Blog - Read More About Your Favourite Islands

A beautiful region in northern Greece characterized by its 3 peninsulas, often referred to as the ‘fingers’ or ‘claws’, Halkidiki has a wealth of wonderful things to see and do. Each of Halkidiki's peninsulas is different and offers a unique experience which means you can feel the real Greece in every step you take.  In this article we’ll take you through some of our favourites to make the most of your trip to Halkidiki.

How to get there
Halkidiki doesn’t have an airport or any ferry ports. To get there you have to fly into Thessaloniki. From there it is only a 40 minute drive to the top of the Kassandra peninsula which is the nearest and most westerly. To Sithonia (the central one) and to Aristotelis (the eastern one) it is around 2 hours. You can fly into Thessaloniki directly from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Stansted and Newcastle. 

Things To Do

1 – Visit Ammouliani
Ammouliani is a small island located just off the coast the Aristotelis peninsula, between it and Sithonia. Meaning ‘fine sand’, the beaches on Ammouliani definitely live up to the name. The island has some of the best beaches in Halkidiki. You can even rent a boat or join a tour discovering the little inlets and coves across the island as well as spending time on the even smaller island of Drenia just south of Ammouliani. Along with the beaches the island is made up of low, rolling hills dotted with olive trees and houses. The port town is also named Ammounliani and is home to the local museum of folklore as well as the church of Agios Nikiolaos. The streets are full of tavernas and when there you have to try the fish and other seafood, all of which is caught freshly. 

The Peloponnese is the name given to the southern part of the Greek mainland, from the Corinth Canal downwards. This is where Greece shines through – the food is amongst the best in the country, the region's vineyards provide some of the new guard of Greek wines that are winning awards but most importantly the ‘filoxenia’ or hospitality really is visible here. The area has so much to visit as well, such as beautiful beaches and lovely towns, however it is also home to many of Greece’s historical landmarks, especially from the classical period. Unless you want to stay in one place for the majority of your holiday, you will need to rent a car to see many of them and this opens up opportunities. In this article we’ll take you through how to do a 7 day road trip across the Peloponnese, starting and ending at the region's airport of Kalamata, in which you can take in most of the historical landmarks of the area. At The Greek Specialist, we can all the stress out of it and organise the whole thing from flights to accommodation and car hire, it can all be discussed at the time of enquiry.
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How to get there
Kalamata is the airport to fly into for the Peloponnese. You can fly into Kalamata from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Stansted, Bristol and Manchester. For most of these destinations there is only one or two flights a week, giving us our timeframe for a 7 day road trip. Flights into Kalamata for 2023 go on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, although most tend to be at a weekend.   

Day 1
After landing in Kalamata, you can either spend the day exploring all the city has to offer and stay the night there or you can drive to Sparta, which takes just over an hour, from which you can then explore the next day. If you’re staying in Kalamata, there’s plenty to explore, whether it be museums or churches such as the Church of Agioi Apostoloi or relaxing on any one of the beaches on the cities coast. If you drive straight to Sparta, there’s many places to get some food whilst you walk around the city and take in the sights and sounds.
 
Day 2
Once you’re in Sparta, the two main historical sites are the remains of Ancient Sparta and Mystras. The archaeological site of the famous ancient Sparta is in the north of the town. Here you can explore the fascinating area and see the sites of the Acropolis, Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia and the theatre amongst others. The sites which remain date back as far as nearly 3000 years ago. Think about the history they have seen, walking through you can imagine what it was like in its heyday. Not far out of the town is Mystras, a Byzantine settlement dating back to the 13th century. Built around a large hill, much of the settlement is still standing and one of the churches hosts a museum holding various items from the city. Not only has this settlement still got many of its original buildings, all of which give a good idea of the importance of the city in the region, but also it has a wonderful panoramic view across the surrounding landscape. 

