In addition to the mainland, Greece includes hundreds of islands, many of which have become famous resorts. In their shadow, cities and regions on the mainland are a little lost, although sometimes they are no less popular with tourists than Crete or Rhodes. And one of the pearls for which mainland Greece is famous, Halkidiki - a peninsula with a legendary history dating back to ancient times. Modern Halkidiki is both a tourist resort where you can have great fun and spend a beach vacation, and the center of Orthodoxy, to which thousands of pilgrims flock, and a vivid representative of the heritage of ancient Greece. We will tell you about the peculiarities of this region of Greece in the article.

Brief history and legends of Halkidiki

The first inhabitants of the Greek peninsula of Halkidiki were the Thracians and Pelasgians, who settled on these lands as early as 4 thousand BC. And in the 8th century BC. immigrants from the island of Euboea moved here, and the colony "Halkidika in Thrace" appeared. Subsequently, it constantly expanded, and as a result, the whole peninsula received the name of Halkidiki.

Halkidiki is adjacent to the famous Olympus, so it is not surprising that this area was often featured in ancient myths. The peninsula was considered the birthplace of the giants, with which the Olympic gods fought for a long time. As a result of battles, military cunning and remarkable strength, Zeus and his comrades nevertheless exterminated the giants, but the memory of them has survived to this day.

There are different legends about the origin of the "fingers" of Halkidiki. According to the first of them, the giant Athos, fighting, tore off a block of rock and threw it so hard at Poseidon that the stone split into 3 parts - this is how the modern peninsulas turned out. According to another version, on the contrary, an angry Poseidon threw a trident at the giants, as a result of which Halkidiki got such a shape. And, finally, the third story tells that the goddess Athena threw stones, and a giant was immured under each of the boulders. Supposedly, when an earthquake occurs, the giants are trying to get out of the seabed.

Be that as it may, the origins of local folklore are visible in the names of the islands. Cassandra, formerly called Pallini, was named after the daughter of the giant Alcyoneus, who tragically committed suicide after the death of her father. Much later, the peninsula was renamed in honor of the Macedonian king Kassandra. Sithonia is a derivative of the Thracian king Sithon, the son of Poseidon. And the third "finger" Athos received the name of the giant Athos, the legendary "founder" of the Halkidiki peninsulas.

general information

As seen on the world map, Halkidiki is located in Greece, on the north-eastern outskirts of the country. The province, named after the peninsula, also includes a part of the mainland, and its borders are closely adjacent to the "northern" capital of Greece - Thessaloniki. All transport links between the cities and resorts of Halkidiki on the map of Greece are laid from this large policy. But we'll talk about this in detail a little later.

The total area of ​​the territory is 2,900 km 2, and the coastline is 850 km. If we talk about which sea washes the shores of Halkidiki in Greece, then there is only one answer - the Aegean, in the water area of ​​which the peninsula is located. The coast is a series of sandy beaches with cozy coves and lagoons. Moreover, sometimes lush vegetation approaches the shores: pine forests, oak and beech groves, thickets of maquis.

The southern part of the Halkidiki peninsula is "cut" by the sea into 3 small peninsulas: Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, aka Ayon-Oros. Let's talk about each separately.

Cassandra

The westernmost "finger" and the tourist center of Halkidiki: there are the most hotels, entertainment, well-equipped beaches, hangouts and nightclubs. Also on Kassandra is the largest resort of Halkidiki - the city of Nea Moudania. Fans of parties, shopping and entertainment cannot find another such “paradise” on the peninsula. For thoughtful leisure and well-established tourist infrastructure, Greece and Kassandra deservedly receive positive reviews from tourists.

Sithonia

The middle finger of Halkidiki is a picturesque and cozy place for a relaxing holiday. In everything here one can feel the measuredness, tranquility and unity with nature. If on the Kassandra peninsula the map of hotels in Greece has dozens of offers, then Sithonia offers tourists a more modest choice. Therefore, it is not crowded here, there are no noisy parties and excursion bustle. But there is beautiful nature, azure sea, and golden sand - so Sithonia is an ideal place for a beach holiday.

How to get to the resorts by bus

But the road from the airport to the booked hotel depends on the distance of the resort. According to reviews, for most travelers Greece and Halkidiki is primarily the Kassandra Peninsula, because its resorts are located closest to Thessaloniki (about 60 km). You can get to Kassandra from the airport by bus, but this will require a couple of transfers.

