In May 2025 we went on a girls trip, (8 girls of different ages, from 12 to 74)…
We flew to Thessaloniki and from there we took a pre-booked shuttle to Halkidiki.
We had a nice driver, we asked him to pick us up on the day we went from Halkidiki to Thessaloniki.
Initially, when I planned the trip, I wanted us to rent a car
(we even made the rental on this site and when the plans changed we canceled the rental
at no cost and without any problem) and we booked a shuttle that would take us from the airport
directly to the hotel.
Flight and hotel – can be booked through me.
Car – book here
Hotel in Chalkidiki
Our perfect hotel in Halkidiki is called Miraggio Thermal Spa Resort
This is a high-class resort located at the end of the first and most touristic peninsula of Halkidiki.
The hotel has several outdoor pools + an outdoor jacuzzi, a good spa area with
a heated and indoor pool, a beach, a beautiful area for children,
A large gym, several restaurants and most importantly – absolutely perfect service!
The village of Pefkohori is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Since we didn't have a car,
we had to order two taxis each time
We wanted to leave the hotel for the nearest village (20 euros one way for a taxi), which is not recommended,
I recommend renting a car and not being dependent on taxis.
We booked a deluxe room with a garden view, on a breakfast basis,
I recommend booking half board (especially for those who are there without a car).
What to do in Halkidiki?
Since we didn't have a car, we didn't leave the hotel much, we went out once or twice to the nearest village,
We took a walk along the promenade, ate ice cream, sat in a good restaurant (pomodoro)
for dinner and bought a few things at the supermarket.
So I'll write you some recommendations for what to do in Halkidiki – but not from my experience.
First of all, it's recommended to come to the place in the summer season,
so that you can enjoy the warm and pleasant weather, the beaches, the pools,
open and active places, beach clubs and what the hotel offers.
We were there off-season, and the hotel gave us free entry to the spa, which was excellent
and came to us just in time! Worth it and recommended, even for a fee!
So what to do in Halkidiki?
The Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece is an extremely popular holiday destination,
known for its spectacular beaches, clear waters, picturesque villages
and a combination of nature, culture and excellent food.
Halkidiki is built like “three fingers” (three small peninsulas) that enter the Aegean Sea:
1. Kassandra – the western one, the most touristy and full of hotels, restaurants,
clubs and well-maintained beaches.
2. Sithonia – the central one, quieter, wild and green, suitable for nature lovers, camping and relaxation.
3. Athos – the eastern one, an Orthodox religious area with ancient monasteries.
Open only to men and with special permission.
You can go to Sithonia, the "middle finger" and rent a boat (for example from Boat Fun)
for about 5 hours, including stops for swimming.
You can spend time on any beach you choose, there are many options.
Beaches in Sithonia:
Diaporos Island – Diaporos Island Diaporos is located off the coast of the resort town of Vourvourou in Sithonia and can be reached by a short independent or organized boat trip.
Diaporos Island is the largest island in the archipelago of nine islands belonging to Sithonia.
hese islands are the closest to the town of Vourvourou, hiding it, thus allowing the islands to always be calm.
Diaporos Island attracts so many tourists from all over the world just because of the turquoise
waters and the beautiful beaches it offers.
In the town of Vourvourou there are many agencies for renting motorboats, for one day or more,
with which you can visit the island opposite.
"Lagonisi" Beach – an amazingly beautiful beach with two small islands in the center.
A well-organized beach with parking, umbrellas and sunbeds.
Orange beach – another amazingly beautiful beach with white rocks and turquoise water –
highly recommended to visit there!!
More beaches
Season beach house KOURSAROS –
Beautiful beach with sand. Very comfortable sunbeds cost about 10 euros.
Drinks and food from the bar must be consumed. Prices are quite high. Beer 300 ml about 7.50 euros.
The whole complex has a luxurious feel and you can relax here well, but at a high price.
There are water sports on the beach (note, if you plan to do it, you need to extend your insurance
to extreme sports.
Beach video: here
Website with information about Halkidiki and the beaches, arranged by region: here
In the evening you can stroll through the lovely towns of Halkidiki,
we recommend taking a stroll through the town of Afytos,
where you can stroll through the ancient alleys, local stalls, as well as restaurants, cafes, and lots of dessert
and ice cream shops
and soak up the local atmosphere.
The village of Pefkohori – bordering a popular resort on the shores of the Gulf of Torunos
(the first peninsula), where we visited,
is a charming village made up of whitewashed houses nestled among orchards and olive groves.
Tourists who come in the summer enjoy snorkeling, parasailing, and strolling along the promenade
at sunset before or after having dinner
at one of the gourmet Mediterranean restaurants or simpler tavernas.
Bars and clubs in Pefkohori play Greek and Serbian party music after sunset.
In the shopping stores you will mainly find handmade souvenirs such as jewelry and lemon liqueur.
