From Salonica to Chalkidiki

photo by: adam_anastasia

Many foreigners land at Thessaloniki Macedonia International Airport during summer and go straight to Chalkidiki... Actually, in Greece there are the islands and, for the locals of Thessaloniki, there is Chalkidiki. A common joke that the rest of greeks say about thessalonians is that, wherever they go for summer, apart from Chalkidiki, at the end they will say: It's fine but nothing to do with Chalkidiki........

Indeed, Chalkidiki has it all: A very long coastline ending to three peninsulas: The first leg (as greeks call them) is one of the top destinations for clubbing, sea games, luxury hotels but cheaper rooms as well, and everything that would keep the visitor on the alert...

The second leg, in contrast, is very different: Dreamy beaches, small villages, pine trees and a smell of nature everywhere.

Many people know that the third leg is some sort of an autonomous state of monasteries, where only men are allowed to enter.

Ammouliani, the tiny island opposite Ouranoupolis is a small paradise itself. This tiny island can be walked from the one end to the other and, if you are tired, there is always the donkey-cab solution! Take a small boat to visit the surrounding deserted islands.