Halkidiki is a popular holiday destination among families due to its sandy beaches, warm waters and friendly locals. Additionally, there are plenty of family-friendly resorts located here.
Chalkidiki offers a wealth of educational activities for kids, such as caves and monasteries. Plus, there’s always the fun stuff like sea kayaking, horseback riding, and boat trips!
Chalkidiki, the peninsular region located in northern Greece, is a popular destination for families with children. With its stunning beaches, lush green forests, and a variety of family-friendly attractions, Chalkidiki offers something for everyone. Here are the top 9 attractions that families with children can enjoy in Chalkidiki:
- Sani Beach – This stunning beach offers crystal-clear waters and a variety of activities and entertainment options, including water sports, restaurants, and bars.
- Porto Carras Grand Resort – This large resort offers a wide range of activities for families, including a water park, mini golf, horse riding, and a cinema.
- Nikiti Beach – This long and sandy beach is perfect for families with young children, as the waters are shallow and warm.
- Varkes Beach – This picturesque beach offers crystal-clear waters, a variety of water sports, and a traditional taverna serving fresh fish and seafood.
- Sithonia Peninsula – This peninsula is known for its stunning beaches, including Elia, Karidi, and Ormos Panagias, as well as its lush green forests, traditional villages, and ancient ruins.
- Mount Athos – This mountain, also known as the “Holy Mountain,” is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a center of Eastern Orthodox monasticism. Visitors can take a boat tour of the monasteries and enjoy the stunning views.
- Askos Stone Park – This park is home to a variety of animals and plants, and offers educational activities and trails for families to explore.
- Polygyros – This town is the capital of Chalkidiki and offers a variety of cultural and historical attractions, including museums, churches, and ancient ruins.
- Kavourotrypes Beach – This secluded beach is perfect for families looking for a more peaceful and relaxing experience, with turquoise waters and a small taverna serving fresh fish and seafood.
Whether families with children are looking for adventure, relaxation, or a combination of both, Chalkidiki offers something for everyone. With its stunning beaches, lush green forests, and a variety of family-friendly attractions, it’s a destination that is sure to be enjoyed by all.
Another list of attractions. May be not correct:
1. The Caves of Nea Moudania
Visits to the Caves of Nea Moudania are among the most unforgettable experiences for families with children in Chalkidiki. These caves are renowned for their ancient stalactites and stalagmites, as well as fossils from prehistoric animals.
Furthermore, they boast a 700,000 year old human skull from the Archanthropus species that remains preserved within the cave – one of the world’s greatest natural treasures.
Halkidiki’s caves are a must-see for all visitors. Not only do they contain archaeological finds, but they also boast stunning natural landscape with towering cliffs surrounding them.
2. The Monasteries of Mount Athos
For an in-depth spiritual experience of Chalkidiki, one must visit the Monasteries of Mount Athos. Here, Greek Orthodox monks live in complete seclusion to focus on their religious practices.
Mount Athos Peninsula, UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts 20 monasteries. This monastery system is unique in the world as it’s self-administrated under Hellenic Constitutional Law with representatives of each monastery exercising their authority.
Monks practice celibacy, a strict form of religious life that demands complete devotion to prayer and scripture study. Though their simple communal lifestyle may appear ancient to outsiders, the monks find peace and bliss within this life.
3. The Beaches of Vourvourou
Families with children will love Vourvourou’s beaches. These stunning sand and shallow shorelines offer plenty of opportunity for kids to play, swim, and take in Halkidiki’s breathtaking coastline.
These idyllic sandy beaches are sheltered by pine trees and offer shallow waters – making them perfect for families with young children. Additionally, these areas make great spots for sunbathing and swimming.
Along the shoreline are numerous taverns, snack-bars and boat rental offices. These make great spots to have lunch or dinner with your family and friends.
Vourvourou Bay is home to nine small islands that can be explored by boat. Diaporos, the largest of these, provides a secluded haven for picnicking and exploring on foot.
4. The Beaches of Sani
Sani Beach Resort boasts 7km of golden yellow sandy beaches that make it a perfect family destination. Visitors can also take advantage of water sports like water skiing, catamaran sailing, paragliding and diving with professional PADI instructors.
