Halkidiki, Northern Greece

HALKIDIKI is the triple pronged peninsula that lies on the north-east coast of mainland Greece. The Halkidiki region is served by the airport at Thessaloniki and its characteristic three pointed prongs are Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, separated by two large bays.

Halkidiki is noted for its long, sandy beaches, deep coves and fast-developing tourist resorts. Kassandra, to the west and nearest the airport, has seen the heaviest influx of tourism with purpose-built resorts all around the coast.

The middle prong of Halkidiki is Sithonia - more hilly and wilder than neighbouring Kassandra and very popular with campers, although luxury hotel resorts can also be found.

 

The third prong of Halkidiki is Mount Athos, or Holy Mountain. Athos is wilder still than both its neighbours. The Athos peninsular is almost wholly given over to Christian Greek Orthodox monasteries, established there since the 9th century, with tourists strictly confined to the north.

Women are banned from stepping onto monastic land on Athos and male visitors need a special permit to go ashore. Most tourists are reduced to skirting the peninsula on daily boat trips.

Halkidiki's peculiar geography gives the province the longest single stretch of coastline in Greece at around 500km and much of it made up of sandy beaches and deep bays.

Most of the beach holiday resorts throughout Halkidiki are easy to reach thanks to an extensive and well maintained road system, although public transport tends to peter out in Sithonia.

via www.greekisland.co.uk