Kassandra peninsula: The tour of the first leg basically starts from Nea Potidaia, a modern resort, and continues through a coastal route of stunning natural beauty to Nea Fokaia, where you can walk in the picturesque port or relax in the nice sandy beaches and swim in the crystal transparent waters. During the summer you can catch one of the cultural events in Pyrgos or see one of the famous festivals.
The tour continues to the south, by crossing the traditional Afytos (Folk Art Museum), to end up in Kallithea and see the Temple of Ammon Zeus. The crystal clear waters of Kassandra bedazzle the eye and we can understand where the area got its name from. From there we suggest you continue your descend towards the southern part of the peninsula and we invite you to discover the astounding beaches of the area.
As you are leaving the main body of Chalkidiki behind, you will be stumbling across more quiet locations. After Paliouri, the road takes you west and reveals the view of the deep Aegean blue. Soon you will reach Poseidi and you can visit the temple of Poseidon. After few lovely beaches you turn right (east) to return to Kallithea and ascend north, so that after N. Fokaia you can follow the road that heads west. This way you can complete the exploration of the first leg, by visiting the incredible pine forest that goes all the way to the coast of Sani, forming stunning beaches. The area, besides from an incredible scenery, offers high quality tourism infrastructure, since it’s one of the main holiday destinations for the residents of Thessaloniki –and not only.
Sithonia: The Sithonia peninsula, since it’s a bit distanced from the nearest urban center –Thessaloniki- is more quiet. Start from the west part of the leg, through Metamorphosis, a quiet beach, filled with pines. You can then continue to Nikiti, where you can visit the traditional settlement and get a taste from the Macedonian architecture or enjoy a cold beverage in one of the numerous beach cafes. From there you can take the dirt road for a more adventurous route to the beaches of Kalogria, Elia, Tripotamo (where there is a camping) to end up in Marmara, the most cosmopolitan resort of the peninsula.
In Marmara you will enjoy all the desirable amenities, while you can combine intense summer nights with getaways to relaxing sandy beaches. The next impressive location is Porto Koufo, the safest natural port of the country, which is mentioned by Thucydides under the same name. The fishermen appreciate the wealth of the sea and you will appreciate Kartalia, the southernmost point of the peninsula: words are not enough to describe the awe visitor senses when he faces this rocky, steep edge that faces the grandiosity of the sea. Go through the unforgettable images from the east side to the village of Sykia, one of the oldest ones in Chalkidiki. In the wider area you can visit the archeological settlement of Torono, which has evolved into a modern resort taking advantage of the long sandy beach.
Heading north, we stumble across Sarti, where there are remnants of the ancient city and we end up visiting the attractions in Metohi of Xiropotamos, a building dated back to 1867. Don’t forget to check out the white sandy beaches with the emerald waters, where rock formations emerge from the water and complement the idyllic scenery. The area is prosperous and offers high quality services.
By heading to the beautiful Vourvourou, you will go through the famous beaches of Armenistis and Platanitsi. The tour concludes with Agios Nikolaos, a mountainous village of unique aesthetics, which preserves intact the stigma of ancient times, offering a nostalgic trip in time. Do not think that its distance from the sea means that no nearby beaches. The beach of the village is just 2.5 kilometers away and it offers more than 30 kilometers of coastline with beautiful, picturesque coves.
Chalkidiki – main body: The main body of the peninsula offers a variety of cultural, historic and natural attractions. So there is no way you will be bored. If you stay in Polygyros, you will have an easy access to the beaches of the peninsula. Except from the numerous routes this area offers, you should visit the mountainous central Chalkidiki.
From Polygyros you can head towards Holomonta, wander in the incredible forest and enjoy the colors, the pines, the firs and the beeches. You might also see oaks and chestnuts. There are many streams in the area, so you can take advantage of every spring you can find.
Holomontas has a remarkable flora, which supports the rich fauna and forms a Wild Life Refuge. It has hiking trails for those who love to hike, while the nearby villages are ideal for more relaxed strolls. Arnaia, Taxiarchis and Vrastama are villages of unique architectural tradition. In many of these settlements, women have created cooperatives to promote the local products and to preserve the tradition, something that gives a special meaning to this mountainous area of Greece, which is mainly known for its coastline. From Arnaia you can go east and see Ancient Stageira, while if you continue to the same direction you will end up in Stratoni, where you can turn left to Olympiada and enjoy the Aegean blue, once again.