Sani is a family-owned nature preserve with 1000 acres of forest and beach located on Kassandra peninsula in northern Greece. From here, visitors can easily visit nearby cities like Thessaloniki or the Byzantine Tower for some sightseeing.
There is a wide selection of activities for both adults and kids alike, such as the Chelsea Football Academy, Rafa Natal Tennis Academy, Bear Grylls Survival Academy, kayaking, mountain biking, archery – all expertly curated and supervised by knowledgeable staff members.
Accommodation options range from double rooms to family suites with balconies and private gardens overlooking the Aegean Sea, all featuring luxurious features like Bose SoundDock systems, Anne Semonin products and more.
5. The Beaches of Ouranoupoli
Halkidiki’s beaches are some of the finest in the world. This region boasts three peninsulas and over 1000 beaches, many of which can only be accessed by boat – an excellent way to discover Halkidiki’s true splendor!
On hot summer days, many beaches feature small beach bars that serve drinks, snacks and cool beverages. This can be a huge convenience for families with young children who just want to relax in the sun!
Under the shade of pine thickets, lies a vast and well-kept sandy beach complete with sunbeds, changing tents, showers, bar and restaurant. With its crystal clear seawater, Mediterranean breeze and rocky shoreline it has become a popular tourist spot.
6. The Kayaks of Sithonia
Sithonia is a more rural part of Halkidiki, offering many family-friendly beaches and hidden coves. Not as tourist-developed as Kassandra peninsula, you’ll find plenty of tranquil hideaways with crystal waters and soft sand.
Neos Marmaras, the largest town on Sithonia’s peninsula, offers an exciting range of dining and nightlife options. It also serves as a great starting point for exploring nearby Parthenonas village or hiking through the nearby mountains.
On the peninsula, there are plenty of stunning beaches to choose from; Sani, Kallithea and Paliuri (Xenia beach) being some of the most popular. Here, the sand is typically soft and the water transparent and calm.
7. The Beaches of Kassandra
Kassandra’s beaches are its primary tourist draw. These long, sandy expanses are renowned for their breathtaking beauty and crystal-clear water.
Kassandra is a great destination for families with children. There are plenty of family-friendly resorts along the coast, offering plenty of activities and attractions to keep everyone occupied.
Xenia Beach, near Chrouso, is one of the area’s most idyllic family-friendly beaches. Here, the sand is fine and soft while the sea is turquoise.
Kallithea Beach is another famous beach in the area, distinguished by its fine flour-like sand and long shoals of fish.
Families with kids will love this beach, as it offers ample facilities and is well-organized. Plus, it is not as crowded as some of the other nearby beaches, making it a great choice for those with smaller children.
8. The Beaches of Polychronos
Polychronos, a popular resort with plenty of hotels and restaurants, makes an ideal family destination. The beach is well organized with facilities like sunbeds, umbrellas and an array of water sports to keep everyone occupied.
The area is renowned for its traditional villages which have been preserved and are an absolute delight to explore. You can take a leisurely walk down cobbled streets and stop in at small shops that will offer plenty of interesting souvenirs to buy.
This bustling town is the ideal spot to while away some time. With its narrow cobbled streets and vibrant walls, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Take a break in the town square and soak up the atmosphere.
9. The Beaches of Kefalonia
Kefalonia, Greece is a destination that offers it all: golden sand, crystal clear waters, stunning backdrops and lush plants. Here you can get lost in nature’s splendor and forget your worries for the day.
Kefalonia offers so much beauty on the beaches that you could spend your entire trip there lazing around in awe. But there’s so much more to explore during your time on this idyllic island – check out some of these other activities for an unforgettable vacation!
For a more organised beach with plenty of sunbeds, umbrellas and tavernas to dine at, Lourdas is an ideal option. The sand is fine and the waters warm enough for kids to play safely in.
If you’re in search of something more private, Foki Fiskardo might be your perfect beach. This small bay features rugged outcrops on either side and thousands of olive and pine trees that line the coastline.
