HALKIDIKI

Halkidiki is considered as one of the best destinations for all kind of summer vacations if
you have the right guide. 😉

It is located near to Thessaloniki, so Makedonia airport is only 30 minutes away. This makes
it really easy to be reached. By visiting Halkidiki, you can combine parties (most places in
the 1st leg), as also relaxing family holidays (2nd leg). The last leg has also some good beaches
to visit, but mostly it is being visited from religious people who want to go to Athos
mountain to the monasteries (unfortunately, after Ouranoupoli, only men can visit Athos
peninsula).

The best period to visit Halkidiki is between 15 June until the end of July and it is highly
recommended to avoid weekends since all people from Thessaloniki come and the traffic is
really thick. I totally recommend for the same reasons to avoid visiting August.

Halkidiki’s beaches are considered the most beautiful in Greece. Greece is in the 2 nd place
among 50 countries regarding the total number of blue flags which is 545. 96 out of 545 are
in Halkidiki which takes the 1st place in Greece for award-winning coastlines.

Ideally, you need 10 – 14 nights to stay in Halkidiki in order to go around in the most places
and to have a clear picture of everything.

PLANNING FOR VISITING HALKIDIKI

1st LEG KASSANDREIA

 SANI resort. It is an amazing hotel with a very beautiful Marina. Outside the hotel it
has a really good beach bar called “Anemos” with an amazing sandy beach. You can
also visit Sani not only for its sea, but also during the night for a relaxing drink in its
amazing bars inside the hotel facilities or to listen a summer concert in the famous
SANI FESTIVAL.
https://sani-resort.com/gr
 AFITOS (The stone balcony of Halkidiki) . It is considered the best village of Halkidiki
and it is my village (proud for it 😊). It is a really picturesque village since it is built on a
rock with a magnificent view and it is paved. It has a really good beach bar (LIOSI) with
perfect colour of the water. You can go also for an afternoon walk for a relaxing coffee in
the village and you can have a drink after the sun goes down.

 ELDORIS BEACH BAR It is considered one of the biggest beach in Halkidiki with amazing blue
waters.
It is located in Aigaiopelagitika area in Possidi and the place is magnificent. The water is fantastic
and it never has waves. The sea is always calm. You will want to stay the whole day there.
In case you stay until the sunset, you MUST visit one of the most fantastic beach bars in Halkidki. It is 10
mins from Eldoris and the beach bar called “ZATTERO”. You need to order a cocktail and see the sunset. It
has one of the best sunsets. You can compare it to Santorini’s.
  Miraggio thermal spa resort in Paliouri. One of the best hotels in Halkidiki. It is a bit private. It
has really great swimming pools (sea is not good there) to relax and to order food and drinks
with an amazing view. One overnight stay there, is not forbidden and it has a delicious breakfast.

Last but, definitely not least for the 1st leg is to visit restaurant “MARINA” in Potidaia Halkidiki.
It is one of the best restaurants in Greece without exaggerating.

2nd LEG SITHONIA

The best now begin. SITHONIA is the diamond of Halkidiki. Follow the list with the
beaches (the best in my opinion) below and you will understand:

1. AKTI AGIOS IOANNIS. Some years ago there was a really good beach bar, but
now you need your umbrella. The place is magnificent and when the sea is calm, it is
considered one of the best seas. Blue and green colours are combined in the sandy
sea. 😊

2. AKTI KALOGRIAS. A unique beach with a small island which you can reach by
swimming. The colours are amazing and the recommended beach bar called
“MANGO”.
3. AKTI KOVIOU. It does not have a beach bar, but you can buy a coffee on your way,
you set your umbrella and it is really great. I can guarantee that when you see its
colours while getting closer by car, you will say WOW!!

4. BEACH BAR ISLA. Nearby is the beach bar ISLA. You can go in 5 mins by swimming
from ISLA to MANGO beach bar in Akti Kalogrias. They have the forest between as a
border, but it is really easy to go swimming. It is worth visiting.

 BEACH BAR KOHI in Porto Carras.

The sea is always calm and you can see just on the other side the village of magnificent Neos
Marmaras which is a really beautiful village with a panoramic view.
You can go for a coktail in Notos cocktail bar in Marmaras or in Molos.

While you are in Neos Marmaras, you can visit also a small village with a panoramic view of Neos
Marmaras and its small island “Kelifos”. The name of the village is PARTHENONAS, like the
Parthenon in Athens.
I prefer visiting Parthenonas before going to the beach. Drink a cold freddo espresso first with this
view and then go to the beach.

5. AKTI KARIDI in Vourvourou.

After visiting Karidi, you should go for lunch or early dinner to the nearby restaurant. It is
called “MELIA RESTAURANT”.

6. DIAPOROS ISLAND. 1 day you will spend to rent a small boat and do the round of
Diaporos island with a boat that you rent and you drive by your own.
You need only driving license for a car. You rent your own boat from early in the
morning until late in the afternoon and you can stop everywhere around this small
island. It has magnificent beaches and some Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie stayed
in this island for some days.
It is a fantastic experience and definitely you should do it. You will take a small fridge
and food and you will have a great time.

7. BAHIA BEACH BAR. It is a unique beach bar inside the thick forest which goes inside
the sea.

Check the link below:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nomrvi064nw

8. BEACH BAR RODIA. This beach bar as also the next one are similar but each one is
unique.

9. BEACH BAR MANASSU. You go down the cliff inside the forest and you reach a small
paradise.

Except this brilliant place for drink or food it also works as a camping. I totally
recommend to book for a night to stay in the camping. Actually, it is considered as
camping, but it is luxurious and it has nothing to do with the normal camping. Check
the website and think of booking a bungalow in the front row just before the waves…
https://www.aktioneirou.gr/en
 10. Nikiti is a village nearby to all of these magnificent beaches and it is really good for a
walk or for going out for a dinner or for a drink. It has many small souvenir shops and it
has also an old village which worth a visit. It is compared to Neos Marmaras in the 2 nd
leg and it is the most upgraded the latest years.

11. Sarti is also another very touristic village in the south part of the 2 nd leg. It is good for a
night visit to have a cocktail in the good and relaxing bars. Nearby there is also Toroni
village which has some good places to eat and spend some time.

1 DAY OUTING TO ISLAND OF AMMOULIANI

It is also a good experience to take a small ferry and go by car to Island of Ammouliani from Tripiti port.
There you can visit Alikes beach which is considered a great beach also. You can either stay one night or to
start early in the morning and come back in the night.
 One stop over to the third leg of Halkidiki
Before going to an end and just before entering the forbidden for women place of Athos peninsula (It is really
forbidden for women and they cannot enter according to the orthodox religion), you can visit Voulitsa beach
bar.

And don’t forget the saying in Greece: “LIKE HALKIDIKI NOWHERE”