Halkidiki
Photo: Greece Field Guide
The Verdict
Three fingers of land southeast of Thessaloniki: pine forest, sandy beaches, and a monastic republic you can only see from the water.
Why go
Halkidiki is three long peninsulas hanging into the Aegean east of Thessaloniki, and it does what islands do without a ferry: pine coming down to sand, shallow water, and villages that were fishing ports until Thessaloniki discovered them. Kassandra, the western finger, is the developed one; Sithonia, the middle, is quieter and better; and the third is Mount Athos, a monastic state closed to women and to any man without a permit. Most people come for the beaches, which are genuinely among the best on the mainland.
Understand the place
The three-pronged peninsula southeast of Thessaloniki, with pine-backed beaches, quiet villages and Mount Athos at the eastern tip.
Easy to combine with
Logically reachable by transport. Confirm current ferry/flight schedules before booking.
Nearby
Related
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Plan this trip
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