Cassandra or Sithonia. Between fingers and Thassos. Private guides in Halkidiki
We spent a week of our vacation in Greece by the sea, on the Chalkidiki peninsula, in Kassandra. Just like last year, we went on vacation with the whole family, but unlike last year’s vacation in Spain (), in Greece we rented not one large house, but several. One of our houses was in Nea Fokaia, the second in Afytos, and the third in Polychrono. We went to visit each other and thus were on the beaches of each of these towns. We also went to wild beach in Sithonia, I will tell you all about this today. But everything is in order.
Halkidiki is a peninsula in the northeast modern Greece. Halkidiki is usually “divided” into three “fingers”, or, to be more precise, into three smaller peninsulas. Kassandra is the first “finger”, the most popular peninsula. Here you can find a holiday for every taste, also in Kassandra the most a large number of hotels. The second “finger” is Sithonia, as the guidebooks say (well, I personally confirm) there is less here tourist places and hotels, but this place captivates with its natural beauty. Well, the third “finger” is Athos. It is considered the most picturesque and beautiful of all. On Mount Athos there is the famous mountain of the same name and 20 Orthodox monasteries. By the way, women are not allowed to enter Athos, and men can visit the peninsula only with special permits. True, they came up with a boat excursion around Mount Athos for women. Thus, even from a distance, women can also look at this Holy place.
In general, I decided to write this short introduction for reference) For the most part, I want to tell you about the beaches of the Kassandra Peninsula and about one wild beach on the Sithonia Peninsula.
We came to Chalkidiki from Thessaloniki, it is only 80 km or 1 hour of travel. My husband, son and our grandmothers lived in Nea Fokia. The choice of housing was due to the opportunity to move into a house with a dog. And we had three of them with us on this trip) Greece is not very friendly to animals (at least for visitors))), it was very difficult to find accommodation.
But in the end we were lucky and found a two-story apartment with 2 bedrooms and a living room. There was a beach 5 minutes away, the apartment itself had air conditioning (which is very important for Greece in July), wi-fi and all the necessary amenities.
I’ll tell you a little about our town of Nea Fokia, which became a city relatively recently, and was previously a fishing village. At first, I was confused by the fact that Nea Fokia is somehow too calm, there is no such city center, there is no full-fledged store (the Lidl supermarket is 10 minutes away by car), but only small mini-markers, in general the life of the city is very quiet and calm. In fact, having visited the surrounding towns, I realized that Nea Fokia is just a great find for us.
There were few tourists in this city in July, the beach was not crowded with people, unlike the beach in the city of Polichrono, where my brother and his family settled. At the same time, the city had a lot of cafes with reasonable prices, playgrounds, a clean beach with the opportunity to take a sunbed and order a soft drink or sandwiches.
By the way, in Greece there is a certain rule. Most often, sunbeds are free, but in order to relax on them, you need to order something from the bar, such as a cola or a cocktail.
Nea Fokia has very beautiful nature: an impressive cliff, planted oleanders and a clear blue sea.
Also in Nea Fokia there are several interesting sights: the Byzantine tower of St. Paul, which is located in a very picturesque place and there is a view of it from the beach, as well as the chapel of the Apostle Paul, the surviving houses of the monastery workers, as well as a cave with a spring. Agree, not bad at all for a small resort town.
For lovers of endless action, the city of Polychrono is ideal. There are simply tons of restaurants, taverns, cafes, snack bars and fast food stalls, many shops with hats, magnets and inflatable rings. There is some kind of designated center, churches and a lot of housing options. You can check into a hotel designed for almost any budget, you can find a small room with a Greek grandmother, or you can rent an entire apartment, as my brother did with his family. 
When evening comes in Polychrono, the fun begins: street musicians come out onto the square, each restaurant/tavern has its own program or, again, live music, a huge number of tourists wander around for whatever purpose, and in general there is a very cheerful mood on the streets of the city.
But in my opinion, Polychrono has such an impressive disadvantage - it is the beach. I don’t rule out that everything coincided during our two visits, but I got the impression that Polychrono is Anapa circa 1995. A lot of people! The sun loungers are just right next to each other, the sea was cloudy, and at the bottom there was just a darkness of sea urchins. To find a sea urchin in Nea Fokia, we had to swim far and dive deep into the water with masks on. In Polychrono sea urchins They covered the sand right at the entrance to the water. Reef shoes are a must here. I will repeat once again that maybe everything coincided when we visited our relatives in Polychrono, but I got the impression that if a vacation is planned with small children, then our already home town of Nea Fokia is better suited for this task. But a family with older children or couples without children would be better off in the party town of Polychrono.
