Thessaloniki

Small cruise boats circle from the port, to the White Tower, to Neoi Epivates and to Perea beach. The ships make about 4 trips a day, and the trip from the port to Perea beach should take about 90 minutes. There are several companies on this route and their departure times differ slightly.

Angelochori Beach is the less mainstream option, even among local residents. Agia Triada, the Riviera Beach Bar offers plenty for a fun day (or two) by the sea. Sunbeds are free, provided you order something from the menu. Don't miss the chance to see flamingos at the Angelochori lagoon. Angelochori is a 40-minute drive from Thessaloniki by car, or about 90 minutes by bus.

Afytos, or Athitos, is a hilltop village of stone houses and cobbled streets overlooking the Toroneos Gulf, with a popular beach below. Macedonian restaurants and sea-view bars run along the cliffs and shore, offering visitors plenty of entertainment options between bathing and tanning. Somewhere between July and August every year Afitos Festival brings street art and live music in summer. Ceramics, fabrics, and art are shown at the Folklore Museum.

Kassandra, the westernmost peninsula, is the most developed, offering modern resorts and nightclubs. You can always find a party here, stay in a comfortable hotel for a hassle-free family vacation. The long sandy beaches still allow for a decent level of privacy, though.

Sithonia, also known as Longos, offers over a 100 beaches, cute villages and is a popular destination for families. The region is sometimes called sleepy backwater with stunning natural beauty and no crowds. There are plenty of resorts or villages to choose from, and you’re sure to love the rustic architecture and atmosphere. Sithonia offers numerous small secluded golden beaches, surrounded by trees and other vegetation. Small harbours and fishermen’s hamlets add to the peninsula’s endless charm.

Mount Athos is an important centre of the Eastern Orthodox church. Its main point of interest, Mount Athos, is home to 20 monasteries. In the best of times, only 100 Greek Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox visitors are allowed per day, and women are strictly forbidden to set foot on the holy mount. Your best chance to see the sight is to take a cruise. Escape the crowds in Thessaloniki and take a boat ride to the rugged coast of Halkidiki for a day trip full of dramatic landscapes and photo ops. You'll see the mountainside monasteries: from the colourful Monastery of Docheiariou to the grand Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras. Of course, you can dive into the blue waters, enjoy the sea breeze and the sun.