For the residents of Thessaloniki, and the majority of people in northern Greece, as well as for many visitors from Balkan and other countries it is a favourite destination they visit regularly. This year it was our turn to find out how “there’s no place like Halkidiki”.
Our holidays included exploring the famous beaches and the beautiful surroundings that have made tourists from all over the world fall in love with the area. We wanted the place we stayed to be worthy of our destination, so we opted out of staying in Halkidiki and chose to be based at Hyatt Regency Τhessaloniki, the classic city resort choice for anyone who wants to spend a short or longer stay in Thessaloniki.
And it was the right choice. We arrived at the hotel late at night, and were welcomed by the very polite, professional staff. After taking a super relaxing bubble bath in the spa-resembling bathroom, we slept in the extra comfortable king size bed that was so luxurious we had trouble leaving it in the morning.
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When we did leave it, we enjoyed the large varied breakfast buffet and set out for our holiday. After a-one-hour-drive we found ourselves in the beach of Kriopigi, on the Kassandra peninsula, also known as the first leg of Halkidiki. On this beach, the pine trees reach the seafront, and the crystal-clear water deepens gradually, so this beach is ideal for family holidays with small children. This wasn’t the only stunning beach we discovered in Halkidiki.
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The other Halkidiki gems we discovered while staying at the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki:
Posidi
If you find yourself on Halkidiki’s first leg, you must visit Posidi, one of the most beautiful and most unique beaches in Greece, even if just for an hour. The sandy “tongue” that pierces the water is known as Miti (Nose) and is one of the reasons this beach has been so widely photographed. Its unique shape is distinguished even when you are close to it. We set our things on the very tip of the beach, so we were surrounded by the water. Miti is not just a wonderful beach with golden sand, it is also a “practical” one, since due to it having two coasts, a west and east one, we only had to slightly move to able to enjoy our swim and sunbathing when the wind changed.
Glarokavos, Kassandra
Right after Pefkohori, at the east coast of the first leg, you’ll find the beach that many call “the blue lagoon” due to its very fine white sand and turquoise waters. We took many more than one photos.
Krifos Paradisos, Sithonia
We had not heard of this lovely beach on Halkidiki’s second leg, but the locals told us it is not so “hidden” (krifos means hidden, secret) anymore. This gorgeous landscape with the tall rocks and the clear blue waters and the shiny sand is next to the also beautiful beach of Tristinika. Access is through a dirt road and a foot path.
Holomontas Forest
Halkidiki’s beaches are a real treat, but the biggest surprise of our holidays was not sea related, it was the majestic forest on mount Holomontas, in the middle of the peninsula. Large areas covered in firs, pines, chestnuts, and oaks, with bodies of water and clearings full of wildflowers. It’s a lovely, cool place we were lucky to be in on a day that in Athens temperatures were over 38 degrees.
Ammouliani
Ammouliani is the only inhabited island of Halkidiki and it was the reason we decided to extend our holidays. We reached it by boat from Tripiti, just before Mount Athos. On the day we went swimming on the partly serviced beach Alikes, the atmosphere was so clear that we could see the coasts of Sithonia across from us.
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Arnea
Together with Holomontas forest this is the place in Halkidiki you should visit if you don’t want to only go to the beach in Halkidiki. This small town is known for its special Macedonian architecture, the great food, the signature products like honey and mountovina – that is tsipouro (traditional pomace raki) with honey – and also for its relatively low temperatures, since Arnea is built at 600m altitude.
Cinema by the pool
Last Wednesday, after our return from a day full of Halkidiki’s beaches, we returned to the hotel to find a surprise waiting for us. A cinema screen had been set next to the pool, and we watched “Death on the Nile”, Kenneth Branagh’s film version of Agatha Christie’s classic novel. The film was very interesting, especially at such an idyllic setting. Unfortunately, we won’t be there, even though we’d really like to, at the next Cinema by the pool, on Wednesday, August 3, when the classic film noir “The Maltese Falcon” with Humphrey Bogart will be screened.
O kipos: un unforgettable fine dining experience
Cinema by the pool wasn’t the only night our choice to return to the hotel early, after a lovely day in Halkidiki, was proven right. We knew that Kipos restaurant & bar, in Hyatt Regency Casino’s outdoor space was the best choice for a pleasurable culinary night without having to be far from our room. You can enjoy your drink or dinner in a cool environment, since the restaurant is located within a lush garden listening to live music. The dishes that come from the restaurant’s grill and wood-burning oven are curated by executive chef Apostolos Altanis and are an ode to traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist. The chef’s basic philosophy is seasonality of ingredients and collaboration with local producers. Kipos also is home to one of the nicest outdoors bars in town. If you prefer to look at the pool, Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki’s restaurant, Ambrosia, has an equally good menu signed by the same chef.
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Partying till early in the morning at Regency Casino Thessaloniki
A big advantage of staying at a city resort, and especially at the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki is the many entertainment options. One of the evenings of our holidays we decided to visit the Regency Casino Thessaloniki. A stroll around its nice spaces made us reconsider our ideas about the term “casino”. The atmosphere was great, at Ian’s Bar they serve some of the best cocktails in Greece with classic and more creative recipes, and they also give away gifts and in general offer a night of great fun.
Exercise and indoor and outdoor
Our aim when we came here was to explore Halkidiki, but the many relaxation and wellness options that Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki offers is a great reason for the residents of Thessaloniki to also select it for a staycation. We did get a chance to try some of the Harmonia Spa treatments, walk around the lovely grounds on the long hiking trail, and also visited the amazing gym, the outdoor pool and the perfectly maintained tennis courts and we feel certain that the next time we’re lucky enough to be in Thessaloniki we will give all of the facilities more time.
