Things To Do in Gerakini

This arts festival takes place in Sani, about 40 minutes’ drive from Gerakini. It started out as a music festival, but has now expanded to include short films, dance performances and theatre. You can buy tickets online two weeks before the event – they usually cost around 15 euros.

Gerakina’s beach is a long ribbon of soft sand that unravels along the coast. You’ll find the usual trimmings like loungers and parasols for hire, plus watersports centres offering windsurfing and water-skiing sessions.

There are a handful of shops in Gerakini, mostly hawking local produce and a few souvenir-type bits. Halkidiki’s biggest market is hosted in Nea Moudania, 20-minutes’ drive away. Stalls here are piled high with honey, olive soap and locally made leatherwork.

Gerakini’s only a small village, so it’s easy to wander around and pick out a dinner spot. Traditional tavernas rule the roost, but you’ll find a few international dishes on menus, too.

There are lots of small, typically Greek places to have a quiet drink in Gerakini, but if you fancy a bit more choice, drive 45 minutes north to Thessaloniki – Greece’s second-biggest city – where you’ll find loads of late-night bars and clubs.

The ancient city of Olynthos is a 15-minute drive away. The streets and avenues were laid out in a grid-like pattern, and lined with houses and villas. The city dates back to the 7th century – the floor mosaics that have been uncovered are some of the oldest in Greece. There’s a museum to snoop around, too, which showcases artefacts from the site.