We didn’t go to the town of Afitos, but we came to its beach. On this visit, we left our 2.5-year-old son with his grandmothers and decided to relax with an adult company.
To get to Afitos beach you need to go down, this can be done on foot, but it’s better if you have a car at your disposal. Afitos beach is rocky, the water is transparent blue, there is the opportunity to sunbathe “savage” (there is a place for free accommodation), or you can take a sun lounger, which belongs to the cafe.
We chose the second option and sat on the sun loungers belonging to the Lime Beach Bar cafe. Specifically, sunbeds here are paid. A huge two-seater canopy lounger costs 10 euros and also includes a lounger-pillow. This pillow can also be removed separately for 5 euros. You can lie and relax on these sunbeds as much as you want, but everything you want to drink or eat must be ordered from the cafe. True, in Greece they always bring water as soon as you take a seat in a cafe or bar. We ordered a couple more cocktails and in total, for 2-3 hours of rest, we left about 30 euros for three.
I really liked Afitos beach, Nea Fokia had beach cafes and bars but they weren't that nice. Although the sea itself was more rocky in Afitos, it was also a more expressive blue color.
Our friends vacationing in Afitos said that the city itself is simply wonderful with cobblestone streets, Orthodox Church St. Demetrius and beautiful place at the very cliff for an evening promenade. Afitos also has a huge number of cafes, restaurants and taverns.
One afternoon we decided to see what the second “finger” of Halkidiki is like - Sithonia. The nature of Sithonia is simply mesmerizing. On our next visit, I would like to stay on this peninsula.
We arrived at the wild Mega Portokali Beach. The sea off the coast of this beach is simply amazing! Turquoise water, White sand, rocks and a lot of greenery - all lovers of “wild” holidays come here)
In principle, there are already enough “savages” here. Many vacationers come here with tents, cots and tents, located in the greenery or on the very rocks near the sea. You can stay here for free, but unlike well-equipped paid campsites there are no showers or toilets, there are no shops as such, there is a small tent with quick food like hot dogs made from cheap sausages)
Good day to all. Don’t be surprised by this topic from me :) It’s just really necessary.. and specifically to Greece again. We love her:) Because The topic about Samtour is becoming more and more popular, the question is: How to go from Kazan to Samtour with visas in hand for the Peloponnese. Which perfect option and how much it will cost. Plus the problem of transfer (and cost) to the hotel... Does it make sense... or maybe it would be easier through maintenance? If yes, which one? Muzenidis doesn’t give anything good about hotels. Tez on good hotels prices from 300,000 for 2 weeks for 3 people. Departure dates are July 10-15... There is only one transfer, no more.
Vela..., caves, mountains, ruins, tanks, a boat for a day for personal use and at sea for fish or to bays, monasteries far and high in the mountains, where there are no tourists and are greeted kindly... They didn’t look at Vergina, but were so close to it (relatively) - two hours drive from Sithonia... and this is really the main attraction of Macedonia... What about Meteora? And so on, and so on, and so on. Quote: well, after all... emergency, and/ or God forbid, illness or other force majeure. Such super-risky cheapness is not an option. It's definitely not worth it. Quote: then you won’t have time to do it all Peloponnese look: there...
If you choose a holiday in Halkidiki, you may have to make another choice - between Sithonia and Kassandra.
Despite their closeness to each other, they have many differences. You shouldn’t think that since they are neighbors, the beaches and area are similar - this is not entirely true.
Where are the best beaches?
Let's start with perhaps the most important aspect of a seaside holiday - the quality and quantity of beaches.
In Sithonia, the beaches are longer, more numerous, and more diverse. In fact, people go to Sithonia primarily for beautiful scenery, sunsets and beaches. Kassandra also has enough beaches for everyone, but most are not so picturesque. Let's highlight the best beaches of Kassandra - Fourka, Possidi, Hanioti, Kallithea, Nea Fokia.
The beaches of Kassandra are crowded and mostly party, noisy (but not all, of course)
The best beaches in Sithonia are in Toroni, Nikiti, Porto Koufo, Portokali. It is believed that the most wonderful bays and open beaches are located on the eastern part of Sithonia, overlooking Mount Athos.
Beaches with pine trees - business card Sithonia.
There are about fifty resort villages and beaches in Kassandra, and about 80 in Sithonia.
Landscape, nature
In the last century, there was an extensive fire on Kassandra, which greatly spoiled the appearance of the peninsula. There is much less greenery and trees here than in Sithonia. In addition, Kassandra is flatter, the hills and mountains are not high here. However, there is an excellent forest near the Furka resort - a large area on a hill with centuries-old pine trees, hidden villages and unexpected single churches.
