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Everyone knows that relating to a European summer season getaway, Greece is the last word vacation spot – the sun-kissed seashores of Mykonos, Crete, and Santorini have formally taken over our social media feeds.
What you won’t know, although, is that what you see on-line is only a sliver of the marvel that’s the Greek shoreline and that the true beachy gems of the nation are saved hidden far-off from the curious eyes of vacationers.
Living proof – Halkidiki.
The gorgeous area that stretches over what locals name “the three fingers” is without doubt one of the finest locations in the complete nation to absorb each the pristine seashores and that genuine Greek small-town really feel that’s been misplaced in additional fashionable hotspots.
And now that Halkidiki was formally topped the prefecture with the highest number of Blue Flag Beaches in all of Greece, I figured it was time to faucet into my 10+ years of touring to the area to assist uncover this hidden gem of a vacation spot for good.
A Area Crammed With Film-Like Seashores
I’m not right here to knock down the unimaginable attract of locations like Mykonos and Santorini – they’re each price a go to.
However so far as seashore high quality goes, neither of those locations holds a candle to Halkidiki, which is the place most Greeks select to spend their summers as an alternative.
Identical to I discussed, the area is split into three “fingers,” and for many first-time guests, the primary peninsula, Kassandra, is your best option.
Right here, you gained’t solely discover a few of the liveliest cities (extra on that under), but additionally a few of the finest industrial seashores within the nation – as compared, Sithonia and Mount Athos, the 2 different “fingers,” are quieter and extra off-the-beaten-path.
Glarokavos, Paliouri, and Sani Seashore, particularly, are must-sees for all seashore fans, and the excellent news is that they’re all driving distance from each other.
For these of you prepared to get adventurous, Kavourotripes Seashore in Sithonia and Ammouliani Island close to Mount Athos can be the most effective picks, although be warned that getting there isn’t as simple.
Taking In That Genuine Greek City Appeal
I’ve at all times been the sort of traveler who appears to be like for mixture of pristine shores and full of life cities when touring through the summer season, and in Halkidiki, I’ve managed to search out simply that.
And whereas there are plenty of locations all through the area that match the invoice, in the event you’d ask me to call my favourite, it could be Pefkochori.
The seashores appear like one thing straight out of a postcard, the city itself is full of life however nonetheless full of that genuine Greek allure, and there’s a Lemonis Bakery (one in all my all-time favourite locations to get desserts) proper close to the middle sq..
A detailed second can be Nea Moudania.
The seashores right here, whereas gorgeous, lack somewhat one thing in comparison with Pefkochori, however this one’s a correct metropolis and Halkidiki’s greatest municipality, so there’s extra to do and see right here.
And in the event you don’t thoughts a quieter summer season retreat, I’d extremely suggest making the 11-minute drive to Nea Poteidaia, a surprising seaside city the place the locals are pleasant, the seashores are one-of-a-kind, and the bougatsas are to die for, particularly in the event you get them at Μπουγάτσα Kαφές Yammy-Yammy.
A Price range-Pleasant Mediterranean Getaway
There’s a cause why so many Greeks flock to Halkidiki through the summer season as an alternative of the overpriced hotspots we get bombarded with on our social media feeds – they get the identical actual views and expertise for a fraction of the value.
Let’s begin with lodging.
Most locations within the area are both boutique resorts or family-run guesthouses that cost anyplace between $40 and $70 an evening, and the general expertise is not like something you’d discover at your run-of-the-mill resort.
Final 12 months, I booked a 2-bedroom, 2-balcony house in Nea Poteidaia for $65 an evening, and the hosts, a stunning aged couple, went above and past, going so far as to go away a do-it-yourself cake and a bottle of Raki behind.
Certain, the facilities won’t be the identical as what you’d get in a 5-start resort, however the value-for-money ratio is insane.
The meals is fairly fairly priced, too.
Fast meals common $5 per particular person, whereas going for a two-course meal at a sit-down restaurant may cost you one thing nearer to $15-$20 per particular person, and let me let you know, I’ve by no means had a single chunk of meals that was something lower than superb.
The Excellent Place For These Who Need To Discover As A lot Of Greece In As Little Time As Potential
Not solely is Halkidiki famously near Thessaloniki, which is one of my favorite cities to go to, however touring throughout the area itself is remarkably simple, too.
I’d extremely suggest getting your arms on a automobile, although.
Driving, particularly in Kassandra, is doable by virtually everybody (city streets are very well-maintained and parking is a breeze), and you will get from one aspect of the peninsula to the opposite for beneath an hour – that provides you loads of alternatives to see every thing I talked about to this point and extra.
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Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.