Beach bars in Halkidiki - in the summer months
Beach Bar Pefkohori – Elephant Beach Bar
Mple Beach Bar Website: here
Video: here
Mare nostra Beach Bar Video: here
La Luna Beach Bar Video: here
Eldoris Beach Bar and Restaurant – Address: Possidi 630 77, Greece
Manassu Beach Bar and Restaurant, Address: Address: 12ο Χλμ. Βουρβουρού, Sarti 630 78, Greece
Not a beach bar – but a special restaurant with a beautiful view: Villa Stasa Sea Restaurant
Address: Loutra, Agia Paraskeui, Kassandra Chalkidiki 630 85: Greece
Video: here
A beautiful cocktail bar on the second tongue of Chalkidiki Molos Seaside Cocktail Bar
Address: 25is Martiou 20, Neos Marmaras 630 81, Greece
Video: here
Boats
Boat rental in Halkidiki: here
Thessaloniki
After two nights of rest in Halkidiki, we took the pre-booked shuttle to Thessaloniki!
To a good, central and simple hotel called Pillo Urban Stay, located not far from the White Tower,
the clear symbol of the city of Thessaloniki.
Next to the White Tower, further down the promenade, you can see both the statue of Alexander the Great riding a horse and the famous umbrella statue.
Along the promenade there are food stalls, mainly grilled corn, cotton candy and popcorn.
It is very beautiful to see the sunset of Thessaloniki in this area.
This is our hotel:
There was a place near our hotel that sold falafel, quite tasty, nice!
What else does Thessaloniki have to offer?
A charming promenade with lots of cafes and restaurants overlooking the sea.
On the promenade – if you want – you can take a pirate ship cruise in the evening, free of charge,
You just need to buy a drink (the famous white building of Thessaloniki is next to it).
Aristotelous Square – Aristotelous Square
Located in the city center and surrounded by lots of cafes and a fun atmosphere. 12 minutes walk from our hotel.
About 5 minutes walk from Aristotelous Square is:
Ladadika District – a neighborhood full of bars, restaurants and cafes and of course local taverns.
It's very fun to walk around there in the evening, sit in a tavern and soak up the atmosphere.
Pink dot caffe – an Instagrammable pink cafe, about 15 minutes drive from the center of Thessaloniki.
Address: Leof. Georgikis Scholis 84, Pilea Chortiatis 570 01: Greece
Shopping in Thessaloniki
You can shop on the famous Tsimiski Street, where there are many shops and fashion brands that are
about 30 percent cheaper than in Israel.
On this street is also the "Atika" shopping mall for well-known brands and is 10 minutes from the city center
There is the One Salonica Outlet Mall for all luxury brands (not cheap).
Another place for shopping – Cosmos, about a 20-minute drive from our hotel.
Tax refund at the airport (when presenting purchases) over 50 euros in the store.
On our first day in Thessaloniki, we focused mainly on shopping,
not far from the hotel on a street where there are all the shops you could want.
In the evening we went out to a very touristy tavern (a kind of tourist trap) but it was
fun, nice, we ate, danced and enjoyed ourselves.
The next day we split up, my daughter and I pre-booked a day trip to
Meteora (my dream), the other girls stayed to walk around the city.
Meteora - The Hanging Monasteries
One of the most impressive and magical places in Greece and the world is undoubtedly Meteora.
The name itself comes from the Greek word "meteora", which means "floating in the air" –
and this is what you feel when you see the monasteries built
on the tops of steep cliffs towering above the valley, as if they were hanging in the air.
This is a spectacular natural phenomenon of sandstone cliffs hundreds of meters high,
on which Orthodox Christian monasteries were built from the 14th century.
In the past, there were 24 active monasteries here, today 6 of them are operating and
most of them can be visited (it is worth checking in advance for opening days and hours for visitors).
The monasteries were built in a completely isolated way, to maintain a quiet monastic life,
cut off from the world. Until a few decades ago,
The entrance to the monasteries was only via ladders and ropes! Today there are safe
and comfortable access roads and paths.
What do you see there?
*Breathtaking view: A rare combination of mountains, valleys, cliffs and spectacular buildings.
You won't stop taking pictures.
*Spectacular monasteries: Each monastery is unique in its design and location.
Especially recommended: Varalem Monastery, the Great Meteoron Monastery and the Rusanou Monastery.
*Culture and spirit: Inside the monasteries you will find murals, religious artifacts and ancient buildings.
Useful information for independent visitors:
Location: Near the town of Kalambaka in northern Greece.
How to get there? By car, bus from Thessaloniki or train from Athens.
Opening hours: Vary from monastery to monastery – it's worth checking in advance. Some are closed on certain days.
Dress code: Modest. Women – long skirt and shoulder covering. Men – long trousers.
As mentioned, we arrived at the place on an organized day trip, with a Hebrew-speaking guide, and it was simply perfect!!!
Recommended!
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Cable car carrying equipment to the monastery:
In the evening, when we returned from the trip, we asked to be dropped off on the main street
and there we looked for a nice place to get a massage
It was really suitable after a long day of traveling and driving (about two and a half hours each way).
After the massage, we met with the girls at a restaurant to have dinner and from there we returned
to the hotel to sleep and get ready for the flight back Tomorrow!
Have you been to Halkidiki and would like to share your recommendations and tips with us?
I would love to read them in the comments!
Share with us, thank you!!
כתיבת תגובה