Your Guide to Halkidiki
Things to See and Do

Sights Around the Three-Pronged Peninsula Halkidiki

Adventure Awaits Around Halkidiki in Northern Greece

The Many Faces of Halkidiki – A Destination for Every Season
Beaches and Activities

Sithonia Peninsula: A Mosaic of Blue Flag Beaches

Halkidiki Activities: Splendid Nature and Rich History

The Beautiful Beaches on Chalkidiki’s Kassandra Peninsula
What and Where to Eat and Stay

Halkidiki’s Culinary Hot-Spots: A Gourmet’s Guide

Taste Halkidiki: Ancient Roots, Contemporary Flavors

Fine Stays on the Peninsular of Halkidiki, Northern Greece
Useful Information

Your Driving Tips for Halkidiki

Getting There and Around- Halkidiki

Useful Telephone Numbers – Halkidiki
Features

Golf Tourism Blooming in Greece’s Sunny Climes

Megali Panagia: Mountainous Halkidiki destination with rich streams, picturesque bridge

Eastern Halkidiki, Greece: an alternative destination for amazing routes in nature and history

Greece, one of the brightest jewels of the Mediterranean, has once again showcased its natural allure, securing second place globally with 617 beaches awarded the prestigious Blue Flag. This achievement represents an impressive 15% of all recognised beaches among the 52 participating countries, placing Greece just behind Spain.

10

Halkidiki, a region in northern Greece, takes centre stage nationally, proudly waving 94 Blue Flags high. The International Committee has recognised 4,212 beaches, 710 marinas, and 120 tourist boats worldwide this year, reinforcing the Blue Flag’s status as the most globally acclaimed ecological symbol of quality.

The coveted Blue Flag, awarded since 1987, is a testament to the pristine condition of a beach or marina. Only those with an ‘Excellent’ water quality rating can earn this honour, demonstrating Greece’s commitment to preserving its natural beauty.

		array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    array(24) {
      ["ID"]=>
      int(224998)
      ["id"]=>
      int(224998)
      ["title"]=>
      string(21) "vourvourou-chalkidiki"
      ["filename"]=>
      string(32) "vourvourou-chalkidiki-scaled.jpg"
      ["filesize"]=>
      int(958901)
      ["url"]=>
      string(81) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-scaled.jpg"
      ["link"]=>
      string(146) "https://www.travel.gr/en/how-to-travel-en/travel-news-en/blue-flag-honours-greece-clinches-second-place-globally/attachment/vourvourou-chalkidiki/"
      ["alt"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["author"]=>
      string(1) "8"
      ["description"]=>
      string(54) "Karidi, Vourvourou, Chalkidiki/Photo: Pericles Merakos"
      ["caption"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["name"]=>
      string(21) "vourvourou-chalkidiki"
      ["status"]=>
      string(7) "inherit"
      ["uploaded_to"]=>
      int(228314)
      ["date"]=>
      string(19) "2023-05-05 09:57:53"
      ["modified"]=>
      string(19) "2023-05-12 09:46:02"
      ["menu_order"]=>
      int(0)
      ["mime_type"]=>
      string(10) "image/jpeg"
      ["type"]=>
      string(5) "image"
      ["subtype"]=>
      string(4) "jpeg"
      ["icon"]=>
      string(58) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-includes/images/media/default.png"
      ["width"]=>
      int(2285)
      ["height"]=>
      int(2560)
      ["sizes"]=>
      array(18) {
        ["thumbnail"]=>
        string(82) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-150x150.jpg"
        ["thumbnail-width"]=>
        int(150)
        ["thumbnail-height"]=>
        int(150)
        ["medium"]=>
        string(82) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-268x300.jpg"
        ["medium-width"]=>
        int(268)
        ["medium-height"]=>
        int(300)
        ["medium_large"]=>
        string(82) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-768x860.jpg"
        ["medium_large-width"]=>
        int(768)
        ["medium_large-height"]=>
        int(860)
        ["large"]=>
        string(83) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-914x1024.jpg"
        ["large-width"]=>
        int(914)
        ["large-height"]=>
        int(1024)
        ["1536x1536"]=>
        string(84) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-1371x1536.jpg"
        ["1536x1536-width"]=>
        int(1371)
        ["1536x1536-height"]=>
        int(1536)
        ["2048x2048"]=>
        string(84) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vourvourou-chalkidiki-1828x2048.jpg"
        ["2048x2048-width"]=>
        int(1828)
        ["2048x2048-height"]=>
        int(2048)
      }
    }
    ["desc"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["image_position"]=>
    string(6) "center"
    ["image_link_to"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["open_link_in_new_tab"]=>
    bool(false)
  }
}
Karidi, Vourvourou, Chalkidiki/Photo: Pericles Merakos
Koukounaries/Photo: Giorgos Detsis

The annual Blue Flag award ceremony was held in the picturesque locale of Georgioupoli, Apokoronas in Chania, western Crete. The event unfolded in two stages, beginning with an educational initiative involving more than a hundred local school children and educators on the award-winning beach. Participatory workshops and a lifesaving demonstration provided hands-on learning experiences.

The afternoon session of the ceremony saw the announcement of the Blue Flag awardees, attended by a host of representatives from local government and tourism bodies. The event was inaugurated by Nikos Petrou, President of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and Vice President of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Haralambos Koukianakis, Mayor of Apokoronas, and Georgios Papadopoulos, General Manager of the Pilot Beach Resort.

For a complete list of Greece’s Blue Flag beaches, click here.

Read also:

The Beautiful Beaches on Chalkidiki’s Kassandra Peninsula

Sithonia Peninsula: A Mosaic of Blue Flag Beaches

The Amazing Southern Beaches of Chania, Crete