Forest of Furki (Cassandra)
Sithonia looks richer in vegetation. A comparison comes to mind - that Kassandra is a sparrow nipped in places, and Sithonia is a peacock (no offense to those who still give preference to Kaasandra).
Photo of Sithonia below
If you travel by car, you will clearly and almost immediately notice this difference as soon as you change one “finger” of Halkidiki to another.
Accommodation and hotels
Sithonia is positioned as more expensive and luxury holiday. There are quite a few private villas here that have individual access to the sea. Traveling by car along the perimeter or going a little deeper into the peninsula, you will from time to time come across closed fences and fences of mansions that will not let you wonder what’s next. There are even hotels with helipads.
In the photo below- a hotel with its own marina and three helipads in Sithonia.
There are also luxury hotels on Kassandra, but there are few of them - yet richer people apparently choose Sithonia.
Of course, economical housing can be found in both Kassandra and Sithonia, the main thing is to take care of this early, several months (or even six months) before the trip.
Comparing attractions
I would like to note that those who come to vacation in Halkidiki should not count on world-famous attractions, the famous Acropolis, wonders of the world, and so on. Mostly here beach holiday, relaxed, measured, unhurried.
Of course, tour operators and commercially interested people convince us that there are interesting corners here. This is true. But in fairness, compared to Crete, Peloponnese, and Rhodes, there are few attractions here.
We write about them in more detail in our article about the sights of Halkidiki. On the other hand, if suddenly the desire strikes you to indulge yourself in museums and see more famous architectural buildings– you can get to Thessaloniki.It is worth noting the Petralona Cave, Porto Koufo Bay, the birthplace of Aristotle, ancient Olynthos - they are all scattered throughout Halkidiki and you will have to drive around to see them.
On the picture- Porto Koufo - a landmark of Sithonia. Why this place is remarkable, read the article Attractions of Halkidiki.
Where is the best place to go with children?
You can go anywhere in Greece with children - the main thing is to choose housing that is not on a hill (if you don’t have a car) and not far from the sea. Both Kassandra and Sithonia have many beaches with gently sloping entrances and sand.
However, given the higher level of hotels in Sithonia, you need to remember that a variety of children's services are also provided in them. Children's clubs, nannies, mini-kindergartens, animators - it is better to look for such amenities in richer hotels, that is, in Sithonia.
To understand which area to choose for a holiday in Halkidiki, it’s worth dwelling a little on geographical features peninsula. It consists of three peninsulas or they are also called the “fingers” of the trident of Poseidon. If you look at the map, it looks like a trident. The first finger is called Cassandra, the second Sithonia, the third Athos. It’s worth talking about Athos right away. This is a peninsula closed to tourism. A large monastic complex in Greece is located here. It’s like a country within a country, where only men can enter, and only on special visas. Tourists can see Mount Athos from the deck of a tourist ship that sails along the coast. This is the only way to see the monasteries of Athos, among which the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon looks especially beautiful and pompous.
The two peninsulas of Kassandra and Sithonia are open to tourists. This is the most popular tourist area in mainland Greece. All conditions have been created here for have a great holiday on the banks Aegean Sea.
Which is better - Kassandra or Sithonia? Both "fingers" have their advantages. Each of them has small resort towns or villages in which there are a large number of cozy hotels with excellent service. Hotel categories are completely different. There are 2 stars, and there are also apartments with spa treatments, a massage room and other “delights”. We actually pay for the service and location. Most hotels are not very large. In Greece, there are certain rules that regulate the presence of very small swimming pools on the territory. There are also restrictions on their depth. Therefore, often the pools in three and five stars are approximately the same. The hotel area is small and often there is no own beach. For Greece this is not the exception, but rather the rule. The beaches are city, but they are very clean and well-groomed and many of them are marked blue flags, indicating the cleanliness of the beach and sea water. And the water in the Aegean Sea is really clean. This also applies to Kassandra and Sithonia. I have had the opportunity to vacation on both peninsulas. I have never experienced such pleasure as from swimming in this wonderful sea. Being in other no less attractive countries for holidays, nevertheless, I remembered the sea here in Halkidiki.
Each village or town where you will relax is good in its own way. They are small but very cozy. Somehow everything here feels like home. The locals are very welcoming and friendly. They do not impose their services in any way, nor do they invite you to go shopping. A lot of them are Russian-speaking, since many come from the countries of the former USSR.
