Villas and hotels in Halkidiki

Halkidiki

Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos: villas and hotels on all three legs of Halkidiki, with the beaches, drive times and best months explained.

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About

Halkidiki (also spelled Chalkidiki) is the three-pronged peninsula south-east of Thessaloniki. The three prongs are Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, and locals simply call them the first, second and third leg. All three are reached by road from Thessaloniki airport, and they make very different holidays, so it is worth choosing the leg before you choose the villa.

We list villas and hotels on all three legs. Below: what each leg is like, who it suits, the best beaches, drive times and when to come.

Kassandra, Sithonia or Athos: which leg is for you?

Kassandra is the first leg and the closest to Thessaloniki. You cross the canal at Nea Potidea, which joins the Toronean and Thermaic gulfs, and you are on the peninsula. The beaches are long and sandy, the water stays shallow a long way out, and villages such as Kallithea, Hanioti and Pefkochori have tavernas, beach bars and late nights. It is also the busiest leg in July and August, with the most traffic on its roads. It suits anyone who wants organised beaches and restaurants within walking distance. For Kassandra without the noise, look at Afytos, a stone village on a cliff above the Toronean Gulf.

Sithonia is the second leg: greener, less busy and with less traffic than Kassandra, and prices are usually better. Pine forest runs down to the water, the middle of the peninsula rises to Mount Itamos at 817 m, and the coast is a chain of small bays. Nikiti and Neos Marmaras have the shops, the evening walk by the sea and, in our experience, better nightlife than Kassandra. Vourvourou and Sarti are quieter, and from Sarti you look straight across the Singitic Gulf at Mount Athos. It is our first suggestion for families with small children and for groups.

Athos is the third leg. Its southern half is Mount Athos, a community of 20 monasteries on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1988. Only men may enter, and only with a permit from the Pilgrims' Bureau, which issues ten a day to non-Orthodox visitors. Everyone else can see the monasteries from the sea on a boat cruise along the west coast from Ouranoupoli. The villages on the northern side, such as Ouranoupoli and Ierissos, are the calmest in Halkidiki. It suits quiet holidays and history, and we list fewer villas here than on the other two legs.

The best beaches in Halkidiki

Halkidiki's beaches were awarded 93 Blue Flags for 2026, including Possidi and Sani.

Kassandra

Possidi: a sandbar that reaches out into the sea with water on both sides and a lighthouse at the start. Park by the lighthouse and walk out. One side is often breezy while the other is calm. It has no beach bars or sunbeds.

Glarokavos: just past Pefkochori. Fine white sand, small pebbles and shallow water that works like a natural pool, with a beach bar. Good with small children.

Chrousso: at Paliouri, at the southern tip of Kassandra. Fine, flour-like sand and a shallow shelf that runs out around 30 m.

Sithonia

Kavourotrypes: fine sand mixed with rounded stones, framed by pale rocks and pines. It is popular, so go early in summer.

Karydi, at Vourvourou: soft white sand, shallow for several metres, no bars and no loud music. The rocks make it good for snorkelling.

Toroni: one of the biggest beaches on the leg, with a beach bar and fish tavernas at one end and free, quiet sand at the other. Late sunsets.

Sarti: about 3 km of sand facing Mount Athos across the gulf, with beach bars along it and quieter stretches further on. Come at sunrise.

Athos coast

Ammouliani: a small island whose name means fine sand. The ferry from Tripiti takes about 15 minutes, runs roughly every 45 minutes in summer, and takes cars.

When to go

The sea temperatures below are ten-year averages for Halkidiki.

May: green and quiet, and the sea is still cool at about 19°C. June: about 23 to 24°C, warm enough for proper swims. July and August: the warmest sea, about 26 to 27°C, and peak season. The week around 15 August, Greece's summer holiday peak, is the busiest of the year, so book a large villa early. September: about 24 to 25°C with fewer people, and our favourite month. October: about 21°C, still fine for a swim on a sunny day, though some beach bars and tavernas close for the winter.

Getting here from Thessaloniki airport

Halkidiki has no airport of its own. You fly into Thessaloniki (SKG) and drive; no ferry is needed. Typical drive times from the airport, without traffic: Nea Moudania about 40 minutes, Kallithea about 1 hour, Kriopigi in Kassandra about 1 hour 5, Nikiti about 1 hour 15, Pefkochori about 1 hour 20, Ierissos about 1 hour 35, and Sarti and Ouranoupoli about 1 hour 50.

There is no direct airport bus to the villages; the Halkidiki buses leave from the KTEL Chalkidikis station in Thessaloniki. We can book a private airport transfer for you.

