Travel Guide
Greece’s Secret Shores: Pristine Beaches Await In This Hidden Gem Destination
Jun
Last Updated
We all know that in terms of a European summer season getaway, Greece is the last word vacation spot – the sun-kissed seashores of Mykonos, Crete, and Santorini have formally taken over our social media feeds.
What you may not know, although, is that what you see on-line is only a sliver of the marvel that’s the Greek shoreline and that the true beachy gems of the nation are stored hidden distant from the curious eyes of vacationers.
Case in level – Halkidiki.
The gorgeous area that stretches over what locals name “the three fingers” is without doubt one of the greatest locations in the complete nation to soak up each the pristine seashores and that genuine Greek small-town really feel that’s been misplaced in additional widespread hotspots.
And now that Halkidiki was formally topped the prefecture with the highest number of Blue Flag Beaches in all of Greece, I figured it was time to faucet into my 10+ years of touring to the area to assist uncover this hidden gem of a vacation spot for good.
A Region Filled With Movie-Like Beaches
I’m not right here to knock down the unbelievable attract of locations like Mykonos and Santorini – they’re each value a go to.
But so far as seashore high quality goes, neither of those locations holds a candle to Halkidiki, which is the place most Greeks select to spend their summers as an alternative.
Just like I discussed, the area is split into three “fingers,” and for many first-time guests, the primary peninsula, Kassandra, is the only option.
Here, you received’t solely discover a number of the liveliest cities (extra on that beneath), but additionally a number of the greatest industrial seashores within the nation – compared, Sithonia and Mount Athos, the 2 different “fingers,” are quieter and extra off-the-beaten-path.
Glarokavos, Paliouri, and Sani Beach, particularly, are must-sees for all seashore lovers, and the excellent news is that they’re all driving distance from each other.
For these of you keen to get adventurous, Kavourotripes Beach in Sithonia and Ammouliani Island close to Mount Athos can be the most effective picks, although be warned that getting there isn’t as straightforward.
Taking In That Authentic Greek Town Charm
I’ve all the time been the type of traveler who seems to be for a great mixture of pristine shores and vigorous cities when touring in the course of the summer season, and in Halkidiki, I’ve managed to search out simply that.
And whereas there are a number of locations all through the area that match the invoice, in case you’d ask me to call my favourite, it could be Pefkochori.
The seashores seem like one thing straight out of a postcard, the city itself is vigorous however nonetheless full of that genuine Greek allure, and there’s a Lemonis Bakery (one in all my all-time favourite locations to get desserts) proper close to the middle sq..
A detailed second can be Nea Moudania.
The seashores right here, whereas gorgeous, lack slightly one thing in comparison with Pefkochori, however this one’s a correct metropolis and Halkidiki’s largest municipality, so there’s extra to do and see right here.
And in case you don’t thoughts a quieter summer season retreat, I’d extremely suggest making the 11-minute drive to Nea Poteidaia, a surprising seaside city the place the locals are pleasant, the seashores are one-of-a-kind, and the bougatsas are to die for, particularly in case you get them at Μπουγάτσα Kαφές Yammy-Yammy.
A Budget-Friendly Mediterranean Getaway
There’s a cause why so many Greeks flock to Halkidiki in the course of the summer season as an alternative of the overpriced hotspots we get bombarded with on our social media feeds – they get the identical precise views and expertise for a fraction of the value.
Let’s begin with lodging.
Most locations within the area are both boutique motels or family-run guesthouses that cost wherever between $40 and $70 an evening, and the general expertise is not like something you’d discover at your run-of-the-mill lodge.
Last 12 months, I booked a 2-bedroom, 2-balcony condo in Nea Poteidaia for $65 an evening, and the hosts, a beautiful aged couple, went above and past, going so far as to depart a selfmade cake and a bottle of Raki behind.
Sure, the facilities may not be the identical as what you’d get in a 5-start lodge, however the value-for-money ratio is insane.
The meals is fairly moderately priced, too.
Quick meals common $5 per particular person, whereas going for a two-course meal at a sit-down restaurant may cost you one thing nearer to $15-$20 per particular person, and let me inform you, I’ve by no means had a single chew of meals that was something lower than wonderful.
The Perfect Place For Those Who Want To Explore As Much Of Greece In As Little Time As Possible
Not solely is Halkidiki famously near Thessaloniki, which is one of my favorite cities to go to, however touring throughout the area itself is remarkably straightforward, too.
I’d extremely suggest getting your palms on a automobile, although.
Driving, particularly in Kassandra, is doable by nearly everybody (city streets are very well-maintained and parking is a breeze), and you may get from one facet of the peninsula to the opposite for beneath an hour – that provides you loads of alternatives to see all the pieces I talked about to date and extra.
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No adverts, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your e mail handle to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.
This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.
