Chalkidiki or as Western Europeans call it, Halkidiki is a very popular destination in the north east of Greece. It has great beaches and resorts such as Porto Carras but beyond this is the history of the region, best summed up in the UNESCO protected monasteries and in particular, Mount Athos, which is also known as the Holy Mountain and is one of the most important monasteries for the Greek Orthodox church.
Entry is very strictly limited to males and preference is given to followers of the Orthodox Church, although it is possible for non-Orthodox men to gain entry.
Chalkidiki Mini Guide
Chalkidiki is a Greek prefecture. Located in central Macedonia, it is surrounded by mountains and the Aegean Sea.
Chalkidiki is in fact a peninsula with finger shaped bits of land that stick out into the water. Hiring a car is a great way to get to the excellent beaches in the area.
With that in mind convertible and soft top vehicles are popular, but if you want a certain type of car you should book ahead so that you get the car you want.
With a car you can also get to Thessaloniki easily which is one of the largest cities in Greece. Because of its fantastic history of more than 3,000 years of various conquest and occupations, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are numerous museums to see which showcase artefacts from the Romans and Ottomans among others as well as cultural aspects, including the Folklore and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace, the Goulandris Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Cinematography in Thessaloniki.
There are also numerous Byzantine churches which are unmissable.
Thessaloniki is an old port city with an amazing boulevard and sweeping seaside views so take the time to have a stroll there once you have parked up.
If you plan to use your vehicle to visit the nearby Cholomontas Mountains then make sure you ask for a four wheel drive car. We have the most popular makes by Toyota and Suzuki among others.
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