Halkidiki

The prefecture of Halkidiki has an overall area of 2.945 sq. kms and a population of 92.117 inhabitants. Its capital is Polygyros.

The peninsula of Halkidiki has a rare beauty. All shades of green of the vegetation set off the colours of the deep blue see. Its peculiar geographic sjape with its protrusions far into the Aegean Sea, makes Halkidiki the peninsula with the longest coastline (more than 550 km). Vast sandy beaches alternate with hidden little bays sheltered by tall pine trees, creating a landscape of great beauty.

Thanks to this exceptional natural beauty, its traditional architecture and the hospitality of its population, Halkidiki has developed tremendously during the last decades. Each year, it’s beaches are explored by visitors, who came to enjoy the clear cool water of the sea and the shady sports in the woods.

The sea and the many clean beaches receive every year more blue flags from the European Community than any othew Prefecture (42 blue flags in 1997). Moreover Halkidiki has a well developed hotel infrastructure, with accommodation ranging grom small. Clean traditional lodgings to large luxury hotel complexes.

Halkidiki has a microclimate with the same number of sunny days a year as Attica, and it offers the visitor many opportunities to enjoy a favorite sport: golf, sailing, scuba diving, yachting, fishing, mountain climbing and trekking. Recently several trekking routes have been marked.

Apart from the capital Poligiros, other important towns and village are: Arnea, Ierissos, Agia Paraskevi, Afytos, Agios Nikolaos, Nikiti, Galatista, Gerakini, Kallithea, Nea Roda, Nea Fokaia, Ouranoupoli, Petralona, Stagira, Neos Marmaras, Vourvourou, Strotoni, Nea Potidea. There is an infrastructure for tourism with hotels and rooms to rent, offering comfortable places to spend the night. You can also have guided visits at the historic and archeological sites.  Especially noteworthy is the cave and the museum at Petralona, archaeological site of Olynthus, the early Christian basilicas in Nikiti, the museum in Poligiros and the museum in N. Moudania.

There is a frequent bus service connecting Halkidiki to Thessaloniki (Information from KTEL Thessaloniki: phone number  +30 2310 924.444, and KTEL Poligiros:  phone number +30 23710 22.309). If you have your own boar, you will find a very well equipped marina at Porto Carras, Sithonia and also at Sani, Kassandra. From Halkidiki, you can travel to the nearby city of Thessaloniki.

Only men are allowed to visit Agio Oros (Holy Mountain). Access is possible by ferry – boat from Ierissos and from Ouranoupolis. You might also want to visit the island of Ammouliani, connected on a daily basis by a small ferry – boat from Trypiti. During the summer months there is a hydrofoil connection at Nea Moudania, Pefkohori and Neos Marmaras with the islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.

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