1. Take bus line 79 from the airport to Thessaloniki.
2. Get off at the IKEA station and change to bus number 36, which will take you to the city bus station KTEL Halkidiki.
3. Get off at Halkidikis Bus Station and take a bus to your destination.
4. From the station in the resort, walk to the hotel or take a taxi.

Check the bus schedule and ticket prices on the official website of the carrier.

Rent a Car

The resorts on the Halkidiki peninsula are not connected by bus routes, and you have to move around the island through Thessaloniki. It is not very convenient, so many people prefer to rent a car, especially since there are dozens of rental offices and bureaus. Car rental costs an average of 45-60 euros per day.

Halkidiki on Greece map

We propose to plot a detailed route to the resorts of Greece in Halkidiki on an interactive Google map. She will also help you get to any point on the island and tell the coordinates for the navigator. But anything can happen with technology, so do not forget to purchase or print a map of roads, attractions and hotels for traveling in Halkidiki in Greece. It is desirable that the map of Halkidiki be detailed and in Russian.

Greece, Halkidiki - attractions of the peninsula

Local lands are rich in historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural attractions.

This is not just a rocky shelter with bizarre stalactites, but the oldest discovered dwellings of the first people. It was here in the middle of the 20th century that a unique find was discovered: the skull of a man who lived about 700 thousand years ago! Later, scientists examined the cave in detail and found many more ancient artifacts. Thanks to them, the local anthropological museum was founded.

Today, both organized excursions and independent tourists can visit here. The cave is located near the village of Petralona, ​​just north of the Kassandra peninsula.

Almost every tourist from Halkidiki makes a trip to the Meteora monasteries that are nearby. This is a ridge of steep rocks, on which ascetic monks managed to build snow-white temples. Today, out of 24, only 6 monasteries remain, while 2 of them are no longer considered religious monasteries, but tourist museums.

The Halkidiki peninsula washed by the Aegean Sea is the pearl of all Greece, and many tourists from all over the world come to see the sights of this territory.

The place is rich in its history.

For the first time this name was used by Herodotus, Aristotle was born here, the Peloponnesian war was fought here.

Now tourists come here to enjoy the warm sea, clean beaches, and see beautiful historical buildings and structures.

It takes several days to explore the peninsula of Halkidiki to see all the brightest places. But the famous Chalkida, founded in ancient times, despite the similarity of the name, is not located on the Chalkidiki peninsula, but on the island of Evia.

In contact with

Halkidiki - famous sights with photos

The main attractions of the Halkidiki peninsula are the old buildings that have survived from ancient times. In addition, there are many natural attractions here that will not leave you indifferent.

White Tower in Thessaloniki

An important landmark of the city, located near the sea. The color of the tower is not at all white, but rather sandy.

Now it is interesting for tourists with its observation deck and the Byzantine Museum, which is located right there.

Meteora of Halkidiki

Ancient temple complex on the rocks. You should definitely listen to a guided tour about this place, because the history of the origin is simply fantastic.

Note: the road is not easy, you have to constantly go uphill, because the attraction is located at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.

Fortress Platamonas

The Platamonas fortress was founded in the 12th century, but even now the fortress has been preserved in good condition. Its views are often painted on postcards and magnets, and tourists are taken here on excursions. If history is interesting to you, then this place is simply not to be missed.

Monastery Great Lavra

There are many monasteries in this area.

The Great Lavra is the main complex on Mount Athos in Halkidiki, it will take about half an hour to climb to it, but it is really beautiful and unusual. Bright burgundy color, beautiful architecture, sights inside - that's what you need to see.

Old town in Thessaloniki

All ancient cities must have an "Old City", and Thessaloniki also has one.

Only here you can see the remains of Byzantine culture, the old walls of the former fortress, streets. Although now there are many modern establishments - restaurants, taverns, cafes.

Waterland water park

From history to the present. For active travelers, this type of entertainment is suitable.

This water park is located in Thessaloniki. Entrance costs around € 14 for adults and € 10 for children. The park is huge, you can find slides and pools for every taste, so if you get tired of looking at old buildings, then go here.

Arch and tomb of Galerius

Gaius Galerius is a Roman monarch, this complex was erected to him, which is now located in the center of Thessaloniki.

The arch was connected with the mausoleum and the palace, thus the building increased in size.

Heptapyrgion

This is the name of the fortress that used to serve the Turks.