What are the differences between Kassandra and Sithonia? Where is better? Kassandra is a more party place. Mostly young and old people spend their time here active tourists for the reason that there are many nightclubs and discos on the peninsula. There are many of them in Neo Kallithea, Hanioti. By the way, the village of Hanioti is one of the popular holiday destinations in Kassandra. I really liked this village. I was there three times and got to know it almost thoroughly.
Rested in different hotels. For those who want to receive good service I can recommend the snow-white Elinotel Apolamare hotel.
A good hotel for newlyweds and those who want to spend romantic getaway. There is a private beach, a bar and a disco on site. It’s true that they often come here and local residents. From the sea side the hotel is open. If you plan to travel around the country, then you should not overpay for the service. You can also stay in a three-ruble note. I liked "Olympic Cosma".
This family hotel, the owners themselves work in it and very strictly monitor the order, cleanliness and quality of service. No complaints. Had a great time. I came here to spend the night and eat, and the rest of the time I was either at sea or traveling. It is located three minutes from the sea. The beach is municipal, clean. Nearby there was a rental of boats, scooters, and catamarans. All the pleasures of spending your leisure time at sea. From the beach you can see the shores of Sithonia. I think the hotel is very suitable for young people. Other good options for a holiday in Hanioti are Hanioti Grand Hotel, Sursuras and Pegasus. “Threshkas” and “fours” are very decent both in quality and price. Type of food to choose from. Full board or half board is your choice. I took it for the first time full board and I realized that he was superfluous for me. By the way, all of Europe switched to HB a long time ago. No one goes on vacation to eat themselves off, like most Russian tourists. If you will not be at the hotel and often plan to leave, then feel free to take HB. Well, if you get hungry, you can have lunch in a cafe. The cost per person is approximately 10-15 euros, or you can buy groceries at the supermarket in your town.
A very good holiday on Kassandra in Neo Kallikratia. Unlike Hanioti, the beaches here are sandy. In addition, the city is famous as a “fur paradise”. If you want to relax and buy a Greek fur coat, this is the place for you. There will be no need to make long trips to Kastoria or Paralia Katerinis to buy a fur coat. You can buy it here, and combine pleasant stay and an equally pleasant purchase.
Holidays in Sithonia are more relaxing. Usually this part of Halkidiki is recommended for those tourists who want peace and privacy. This is where you get it. The most popular town is Metamorfosi. There are excellent sandy beaches there. On Sithonia the nature is a little richer than on Kassandra. That, in fact, is the whole difference. I can't say where I liked it more. Maybe on Kassandra, because I vacationed there three times, and on Sithonia only once.
Another advantage of Kassandra is that if you are planning excursions, for example, to Meteora, Dion, Mount Olympus, Athens, Thessaloniki, then going from the first “finger” is closer than from Sithonia. The closest to Sithonia is only Athos.
In Halkidiki, the choice of holiday destinations is huge. In many ways, the quality of rest depends on ourselves and our attitude towards it. It is a good place to relax for both adults and children. Excellent climate, interesting and eventful trips that will allow you to learn history even better ancient civilization, see famous architectural monuments that date back to the period of antiquity. Indeed, Greece has everything!
It is impossible to be in Halkidiki just once. Anyone who has been here will certainly return. This is not the first year I have been returning. I decided to change direction. I went on vacation to another country and spent the entire vacation remembering Greece. This says a lot.
CHALKIDIKI - THE LAND OF ARISTOTLE
Myths and life in a “place in the sun”
territory: 2.918 km 2
population: 104.894
General description:
One of the most visited tourist centers Greece - the Halkidiki peninsula, famous for its three picturesque and impressive “legs” (as the Greeks call them) Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos. This is the birthplace of one of the greatest and most famous philosophers, the teacher of Alexander the Great (known as Alexander the Great) - Aristotle (384-322 BC).
Halkidiki is an area of characteristic and unique natural beauty. Halkidiki is located in the center of Northern Greece, northeast of Thessaloniki (just an hour's drive), the second largest city in Greece.
Why Halkidiki:
The territory of Halkidiki has a reputation as a place with the most big amount the best sandy beaches in Greece. This attracts here every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world, who with equal pleasure visit the long, well-organized sandy beaches and feel like pioneers exploring small secluded bays. In addition to the beautiful rugged coastline and crystal clean waters The Aegean Sea, Halkidiki is famous for its rich flora and fauna, creating the uniqueness of the natural landscape of Halkidiki.
