Greece | Halkidiki
Vourvourou
Luxury Villas in Halkidiki – Sithonia, Kassandra and the Northern Aegean
Halkidiki – or Chalkidiki, as it is also written – reaches into the northern Aegean like three fingers of a hand. Each is a different country. Kassandra, the westernmost, has long sandy beaches and a lively summer. Sithonia, in the middle, is wilder and greener: pine forest running down to granite coves and water so clear that boats seem to float above the seabed. And Athos, to the east, is a monastic republic that has kept the modern world at arm's length for a thousand years.
Our luxury villas in Halkidiki stand where the peninsula is at its most beautiful. On Sithonia, at Vourvourou, looking across a lagoon of small islands towards Mount Athos, and at Lagomandra on the western coast. And on Kassandra, for guests who want sandy beaches and villages within easy reach.
Most luxury on this coast comes in the form of large resorts. Our houses are the private alternative: a pool of your own, a terrace facing the sea, and space for a whole family – in one case, for twenty.
Handpicked Luxury Villas and Hotels in Halkidiki
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Greece | Halkidiki
Lagomandra, Sithonia
Greece | Halkidiki
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Exploring Halkidiki
Sithonia, the wilder middle peninsula
Sithonia is the Halkidiki that people fall for. A single road circles the peninsula through pine forest, dropping to one cove after another: the white rocks of Kavourotrypes, the sheltered harbour of Porto Koufo, the beach below the old tower of Toroni, and on the eastern shore, Sarti, with Mount Athos rising across the water.
At Vourvourou, a string of small islands forms a shallow turquoise lagoon around the island of Diaporos – one of the loveliest stretches of water in northern Greece, best explored by boat. Villa Niki stands here, with eight bedrooms and space for twenty: the house our guests return to on this coast. On the western shore, near Nikiti, Villa Aiolos at Lagomandra looks out towards the sunset over the Toroneos Gulf.
Kassandra, sandy beaches and summer life
The first peninsula from Thessaloniki is the most developed and the most sociable. Its beaches are long and sandy, the water shallow and warm, and its villages – Afytos on its cliff above the sea, Hanioti, Pefkochori, Kallithea – come alive on summer evenings. Kassandra suits families and groups who want beaches, tavernas and a little life within a short drive. Villa Kassandra, with seven bedrooms, is our house on this side.
Mount Athos and the eastern peninsula
The third peninsula belongs to twenty Orthodox monasteries, some more than a thousand years old, clinging to cliffs and forests beneath the marble peak of Athos. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a self-governing monastic state. Women may not enter, and men need a special permit – but everyone can see it: boats from Ouranoupoli sail along the coast within sight of the monasteries, and from Sithonia the mountain is on the horizon every evening.
The firstclass holidays Experience: More Than a Stay
Halkidiki is one of the few coasts in Greece where the finest places to stay are resorts. Our houses offer something different: privacy, space and a stretch of the Aegean that feels like your own.
Chosen as the Alternative to a Resort
We choose villas here for what a resort cannot give: a pool and garden nobody else uses, the freedom to eat when and where you like, and room for three generations under one roof. Then we look at the details a listing leaves out – how the house reaches the sea, whether the beach below is sand or rock, how far the nearest taverna is, and which way the terrace faces when the afternoon wind rises.
The Coves Are Best Reached by Boat
On Sithonia in particular, the finest swimming is off a boat: the islets of the Vourvourou lagoon, the empty coves of the southern tip, the turtle-shaped island of Kelyfos. A day with a skipper is the arrangement guests are most glad they made, and a cruise along the Athos coast is one of the great sights of northern Greece. We also arrange a chef for the evenings at the villa, a driver for a day in Thessaloniki, wine tastings on the slopes of Sithonia, and tables at the tavernas worth the drive.
People Rather Than a Platform
From the first enquiry to the morning you leave, you deal with the same people, in your own language. We will tell you honestly how far the beach is, how long the drive from Thessaloniki takes on a Saturday in July, and which peninsula suits the week you have in mind.
Discover the True Essence of Halkidiki
Halkidiki Must-See
The Vourvourou lagoon and Diaporos
A scatter of small islands off Vourvourou forms a lagoon of shallow, luminous water – often called Greece's answer to the Caribbean. Rent a small boat or go out with a skipper, and anchor wherever the colour tempts you.
Southern Sithonia
Porto Koufo, the deepest natural harbour in Greece; the Byzantine tower of Toroni; the sheltered beaches around Kalamitsi; and on the eastern coast, the view of Athos from Sarti. A full day's drive, or better, a day by boat.
