In this beautiful land, the sea seems to be tenderly embracing the land, the green seems to be melting in the blue, while the old assorts the new and man converses with the divine. Mornings are fresh and cool, while sunsets are painted in shades of gold and violet, twilights are idyllic and nightfall is illuminated by thousands of stars. The roads open before you shall take you to unique places where you will surely forget your everyday troubles and relax, before you return to the routine of everyday living. There are no bustling cities here, just modern resorts vibrant with life in the summer, picturesque villages and hamlets. The prefecture’s largest settlement and its capital, Polygyros, has a population of just 6.000. All across this area you will see multi-storey modern hotels, large hotel complexes, many rooms-to-let and apartments, as well as camping sites, the result of the rapid development for tourism in Halkidiki after 1960. In order for you to become better acquainted with Halkidiki we suggest that you follow the proposed five routes.

• For the first route you must follow the road connecting Thessaloniki and Nea Moudania. Taking small diversions you shall visit Nea Kallikrateia, the Cave at Petralona, while you shall complete this tour by making a first acquaintance with the beauty that is the peninsula of Cassandra.
• The second route shall take you along the main road to Sithonia. You will make two diversions, one to visit Agios Mamas and another one to visit Nea Olynthos and the archaeological site of ancient Olynthos. You will also pass through Gerakini, visit Nikiti and from there enter Sithonia while your trip will culminate in Agios Nikolaos and Pyrgadikia.
• The third route shall take you to Halkidiki’s inland. Follow the road connecting Thessaloniki and Polygyros. Marvel at the Monument of Captain Chapsas and visit the monastery of Agia Anastasia (just off the main road). Galatista is your next stop and from there it is worth to take the road up to Vavdos. Backtrack and stop for lunch at the famous restaurants in Agios Prodromos where you can taste the local specialty, skewered meat. Polygyros awaits just round the corner. From there you may continue to visit Taxiarchis and take the wonderful turnpike road through the forest of Mt. Cholomon until you reach Arnaia. Continue on the same road for Stageira and Stratoni, located on the coast of the bay of Ierissos. The road continues to Ierissos and ends in Ouranoupolis.
• For this, the fourth route, you will begin your trip on the northeastern borders of the peninsula of Halkidiki. You will visit Olympiada, Ancient Stageira, Ierissos, Ancient Akanthus and from there Nea Roda and Ouranoupolis, the last settlement before Athos.
• Your journey will culminate in the fifth and final route, which is dedicated to the “Garden of the Virgin”, the holy mountain of Orthodox Christians, Holy Mount of Athos.

In the peninsula of Sithonia and specifically in beautiful Vourvourou you'll be able to enjoy the experience of sea kayaking. The region offers a unique combination of sea and lake characteristics, a mountain covered with thick forests and 9 unique islands visible from the beach which makes it an ideal destination for holidays. Made daily trips by sea kayak accompanied by experienced guides from early May until late October. The daily trips provide a perfect opportunity to paddle in the crystal clear waters around the island Diaporos, the largest of the nine islands which is located across the bay where you can swim and snorkel on some of the most beautiful and remote beaches of Halkidiki, like Krifto, Mirsini and Galazia Nera. 

An amazing horseback riding stroll in nature, sure to bedazzle you! Wear your protective helmet, ride on your horse and enjoy an unequaled sense of freedom! Follow your trainer’s instructions and you will be taken for a short stroll inside the ranch in order to become better acquainted with your horse and find the right posture for riding. The magic of the green nature waits for you as your horse trots along breathtaking landscapes! A unique experience that you will always treasure!

Mountain bike on beautiful forest routes, passing through plains, by the lake and by and… in the river. Allow 1:30 to 2 hours for biking, depending on the route you will follow. Available are routes of varying difficulty, depending on the distance and the altitude differences. But regardless of which one you choose, the landscapes greeting you and your fellow bikers will be breathtaking and unique! 

A superb 2-hour windsurfing experience for 1. Acquaint yourselves with the exiting world of windsurfing in an ideal setting! This unique sport will bring you in contact with the elements of nature and constitutes an excellent exercise for the body and mind alike! Follow your experienced trainer’s instructions and, after undergoing a brief simulation on land, to save you from many uncalled-for dives, enjoy your first sail on your board in the sea! The sea of Halkidiki awaits you! Have a nice time!  