Huge interest of the Greek and foreign tourists evoke the citadel of Orthodoxy - Holy Mount Athos, archaeological sites of great historical value, the Petralona cave (where a few years ago scientists found a well-preserved skull of a primitive man who lived 200,000 years ago), historical monuments, Mediterranean villages with traditional colorful architecture and unique story from ancient times to the present day (the first settlers appeared in the Chalkidiki region 6000 years ago), modern complexes of villas and townhouses near the water, picturesque island Ammouliani and the beautiful islands off the coast of Virvouru.
What to expect:
Many summer villas, houses, townhouses and apartments along the entire coast of Halkidiki, owned or rented by those who like to relax here and appreciate the local nature; large hotels, open-air theaters and amphitheatres, sports centers, restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars, nightclubs, beach bars, well-organized beaches where you can do anything water sports and all other infrastructure necessary for tourists on the peninsula. Tourist advice Halkidiki region is one of the best in Greece. And despite the large number of tourists, you will never feel a shortage of anything.
A few words about each of the “legs” of Halkidiki:
- Cassandra:
It received its name in honor of Kassandros, the successor of Alexander the Great (Macedonian), although according to the legend of Greek myths, Egeldos, the titan who commands earthquakes, is buried here.
You only need a 40 minute drive from international airport Thessaloniki to get to the beginning of Kasandra.
What to expect:
This part of the peninsula is the most developed tourist area and from the very beginning of the development of tourism in the Chalkidiki region, expensive hotels and resorts were built here, the entire infrastructure for visitors and high-quality services were developed. The entire peninsula is a cocktail of sandy beaches mixed with unique beauty local nature and crystal clear turquoise sea. In particular, the center of Kassandra is the best choice for lovers of lively tourist places - life is in full swing here around the clock in clubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, there is a lot of entertainment for every taste, although if you prefer quiet rest, then even in high season there will be lovely secluded corners for you away from the busy villages.
Comment about real estate in Kassandra:
It is on Kassandra that most villas, houses and apartments are located and built, and this can easily be explained by the popularity and attractiveness of the place for tourists.
- Sithonia:
The second peninsula of Holkidiki is located in the center - between the other two “legs”. Sithonia received its name from Sithonis, son of Poseidon, who Greek mythology was the god of the Sea. On the eastern side, Sithonia is washed by the Toronean Gulf, on the western side by the Singitik Gulf. From Thessaloniki International Airport it will take you about an hour to reach Sithonia.
Sithonia is a perfect harmony of sea and mountains. This is a place of impeccable beauty and aroma of Mediterranean pine trees, sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, and an emerald carpet of greenery that captures you from the first minute and remains in your memory forever.
What to expect:
In Sithonia you can do whatever your heart desires: trekking, diving, excellent fishing, mountain biking, golf, tennis, any possible sports and entertainment on the water and of course dressage. You can climb Mount Dragodelis (811m) and watch the stunning sunset over the peninsula from its highest point.
The peninsula's nightlife is mainly confined to large hotels and resorts, although Sithonia is famous for its many wonderful exotic beach bars in the most picturesque coves of the coast.
Comment about real estate in Sithonia:
The development of construction on the coast is significantly inferior in scope to Kassandra, although it has been growing rapidly in recent years thanks to the ever-increasing demand for all types of summer real estate (villas, houses, townhouses and apartments), demand from those who appreciate the beauty and virginity of nature, who want to stay at least for a short time escape from civilization and its benefits and plunge into a calm measured life in the lap of nature.
- Holy Mount Athos (Agion Oros):
What is Athos:
According to legends and myths ancient Greece this peninsula was formed when the Giant Athos (the son of Gaia - the mother goddess of the Earth and Uranus) threw a huge rock at Zeus - the supreme god of Olympus (but missed J) during a fierce battle with him, which was fought in these places. The mountain is located on the third “leg” of the Halkidiki peninsula. You will need only an hour to get here from the international airport in Thessaloniki, thanks to the new modern highway. This is the only state of monks in the world. Mount Athos is a place of worship of the Orthodox religion and its spiritual center which has 20 active monasteries(one of which is Russian), many churches, chapels and about 1,700 monks who permanently reside here. The sacred state is located high in the mountains and is surrounded by amazingly beautiful forests and mountains.
Having been the spiritual center of justice since 1054, Athos received the status of autonomy back in Byzantine times. Children and women (even female animals) are not allowed into the state territory. Athos is also a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox artists. The architectural and artistic style of Athos greatly influenced the work of church builders and icon painters in Russia, and this school is considered the standard of Orthodox painting and art.
Men can visit monasteries. To do this, you need to obtain a special permit, the request for which is sent 6 months before the planned visit. Typically, a trip to the monasteries of Mount Athos lasts no more than 4 days.
