Greece’s Secret Shores: Pristine Beaches Await In This Hidden Gem Destination
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Everyone knows that with regards to a European summer time getaway, Greece is the final word vacation spot – the sun-kissed seashores of Mykonos, Crete, and Santorini have formally taken over our social media feeds.
What you won’t know, although, is that what you see on-line is only a sliver of the surprise that’s the Greek shoreline and that the true beachy gems of the nation are stored hidden far-off from the curious eyes of vacationers.
Working example – Halkidiki.
The gorgeous area that stretches over what locals name “the three fingers” is likely one of the finest locations in all the nation to soak up each the pristine seashores and that genuine Greek small-town really feel that’s been misplaced in additional fashionable hotspots.
And now that Halkidiki was formally topped the prefecture with the highest number of Blue Flag Beaches in all of Greece, I figured it was time to faucet into my 10+ years of touring to the area to assist uncover this hidden gem of a vacation spot for good.
A Area Crammed With Film-Like Seashores
I’m not right here to knock down the unbelievable attract of locations like Mykonos and Santorini – they’re each value a go to.
However so far as seashore high quality goes, neither of those locations holds a candle to Halkidiki, which is the place most Greeks select to spend their summers as a substitute.
Identical to I discussed, the area is split into three “fingers,” and for many first-time guests, the primary peninsula, Kassandra, is your best option.
Right here, you gained’t solely discover among the liveliest cities (extra on that beneath), but additionally among the finest business seashores within the nation – compared, Sithonia and Mount Athos, the 2 different “fingers,” are quieter and extra off-the-beaten-path.
Glarokavos, Paliouri, and Sani Seashore, particularly, are must-sees for all seashore lovers, and the excellent news is that they’re all driving distance from each other.
For these of you keen to get adventurous, Kavourotripes Seashore in Sithonia and Ammouliani Island close to Mount Athos could be one of the best picks, although be warned that getting there isn’t as straightforward.
Taking In That Genuine Greek City Allure
I’ve at all times been the sort of traveler who appears for a very good mixture of pristine shores and vigorous cities when touring throughout the summer time, and in Halkidiki, I’ve managed to seek out simply that.
And whereas there are a variety of locations all through the area that match the invoice, in the event you’d ask me to call my favourite, it will be Pefkochori.
The seashores appear like one thing straight out of a postcard, the city itself is vigorous however nonetheless full of that genuine Greek attraction, and there’s a Lemonis Bakery (considered one of my all-time favourite locations to get desserts) proper close to the middle sq..
An in depth second could be Nea Moudania.
The seashores right here, whereas gorgeous, lack a bit of one thing in comparison with Pefkochori, however this one’s a correct metropolis and Halkidiki’s largest municipality, so there’s extra to do and see right here.
And in the event you don’t thoughts a quieter summer time retreat, I’d extremely advocate making the 11-minute drive to Nea Poteidaia, a shocking seaside city the place the locals are pleasant, the seashores are one-of-a-kind, and the bougatsas are to die for, particularly in the event you get them at Μπουγάτσα Kαφές Yammy-Yammy.
A Price range-Pleasant Mediterranean Getaway
There’s a motive why so many Greeks flock to Halkidiki throughout the summer time as a substitute of the overpriced hotspots we get bombarded with on our social media feeds – they get the identical precise views and expertise for a fraction of the value.
Let’s begin with lodging.
Most locations within the area are both boutique lodges or family-run guesthouses that cost wherever between $40 and $70 an evening, and the general expertise is in contrast to something you’d discover at your run-of-the-mill lodge.
Final yr, I booked a 2-bedroom, 2-balcony residence in Nea Poteidaia for $65 an evening, and the hosts, a beautiful aged couple, went above and past, going so far as to depart a selfmade cake and a bottle of Raki behind.
Certain, the facilities won’t be the identical as what you’d get in a 5-start lodge, however the value-for-money ratio is insane.
The meals is fairly fairly priced, too.
Fast meals common $5 per individual, whereas going for a two-course meal at a sit-down restaurant may cost you one thing nearer to $15-$20 per individual, and let me inform you, I’ve by no means had a single chunk of meals that was something lower than superb.
The Good Place For These Who Need To Discover As A lot Of Greece In As Little Time As Attainable
Not solely is Halkidiki famously near Thessaloniki, which is one of my favorite cities to go to, however touring throughout the area itself is remarkably straightforward, too.
I’d extremely advocate getting your arms on a automobile, although.
Driving, particularly in Kassandra, is doable by virtually everybody (city streets are very well-maintained and parking is a breeze), and you may get from one aspect of the peninsula to the opposite for below an hour – that provides you loads of alternatives to see every thing I talked about to date and extra.
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Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.