The most beautiful beaches of Kassandra, Halkidiki

by admin | Mar 4, 2024

Halkidiki has three peninsulas, also known as its three “fingers or legs”: Kassandra, Sithonia, and Mount Athos. Kassandra is the first of these peninsulas and is renowned for its stunning beaches which combine the azure waters of the Aegean Sea with the beautiful nature and pine forests of Halkidiki.

In Kassandra, you can find countless beaches to suit your preferences, whichever they may be. However, there are some beaches that attract the interest of most visitors due to their natural beauty and the facilities they offer.

Some of these beaches are:

Pefkochori:

Pefkochori, like Kallithea, is one of the busiest villages in Kassandra. The beach of Pefkochori is one of the most famous and attracts numerous visitors, especially during the summer months. It is about three kilometers long and approximately fifty meters wide. Pefkochori beach boasts for its golden sand and clear, warm waters. It is ideal for families with children as the sea is shallow. You can spend endless hours sunbathing, swimming in the sea, or playing with friends and family.

As in many places in Halkidiki, you’ll find that the pine forest reaches all the way to the beach in Pefkochori (it’s from these trees that the village took its name). The pine trees provide wonderful natural shade and coolness on the beach, making it incredibly enjoyable during hot midday hours.

The beach is fully organized and has been awarded with the Blue Flag. If you don’t like carrying your own beach equipment, you’ll be relieved to see the umbrellas and the sunbeds waiting for you.

At this beach, you can have fun trying various water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, jet skiing, diving, and many more.

Kallithea:

During summer, Kallithea is propably the busiest village in Kassandra. It is located just 85 km away from Thessaloniki and is a pole of attraction for countless visitors. If you enjoy crowds, parties, and entertainment, then you’ll definitely love Kallithea.

The sea in Kallithea is clean and shallow, suitable for families and young children, with limited waves. The beach is sandy, ideal for summer sports (rackets, beach volley), and is being awarded with the Blue Flag every year.

You’ll find equipment for water sports available for rental on the beach. There are also beach bars that provide sunbeds and umbrellas to their customers.

You can get near to the beach by car, but you’ll need to park your vehicle at a short distance. There is a parking available for visitors within the village.

Paliouri:

One of the most popular beaches in Kassandra is Paliouri beach. In less than an hour and a half from Thessaloniki Airport you can reach the village of Paliouri. You can approach it by car, and you’ll find plenty of parking space.

The pine trees almost reach the sea, offering their shade. The beach has white sand, and the sea is crystal clear. You’ll also find many beach bars that provide sunbeds, umbrellas, refreshments, and refreshing drinks to their quests.

Furthermore, if you’re interested, you can have fun doing water sports such as kayaking and canoeing. There are businesses that rent such equipment.

The hours you’ll spend at Paliouri Beach can be relaxing and peaceful or full of energy and activity. It’s up to you to decide!

Posidi:

Posidi has three of the most beautiful beaches in Kassandra. Two of them are organized and one is not, while five of the beaches in the surrounding area have been awarded with the Blue Flag. The most famous one is the beach of Aigaiopelagitika, located to the right side of the cape. It starts from the campsite of Aristotle University all the way to the settlement of Aigaiopelagitika, from which the beach took its name.

The sea at this particular beach has wonderfully blue waters and white sand. The view is truly unique, as Mount Olympus can be seen on the horizon. It is partially organized, meaning you can choose either to enjoy the sun and sea from the sunbed of a beach bar or to use your own beach equipment.

The second is the beach of the settlement of Possidi, which is organized and has several beach bars as well as hotels.

The third, also known as Ammoglossa, is located at the edge of the cape. It is a naturally formed beach, which changes shape depending on the winds. This beach is not organized, and it will take about ten to fifteen minutes of walking on the sand to reach it. For many, Ammoglossa is the most beautiful beach in Halkidiki. The waters are not particularly shallow but are crystal clear. Depending on the direction of the wind, you can choose which side to swim. However, extreme caution is needed on days when the weather is unstable.

Kryopigi:

The beach of Kryopigi is characterized by the countless colors of the sea and the pine trees that reach down to the sandy shore. These trees protect the beach from strong winds while providing natural shade. The sea at Kryopigi is relatively shallow, which is why many families with children prefer it. Waves and rough sea are rare on the beach of Kryopigi. If you want to relax away from the crowds and enjoy nature, then you’ll love this beach. It also has a beach bar that provides free sunbeds and umbrellas to its customers, and it has been awarded the Blue Flag.

