Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paliouri Camping
Just above Khroussoú bay
T
23740
92169.
This is an organized and shady spot with a
minimarket and plenty of sites for your tent.
May-Oct.
ÁFYTOS
Aloni Apartments
Start of the Kallithéa road
T
23740
91637.
An attractively designed and decorated building,
with simple, spotlessly
clea
n rooms and apartments of
varying sizes. May-Sept.
€35
Hotel Afitis
Paralía Várkes
T
23740 91233,
W
afitis
-hotel.gr.
Smart resort hotel with a vast pool and range of
facilities. Huge difference in price between the modest
rooms at t
he ba
ck and those with balconies facing the sea.
April-Oct.
€55
Ì
Ta Bakaliarakia tou Pirati
Centre of village
T
23740 31001.
Slightly above-average prices but still a
good place for quality fish and meat dishes, mainly around
€10, and a convivial atmosphere.
May-Oct daily, Nov-
April Fri-Sun noon-2am.
Ta Harakia
Paralía Várkes
T
23740 91211.
Best of the
seaside tavernas, offering a range of daily specials for only
€6-7 on the chalk board outside, such as baked swordfish.
May-Oct daily 9am-1am.
SOUTHWESTERN SHORE
Ì
Kyani Akti
Néa Skióni
T
23740 71184,
W
kyaniakti
.com.
Complete with a courtyard of palms and bougainvillea,
this appealing little hotel at the south e
nd of
the beach offers
cosy rooms with sea views. May-Septt.
€40
Ì
Kyparissis
Posídhi
T
23740 42264.
By far the
friendliest and best of the half-dozen places along the
front, it serves mainly grilled meat and fish, plus
some oven dishes. There are some newly decorated rooms
behind (€35).
April-Oct daily, Nov-Mar Fri-Sun
10am-midnight.
O Kleon
Néa Skióni
T
23740 71266.
This inexpensive
ouzerí-style restaurant a block back from the seafront is
extremely popular with the locals for its wide range of
mezédhes such as vegetable fritters and small fish.
May-
Oct daily, Nov-April Fri-Sun noon-1am.
Possidi Paradise
Posídhi
T
23740 42030,
W
possidi
paradise.gr.
Sparkling new upmarket hotel with a
swimming pool and large rooms looking
out
onto the
seafront. Breakfast included. May-mid-Oct.
€85
KALLITHÉA AND AROUND
Iy Platia Tis Anthoulas
Kryopiyí
T
23740 53001.
Cosy
traditional taverna serving delights such as stuffed chicken
for €8 and artichokes in an egg and lemon sauce.
April-
Oct daily, Nov-March Fri-Sun 10am-midnight.
4
Sithonía
As you move east across Halkidhikí and away from the frontline of tourism, the
landscape becomes increasingly green and hilly, culminating in the isolated and
spectacular scenery of Mount Athos, looming across the gulf. The
SITHONÍA
peninsula
is more rugged but better cultivated than Kassándhra, though here there are even fewer
true villages, mostly dating from the 1920s resettlement era. Pine forests cover many of
the slopes, particularly in the south, giving way to olive groves on the coast. Small
sandy inlets with relatively discreet pockets of campsites and tavernas make a welcome
change. It's a good idea to follow the loop road clockwise around the east coast, so that
the peak of Athos is always before you.
Ancient Olynthos
Daily: summer 8am-7.30pm, winter closes 3pm • €3
If you're travelling under your own steam, some 6km past the last motorway exit at Néa
Moudhaniá en route to Sithonía, it's worth making the slight detour to splendidly located
ancient Olynthos
, atop a hill offering mountain and sea views. This is a rare example of an
unmodified Classical town laid out to the geometric grid plan of Hippodamus - the
fifth-century BC architect who designed Pireás and Rhodes. There's an initially
off-putting walk of 700m, partly up a slope, from the ticket booth, but well-excavated
streets, houses and even some mosaics to see once you arrive, most notably one of
Bellerophon riding Pegasus and killing the Chimaira. Like the new, informative museum
near the entrance, everything is clearly labelled in Greek and English. The modern village
of
Ólynthos
, 1km west across the riverbed here, offers limited facilities.
Órmos Panayías
ÓRMOS PANAYÍAS
, first of the east-coast resorts, is heavily developed; ranks of villas
dwarf the picturesque hamlet and tiny harbour, while the nearest decent beaches lie 4km
