Things To Do in Polichrono

The restaurants in Polichrono are casual, family-run places that serve up hearty Greek fare with sea views. You’ll get classics like gyros kebabs and souvlaki, but do try the Halkidiki specialities, too. There’s giouvetsi – a pasta bake with lamb and tomato sauce, and soutzoukakia – spiced meatballs. And not many can resist the delicious dessert of galaktoboureko – that’s custard wrapped in filo pastry.

This unpretentious waterside restaurant has built a loyal local clientele during its 20 years. It’s a relaxed place with wicker chairs set out on a light and airy terrace looking out to sea. Menu-wise, Nefeli majors in seafood – great dishes to try include the lobster and grilled aubergine, and the gavros, or barbecued anchovies. If you’re drinking, do ask for a glass of the local Limnio red wine.

Polichrono Beach comes with seven kilometres of sand, with sunloungers and umbrellas at the town end. Between bouts of relaxation, you can hire canoes and jet-skis from the watersports centre, or dive to the rocky seabed to see octopuses and sea anemones. And the beach shops have snorkelling gear if you’d prefer spotting marine life in more shallow water.

Though the name might not suggest it, this is actually a laid-back beachside bar for locals and tourists alike. Husband-and-wife team Marilyn and John are the friendliest of owners and join in the relaxed conversation while you enjoy a chilled Mythos lager or one of their classic cocktails. An outdoor terrace looks out to sea, and some nights it’s also the stage for karaoke.

Little souvenir shops in Polichrono sell jewellery, pottery and locally-made honey, while Hanioti – 10-minutes’ drive away – has night-time markets where you can pick up bargain shoes, handbag and leather jackets, along with olive oil and wind charms. Or you could drive half-an-hour to Sani, where the harbourside shops put on a good shows of jewellery, watches and high-end fashion.

The pocket-sized Lake Mavrobara is the only lake on the Kassandra Peninsula. It’s a hillside haven for two endangered turtle species – bring a few slices of bread and the turtles might come right up to you. It’s an easy three-kilometre hike from town, or you can rent mountain bikes and take a separate cycling path. Along both tracks you pass through dense pine forestry and olive groves with 400-year-old trees.

Every year since 1971, swimmers have gathered at Kalithea and tried to conquer the Toroneos Gulf – a 24-kilometre swim to the Sithonia Peninsula on the other side. There’s a carnival atmosphere at the start, with barbecues and ouzo stalls set up. It’s 15-minutes’ drive to Kalithea, and an hour further if you want to continue partying at the finish in Nikiti. But if you feel up for the swim itself, it’s 100 euros to enter.