mount Athos Area
• Acrotel Athena Palace resort in Halkidiki, Akti Elias Nikiti
• Ikos Oceania resort in Halkidiki, Nea Moudania
• Ikos Olivia resort in Halkidiki, Gerakini
• Danai beach resort in Halkidiki, Nikiti
• Anthemus beach resort in Halkidiki, Elia road
• Miraggio thermal spa resort in Halkidiki, Paliouri
• Pomegranate wellness spa hotel in Halkidiki, Nea Potidea
• Avaton Luxury hotel in Halkidiki, Nea Roda
• Ammon Zeus hotel in Halkidiki, in Kallithea

Halkidiki weather

Halkidiki Greece has a Mediterranean climate, that means hot dry summers and mild winters. If you are searching for high temperatures and sunny days you have to plan your vacation from June to September. Here in Greece they use to say that the sea temperature is higher in September and October than in May and June.

The high season period in Halkidiki Greece is from June to September, so if you are looking for an uncrowded relaxing vacation you have to pick months like May to June and September to October.

Sunshine, rainfall and temperatures

By statistics the month with the most sunny days in Chalkidiki is July with 30 sunny and only 1 rainy day, highest temp: 30°C , lower temp: 21°C . The most rainy month with 12 rainy days is December, highest temp: 13°C , lower temp: 8°C.

Daily Sunshine Hours and Sea Temperature

From June to August the average daily Sunshine hours in Chalkidiki are 12,5 hours and the average sea temperature is 23,5°C, (June: 22°C – August: 25°C).

From December to February the average daily Sunshine hours in Chalkidiki are 4,5 hours and the average sea temperature is 16°C.

Statistics source

All roads leads to Halkidiki Greece

And this is true, If you are in Thessaloniki every road you will drive in, just leads you to Halkidiki, except the one goes to Athens.

If you are planing to visit the East side of Halkidiki Greece, then the Thessaloniki’s west side highway Egnatia Α2 is the one suits to your roadtrip.

If you are planing to visit the West side of Halkidiki Greece, then the Thessaloniki’s east side highway A24 Moudanion is the one suits to your roadtrip.

If you are planing to visit the Central part of Halkidiki Greece, then the Thessaloniki’s east side Greek National Road EO16 – EO16a to Polygyros is the one suits to your roadtrip.

Halkidiki airport & flights to Halkidiki Greece

Unfortunately there are no any flights straight to Halkidiki Greece because there is no any airport in the area yet, the closest airport is the one in Thessaloniki which is close enough to Chalkidiki. Macedonia airport is located in the Eastern part of Thessaloniki so highway A24 Moudanion and the Greek National Road EO16 – EO16a is about 5min away from the airport.

KTEL Halkidiki Greece

In the Eastern side of Thessaloniki city you can find the KTEL bus station of Chalkidiki. There are daily departures from Thessaloniki to Chalkidiki and backwards.

Things to do in Halkidiki Greece

The most popular things to do in Halkidiki are the boat cruises, with the Athos cruise coming first in the list. In Chalkidiki you can also experience Jeep safari tours, boat rentals, hiking, cultural tours, snorkeling, archeology tours, historical tours, kayak tours.

FAQs

In this point we collected some of your questions, here are the answers. Feel free to ask more questions.

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This article made by https://lnk.bio/Rodokalakis