WELCOME TO HALKIDIKI, THE PLACE OF COLORS AND VARIETY! Halkidiki lies just a few km away from the MAKEDONIA Airport (of Thessaloniki) which is part of the leading European airline- networks. It is a large peninsula (2.900 m2) and combines the characteristic features of the Greek islands and the mainland! Halkidiki is truly unique mostly because of its coastline, forming three smaller peninsulas widely known as "legs" through 500 km of seaside and over 80 beaches out of which 46 are certified by the "blue flag"! There are tiny islands inside its gulfs and the climate - due to the infinite horizontal stretching - is mild, thanks to the beneficial effect of the sea. The element distinguishing it as an all-encompassing tourism destination is that the mostly seashore environment is dominated by a conspicuous and evergreen mountain peak bringing about the proposals of alternative tourism in Halkidiki, namely winter and agritourism. This "disputable" and daring natural landscape blends a particular lifestyle and phenomena in a single region offering all kinds of the current tourism trends for which, in order to grasp, a traveler would need to take several trips to different corners of the world! Summer tourism Summer in Halkidiki is a feast and lasts for 6 whole months. On its shores one can enjoy all kinds of summer tourism: - organized beaches for the crowd-lovers - "untouched" beaches for those seeking adventure - peaceful beaches for family-holidays - uncountable gulfs for romantic people - camping beaches for those traveling by car - stunning fish-havens ideal for angling (fish tourism/angle tourism) It is certainly not by chance that Halkidiki hosts approximately 1.500.000 visitors each summer and there are thousands of people owning a second or a weekend residence and actually live there during the whole summer. Tourists adore the exceptionally crystal-clear sea of Halkidiki and thus continue to return again and again. They adore the golden sandy beaches, the water sports, playing in the sand, the fishing spots, the traditional harbors bathing in the mediterranean light, the sunsets by the Aegean Sea with the peaks of the Olympus in the background, and so much more... However, summer tourism in Halkidiki does not mean exclusively the naturally thriving model of "sea-and-sun"tourism. It is enriched with dozens of further activities that strengthen the offered product and add to make up the image of an ideal alternative holiday destination. Cultural Tourism There are four immense international cultural events organized in Halkidiki each summer: The Sani Festival, an official member of the International Festivals and Events Association Europe (I.F.E.A.), that while setting the highest standards of quality intends to build a bridge towards the art of other countries and to open up to new trends and venues, thus managing an ever-growing attendance of new visitors both nationally and internationally. "The Festival of the Sea", the leading cultural foundation of the Municipality of Moudania also gives the possibility to thousands Byzantine and post-Byzantine art. Murals, rich libraries, mosaics, Kassandra). The up-to-date sites of the baths operate all year of visitors to get in touch with Greek art and the local folklore - precious miniatures, functional utensils and various precious long and are visited by thousands of guests seeking healing and tradition. mementos of priceless value rest in the monasteries, turning the cure. "The Festival of Siviri" of a European dimension, hosts dozens tour into an exceptionally unique cultural and religious of art-forms annually and gathers thousands of visitors as well. experience. Historical Tourism And finally the Porto Carras Festival, a new event placed in The historical importance of Halkidiki is confirmed by its distinctive settings that provide diversity, thus inspiring both artists and the Winter Tourism - Tours - historical and archeological discoveries proving its cultural heritage. public. The traces of man here start from the prehistoric period: the Beyond these high-standards artistic events, Halkidiki celebrates a Lodgings - Agritourism "archeanthropos" was discovered in the Cave of Petralona where hundred (100) festivals in hundreds of villages, churches and small he lived about 250.000 years ago. Today this cave is of great As mentioned before Halkidiki is not only a summer destination sanctuaries, which mainly originate from religious heritage and paleontological interest while the fossils are exposed in its museum but an ideal and inclusive winter holiday destination. Wintrer anniversaries. or are kept at the Department of Paleontology of the Aristotle sports, expeditions, horse-riding, excursions of nature, Morals and the old habits, popular customs and their University of Thessaloniki. accommodation in makedonian lodgings are all "tourist demonstration - the revival of old traditions compose the During the classical antiquity Halkidiki had a great magnitude. experiences and pleasures" of the region of the mountains. mesmerizing image of a different