Northern Greece - Greece - page 483

offer relaxing beaches and a yacht harbour sheltered in a deep bay, with domatia and fish
tavernas.
Kalamitsi is the last major stop on the bus' west-coast route. Its gorgeous beach has
brought much development, though it does have boat hire and diving excursions (€50)
and courses (from €80) through the North Aegean Diving Centre ( 23750 41338) .
Porto Camping ( 23750 41346; camp sites per adult/tent €3.80/4.50) , on Kalamitsi's
main beach, and the pricier Camping Kalamitsi ( 23750 41411; camp sites per adult/tent
€6.50/7.20; May-Sep) around the headland, are both good. The best rooms are O Gior-
gakis ( 23750 41338; studios €75) , above the eponymous restaurant opposite the beach.
The studios sleep five and are fully equipped. The quieter Souzana Rooms (

23750

41786; apt €50) has a spacious garden and good-sized apartments.

EAST COAST
Starting from northern Nikiti, Halkidiki's most fabled and exotic beaches extend south-
wards, separated by steep, wooded cliffs. The first miniresort, Vourvourou , has a pretty,
boat-lined harbour and the lovely nearby Karydi Beach . On the town waterfront, Paris
Restaurant ( 23750 91312; www.parisrestaurant.gr ; waterfront; mains €8-11; 10am-2am
May-Oct) is a sprawling place run by the friendly Grigorios Tolios and family, with good
grills, fresh fish and excellent service.
Just inland, Hotel Vergos ( 23750 91379; www.halkidiki.com/vergos ; Vourvourou village;
s/d/studio/apt incl breakfast €65/77/90/120; ) has well-furnished rooms, a pool and a big
lawn for kids. Somewhat pricier but more sublime is Ekies All Senses Resort ( 23750
91000; www.ekies.gr ; Vourvourou; s/d/ste €140/200/260; ) . The resort offers elegant
rooms and suites in soft tones, plus spa, a restaurant, and an outdoor bar with palm-frond
loungers over its own private beach, 300m from Karydi Beach. A less expensive option
here is Karidi Beach Apartments ( 23750 91102; www.karidibeach.gr ; Vourvourou village;
apt from €80; ) , a family-run place offering simple but renovated apartments with
spacious lawns, 50m from the beach.
South from Vourvourou, the terrain becomes wilder, leading to campgrounds on se-
cluded coves. Look out for the sign pointing down a (1.8km) dirt road to Akti Zografou ,
two sandy beaches separated by cliffs covered in scrub pine. The left-hand fork leads to
the signposted Porto Elea Camping ( 6984625587; www.portoelea.com ; Akti Zografou;
adult/child €7/4, tents from €5.50; May-Oct) , while the right-hand one leads to a curving
sandy stretch and the former 'Bahia' beach bar (at time of research, popular Thessaloniki
restaurant Paparouna was operating it). The campground rents canoes and it's also easy
to swim between the two coves.