Getting from Mykonos to Halkidiki

Halkidiki is not a city or a town but a peninsula, and a big one. It stretches south from Thessaloniki into the northern Aegean like a three-fingered hand, with each of the three peninsulas having its own distinct character. Kassandra to the west is the most developed and busiest, Sithonia in the middle is greener and quieter with better beaches, and Athos to the east is home to the famous monastic community of Mount Athos, one of the most sacred sites in the Orthodox world and accessible to men only with a special permit. The beaches across all three peninsulas are some of the finest in Greece, the water is exceptionally clear and the whole area is enormously popular with Greeks and visitors from northern Europe.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry connection to Halkidiki. It is a peninsula connected to the mainland by land and the only way to get there is by road from Thessaloniki.

What about flying?

Halkidiki does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Thessaloniki's Makedonia Airport, around 60 to 90 kilometres from the various parts of the peninsula depending on which area you are heading to. The journey from Mykonos goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Thessaloniki, with total travel time around 3 to 4 hours door to door. From Thessaloniki Airport you can rent a car or take a taxi to whichever part of Halkidiki you are heading to.

Your best option

Fly to Thessaloniki via Athens and rent a car at the airport. Having a car in Halkidiki is not optional if you want to explore properly. The three peninsulas cover a large area and getting between them and finding the best beaches requires the flexibility of your own transport. Give yourself at least four or five days and get to Sithonia if you can, the beaches on the eastern side of the middle peninsula are as good as anything in Greece.