Halkidiki (also spelled Chalkidiki) is the peninsula in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece, shaped like Poseidon’s trident. Three “fingers” reach into the Aegean: Kassandra, lively and full of resorts; Sithonia, wilder and greener; and Mount Athos, the monastic Holy Mountain. Inland, Central Halkidiki adds mountain villages, ancient sites and some of the best food in the region. This guide covers where to go, the beaches worth the drive and how to get there from the UK.
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The gateway is Thessaloniki airport (SKG), with direct flights from London and other UK airports for most of the year. From the airport it is around an hour by car to the first resorts of Kassandra, and a little longer to Sithonia. Renting a car is the easiest way to explore, because buses between the peninsulas are slow. If you have a day to spare, combine your trip with our Thessaloniki travel guide.
Central Halkidiki is often overlooked but richly rewarding. It connects the three peninsulas and holds much of the region’s cultural and natural character.
Kassandra, the westernmost peninsula, is the most developed and the easiest to reach. Expect modern resorts, family hotels, beach bars, nightlife and Blue Flag beaches with full facilities.
Sithonia, the middle finger, is greener and less built up than Kassandra, with pine forests, hidden coves and some of the clearest water in Greece.
Mount Athos, the easternmost peninsula, is an autonomous monastic community within the Greek state, home to 20 Orthodox monasteries. It is not a tourist destination in the usual sense: only men may enter, with a limited entry permit called the diamonitirion, and women have been barred for over a thousand years.
Everyone can still see it. Boat cruises from Ouranoupoli sail along the coast past the monasteries. The village itself is worth a stop for its beaches, waterfront tavernas and the 14th century Byzantine Tower of Prosphorion.
An outdoor science park near ancient Stagira, birthplace of Aristotle, with interactive exhibits on optics, levers, pendulums and the solar system. A great stop with children.
One of the most important cities of ancient Macedonia until Philip II destroyed it in 348 BC. Walk its grid of streets and houses and see the well preserved floor mosaics.
A cave full of stalactites and stalagmites, famous for the Petralona skull, one of the oldest human fossils found in Europe. Guided tours run through its passages, and the small museum next door displays prehistoric finds from the area.
Turquoise water between smooth white rocks and tiny coves. Arrive early in summer, and bring a snorkel.
White sand, shallow calm water and pine trees for shade, which makes it one of the best beaches for families.
A long stretch of golden sand with shallow water, sunbeds and beach bars, backed by dunes and pines.
Fine white sand and full facilities next to the Sani Resort, with water sports and good dining options.
On the small island of Ammouliani, a short ferry ride from the Athos peninsula: fine sand, clear shallow water and a laid back island feel.
Choose Kassandra for resorts, nightlife and easy access from Thessaloniki, Sithonia for nature and quieter beaches, and Ouranoupoli for Mount Athos cruises and Ammouliani. Greek List members get special rates at hotels across the region.
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Few places in Greece pack so much into one region: party beaches and empty coves, Byzantine monasteries and ancient cities, mountain villages and seafood by the water, all within a short drive of Thessaloniki and without the crowds of the most famous islands. As the Greeks say, san tin Halkidiki den echei: there is no place like Halkidiki.
Evangelos Kasapakis
Evangelos Kasapakis
Evangelos Kasapakis