world that satisfies even the most Agritourism in the mountains of Halkidiki is growing rapidly, and Powerful cities, like Olynthos, Stageira, Akanthos or Potidea demanding visitor. today there are a hundred makedonian guest-houses with were flourishing, the findings of which are archeological sites of In addition there are countless evening performances of all kind approximately 600 beds available. immense importance. The remains of the Temple of Ammon Zeus on the moonlit beaches, at the archaeological sites open to the lay in Kallithea and the most ancient Sanctuary of Poseidon public, at nights with a full moon and in the tiled in the mountains. (Neptunus) is in Potidea. Ancient Stageira was the birthplace of And to all these there is the intense nightlife: bars, cafés, lounge People, feasts of nature, folklore, morals, Aristotle, the greatest philosopher of all times. cafés, clubs, discos, musical performances, Greek bouzoukia or customs, traditions The region is scattered with Byzantine and religious monuments, bouzouktzidika - all the visitor needs for a unique Greek that from the 17th century until today are destinations pilgrimage entertainment! It is all but by chance that Halkidiki is so appealing It is the characteristic feature of the people of Halkidiki to praise the for thousands of visitors: the Sacred Convent of the to the youth and to all party-animals throughout the world. soil for the goods it provides them with by organizing exaltation Annunciation in Ormylia, the Holy Temple of Saint Nikolaos in feasts of the: tsipouro (raki), wine, mushroom, wheat, honey, pines, Olynthos, the Byzantine towers in Fokaia and Ouranoupoli and so Sports tourism olive, sardines, mussels, all deriving from the same origins: tradition much more. As for the sports fans, apart from the sea sports Halkidiki has to and time. Women found agritouristic associations, manufacturing offer a wide range of athletic events, the biggest of all being the pure dishes and biological products, while in the folk museums one Casino Marathon Swimming of the Golf of Toroneo. It hauls between can see pieces of popular craft, unique in the perfection of their The casino in the Porto Carras Grand Resort also operates all through Kallithea and Nikiti and is organized each summer with the details. During the period of the Carnival the traditional Carnival of the year and is a point of reference for those who wish to relax this attendance of the most prominent resistance swimmers of the Polygyros attracts thousands of visitors! way. world. There is an intence attraction, however, of athletes in training during the summer period, while there are quite a few Gastronomy Relaxation - Spa championships of basketball, beach volley, yachting, game fishing It is a type of tourism that is growing rapidly in Halkidiki. The "Sani There are wellness centers and spas in most of the hotels in Halkidiki. and kick-boxing. Gourmet" at the Sani Resort gathers the greatest names of the field Visitors can relax and benefit from the services of the annually, but the pleasures of gastronomy are not limited solely to aforementioned centers all around the region and all through the Golf tourism organized summer festivals and to sea food. During the winter in year. Today Halkidiki offers equally high-standard services and has Halkidiki is naturally the only and the official golf destination of Halkidiki one can savor the flavors of the mountain in all the taverns developed the same hotel infrastructure with all the traditionally Northern Greece. The Porto Carras Grand Resort operates a golf and the lodgings of the mountain region. touristic regions. course of international standards, as well as both a tennis and a golf academy. Wine-tasting Celebration There are organized WINERIES all over Halkidiki producing a variety To celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve the hotels that remain Yachting tourism of wine, that are launched in the markets of the entire world. Fans of open during the winter period organize outstanding banquets and Yachting is a great asset of summer tourism in Halkidiki. The wine-tasting can obtain yet another "tourist experience" during the range of choices is really wide: luxury celebrations, traditional organized events of all the enologists of the region. marinas of Sani and the Porto Carras can host vessels of any length feasts, parties with view to the sea or the snow-covered mountains and will satisfy the needs of each of their guests. Bicycle - Hiking Tourism and most importantly parties for the all each budget. Religious Tourism There is a particular attention paid to the seventeen (17) distinctive By Mount Athos being an independent monastic state (country in cycling routes, on which visitors train themselves while enjoying the Congresses - a country) enfolded into the geographical boundaries of natural landscape (the sea or the mountains, depending on their Congress Tourism (MICE) Halkidiki, the destination is automatically characterized as a choice) at the same time. The region is ideal for cycling.