Hotels in Halkidiki

Hi again

In my previous post I wrote that I will give information for hotels in Halkidiki. I was a bit optimistic about this because actually have an idea only about the hotels of the Athos area of Halkidiki. With a quick search I did on travel republic the prices are variable depending on the hotel.

I will post for the hotels I know in the Athos peninsula and some general information for accommodation in Halkidiki.

Even though the area of Athos that is open to the general public is quite small there are many hotels in the area. Between the villages Nea Roda and Ouranoupolis there is two 5 star, two 4 star and three 3 star hotels. Most famous hotel in the area is the Eagle's Palace Hotel, probably one of the most luxurious hotels in Greece (members of the British Royal family seem to prefer this hotel). It is a bit expensive, but if you are in the area you could just visit it for a diner or a swim in their swimming pool (has a bar inside the pool!!) or private beach. For more info http://www.eaglespalace.gr/ . Another hotel of the area is hotel Alexandros. This is a five star hotel as well with a great location and a great swimming pool (has a private beach as well). I think there is a spa as well. Again not very cheap but for sure cheaper than Eagle's Palace. For more info: http://www.alexandroshotel-halkidiki.com/. A similar style hotel is hotel Aristotelis. This one has a great view of the sea and all the usual (swimming pool, private beach, spa etc). For more info: http://www.aristoteles.gr/ . Another good choice is Xenia hotel in Ouranoupolis. This has the advantage to be cited in the village of Ouranoupoli. It has also a private beach and swimming pool. I couldn't find an official website but I found this for extra info: http://www.greatlatedeals.co.uk/Hotels/HotelCriteriaEstab.aspx?EstabId=289152&mkid=35857883&aid=1 . Finally Hotel Akrathos is probably the cheapest amongst the hotels i suggest. I think it's a 3 star hotel. For more info: http://www.bookhotels.gr/hotel_card.asp?id=229

There are numerous hotels in the other two penninsulas of Halkidiki, Kassandra and Sithonia. In Sithonia the most famous hotel is Porto Karras that offers pretty much everything (from golf, horse riding to casino). Again one of the most luxurious hotels in Greece. The EU leader summit was held in this hotel a few years ago. If you want to spent a bit more it really worths the money. For more info: http://www.portocarras.gr/

In Kassandra again the only hotel I have visited is Sani Resort. Similar to Porto Karras it offers all kinds of amenities. For more info http://www.saniresort.gr/page/

However in my opinion you could find a self catered room/studio in any place in Halkidiki that will cost you around 60 euros/night (for a double room). Unfortunately most of these places you have to see them by yourself to decide if you like them. Most of them are quite nice and good value for money. They can be booked on the day, and usually in most of the villages you will pass or even on your way between villages you will find signs that advertise self catered rooms.

If you are more adventurous you could try camping. There are many organised camping sites in Halkidiki, with the most famous in Sithoni: Armenistis and Kalamitsi. Armenistis is the most famous one it is very organised, clean and fun! I 've been there a few times and I enjoyed always. Amazing beach as well! For more info: http://www.armenistis.com.gr/. Kalamitsi has a diving centre so you could join a diving trip. Furthermore it has bungalows for those that don't like tents! For more info: http://kalamitsi.com/

I hope this is of some help. If you want suggestion for a place to visit in Halkidiki, please send me an email and I will try to help you with the accommodation.

That's all for now.

Sorry for not updating the blog sooner!

In this post I will give some information about the most popular sea resort near Thessaloniki Halkidiki. Halkidiki is a peninsula southeast of Thessaloniki. The penninsula itself consists of 3 other peninsulas (Kassandra, Sithonia, Athos) that resemble a trident. Kassandra is the westernmost and closest to Thessaloniki peninsula. It is also the most popular and densily populated area of Halkidiki. It attracts lots of tourists and is full of hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants. Places to visit in Kassandra are Kalithea, Pefkohori, Fourka and Nea Fokea. Sithonia is the second peninsula and it appeals more to the nature lovers and holiday makers that want to escape from civilization. Sithonia is the perfect combination of mountain and sea. In Sithonia you can find a variety of beaches deserted or crowded, full of pine vegetation where the sea and the sky make you relax. Areas of Sithonia that deserve your attention are Agios Nikolaos, Vourvourou, Neos Marmaras (were you can find Porto Karras hotel, one of the best in Northern Greece), Sarti, Pirgadikia and Nikiti. I would recommend either Agios Nikolaos or Neos Marmaras.

Athos (or Mount Athos) is the the last and most historically significant area of Halkidiki. It is the location of Agion Oros (Holly Mountain) which is the home to 2o Eastern Orthodox monasteries and is considered a self-governed monastic state within the Greek state. In 885, the Byzantine emperor Basil I, proclaimed it the exclusive domain of monks and hermits, and it retains this state till today. The number of visitors is restricted and all are required to get a special entrance permit before entering Mount Athos. Only males are allowed entrance into Mount Athos, which is called "Garden of the Virgin" by monks. For more information check this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos. However, there is a small part of the peninsula, before the borders to mount Athos, that is accesible to everyone (men or women). This is the part of Halkidiki I spent most of my summers and it has some of the best beaches in Greece (at least in my opinion!). The only island of Halkidiki, Ammoliani is also located in the area. Sites I recomend are Ouranoupolis (very picturesque little village where you can arrange a boat trip around mount Athos), Ammoliani (small island with amazing beaches), Ierissos and Olympiada.