Possible Addition
From Sparta you can then drive north towards Nafplion, if you want to however, you can detour to Monemvasia. Known as the Gibraltar of the East, Monemvasia’s main town is on the easternmost of the Peloponnese’s southern peninsulas. The castle and part of the town is located on a small outcrop which is attached to the mainland by a 200m long causeway. The settlement dates back to the 6th century AD and is another example of the Byzantine era of the region. Much of the town keeps its original rustic appearance and many of the buildings have been restored to keep up the appearance of the town. It should be visited if you have the time.  

Athens, a bustling metropolis which is great for a city break and is the gateway to the Greek islands. If you’re someone who loves a city break but is looking for the authentic Greek experience than look no further than the birthplace of democracy. In this article we’ll show you why Athens is perfect for those looking to get a taste of Greece over a long weekend or at the start or end of an island hop. 

How to get there 
You can fly directly to Athens from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Luton, Edinburgh, Manchester and Stansted as well as well as almost every domestic airport in Greece. Athens’ 3 ports; Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion are the gateways to the Greek islands, especially the smaller ones, so it is perfect place to spend a few days at the start or end of your island-hopping trip as depending on your island choice, you will have to go through Athens to get there.  

A Uniquely Greek Experience 
Athens is unlike anywhere else in Greece, similar to how London is with England. It has a unique blend of history and modernity, managing to balance them perfectly without the scales tipping too much to either side. Because of this there is something for everyone there, and due to its size and narrow, winding streets you can immerse yourself in bustling markets or perhaps instead find a small quiet square where you can sit in the sun and enjoy a relaxing drink. Hotels and all buildings are now beginning to put their focus on rooftop bars, most of which have a view of Greece’s most famous monument – The Acropolis. And with the city not allowing buildings above a certain height you can always be sure to find somewhere with a spectacular view, day or night. 

This week's Destination of the Week is Pelion (Pronounced Pilio in Greek although spelt Πήλιο), a peninsula stuck out like an arm in eastern central Greece. The peninsula is one of the most beautiful areas of the mainland covered in luscious green forests which, in Greek mythology were said to be home to the centaurs. Unlike many popular areas of Greece, although it gets many tourists, tourism isn’t the area’s main source of income and it gets that instead from land and sea, producing large amounts of apples, pears, peaches and olives. If you want a flavour for the real Greece, Pelion is where you can find it. It’s mountainous and forested terrain means there is plenty to do and see here. In this article we’ll take you through the best things based on our personal experience with the area to help you make the most of your trip. 
 
How to get there
To get to Pelion you have to fly into Volos which is the regional capital of the area. You can fly into Volos from London Gatwick and flights start at the beginning of the season at the end March.  To best enjoy Pelion its worth renting a car to drive between the towns and villages of the peninsula, from Volos airport it can take you anywhere from 45 mins to 2 hours depending on whether you are staying in the north or south of the peninsula. Places such as Ano Lechonia, Afissos, Chorto or Damouchari are good to stay in but we can advise further at the time of enquiry. 

1 – Take a train up to Milies
From the town of Ano Lechonia you can take The Pelion Train up the hill to the village of Milies. This train began operating more than a century ago in 1903 and is still run by steam train today even maintaining its vintage aesthetic both inside and out. When you reach Milies there are a number of things you can do there. There is a folk museum full of local artefacts and there are some beautiful frescoes at the Taxiarchis church (Church of the Archangels). 

This week’s Destination of the Week is Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece, has a very modern feel in part due to the major shopping streets around the centre and also the large student population from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of historical landmarks, some of which we will highlight in this. 

How to get there
You can fly direct to Thessaloniki from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Stansted and Newcastle. As well as this it has many domestic flights and can be used to connect and reach some of the Islands. Thessaloniki is also the gateway to Halkidiki, if you're looking to go to Halkidiki read our best things to do there

1 – The White Tower
The White Tower is probably Thessaloniki’s most famous monument, built in 1430 it was originally part of the city walls and held prisoners. Today the tower houses the White Tower Museum which is dedicated to Thessaloniki’s history from the Roman Era to the present day. These exhibitions are held in its many small rooms up and down the tower and give you an insight into the forces that have shaped the city into the place it is today. The stairs will take you to the top and from there you can see out across much of the city.