Halkidiki holidays

Halkidiki has beaches in every shape, size and colour. The Kassandra peninsula is edged with caramel ribbons that come with a supporting cast of restaurants and beach bars. Beaches on the Sithonia peninsula, meanwhile, tend to take the form of pale, forest-backed sweeps. Wherever you pitch up, it’s worth hiring snorkelling equipment – the coast is dotted with craggy caves made for exploring.

Kalithea Beach, on the eastern side of the Kassandra peninsula, draws quite a crowd. It boasts soft sands, clear waters and a side-order of bars, restaurants and ice-cream shops. You’ve also got watersports to choose from – everything from pedalos to jet skis can be hired down by the shore.

The talcum-powder sand of Toroni Bay melts into bright turquoise waves. And, because it’s set on the peaceful Sithonia peninsula, it’s less touristy than a lot of other beaches in Halkidiki. You can catch a boat here from Nea Skioni port on the Kassandra peninsula, and enjoy the great views of the coast en route.

The Wednesday market in Nea Moudania – a town about 40 minutes from Kalithea – is great for picking up local produce. The stalls here overflow with olives, fresh fruit, meat and fish. A popular buy is Halkidiki honey, which was once praised by Aristotle for its curative powers. You’ll find similar buys in the gift shops around Hanioti’s main square.

Head to the Sani Marina for high-street shopping – you’ll spot well-known brands like Adidas, Lacoste and Abercrombie & Fitch here. It’s also a great place to pick up gold and silver jewellery, including traditional Greek pieces featuring religious imagery. In Kalithea, meanwhile, the stalls lining the promenade are good for things like Havana flip-flops, sarongs and junk jewellery.

If you’re looking to splash out on some high-end gear, make tracks for Thessaloniki. Avenues like Aghias Sophias and Tsimiski Street offer a good mix of designer boutiques and pricy antiques shops. You’ve also got the Cosmo shopping centre, just outside of town. It’s the largest in northern Greece and it’s full of designer outlets.

Nightlife in Sani tends to be limited to hotels, where tribute acts and folk shows set the scene. Over in Thessaloniki, the Regency Casino is popular, and stays open 24 hours a day. As well as all the usual games machines and tables, it’s home to a string of cocktail lounges and a swanky theatre.

The party crowd in Halkidiki tend to congregate in Kalithea, where the resort’s main strip plays host to neon-lit karaoke bars and trendy nightclubs. Hanioti might not be as big an extrovert as Kalithea, but in the streets leading off from the town’s main square, you’ll find bars shaking up fishbowl cocktails until the early hours.

This thick, soul-warming soup is a Halkidiki speciality. It’s made with white beans, olive oil and vegetables such as carrots and celery. Locals enjoy big bowlfuls of it in the wintertime, and they tend to add more olive oil to it when they sit down to eat.

This is a bit like spaghetti and meatballs – minus the spaghetti. Beef and pork is kneaded together with cumin and cinnamon, and then fried in olive oil. Once the meatballs are ready, they’re smothered in a rich tomato sauce, and served as a starter or as a main accompanied by a mountain of rice.

This is Greek comfort food at its best. Layers of pasta are covered with meat and a creamy béchamel sauce, and baked in a pan until crispy and golden. The traditional Greek version is a lot like lasagne, but the Halkidiki region puts its own twist on the dish by using goats’ meat and tomatoes as the filling.

This Greek favourite originated in Halkidiki. It’s essentially grilled Mediterranean octopus mixed with capers, crunchy peppers and thyme vinaigrette. It’s usually served as a stew with a rich red wine sauce, or in mini-form as a meze dish.

This red wine is aged in barrels for up to a year, which improves its acidity levels and enhances its taste. It’s also the reason the wine has such a deep colour. In terms of food pairings, game, strong cheeses and barbecued meat dishes go really well with the tipple.