The first form of water ski was aquaplaning, where the athlete ‘slides’ on the water, using a board, the aquaplane, tied behind a ‘speedboat’. Such activities were reported in the area of Volos in Greece as early as 1945-46 using Coastguard boats. 

Man’s desire to explore the underwater world is as old as man himself. In Greece, a country whose coastline extends over 16.000km, daily life is directly related to the sea. Enclosed and ancient, the Mediterranean Sea with its steep rocky coasts, the great depths and crystal clear waters, hides inside a magical world, unknown to most! Entry to the wonderful world of aquatic life evokes respect and solidarity to the unique world of the Mediterranean Sea and inspires the young and old to become sensitized and mobilized with regard to issues relating to the healthy future of the aquatic environment.

A picturesque village located near a beautiful sandy beach. There are indications from findings which date the emergence of habitation in the 14th Century. Tradition has it that Tristinika used to be crossed by a river which supplied sufficient water to power a water-powered workshop for processing wool garments. Tristinika is a nickname and means small well; while others hold that the village was the grounds for a battle where the invaders were three times as many as the villagers-defenders and thus, for the defenders to win they each had to kill at least three enemies (in Greek treis=three and nika=win).

Ancient Potidaea was established in 600BC at the cervix of the peninsula of Palini. As follows from the name of the town, its patron was Poseidon. During Xerxes’ campaign against Greece in 480BC the town succumbed after a siege. A year later, however, it was reconstructed and held off the siege by Artabazus. In the same year it was the only city in Macedonia which participated, with other Greek cities, at the Battle of Plataea. In 349/8 BC the city succumbed to the fate of the other cities in Halkidiki and was annexed to the Kingdom of Macedonia. 

After being deserted for almost 40 years, in 316BC Cassander erects in the place of Potidaea a new city named after him: Cassandreia (modern Greek Kassandreia). In the intervening interval until the conquest of Macedonia by the Romans (168BC), Cassandreia evolved into one of the mightiest cities in Macedonia. The opening of the canal is speculated to have occurred during this period, which facilitated navigation and promoted trade and economic progress. It fell to the Romans in 168BC and flourished once more. 

The decline of the city is connected to the forays of the Huns who, in 540AD invaded Macedonia. Thus, despite the efforts by Justinian in the 14th century, the sources speak of its total desolation. Its castle, important for the security of the whole peninsula, was repaired by John VII Palaiologos in 1407, as well as by the Venetians later. In 1430 the city falls to the Turks. The old fortifications were repaired and reused in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, while the new opening of the canal is dated around the same period. It was in this castle that the revolutionists from Halkidiki barricaded themselves in 1821, putting up a fierce opposition before the “doom of Kassandra”, the well-known ‘holocaust’ that is remembered until today and commemorated with great solemnity annually on November 14. The wall was erected in the 7th century BC by the Corinthians, around the pre-existing city of “Pallene”, which due to its strategic location became powerful. It was the only city in Halkidiki which took part in the Battle of Plateaes and its name was recorded on the Bronze tripod dedicated by the victors to the Gods.

The Castle is located in the area of Neposi and was built in the 5th century AD in a location which was inhabited since at least the 2nd century BC. The findings of the survey of the surface of the castle are the following: At the top of a fortified hill, by nature and location inexpugnable, stands a castle, “the Small Castle”, as it is known to the people from Paleochora, which is the largest in Halkidiki. The only connection between this hill and the mountain is a narrow precipitous trail. It surrounded on three sides by water, the “sink of Paleochora”, the principal bayou of River Havrias, echoing plangent at the bottom of a 30-40 meter ravine and is enclosed by an especially beautiful landscape with wild vegetation. The castle occupies an area of 15 stremma (on level) and is encircled by a wall, roughly 800-1000 meters long and 4-5 meters high. There appear to be three building stages to the wall, distinguishable by their height and telling of the times the wall was rebuild after being run over.