10 best things to do in Halkidiki

One of the region’s best-kept secrets is that its magic doesn’t end at the coastline. There are a handful of islands you can visit that make a perfect addition to any holidays in Halkidiki. So taking a boat trip from the mainland is the next of our things to do in Halkidiki. It’s the easiest way to reach inaccessible beaches and engage in the pristine landscape in a way that makes you feel like you’re the first to discover it. Diaporos and the cluster of eight islets just outside Vourvourou bay off the eastern coast of Sithonia are exotic little gemstones, boasting beaches like Myrsini and the aptly named Hawaii beach and Blue Lagoon. You can hire a boat and skipper in Vourvourou bay, where you will also find seaside tavernas to end the day. And then there’s Ammouliani , which you reach from Tripiti near Ouranoupoli. It’s Halkidiki’s only inhabited island, which means you can spend the night here too. It has a sleepy little main town, with flower-potted houses and a quaint little port, as well as a selection of sandy beaches. And from the port, you can take a boat trip to the tiny Drenia isles, which offer even more seclusion and the possibility of canoeing between the islands. 

Halkidiki by boat? Yes, please!

There are vineyards right across Halkidiki, from the low-lying hills of Kassandra to the slopes of Mount Meliton in Sithonia and the monasteries of Mount Athos, whose monks have been producing wines for centuries. In fact, Aristotle (more on him below) once mentioned Limnio, an ancient grape that is still produced here. Other wine-producing grapes that may be new to you that thrive in Halkidiki’s terrain include Assyrtiko, Malagouzia, Roditis and Xinomavro.

Discover the serene beauty of Halkidiki's vineyards.

You’ll learn all about them on a vineyard tour and wine tasting in one of Halkidiki’s wineries. In Sithonia, Domaine Porto Carras in Neo Marmara is the largest organic vineyard in Greece and in Arnea, you can visit the Claudia Papayianni Winery. In Marathousa, the Livadioti Estate has operated since 1978 and also has a tsipouro distillery and in Agios Pavlos, near Thessaloniki, the Tsantali Winery’s vineyard has panoramic views of the Thermaic Gulf and a cellar housing more than 2,000 barrels. Finally, the Mylopotamos Winery is an important part of the monastic community of Mount Athos.

Explore the wine routes of Halkidiki

Back to the unexpected things to do in Halkidiki. You’ve already heard the name Aristotle mentioned above. The great Greek philosopher was born here, specifically in Stagira, near the town of Olympiada in eastern Halkidiki. It was founded in the 7th century BC by colonisers from Andros and was occupied by Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great and pupil of Aristotle.  And it was Alexander who gave the orders to rebuild Stagira when it was destroyed during the Peloponnesian Wars. You can visit the ancient citadel, with its agora and Byzantine-era walls, and the tower of Ancient Stagira. And near Stagira is Aristotle’s Park, which has instruments like a prism, optical discs, a compass, a sundial, parabolic refractors and wind turbines, all intended to give you a hands-on understanding of the Aristotelian principles known as ‘the Naturals’.

Follow in the footsteps of Aristotle

Aristotle’s Park in Halkidiki features hands-on instruments designed to demonstrate Aristotle's 'Naturals' principles.

Diving into the culture of Halkidiki, we arrive at the archaeological sites and museums. The archaeological Site of Ancient Olynthos (a town founded in the 7th century BC) has some of the oldest mosaic floors discovered in Greece and remains showing a Hippodamian (grid) town planning system. The Archaeological Museum of Polygyros (also in Central Halkidiki) has finds from prehistoric times to the Roman era from across Halkidiki (including Ancient Stagira, Ancient Toroni, Polygyros, Ancient Olynthos etc).

Every artifact tells a story. Find yours in Halkidiki.

And Ancient Akanthos, near Ierissos, contains the remains of the most powerful port in the region, dating from 650 BC. Meanwhile, Halkidiki’s villages contain gems such as the Weaving Museum of Arnea and the Folk Museums of Afytos and Nikiti. Lastly, we have Halkidiki’s Byzantine towers, typically built to protect the local metohi or dependency: the Tower of Prosforios in Ouranoupoli, the Stavronikita Tower by Sani beach (a backdrop for cultural events), the Krouna Tower near Ierissos and the Tower of Nea Fokea (also known as St Paul’s Tower and considered the best preserved).