Mount Athos from the sea
Boats from Ouranoupoli sail along the western coast of the Holy Mountain, close enough to see the great monasteries of Dochiariou, Xenophontos and Agios Panteleimon. On the way back, stop at the island of Ammouliani for a swim.
Afytos
The prettiest village on Kassandra: stone houses, a square shaded by plane trees, and a clifftop promenade above the gulf. Go for dinner.
Ancient Stagira and Aristotle
Aristotle was born at Stagira, on the north-east coast of Halkidiki; the ruins of the ancient city stand above the sea, and the nearby Aristotle Park lets children experiment with the physics he wrote about.
Thessaloniki
Greece's second city is an hour away and deserves a day: the White Tower, the Byzantine churches (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the covered markets and one of the liveliest food scenes in the country.
Evenings in Halkidiki
Tavernas by the water
The classic Halkidiki evening is a table on the sand, grilled fish and a glass of cold white wine as the sun drops behind the next peninsula.
Kassandra's summer nights
Kassandra has the liveliest evenings on the coast, with beach bars and music in Kallithea, Hanioti and Pefkochori. Sithonia is quieter, with Neos Marmaras its busiest harbour.
Thessaloniki after dark
For a night in the city, Thessaloniki's waterfront and the lanes of Ladadika are among the most sociable in Greece. A driver makes the return easy.
The Table in Halkidiki
Olives, honey and the sea
Halkidiki gives its name to Greece's famous large green olives, and its pine forests produce some of the country's best honey. Add mussels from the Thermaic Gulf, grilled fish, and, in Thessaloniki, bougatsa for breakfast.
Wine and tsipouro
The slopes of Sithonia produce the wines of the Meliton appellation, and the monasteries of Athos have made wine for centuries. In the north, the drink before dinner is tsipouro, served with small plates of meze.
A chef at the villa
A private chef cooking the morning's catch and local produce, served on your own terrace, is often the best evening of the week – especially for large families.
Shopping in Halkidiki
Thessaloniki
Tsimiski Street and the streets around it hold the city's fashion houses and boutiques; the Modiano and Kapani markets are the place for food.
Local produce and craft
Pine honey, olive oil and olives from local producers, and handwoven textiles from the mountain village of Arnaia. The village shops do better than anywhere in the resorts.
The Climate of Halkidiki and Best Travel Period
Halkidiki has warm, dry summers and a season that runs from late May to early October.
June and September are the months we recommend first: warm sea, long days and quiet beaches. July and August are hot and busy, the sea at its warmest; a villa with a pool and shade becomes essential. Late May and early October are ideal for walking and exploring. Because the three peninsulas shelter each other, one side of a gulf is usually calm when the other is windy – we will tell you which.
Arriving at Your Villa in Halkidiki
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Luxury Villas in Halkidiki
Is Halkidiki the same as Chalkidiki?
Yes. Halkidiki and Chalkidiki are two ways of writing the same Greek name; the first is more common in English, the second in German. Both refer to the three-fingered peninsula south-east of Thessaloniki.
Which peninsula should we choose?
Sithonia for pine forests, clear coves and quiet, and the finest water in Halkidiki. Kassandra for long sandy beaches, lively villages and an easier drive from Thessaloniki. Families with young children often prefer Kassandra's shallow beaches; couples and groups looking for peace usually choose Sithonia.
Can we visit Mount Athos?
Men can visit the monasteries with a special permit, which is limited in number and must be arranged in advance. Women are not permitted to enter. Everyone can see the monasteries from the sea: boats from Ouranoupoli sail along the coast, and we arrange private boats as well.
Which airport, and how long is the transfer?
Thessaloniki. The transfer is around an hour to Kassandra and around an hour and a half to Sithonia, depending on traffic, which is heavier on summer weekends.
Do the villas have private beach access?
Some of our houses are directly above the sea with their own access; others are a short walk or drive from the beach. We will tell you exactly how each one reaches the water.
Do we need a car?
Yes, in most cases. The peninsulas are long and the best beaches and villages are spread out. For evenings out, we recommend a driver.
Is Halkidiki suitable for families?
Very much so. The beaches of Kassandra and many on Sithonia are shallow and sandy, the sea calm in the gulfs, and our villas offer space for several families together.
Can a villa host a large group?
Yes. Villa Niki in Vourvourou sleeps twenty across eight bedrooms, and Villa Kassandra fourteen. For celebrations, we coordinate a chef, caterers and boats.
When is the best time to come?
June and September. July and August are the warmest and busiest months; late May and early October are quiet and still warm.
Is there a minimum stay?
In high season most villas are rented by the week; outside July and August, shorter stays are often possible.
How far in advance should we book?
For July and August, six to nine months; with only a handful of private villas of this standard in Halkidiki, the best go early. For June and September, three to four months.