My favourite places in Halkidiki | Tips by #TheLocals

In my mind, Halkidiki will always be connected to the carefreeness of vacation and
personal freedom and growth. It is a place that never stops offering remarkable
moments of joy in natural surroundings of unparalleled beauty.

Paliouri

The beauty of Halkidiki is indeed addictive! My personal favorite is Paliouri and specifically, St Georgios’ beach. Although you need to climb down a steep narrow path to gain access to the beach, it is totally worth it.

Clear blue waters and large round stones, located at the “tip” of the Kassandra
peninsula, with the whole Aegean Sea lying in front of you. A visit to St Georgios’ beach can perfectly be combined with a visit to the cosmopolitan Chrousso beach, a luscious meal, an art exhibition in Porto Valitsa or even with the purchase of
top quality blossom honey.

Let’s not forget that Paliouri is named after the Paliurus spina-christi plant or “Tsali”, as known to most of us, which bees love. A rare variety of blossom honey, worth tasting should you find it.

Drenia - Ammouliani Island

I absolutely love this small chain of six islands called Drenia, located between Ouranoupoli and Ammouliani. We usually rent a small motorboat from Tripiti and visit our very own “Blue Lagoon”. Emerald waters, golden sandy beaches,
a paradise on earth.

Karidi beach

However, the one place I hold closer to my heart is Karidi beach, in Vourvourou, Sithonia. It is the place where I learned how to swim. I vividly remember throwing a coin in the water and diving to get it. The water there is so clear that the coin was
always visible, no matter the depth. It is the place I visit every October for one last swim before winter comes.

For us living in Thessaloniki, Halkidiki is a blessed place, and we feel lucky to be living so close to it and be able to enjoy it anytime!

By Argyro Barata | Designer of Creative Experiences

Sithonia, my birthplace | Tips by #TheLocals

Right before I dive into the Areton sea, alongside my clothes left on the beach, I leave my winter troubles behind. I need only a towel, an umbrella and the water, nothing else.

My favourite books are covered by the thick sand of the “little Lagomandra”, a small beach right before the bigger one. A group of us, back in the day, gave it its name. We needed to get away from the bustling beach bars and found shelter there, a tiny beach that can accommodate several groups of friends and offer unforgettable moments of fun and laughter. Driving around Sithonia is an exciting experience and finding that unique spot of the beach that suits you is very easy as there are endless choices.

Vineyards of Domaine Porto Carras

Another gem of Sithonia is the vineyard and award-winning winery in Porto Carras. I highly recommend booking a tour there. It was in this vineyard that the Greek grape variety of Malagousia was saved from extinction due to the efforts of Vangelis Gerovassiliou, the renowned Greek winemaker. It is definitely worth a tasting!

It comes as no surprise, that Mount Athos (Aghio Oros) overshadows the rest monasteries and religious paths of Halkidiki, which are rarely mentioned, even in travel guides. I came close to the sacred mystery of Easter in Saint (Agios) Arsenios monastery and enjoyed the Byzantine breeze in Timios Prodromos in Metamorfosis. Even the people who are not religious can appreciate the grandeur of community life in the monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Ormylia. The hagiographies in all three churches of the monasteries are vital to the whole mysticism of the area.

Parthenon Film Festival

Only 5 klm away from Neos Marmaras, on the hillside of Dragounteli mountain, lies the picturesque village of Parthenonas. Built-in the post-Byzantine era it still preserves its Macedonian architecture and offers unparalleled views of the Toronian Bay. The ideal spot for your afternoon cup of Greek coffee. At the beginning of July, it also hosts the Parthenωn Film Festival-Cinema in the village, not to be missed. As Orestis Andreadakis, president of the International Film Festival of Thessaloniki, described, by far the best open-air festival in Europe. And if you happen to visit towards the end of July you should not miss the opportunity to attend the Agios Panteleimonas fair, which lasts for three days and represents the past and present of Greek hospitality. Last but not least, do not fail to visit the folklore museum, housed in the old Elementary School building.

As a place, Halkidiki is defined by its people. Each and every one of us has a secret to share about this enchanting place, ask us!

By Angelos Mallinis | Organiser of Parthenωn Film Festival

The best recipe in Halkidiki | Tips by #TheLocals

They say that taste, along with the sense of smell create the most powerful memories. Especially when they are combined with our most beloved people, they become
memories of a lifetime.

Spring time in Kassandra, Halkidiki

This is also my case. As a member of a family traditionally involved with tourism, I
remember that springtime has always been the most beautiful time in Halkidiki and
simultaneously the busiest one. People at this time of year would be spread around
getting prepared for the summer season. I recall the reflection of the fresh white colour on the pavements, the smell of the trees and the colourful flowers recently planted, along with the sound of the bees waking up in a furious race of collecting pollen…

Tomato & onions

Within this period that we were also following the pace of the busy bees, there were some holiday brakes such as the Greek Independence Day on the 25th of March along with the Palm Sunday that my sweet grandmother with a kerchief in her hand, used to prepare one of my favourite recipes. It is a recipe derived from Asia Minor, brought by the
immigrants when moving to Halkidiki. It is salted cod, cooked with potatoes,
onions, fresh tomato sauce, dried grapes, quinces and prunes. Its preparation is
demanding as the cod needs two days in the water beforehand in order to reduce the taste of salt. Then, it needs to be fried first, while the tomato sauce and the onions also need to be boiled separately. Finally, it is cooked in the oven.

Salted cod

The smells produced while cooking declare a very interesting sweet
and salty taste which for me is unique and absolutely fantastic. Although it is a recipe destined for those two holidays, it could be a delicacy all year through.

By Lena Laspa | Director of Sales at Flegra Collection

Camping in Halkidiki | #TheLocals

In my twenties. On my first vacation with my new adulthood friends from university. After taking our final exam in the university’s amphitheatre in the morning, we find ourselves drinking ice cold beers in the university camping in Possidi in the evening. That place has everything, wonderful blue sea, plenty of shade under the pine trees, drinking and dancing at the bar, nights on the beach with guitars, singing and meeting new friends. During those first days, you couldn’t even find a single place to camp; the campsite was full of tents, but after all, wasn’t this the reason we chose to be at the happiest and most carefree spot in Halkidiki?

In my thirties. A new decade and a different peninsula in Halkidiki. Nature in Sithonia is out of this world! Green hills and all the different shades of blue and green in the sea all around you. If you desire to wake up surrounded by all this beauty until late in the night all you have to do is grab your tent and choose the best spot in the shade in one of the various campsites found alongside the coastline of the second “leg”. It only takes one summer weekend to make the most uncompromising supporters of comfort change their mind about going camping! The facilities offered can cover all the needs in accommodation, food and of course, entertainment, as there are various water sports, parties, concerts and a wide selection of events, just a short step away from the water!

Almost in my forties, now. The time to spend quality time with friends, have a restful vacation with family, connect your kids to nature, empty your mind and relax. Entering Sithonia, whichever route you choose to take you will come across campsites for every taste and style. If you haven’t already visited them, do so as soon as you can! And if you are looking for something other than peace of mind, something more adventurous, you can always escape to… another beach nearby!

Waking up to the sound of crickets, diving in the sea early in the morning before the first cup of coffee, the golden sand and pine needles on my feet, meeting “the neighbours” and the summer slump, compose my ideal summer in Halkidiki… hoping to catch up, with more interesting ideas in my fifties!

By Zoe Charalampidou | Banker & Camper