Afytos or Athytos:

Afytos is a very beautiful traditional village in Kassandra and resembles with an island. It is built on a hill, which means that if you want to reach the beach, you will have to walk down for about 10 minutes. Afytos has two beaches, named Moudounou and Liosi, located on your left as you go down. Additionally, there is the Varkes beach, located to the right. Both Varkes beach and the one in front of the Afitis Hotel have been awarded Blue Flags.

During weekends and holidays, you may find it difficult to find parking space for your car. However, there is available parking high up in the village where you can park and walk down to one of the beaches.

At Varkes beach, you will find two beach bars and a tavern for dinner or lunch, while the available, free space on the beach is limited.

On the other hand, the Moudounou and Liosi beaches have more open space without less beauty. This area has fewer people and less noise. At Liosi beach, you will also find the beach bar with the same name. If you don’t want to carry beach equipment, you can take advantage of the available sunbeds and umbrellas and enjoy your coffee or drink.

The sea waters are clear, but in many places, there are large rocks and boulders. Therefore, you need to be careful when entering and going out of the sea. These beaches are suitable for children as they are not particularly deep, and there is also a lifeguard. However, extra caution is always necessary when children are in water.

Whichever beach of Afytos you choose, you will surely be thrilled by their natural beauty as well as the beauty of the village.

Siviri Beach:

Siviri Beach has been rightfully characterized as family-friendly. The waters are shallow for several meters while the beach stretches for a considerable length. The fine sand allows you to play beach rackets as well as beach volleyball, and to enjoy sunbathing. At Siviri, you can enjoy the sea just the way you like it. There is the organized side of the beach with taverns and beach bars, as well as the free side. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag and has a lifeguard. Don’t miss being at the beach in the afternoon, during sunset, to witness the magnificent sight of the sun sinking into the sea, with Mount Olympus in the background; it’s a breathtaking spectacle worth seeing as well as taking beautiful photos.

You won’t face any particular problem with parking at Siviri Beach – there are available parking spaces in the village.

Polychrono:

Just 96 km away from Thessaloniki, you’ll find Polychrono. The beach of Polychrono is of unique beauty. It stretches for seven kilometers and features taverns, beach bars with sun loungers and umbrellas, water sports, and a lifeguard. It has fine sand and in some spots, pebbles. Every year it is awarded with the Blue Flag, meeting the proper specifications.

Access to the sea is possible even for people with reduced mobility. The waters at Polychrono beach are clear and warm, making the village ideal for family vacations. It is also located within close proximity to the popular tourist resorts of Sithonia, such as Kallithea and Pefkochori.

As expected, during summer months, Polychrono is bustling with visitors. So, keep in mind that this beach may be quite crowded. Therefore, if you want to find a spot on the beach that is ideal for you, you should start early.

Nea Potidea:

A well-known beach is that of Nea Potidea. It is located half an hour away from Thessaloniki airport and offers many different options. Arriving at Potidea, you can choose either the eastern or western side of the beach. East of the characteristic canal, the beach is organized, vast and sandy. The waters are shallow and suitable for children and families. This beach is also awarded the Blue Flag, having all the necessary facilities.

On this beach, apart from the beach bars (with the necessary equipment – umbrellas – sun loungers) and restaurants, you will also find floating water games. Especially teenagers and young people (in body or soul) have a lot of fun in these facilities. However, for children, especially the younger ones, both supervision and undivided attention are needed.

And a piece of advice: to avoid any injuries and burns from the mandatory life jacket you will be provided, make sure to wear a T-shirt underneath, which will prevent direct contact of the life jacket with your skin.

However, if you prefer the beach to be unorganized, then it’s better to choose the western side of the beach. Here, the waters are deeper and require more attention, especially for those who are not good swimmers and for children. However, it offers relative isolation and tranquility, while many come here for fishing. The road leading to this part of the beach is a dirt road, so be prepared for a lot of dust and some inconvenience. However, the waters are crystal clear, and the experience will surely compensate you.

Apart from the beaches we mentioned, there are definitely many more that have unique characteristics that make them stand out. It’s up to you to discover them and choose the one that suits your tastes. It is also certain that Kassandra, as well as the whole of Halkidiki, offers options for everyone’s preferences.