Kalithea, Haldiki Holidays 2024/2025
Usually quiet Halkidiki ramps it up a gear in cosmopolitan Kalithea. The lively strip of bars, shops and restaurants, in addition to out-of-town clubs, makes nightlife here fun. The long, white beach benefits from stunning views of the neighbouring peninsula, and there’s a pretty old town and some ancient remains. Kalithea means ‘good view’ as the charming old town and many of the upmarket hotels benefit from this beautiful bay vista.
Kalithea Holiday Deals
A beach with a view
Kalithea’s 1.5-kilometre, white sand beach looks out across the water towards the hills of Sithonia, giving an attractive silhouette to gaze on when you’re sunbathing under a straw parasol. The calm bay has a softly sloping seabed so swimming here is quite safe.
For more action, visit the watersports centre half way along the beach and you can hop on jet-skis, water-skis or take a banana-boat ride. All along the beach you’ll find bars serving drinks and snacks so you can grab a gyros and cold beer to take back to your lounger.
Or you might prefer relaxing on Kriopigi Beach, which is just a five-minute drive down the road to spend a quiet day in beautiful surroundings. Awarded a Blue Flag for cleanliness, the beach is backed by dense pine forests.
Packed main street
Paliouri-Athitou Street in the centre of Kalithea has all the essentials you could wish for on your holiday. It’s home to bars and British-style pubs open ’til late, restaurants serving all kinds of food and takeaways where you can grab a gyros.
Around this street and the surrounding lanes there are also shops selling everything from jewellery and souvenirs to leather goods and the famous Kalithea honey.
Eating out
The restaurants in Kalithea are a mix of Greek and international places so you can have some variety in your meals. Think British bites, pizza and excellent Greek seafood and grilled meats. There are also some first-rate bakeries and ice cream parlours where you can get take away indulgences.
A night on the tiles
A short walk out of town, on the road that leads to Pefkohori, you’ll find big clubs such as Ahoy and Privilege. Open until at least 4am they have top dance and techno DJs gracing the decks.
Away from the clubs and busy main street, you can also find relaxing nightspots at the beachfront bars where you can listen to pianists or bouzouki guitar players on terraces beside the sea.
Beautiful history
Head into the older parts of Kalithea and you can taste an authentic Greek experience at the traditional tavernas, housed in pretty old buildings. There are also some important ancient artefacts around Kalithea, including the remains of the 8th century BC Doric temple to Egyptian god Ammon Zeus overlooking the sea. Additionally, the town’s small Russian-style chapel of Saint Panteleimon has interesting murals.
Swimming celebrations
Every year in July, a group of enthusiastic swimmers race across the bay to get to Sithonia, 26 kilometres away. You may not fancy taking part yourself but the event is surrounded by festivities including snack stalls, beach volleyball and a party into the night. So it’s a fun time to be in Kalithea.