The central part of Halkidiki is mountainous and is has many traditional villages that you can visit. It is very good for hiking or just driving around and exploring the various small villages. Arnea is a small traditional town that really worths a visit (http://www.halkidiki.com/arnea/index.htm). On your way to either of the 3 peninsulas don't miss Agios Prodromos, a small village that is very famous for its food. Very higly recommended!!!

Halkidiki, as you can see by the photos is really diverse in its scenery and I would suggest to rent a car from Thessaloniki and try to travel to all 3 peninsulas. There is plenty of accomodation (hotels or self catered rooms) that you can book on site. Also for the more adventurous you could try camping as well. I suggest Armenistis camping in Sithonia( http://www.armenistis.com.gr/index?lang=en).

You could also travel by bus, but this is quite restrictive because Halkidiki is a large area and it needs a car to really enjoy it. Of course you could book an all inclusive hotel and just relax for a few days.

I will post on Friday a a few hotels that I recommend for Halkidiki.

That's all for now!!!

Thessaloniki part 2-sightseeing (continued)

To finish the posts regarding sightseeing in Thessaloniki I will introduce you to the Upper Town (or Ano Poli in Greek ). This is the part of the city where I grew up and it's my favorite. This part of the city is totally different and is characterised by narrow streets, old houses and gardens. There are a lot of small squares where children play, people are just relaxing having a coffee. At some parts of Ano Poli there are tavernas with delicious food and traditional cafes, called 'kafenia'. You can easily get lost in the narrow street and you can catch some of the best views of the city. The Upper Town contains many of the city's most historical sights. The city walls and towers are intergral part of the Upper city and religious structures, like the Church of Osios David and Saint Aikaterini and the Vlatades Monastery worth the time to visit.

That is some of the sights that I would suggest to visit in Thessaloniki. I will post soon some more practical information about transportation in Thessaloniki and food (!!!!).

I found this article in the online version of New York Times about Thessaloniki. I think it's a more objective view than mine and can give you an idea about the city.

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/17/magazine/uncovering-history-layer-upon-layer-in-salonika.html

Thessaloniki-Part 2 Sightseeing (continued)

I will continue a previous post for places you could visit in Thessaloniki.

Finishing with churches you could visit in Thessaloniki I shouldn't forget to mension Panagia Acheiropoietos. It was build in the 5th-century and is the only church from Thessaloniki's early Christian days to have survived pretty much intact, without the restorations and renovations that have changed the characters of Ayia Sofia and Ayios Dimitrios. There are mosaics of floral and vine motifs interspersed with birds and 13th-century frescoes showing some of the 40 Martyrs. The missing martyrs were probably obliterated when the church was converted to a mosque in the 15th century after Salonika fell to the Turks.

But appart from museums, archeological sites and churches there more relaxing things you could do and visit in Thessaloniki. Probably one of the most famous landmarks of the city is the waterfront, with Nikis Avenue being a particularly famous promenade here, stretching along the waterfront and heading in an east-west direction, between the port and the White Tower. Nikis avenue is lined with an enormous number of bars, restaurants and cafes and it lines the city's main square, Aristotle square.

Aristotelous Square is probably the largest square in Greece and appears rather like a bottle in its shape, as opposed to an actual square. This area is the heart of the city, and all big events are happening here. There are plenty of open cafes and restaurants that you can visit (however the prices in Aristotle square and in Nikis avenue are very expensive; for example a coffee is around 6 euros, a beer is 7-8 euros (330ml!) and a glass of whiskey is 9 to 12 euros!!)

A block away from Aristotle square is Modiano market. The roofed market was built in 1922 by the wealthy Jewish merchant Eli Modiano, whose handsome family mansion (at 68 Vas. Sophias) is now the home of the Folklore and Ethnography Museum of Macedonia. You can easily spend a morning in the glass roofed market that covers an entire square block and happily wandering from stall to stall admiring the fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, flowers, spices, and baked goods on sale. If you get hungry you could get a bite one of the small tavernas that are based in the maarket (Unlike Aristotle square and Nikis, food and drinks are quite cheap in other areas of the city). Next to Modiano are many flower shops that give a special colour to the area, and the Turkish old baths Giahoudi Hamam.

If you like shopping the major shopping district of Thessaloniki are Tsimiski, Venizelou, Agias Sofias, Ermou, Mitropoleos, Egnatia and M. Iossif St. All these streets are in the centre of the city and in a couple of hours you can walk around them (taking your time of course).

That's for today. I will update the sights of Thessaloniki section again because I have quite a few more to list. Here is a link with the position on the map of some of the sights I listed (unfortunately it crashed halfway and couldn't list everything-I will do this soon).

