Halkidiki is a true garden of paradise in Greece, which tourists love for its combination of luxurious beaches, clear sea, developed infrastructure and historical monuments. Nature has endowed the peninsula with lush forests and many herbs that fill its air with healing aromas. And Halkidiki owes its popularity to its good location and well-established flight program. This allows the peninsula to receive hundreds of thousands of tourists during the summer season.
Geography of Halkidiki and how to get there
The peninsula is well recognizable on the map of Greece. Its shape resembles a trident, consisting of three peninsulas - Athos, Cassandra And Sithonia. To get to Halkidiki, you need to get to the nearest major city of Thessaloniki. From May to early October it accepts charters from many Russian regions. Regular flights fly from Moscow all year round.
Climate of Chalkidiki
The peninsula has a mild climate, and even at the height of summer the heat is more easily tolerated than on the southernmost islands of Greece. The average July temperature is +30°C, the water in the peak season warms up to +26°C. You can swim comfortably in Halkidiki from the end of May to the end of September, although in some years the weather allows you to swim in early October.
Each of the three "fingers" of the peninsula has its own characteristics:
- Cassandra- the most popular peninsula, which has a lot of hotels for every taste, taverns, nightclubs and shops. Despite its popularity, even in the high season it will not be difficult to find a secluded place or a calm beach for a family vacation on Kassandra. Among the resorts of the peninsula, Kalithea with excellent sandy beaches is especially popular;
- Sithonia- a peninsula that is ideal for a relaxing holiday, including with children. There are fewer hotels, and therefore fewer tourists. The beaches of the peninsula are picturesque secluded bays. Among the resort villages of Sithonia, the village of Vourvourou with an exotic coast, the lively Neos Marmaras and Nikiti, a small but developed town with beautiful beaches, stand out;
- Athos- a peninsula, mainly known for the mountain of the same name and the monastic state. However, part of Athos is designed for recreation: there are comfortable hotels, shops and entertainment for children. On this peninsula, tourists are welcomed by the city of Ouranoupolis with clean, safe beaches and several attractions.
Also in Halkidiki, in addition to the villages on three "fingers", there is a popular tourist town of Nea Kallikratia. It is located just 30 km from Thessaloniki. Nea Kallikratia is known for its many entertainment venues and variety of fur products.
Attractions in Halkidiki
One of the reasons to visit Halkidiki is Holy Athos, known as the only monastic autonomy in the world. To date, there are 20 monasteries, several sketes and hundreds of different buildings here: from hermit huts to isolated cells. Among the important relics that are stored on Mount Athos, the belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, the relics of saints, numerous miraculous icons and the Gifts of the Magi stand out. There are two ways to see this with your own eyes. Men can get a special visa and make a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain. And women are allowed to view Athos only from the sea - special cruises are organized in Halkidiki.
It is worth a trip to the legendary Olympus, where hiking and cycling are organized. Nearby is the Franco-Byzantine fortress of Platamon - a majestic building of the XIII century, perfectly preserved. Popular among tourists in Halkidiki are day trips to Kastoria - here you can buy fur products and admire the architecture of the city, as well as to the thermal resort of Loutraki, the springs of which are known for their healing properties.
Shopping in Halkidiki
It is impossible to return from a vacation without shopping, and shopping opportunities in Halkidiki are not limited. In large resort towns there is a good selection of shoes and clothing. Those wishing to update their wardrobe should go to Thessaloniki - there are outlets and shopping centers with boutiques of famous brands. As a souvenir, you can bring leather shoes or bags made by local craftsmen, high-quality textiles, lace, fragrant honey or durable olive tree dishes.