The name translates as "fortress of seven towers", after the 19th century there was a prison here, at the same time many parts of the fortress were destroyed, so only a small building survived to us. It is located in Thessaloniki; all history lovers should definitely visit here.

Ancient city of dion

Now it is a small area with ancient excavations, but earlier in this place there was a city dedicated to Zeus. Dion was in no way inferior to Athens. Here you can see the residential quarter, the streets of the ancient city, you can visit the archaeological museum right in the city. Dion is located 90 kilometers from Thessaloniki.

Iversky monastery on Athos

It was founded in the tenth century, the name was received in honor of the founder - John of Iversky.

The building of the Iversky Monastery itself has a rather beautiful architecture, so even non-believers will be interested in visiting it.

Vatopedi monastery

Vatopedi Monastery in Athos... Built in the 10th century. Vatopedi is famous for its library, which contains more than 1,500 manuscripts.

Gregoriates monastery

The monastery of Grigoriates was built only in the 14th century, but it is here that the relics of many saints are kept. And ten years ago, they began to build another temple in honor of Seraphim of Sarov.

Dionysiates monastery

Dionysios Monastery stands on a rock 80 meters high. Even atheists will love the picturesque place. Now about 50 monks live here, although earlier there were much more of them.

Dochiar monastery

The Orthodox complex was founded in the 10th century, now there are more than 50 monks.

The beautiful building is lined with marble, and Dochiar itself stands close to the coast. Here is a particle of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.

Monastery of Xenophon

Sixteenth Monastery on Mount Athos.

The monastery of Xenophon is small, now there are only 30 monks, and it was originally dedicated to George the Victorious.

Monastery of Xiropotam

The name translates as "Dry Stream", according to legends Xiropotam was founded here in the fifth century, although it is officially recognized that it was nevertheless built five centuries later. There are some relics here.

Kutlumush monastery

Interestingly, the Kutlumush monastery has its own marina.

Monastery Pantokrator

The Pantokrator monastery is located on a cliff near the sea. There are beautiful courtyards, temples and churches.

Monastery of St. Paul

The monastery of St. Paul is located almost above all the others, at an altitude of 150 meters. Founded in the 9th century, about 120 monks now live here. The monastery has its own library, where many manuscripts and printed books are preserved.

Simonopetra monastery

Founded in the 13th century, named after the founder.

The main building of the Simonopetra Monastery is located at an altitude of more than 300 meters, offering beautiful views. 120-130 monks live here.

St. Panteleimon Monastery

Russian monks settled here, and this continued until the beginning of the 20th century. Now there are Russian abbots left here, but there are fewer of them.

Outwardly, St. Panteleimon Monastery resembles our churches and cathedrals.

Aristotle square

It is difficult to imagine a city without the main square, in Thessaloniki this is it. Here is the best hotel in the city and a cinema that you can visit if you wish.

The square of Aristotle itself is quite large; locals and visitors love to meet here.

Church of St. Demetrios

At this place, the church stood in the 4th century, but it was rebuilt more than once, and that's how the new church of St. Demetrios was founded.

Outwardly, the Church of St. Demetrios does not at all look like traditional religious buildings, but people come here to services.

The most beautiful mosaics on the ceiling are the decoration of this building. Finding a church is not difficult in Thessaloniki; it has a museum.

Church of St. Sophia in Thessaloniki

The site is included in the UNESCO list, so you should definitely see this church.

The church of St. Sophia was founded in the 7-8 centuries, which is not outwardly typical for such buildings. Inside there are mosaics and icon painting. The temple is not very large, and its history is unique. During the conquest of the city by the Turks, a mosque was located here.

The most beautiful place in Halkidiki

It is difficult to judge what is the most beautiful in Greece, what are the most picturesque places, what is the most interesting of what Northern Greece can offer a tourist? In Halkidiki, several places can apply for this title:

1. Cassandra. Not much is not enough, but this is the attraction of the Halkidiki peninsula. Part of the peninsula, in total there are three "fingers" - Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos.
   So Kassandra is considered the most suitable territory for a beach holiday, here the cleanest water in the sea, and the beaches have become the best in all of Europe more than once.
2. Afitos (Halkidiki). A small town in Kassandra, where every street is picturesque.
   Small houses, many flowers, clear sea - this is the guarantee of a good life.
3. Waterfalls of Edessa. Not far from Thessaloniki, you can find this gem. The waterfalls originated around the 14th century, now there are 14 waterfalls.
   The largest of them is the Koranos.
4. Mount Olympus. It is undoubtedly the most important mountain in Greece.
   It was here, according to legends, that the Gods lived, it was from here that the Olympics began, the whole history of this country is connected with Olympus. The highest peaks reach a height of 2,900 meters, there are developed hiking routes for tourists, shelters and hotels are located.
5. Alistrati Cave. The cave was found in the 20th century by hunters who noticed that the animals had disappeared from sight somewhere, as if they had disappeared underground.
   After all the research, the cave was opened for tourists and it was right, people come here in droves, although you need to get to the cave from Thessaloniki.
6. Petralona Cave. The remains of an ancient man were discovered in this cave, discovered by Petralona in the 1950s.
   The cave is huge and interesting for everyone who loves something new. It is better to go along with the excursion, which is sold at every turn.

Everyone should find their own picturesque place for themselves, where it will be pleasant to retire with nature, without unnecessary fuss. Greece is generally famous for its blue water bays, cliffs, dense forests and flower parks.

Thermal springs of Halkidiki

Often people come to another country to improve their health, this can also be done in Greece. Thermal springs are located in several places, in order to visit them, it is better to go to the resort.

The most popular is Lutra Pozar, where there are spa centers, massages and other procedures. You can also visit the springs in Thessaloniki, they are called Suroti and Fermi , there is still a source of the Canister.

In general, there are 20 thermal springs throughout the country, which allows Greece to take first place in this indicator in Europe. The springs are able to help in the treatment of many types of diseases, even in ancient Greece, warriors rested in the thermal waters. It is better to find out in advance how much it costs to enter the territory of the complex, and think over a travel plan. It does not take much money and time, but you can heal your body in the healing waters in Greece.

Halkidiki map with landmarks in Russian

Outwardly, the peninsula looks like three fingers, it is even connected with this legend.

Any traveler will need a map so as not to get lost in the area.

Sights are scattered throughout the peninsula, it may take more than two weeks to get around everything, so plan your route correctly.

Note: it is better to stay in Thessaloniki, because from there you can get to many places - to Meteora, waterfalls of Edessa, to thermal springs and almost to all monasteries.

There are no problems with transport, there is at least one bus that goes in the direction you need, but it is better to travel by your own car, so you can stop in the most picturesque places of the peninsula.

Conclusion

Greece is a wonderful country, lately more and more Russian tourists began to choose it for their holidays.

Low prices, beautiful nature, huge cultural and historical heritage - all this attracts travelers. And Halkidiki is one of the most popular destinations in Greece, so you definitely need to drop in here.

Often people come here only in summer, although it is worth remembering that in winter the temperature here is more than 20 degrees, of course, you should not swim, but you should definitely see the nature.

In addition, traveling outside the tourist season means that prices will be lower, there are fewer people, and the pleasure is the same. Therefore, feel free to go to Greece even in winter, taking a history textbook with you to keep abreast of everything that happened here.

Watch a video in which a specialist talks about the most famous sights of Halkidiki (Greece):

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Sunny Greece is famous for its amazing and memorable resort areas. One of these zones is the Halkidiki peninsula. On the map of Greece, it looks rather unusual: like three fingers, or as the Greeks themselves call "legs", are extended 120 kilometers into the Aegean Sea. In fact, these are three thin elongated peninsulas - Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos (Aion-Oros).

For its unusual shape, Halkidiki is also called "Poseidon's trident".

Interestingly, the names of the peninsulas forming the "fingers" are associated with ancient myths.

For example, the Athos peninsula was formed as a result of a prolonged battle between the mighty giants and the numerous gods of Olympus. As you know, Halkidiki was the birthplace of giants. And they waged a war with the gods of Olympus from here, throwing huge stones at each other. And one such stone, thrown by the giant Athos, fell into the sea, forming a mountain "finger" - Athos.
And the Sithonia peninsula is named after the son of Poseidon - Sithon.
On the third peninsula - "finger", named after the king Kassandra, who formed Thessaloniki, according to legend, under the stone thrown by Athena, there is a giant Engelados, who still does not abandon attempts to get out of the trap, creating earthquakes.

Greece Halkidiki - location on the map

The peninsula itself is located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea in the northeast of modern Greece and is the main part of the province of Halkidiki. It is immersed in greenery even at the peak of the summer heat, has the cleanest beaches, with a total length of about 550 kilometers, many of which are marked with the "blue flag", and by popular recognition is considered the pearl of Greece.

