Halkidiki Holidays

Triple-helping Halkidiki

From up above, Halkidiki looks like a giant letter M. Each leg has its own personality, too. As you shift from left to right, you’ll see less and less of a human footprint. The Kassandra peninsula’s flush with modern hotels and beach resorts with all the bells and whistles, while neighbouring Sithonia and Mount Athos go make-up free.

Best for beaches

Kassandra’s the first name on people’s lips when you’re talking sunbathing on the shores of the Aegean Sea. It’s the left-sided spike of Halkidiki’s trident-like layout, and delivers inviting white-sand beaches like Nea Moudania. When you’re not evening out your tan lines, the region’s watersports game is strong, and there are natural wonders like the Petralona Cave to tick off.

Natural charm

Life in the fast lane’s alien to the locals on Sithonia and Mount Athos. The former of the two’s flecked with authentic Greek fishing villages and pine forests, and the coastline’s peppered with easy-to-miss secluded coves. As holiday destinations go, Mount Athos is a rare beast. Once you reach the quaint village of Ouranoupolis, it’s impossible to get any closer to the holy mountain without special permission. Boat trips whisk you past the peak from a distance, but three quarters of the monastery-punched landscape’s off limits to average Joes.