How we choose where you stay

Villa4You is a family business that has been renting holiday homes in Halkidiki since 2005. We live here, we know the owners of the villas we list by name, and when you write to us you reach the family, not a call centre. Alongside the villa we can arrange cleaning, a private chef and airport transfers.

Browse villas or hotels in Halkidiki, or ask for a shortlist.

Getting there

From Halkidiki to the villas

Halkidiki has no airport of its own, so everyone flies into Thessaloniki (SKG). The airport is on the Halkidiki side of the city, so you are on the road south within minutes of landing.

By car

This is how most people come, and it is the easiest way to see more than one beach. There are car hire desks at the airport. The main road is fast as far as Nea Moudania, then it gets slower and more winding, especially around Sithonia. It is about 45 minutes to Nea Moudania, just over an hour to the middle of Kassandra, about 1 hour 15 minutes to Nikiti at the start of Sithonia, and 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 minutes to the far end of Sithonia or to Ouranoupoli on the Athos coast. In July and August, try to avoid Friday and Sunday afternoons.

Private transfer

If you would rather not drive after a flight, a driver can meet you at the airport and take you straight to your villa or hotel. Prices for each village are in the table below, and child seats are available on request.

By bus

It can be done, but it takes time. Take bus 01X from the airport to Aristotelous Square in the city centre, about 40 minutes with a bus every half hour, then bus 45 to the KTEL Halkidiki bus station. From there, long-distance buses go to the villages, and tickets cost around 8 to 15 euros depending on how far you go. Check times and prices on the KTEL Halkidiki website before you travel.

Ferries and boat trips

For Ammouliani island, drive to Tripiti on the Athos coast and take the car ferry. The crossing takes 10 to 15 minutes, boats run often in summer and you buy your ticket on board. The boat trips along the coast of Mount Athos leave from Ouranoupoli, a few minutes further along the coast.

Private transfer prices per vehicle with Thessaloniki Airport Transfers, tolls and VAT included. Times are from the airport in normal traffic.

Thessaloniki City Center

Destination	Time	Economy Car	Mini Van	E Class	V Class / S Class
Thessaloniki Center	30 min

Kassandra

Destination	Time	Economy Car	Mini Van	E Class	V Class / S Class
Nea Moudania	45 min
Sani	55 min
Siviri	60 min
Pefkochori	70 min
Haniotis	70 min
Kallithea	65 min

Thessaloniki Airport Transfers

Destination	Time	Economy Car	Mini Van	E Class	V Class / S Class
Nea Potidea	—
Skala Fourkas	—
Posidi	—
Nea Skioni	—
Loutra Agias Paraskevis	—
Paliouri	—
Polychrono	—
Kryopigi	—
Afytos	—
Kalyves	—
Gerakini	—
Psakoudia	—
Metamorfosi	—
Akti Elia	—
Porto Koufo	—
Kalamitsi	—
Vourvourou	—
Ormos Panagias	—
Pyrgadikia	—
Trypiti	—
Nea Roda	—
Olympiada	—
Paralia Korinou	—
Olympiaki Akti	—
Plaka Litochorou	—
Paralia Skotinas	—
Neoi Poroi	—

Sithonia

Destination	Time	Economy Car	Mini Van	E Class	V Class / S Class
Nikiti	75 min
Neos Marmaras	90 min
Toroni	100 min
Sarti	105 min

Athos

Destination	Time	Economy Car	Mini Van	E Class	V Class / S Class
Ouranoupoli	100 min
Ierissos	95 min

Pieria

Destination	Time	Economy Car	Mini Van	E Class	V Class / S Class
Paralia Katerinis	60 min
Leptokarya	80 min
Platamonas	85 min

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Halkidiki

Kassandra, Sithonia or Athos: which leg is for you?

The best beaches in Halkidiki

Kassandra

Sithonia

Athos coast

When to go

Getting here from Thessaloniki airport

How we choose where you stay

From Halkidiki to the villas

By car

Private transfer

By bus

Ferries and boat trips

Thessaloniki City Center

Kassandra

Thessaloniki Airport Transfers

Sithonia

Athos

Pieria

Areas in Halkidiki

Kassandra

Sithonia

Athos Peninsula

Pefkochori

Nikiti

Afytos

Neos Marmaras

Sarti

Kalamitsi

Hanioti

Agia Kiriaki

Paliouri

Polychrono

Vourvourou

Kallithea

Toroni

Possidi

Kriopigi

Gerakini

Nea Skioni

Sani

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