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 Halkidiki’s three sun-drenched peninsulas offer visitors stunning scenery‚ sitting easily alongside pretty resorts and beautiful beaches. The clear‚ shimmering waters of the Aegean come alive with the play of dolphins and windsurfers catching the breeze. The Kassandra Peninsula is the western most of the three. Village resorts are scattered along its length, and visitors find themselves captivated by the beauty of the beaches and the green hills rising inland. Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city after Athens, is within easy reach and makes a fascinating excursion. Beaches: Halkidiki’s crowning glory is its beaches. Stretches of golden sands swathe the coast and you can swim almost anywhere. Kassandra’s beaches are mainly fine sand with shingle and stone on entering the water in some areas, with views to the Sithonia Peninsula. Most offer a good selection of watersports. Nightlife: The nightlife is quieter and more cosmopolitan than the lively Greek Islands such as Corfu and Crete. Low-key entertainment is centred on the main hotels‚ while Hanioti and Kalithea have their fair share of lively bars and discos although everywhere tends to be quiet except in July and August. |
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Halkidiki resort reviews |
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ATHOS-OURANOUPOLIS Ouranoupolis stands at the gates of the Mount Athos Monastic Republic where only religious-minded men can visit. Ouranoupolis itself has an old fishing harbour and fortified tower and its hills are decked with olive groves and flower nurseries. Water-taxis nip Over to small nearby islands and the resort is renowned for its excellent seafood restaurants. The beach at Gerakina leads down to translucent waters where you can cool off from the sun's rays. When evening comes, browse around the shops before sampling the traditional fare in one of the tavernas. The scenery is spectacular, with narrow paths running parallel to the shore.
KASSANDRA-HANIOTI Hanioti is a bustling village on the Kassandra Peninsula and you'll be captivated by the beauty of its fine sand beaches (most offering at least some watersports) and the green hills rising inland. Entertainment is low-key and centres on the main hotels, however there is a wide variety of lively bars, but if you love the beach, the scenery and the typical Greek ambience this won't bother you. Hanioti is around a 90 minutes drive from Thessaloniki airport and car hire is recommended.
KASSANDRA-KALLITHEA As Kalithea means 'good view' this resort is perfectly named. On a clear day you can savour spectacular views of the Torroneos Gulf and the second peninsula of Silhonia. 1 hour and 45minules from the airport, the resort reclines on a bay of coarse sand and looks out across crystal dear waters. Legend has it that Hippocrates, who hailed from Kov recommended Kalithea's waters for their healing powers. Today, a good selection of tavernas administer a fine dose of relaxation. The shallow waters along the beach of pale, golden sand make Kalithea popular with families.
KASSANDRA-KRIOPIGI The quiet resort of Kriopigi boasts a great hillside location with spectacular views out to sea. Kriopigi has a small shingle beach, a few traditional restaurants and some shops. A warm and friendly atmosphere greets you in the local bars and tavernas that offer a relaxed and charming evening.
KASSANDRA-NEA MOUDANIA Nea Moudania is located a short distance before reaching the first peninsula of Kassandra, approximately 62 km south from Thessaloniki.
KASSANDRA-PEFKOHORI The lively resort of Pefkohori lies towards the bottom of the Kassandra Peninsula. The main seafront promenade is lined with a good selection of bars, cafes and restaurants. The long sand and shingle beach offers great watersports and as the sun goes down you can party on in the many dance bars, tavernas or the disco which is situated on the edge of town.
KASSANDRA-POSSIDI Possidi, a picturesque fishing village which offers a necklace of inviting beaches and small seaside taverns serving the freshest seafood in an abundance of good wine.
KASSANDRA-SANI Set on the site of an ancient city, modern Sani lies on the beautiful coast of the Cassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. Smart Sani is around 1˝ hours from the airport. Its peaceful, modest harbour embraces traditional restaurants and tavernas, whilst 4 miles of sand shelves gently into the clear sea. A lovely resort for all.
SITHONIA-METAMORFOSI Metamorfosi is 94 km from Thessaloniki and lies at the beginning of Sithonia, the middle peninsula of Halkidiki. Great part of Halkidiki with beautiful sandy beaches and a crystal clear sea. Not a lot to do at night as most entertainment is hotel based but you'll find the usual tavernas, cafes & bars. The church of Metamorphosis the monastery of Ioannis Prodromos are worth a visit.
SITHONIA-NEOS MARMARAS Neos Marmaras is a sea side village of Sithonia, Halkidiki's middle peninsula, found at a distance of 125km from Thessaloniki. During the 1960's Marmaras rapidly grew as an international centre of tourism mainly due to the extensive Porto Carras holiday complex, complete with hotels, marinas, restaurants and a casino. A lovely part of Greece. |
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Halkidiki Travel Facts: Time: Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 between the last Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin and the round three-pin.
Money: The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents. Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining euros. Language: Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport valid for the intended period of stay, but a visa is not required. Health: There are no specific health risks in Greece, but visitors who plan to walk through forested areas are advised to consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Greece vary; those in major cities are excellent but many of the islands are some distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe, but those visiting for short periods should consider sticking to bottled water. UK nationals are entitled to a refund on emergency hospital treatment under a reciprocal agreement between the UK and Greece, and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be taken on holiday for this purpose. Despite this, all visitors are advised to take out medical insurance. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from infected areas. Bird flu was detected in swans in northern Greece in February 2006, but stringent measures have been taken to contain the outbreak; no human infections have been reported. The risk to people is believed to be very low, but visitors are advised to avoid any contact with caged, wild or domestic birds, and to ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked as a precaution.
Tipping: The tip is often included in the bill in a restaurant. If not, leave between 10 to 15 percent. For drinks at cafes, round the bill up to the nearest euro. Taxis expect change as do cloak room attendants and porters.
Safety: There is a risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks and visitors are urged to be vigilant in public places, including tourist sites. The bombs that exploded in central Athens outside a police station on 5 May 2004 were not targeted at tourists, but visitors could be caught up accidentally in such incidents. Greece is otherwise considered a safe destination, but the height of the tourist season does usually see an increase in petty theft cases, particularly in crowded areas. Visitors are advised not to carry valuables on them. Violent crime is infrequent, but there have been incidents on some Greek islands and lone visitors are advised not to accept lifts from strangers.
Communications: The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). There are often surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) offices for local and international calls. Calls can also be made from public card phone booths and cards can be bought from kiosks or OTE offices. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels. |
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ABTA & ATOL protection is included on all holidays |
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