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109377790766201484878.0004679fdf63b844b527f&ll=40.639423,22.943702&spn=0.015468,0.038624&t=h&z=15

The Parthenon

One of the world's most famous buildings, this temple was begun in 447 BC. It was designed by the architects Kallikrates and Iktinos, primarily to houe the 12m (40 ft) high statue of Athena Parthenons (Maiden), sculpted by Pheidias. Taking nine years to complete, the temple was dedicated to the goddess in 438 BC. Over the centuries, it has been used as a church, a mosque and an arsenal, and has suffered severe damage. Built as an expression of the glory of ancient Athens, it remains the city emblem to date.

Vergina-Ancient Greek sights close to Thessaloniki

Northern Greece offers varied pleasures. The bustle of modern Thessaloniki can be combined with a beach holiday in Chalkidiki, or with an exploration of some of the ancient Macedonian sites. Today, I am going to introduce everybody about Vergina located in the prefecture of Imathia.

Outside the village of Vergina, during excavatios in 1977, archaelogist Professor Manolis Andronikos found an entrance to a tomb. The bones inside included a skull with one eye socket damaged, evidence that the tomb belonged to King Philip II of Macedon, who received such a wound in the siege of Methoni. The bones were discovered in a stunning gold funerary box, embellished with the symbol of the Macedonian Sun (see the centre image). The discovery confirmed that this area was the site of Aigai, the first capital of Macedon. The finds from this tomb, as well as several other Royal Tombs nearby, included many more gold objects as well as other items. They are now on display here and are considered the most important Greece since Schliemann's discoveries at Mycenae.

A short walk further along the road from Philip's tomb are some earlier discoveries, known as the Macedonian Tombs. The dark interior hides splendid solid marble doors, as well as beautiful marble throne.

If anybody has spare time, this spot is a must-go attraction.

Thats for today. I will post more information sometime next week.

Thessaloniki: Part 2-Sightseeing

Hi again and sorry for the late update of the blog

In this post I will suggest a few sights that you could visit in Thessaloniki. I realized in this blog that is quite difficult to be a travel guide for a city that I lived most of my life! For me most of the sights are so common now that I considere them as just meeting points. In addition I feel quite sad because I realize that the local authorities of Thessaloniki have done very little to promote the city.

The city’s landmark is the White Tower (photo), which also houses a Byzantine museum. This is a 15th century circular tower built by the Ottomans to form part of the shore defense system, which was dismantled during the 19th century. The Ottomans used it as a jail and execution site which is why it was know as the "tower of blood" or "red tower". When Thessaloniki was liberated by the Greek army the tower was whitewashed as a symbolic gesture of cleansing, and acquired its present name. The museum of the white tower contains findings which present the history and art of Byzantine Thessaloniki covering the period between 300 and 1430 A.D.

The archeological museum of Thessaloniki exibits finds from all over Northern Greece and in particular: Prehistoric finds from all over Macedonia and Thrace, and finds belonging to the Geometric Age from the Vergina burial ground. Archaic and Classical Age sculptures from ancient Thermi and from other parts of Macedonia. There is also a collection of finds from excavations on the site of ancient Olynthos. A series of Roman sculptures which is one of the richest collections of the 1st to the 5th century A.D. A collection of sarcophagi and glass Roman vases as well as some mosaic floors, discovered during excavations at Thessaloniki. Noteworthy are the finds from 4th century BC tombs and Derveni ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derveni_krater ).

The museum of Byzantine culture ( http://www.mbp.gr/html/en/index.htm ). It's probably the most important museum of Thessaloniki. It houses 2900 artifacts very cleverly presented. I would suggested because the byzantine period is very higly linked to the history of Thessaloniki.

The Arch of Galerius and the Tomb of Galerius are neighboring monument tha are located in Egnatia Street in the centre of the city. The Tomb of Galerius is better known as Rotonda. The arch was built in 298 A.D. and dedicated in 303 A.D. to celebrate the victory of the tetrarch Galerius over the Sassanids Persians. The Rotonda is a circular building erected in 306 A.D. as the Pantheon of Mausoleum of Galerius. Over the years it had various uses (church, museum). Its mosaics are unique for the era.
Due to the importance of the Thessaloniki in the byzantine period it is full of byzantine churches. The most important ones are Hagia (Saint) Sophia and Hagios (Saint) Dimitrios. Hagia Sophia was built in the 8th century and was inspired by the 6th century Hagia Sophia of Costantinople. Hagios Dimitrios is the patron saint of Thessaloniki. Like Saint Sophia the church of Saint Dimitrios was heavily restored, actually almost rebuild after the fire of 1917 which destroyed a large part of the city. Consequantly, even though Saint Dimitrios church has a unique place in the mind of the people of Thessaloniki, most of its artwork are restorations. However the history of Saint Dimitrios is quite interesting ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Demetrius_of_Thessaloniki) and is the favorite saint of most Thessalonians!

I will stop this post now (very late and I am working tomorrow) but will continue it tomorrow! Still quite many sights to cover!