Learn to dive on Hanioti Beach
Hanioti offers up plenty of watersports, including windsurfing, parasailing and scuba diving. And there are a few dive schools around here where you can take your PADI. When you’re all set you’ll find the sea swimming with lobster, octopus and shoals of jack fish, and a wreck site just off the coast to explore. Alternatively, you could stick to snorkelling in the nearby coves.This conveniently central restaurant offers up some wallet-friendly deals, including free starters and desserts, as well as discounts if you negotiate first. On the menu you’ll find a crowd-pleasing mixture of English, Italian and Greek dishes. The seafood platter comes recommended, as does the beef stifado, a traditional rich stew. And because it’s in the main square, the people-watching’s good, too.
Read MoreIt’s just a 10-minute drive to the exclusive Sani Resort, which for 20 years now has been putting on the annual Sani Festival. It’s all about celebrating the arts, and the programme covers everything from theatre and classical concerts to exhibitions and film screenings. It attracts big names, too – legendary film director Peter Greenaway and composer Michel Legrand have both popped by.
Read MoreThe tavernas in and around the square dish up traditional Greek dishes alongside European favourites like pizza and steak. One way to get a flavour of everything is to try the meze, or sharing plates. Or if you fancy sampling a classic local dish, look beyond moussaka and try the delicious slow-roast lamb kleftiko.
Read MoreDuring the day, the minimarkets will sort you out with the essentials, but shopping here really takes off at night, when the street merchants come out to play. You can stop to get your portrait painted and browse through the jewellery and local ceramics. The shops don’t close before midnight, giving you lots of time to have a look.
Read MoreIt’s easy to track down the local bars and restaurants – most are in the main square. But it’s also worth exploring the side streets running off it, as these are home to some great little places, too. There aren’t any clubs – this isn’t that kind of village – but the bars stay open ’til the last person leaves, and there’s even a 24-hour bar on the beach.
Read MoreGet yourself a table on the outdoor terrace at this friendly cocktail bar, just off the main square. It’s as good for coffees and milkshakes as it is beers and cocktails, but gets especially busy late at night, when you might find yourself treated to karaoke. There are lots of bars nearby, so you can easily combine a drink here with a tour of the neighbouring haunts.
Read MoreMount Athos is home to some 20 Greek Orthodox monasteries whose hermit-like monks have followed the same cloistered traditions since the 9th-century. You can’t visit, but fortunately the best view of this rare and timeless lifestyle is from the sea – via a three-hour boat trip that sails from Ouranoupolis on Halkidiki’s easternmost peninsula. Look out for the Simonopetra Monastery, it's perched up in the cliffs.
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