Halkidiki or Chalkidiki is a peninsula in northeastern Greece. It is connected to the mainland of Greece on three points. The peninsula extends south of the city of Thessaloniki. Three "fingers" extend south further into the sea. They are Kassandra in the west, Sithonia in the middle and Athos in the east. Athos is the peninsula of the monks and is limited accessible (and forbidden for women). Haldikidi is mountainous and green and there are many long sandy beaches.

The Athos peninsula is named after the sacred mountain which is located in the south. The peninsula has a special status (also in terms of tax) and is autonomous within Greece. The capital of Athos was founded in the 9th century and is called Karyes. On the peninsula there are 20 monasteries, the first one was founded around a thousand years ago and the last one in the sixteenth century.In those days these monasteries could only be reached by boat or along narrow paths.

The Sithonia peninsula is situated west of Athos. The landscape is very rugged and mountainous here with small fishing villages and many, sometimes deserted, sandy beaches. The Sithonia Peninsula is a popular holiday destination for both Greeks and foreign tourists. The capitol of the peninsula is Nikiti. There are some interesting sites on Sithonia like the ancient city of Torini, which dates from the 8th century BC.

Kassandra or Kassandria is the westernmost of the three "fingers" in Halkidiki. The peninsula has been separated for some time from the rest of Halkidiki through a channel at Nea Potidaia. Nowadays there are two bridges over this channel. Kassandra is also well equipped for tourists, with many scenic fishing villages and beautiful beaches. In a cave in Petralona on the Kassandra peninsula a skeleton has been unearthed that is among the oldest hominids (a million years old, from one of the ice ages)

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In the northwest of the Halkidiki area, above the three "fingers", are some more resorts that are popular among tourists. On the connection between the Kassandra peninsula and the rest of Halkidiki is the village of Nea Poteidaia, Nea Potidaia of Nea Potidea. The village was founded in 1922 and it is an important harbour. Nea Poteidaia has around 900 inhabitants.

The canal that runs here connects the Toroneos Bay with the Gulf of Thermaikos. It was dug by order of Xerxes during the Persian invasion, so he could sail more quickly to Athens with his fleet. For some time the city was named Kassandria after king Kassandra had given it that name. King Kassandra rebuilt the city in 316 BC after it had been abandoned for 40 years.

Due to the location Nea Potidaia had always been a strategically important place and the area has long been inhabited. In the 7th century BC on the site of the current Nea Potidaia ("New Potidaia"), a city was founded by colonists from Corinth. Archaeologists also discovered the bones of a girl which are believed to be nearly 700,000 years old. These are the oldest skeletal remains ever found in Greece.

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Just like nearby Nea Potidaia the town of Nea Moudania was built after 1922 when refugees from Anatolia settled here. They came from the city of Mudanya in Turkey and wanted to give the city the name of the old city where they came from. Nea Moudania means New Moudania. The city is considered the most important economic center of Chalkidiki. With 10,000 people Nea Moudania is the second largest city in the Halkidiki area. The port of Nea Moudania is one of the major fishing ports of Greece. The distance between Nea Moudania and Thessaloniki is a little over 50 kilometers. There is a regular bus service between the two towns (about 1 bus an hour during the day time).

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Paralia Dionysiou of Paralia Dionisiou ("Dionysiou Beach") is a bathing resort on the west coast of Chakidiki three kilometers north of the town of Nea Moudania. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 55 kilometers. Paralia Dionysiou attracts a lot of tourists, mainly the Greeks themselves, but also many Germans and tourists from neighboring countries. Also, many Greeks (especially residents of Thessaloniki) have built a holiday house here. The village stretches along the three-kilometer long, wide beach and you will find many shops, restaurants and accommodations. The beach has white sand and is equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds. The sea is shallow, making it popular with families with small children.

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The village of Flogita (sometimes called Nea Flogita - New Fogita) is situated on the coast in the west of the Halkidiki area about 6 kilometers north of the town of Nea Moudania. The city was founded in 1923 when refugees from Kappadokia from Turkey settled here.

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Nea Kallikratia or Nea Kallikrateia is a fairly large coastal town with about 5,500 inwonders. Actually it consists of three villages that have been merged: Nea Kallikratia, Agios Pavlos and Nea Iraklia. The city is located in the northwest of the Halkidiki area about 50 kilometers away from Thessaloniki and 45 kilometers west of Polygiros. Like many other villages in the area, Nea Kallikratia had its beginning when refugees settled here in 1922. They came from the city of Kallikrateia in Thrace (a region on the border west of Turkey, which historically bordered on Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece). Nea Kallikratia was in the Turkish area that lies on the European continent.

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Gerakini is a seaside resort located in Halkidiki in the coastal strip between the Sithonia peninsula and the Kassandra peninsula. It's not a very big town, but in summer the region attracts thousands of tourists. The distance from Gerakini to Thessaloniki is about 85 kilometers. 13 kilometer north of the village is the capital of the region, Poligiros.

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Psakoudia is actually the port of the town of Ormylia, which is situated above it. The village with its four-kilometer-long sandy beach on the coast of the Halkidiki area, between the Kassandra peninsula and the Sithonia peninsula. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 80 kilometers. The village Psakoudia itself is not very big, but because of the large beach it attracts many visitors are there are quite a few accommodations and facilities for tourists. Along the beach you will find shops, bars and fish tavernas, and there is also a campsite.

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Metamorfosi is a small village in the Halkidiki area, just west of the entrance to the Sithonia peninsula. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 95 kilometers and the town Poligiros is situated just over 30 kilometers northwest of the village of Metamorfosi. Originally the area was owned by the Greek Orthodox Church, but it was given to refugees from Turkey in 1925, so they could settle here. Nowadays most inhabitants live from fishing and the tourist industry.

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The village of Pyrgadikia is a small fishing village with just over 300 inhabitants, located on the coast between the Sithonia peninsula and the Athos peninsula, in the area of Halkidiki. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 110 kilometers. The village is relatively unknown and is visited by few tourists. There are a number of accommodations in Pyrgadikia, but the supply is limited. Pyrgadikia is on a hill on a peninsula and is built like an amphitheatre. It overlooks the Athos peninsula. Pyrgadikia in itself is a village and beach just outside the village you will find on both sides of even more beaches. The most famous of these is probably Kambos Beach, a sandy beach, 1 km long and 20 to 30 meters wide.

The area of Pyrgadikia has long been inhabited since before the 6th century BC. According to the historian Herodotus the village gave military aid to the Persians during the Persian wars. The town of Stageira located just north of Pyrgadika, is also known as the birthplace of Aristotle. You can also find archaeological remains here.

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The village of Olympiada is located in the northeast of the Halkidiki area. Because of the beautiful beaches in the area the village is a popular destination for tourists. There are about 700 inhabitants and the distance to Thessaloniki is about 90 kilometers. The village overlooks the small island of Kafkanas, which is situated at 2.5 kilometers northwest off the coast of Olympiada and that was called Kapros in ancient times. Next to the village lie the remains of the ancient city of Stagira. p align="justify"> For all hotels, apartments, studios and villas in Olympiada in Halkidiki - click here.

Located 900 metres from the beach of Chanioti, Villa Hanioti offers spacious accommodation with private swimming pools surrounded by well-kept gardens. The centre of Chanioti village is at 500 metres. Villas Hanioti are split in 2 levels and offer views over the sea and the green surroundings from their balconies. They consist of separate bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room and dining area. Facilities include a satellite, flat-screen tv, washing machine, free toiletries and hairdryer. Tours at Mount Athos, Meteora Rocks and Edessa can also be organized. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout and free private parking is possible.

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