History

The first settlements on the peninsula appeared around the 6th century BC. These were the Thracians and Pelasgians who settled in Olynthos, Akante and Stagira.
And the first mentions of Halkidiki are found in the descriptions of the Persian Wars, at the end of which the large cities of the peninsula began to enter the Athenian Union.

The dawn of the peninsula and the emergence of new cities such as Thessaloniki, Kassandria, Ouranoupolis and Antigonia falls on 348 BC, when Chalkidiki became part of the Macedonian kingdom.
In 168 BC. the peninsula, together with Macedonia, was captured by the Romans. And after the division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern (Byzantine) in 395, Greece, together with the capital in Constantinople, became part of the Eastern (Byzantine) Roman Empire. The Byzantines at this time built many temples and monasteries, as well as defensive structures, but even this did not help. In 1430 the peninsula passed to the Turks.
At the beginning of the 20th century, local residents fought for the freedom of Greece, and in 1912 Halkidiki was liberated from the Turks and became part of the Greek province of Macedonia.
And now the peninsula is the most popular resort for numerous tourists.

Climate

Due to the fact that the mountains reliably shelter Halkidiki from the winds, it is dry and hot in summer. The climate of the peninsula is subtropical. The air temperature in the summer season averages + 28 ° С, sometimes it can reach + 33 ° С, and the water in the sea warms up to + 25 ° С ... + 27 ° С.
The tourist season runs from May to mid-October. Precipitation is not abundant, but sometimes it dilutes sunny and dry days. Fall out much more often in winter. This time is usually used by fans of historical excursions to explore the many ruins left over from buildings of different eras.

sights

Each of the three peninsulas of Halkidiki has its own unique places, man-made and natural creations, heritage of history.
The main attractions of Halkidiki are:

- the Petralona cave, with amazing stalactites and stalagmites, where the remains of the presence of the first people living in Greece were found;
- the sacred Mount Athos with many temples and monasteries, where, alas, not everyone can get: the passage is closed for women.
- Monasteries of Meteora, which are located on the tops of giant rocks, bizarre shapes, hanging over the city of Kalambaka.
- The ancient traditional Greek village of Afytos.
- Ruins of the ancient city of Toroni
- Ancient Stagira is the birthplace of Aristotle.
- Vineyards of Porto Carras
- Spa resort Loutra Pozar.

And there are many other great places to visit in Halkidiki.

How to get there

There is no airport on the peninsula itself. Therefore, you will have to fly by plane to Thessaloniki, and from there take a bus or taxi to Halkidiki. The distance between Thessaloniki and the cities and regions of the peninsula is 60-150 km. By bus, the travel time, depending on the selected region, will be one and a half to three and a half hours. But for the price it is the cheapest option. The taxi will cost more, while the time will be a little faster - only two and a half hours along the longest route.

Halkidiki is truly an amazing place, visiting which you will fall in love with it forever.

Halkidiki on Greece map

Detailed map of Halkidiki

Halkidiki Map

Halkidiki is a peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Aegean Sea, in the north of Greece, in the administrative region of Central Macedonia. The peninsula juts out into the sea for 120 kilometers.

The map of Halkidiki draws a trident-shaped peninsula. The Greeks themselves call "teeth" - "fingers". The three "fingers" of Halkidiki are the peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos (Agion-Oros). The surface of the peninsula is an elevated plain with peaks reaching heights of up to 2033 meters (Mount Athos). The coastline is about 500 kilometers long. The capital of the peninsula is the city of Poliyyros.

Kassandra is closest to other Halkidiki peninsulas to the northern capital of Greece, Thessaloniki. It is separated from the mainland of the peninsula by the Potidea Canal, which runs in the narrowest part of the isthmus and connects the Thermaikos Gulf with the Kassandra Gulf.

The middle "finger" - the Sithonia peninsula - is washed by the waters of the Toroneos and Siengitiko gulfs. The coast of Sithonia is cut by picturesque bays.

The Athos peninsula has a length of 60 kilometers, and its width in different areas varies from 8 to 12 kilometers. Mount Athos (2033 meters) rises in the south-eastern part of the peninsula.

Halkidiki Map with sights located in the map tab, in the locations section. This service will help you navigate the terrain while traveling.

On each of the peninsulas there are many small picturesque towns and villages and resorts. A detailed map of Halkidiki will introduce you to the main resorts and ancient cities with a rich history.