Halkidiki - Macedonia (Greece)

Sithonia, Halkidiki:

Sithonia is the middle peninsula of Halkidiki or "the middle leg." This area is much quieter than Kassandra in terms of tourism. This peninsula is similar in character to Kassandra. The greatest difference is the nature, which here mainly consists of beautiful pine forests. There are also large vineyards and olive groves, but forests cover the largest surface. Sithonia is also known for the Porto Karras area, 18,000 hectares (69 sq. mi) of territory, where vineyards, luxury hotels, pine forests and marinas are located. Last but not least, Sithonia is also known for its rugged coastline with beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise sea.

Destinations Sithonia: Aghios Nikolaos, Gerakini, Kalamitsi, Neos Marmaras, Nikiti, Ormos Panagias, Porto Karras, Porto Koufo, Psakoudia, Sarti, Sykia and Paralia Sykias, Toroni, Vourvourou
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Agion Oros, Chalkidiki:

Agion Oros (Holy Mountain Athos) is the easternmost peninsula of Halkidiki. This peninsula is unique. It is situated just below Ouranoupolis, a tourist town with beautiful beaches. When you pass the town, you enter the world of Agion Oros that literally means the Holy Mountain. This is a monastic state that is autonomous, within Greece and the EU. The inhabitants are all monks, and women may not enter this area. In the territory are twenty monasteries where monks live in isolation. North of the border, from Ouranoupolis, starts the tourist world where luxury hotels, beautiful beaches and lots of sights and villages are found.

Destinations Agion Oros area: Arnaia, Holy Mountain Athos (Agion Oros), Ammouliani, Dafni (Agion Oros), Gomati, Ierissos, Karyes (Agion Oros), Megali Panagia, Nea Roda (and Trypiti), Neochori, Olympiada, Ouranoupoli, Paleochori, Stageira, Stratoni, Stratoniki.
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Museums Halkidiki

• The Archaeological Museum of Polygyros
• The Folkloric museum of Polygyros
• The Petralona museum
• The Folkloric museum of Arnaia
• The LAMBROPOULOS archaeological collection

Archaeological excavations Halkidiki

• The Old Arnaia
• The Byzantine towers of Ouranoupolis
• The Acropolis Antigonia
• The caves of Petralona
• The Byzantine towers of Nea Fokea

Entertainment and excursions Halkidiki

• Cruises Around the Athos Mountains
• Various excursions to sights like the Olympus, Vergina, Thessaloniki and Meteora
• Jeep safari
• Scuba diving
• Mountain biking

Text: Yorgos and Wendy Nikolidakis - Revised by Katrina Butzer