Central Halkidiki: The Heart of Macedonia
The prefecture of Halkidiki is known for its beautiful coastline and its cosmopolitan lifestyle. Is without doubt one of the most important tourist resorts of Greece. The golden beaches with crystal clear waters attract tourists from all over the world. Halkidiki is close to Thessaloniki and geographically it stands for the three peninsulas that enter the Aegean Sea. Kassandra, also known as the 1st leg, Sithonia (2nd leg) and the peninsula of Athos (3rd leg) which belongs to Agion Oros in its bigger part. The capital is Poligiros and is located in central Halkidiki.
How to Get? Fly to Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia” (SKG) and drive to Halkidiki
Beaches
Nea Kallikratia
This is the nearest summer destination from Thessaloniki and therefore the beaches are filled with people throughout the course of the season. In the area there are many organized beach bars, while the town of Nea Kallikratia has a large number of hotels and rooms.
Nea Plagia
Nea Plagia is a pretty popular destination. Access is very easy to drive and very close to Thessaloniki. The beach is organized with plenty of café, restaurants and beach bars.
Ammouliani island
It is the only inhabited island of Halkidiki, located in the gulf of Mount Athos and access is by ferry boat from Tripiti (120 km from Thessaloniki). Some of the most famous beaches are Alikes, Megali Ammouda and Agios Georgios.
Nea Roda
The village of Nea Roda is located just before the borders of Mount Athos, at the narrowest point of the peninsula where it is rumored the ancient canal of Xerxes. Today, Nea Roda and the nearby beautiful beaches are tourists attraction
Ierissos
It is one of the largest towns in Halkidiki, situated next to the ancient Akanthos. Besides its great and beautiful beach, Ierissos is famous for its shipyards which are among the oldest in Greece.
Archaeological monuments
Stagira
The birthplace of Aristotle is ancient Stagira, next to the current village of Olympiada. The city was founded in 665 BC and during the Greco-Roman times it was deserted. In 1000 AD refers to the ancient city a castle whose ruins are visible today along with a small portion of the Byzantine walls. The excavations in the ancient Stagira revealed important findings that kept in the archaeological museum of Polygyros.
Akanthos
Very close to Ierissos, lies the ancient city of Akanthos and dates from the 7th century BC. Traces of ancient Akanthos start from Ierissos beach, where there are remains of the ancient harbor. There are also remains from the walls of the citadel with a height up to 8 meters. The coins of Akanthos considered among the oldest and most elegant Greek coins of antiquity.
Religious monuments
Church of St. Stephen in Arnea
The Metropolitan Church of St. Stephen in Arnea is built upon ancient ruins, visible in most part. It is a place of worship and also a site of archaeological interest. The church St. Stephen can be visited every day.
Megali Panagia
The village of Megali Panagia named from the hagiography of Holy Mary which found in the area after a vision in 1860. Since then, Revenikia village changed its name to Megali Panagia (Great Holy Mary) and a church built at the site where the hagiography was originally found. Every year on August 15, believers come here from every part of northern Greece on a pilgrimage to the temple.
Mount Athos
For information about Mount Athos you can visit the relevant destination.
Sightseeing
Arnea
In the mountains of Halkidiki, at an altitude of 600 m is Arnea, former capital of the region. It is one of the most picturesque towns of Halkidiki with traditional buildings preserved from the first half of the 18th century.
Petralona Cave
At Petralona cave there are traces of habitation from 700,000 years ago. At the cave was discovered the famous “Petralona skull”, Archanthropus Europaeus Petraloniensis, the oldest European hominid. The Anthropological Museum of Petralona on the site displays some of the finds from the cave.
