Halkidiki is a Greek peninsula in the country's northeastern region. It is very easy to identify on a map due to its unusual shape in the form of three elongated “fingers” that cut deep into the sea. But it is not just the unusual shape that draws visitors to Halkidiki; there's a lot of everything interesting here, because it is a region with spectacular natural beauty.
Kassandra is the westernmost of Halkidiki's three “fingers.” It is a small (50 km long and 15 km wide) peninsula, named after Cassander, the king of Macedon. It is separated from the Greek mainland by the artificial Potidea Channel, which was allegedly built in the 4th century BC. Potidea Channel and the bridge connecting Kassandra with mainland Greece are one of the most photographed sights on the peninsula.
People first settled in this part of Halkidiki in the 4th century BC and have lived there ever since. For modern travelers, Kassandra is most appealing area because of its beaches and historical sites. Moving around the peninsula without a car is extremely inconvenient, despite its small size. If you want to visit the most interesting and picturesque places, you should necessarily rent a car.
Here are some places worth seeing:
The roads in this part of Halkidiki are mostly two-lane, narrow, and separated by two solid lines. The road pavement is of high quality. Kassandra, like the rest of Halkidiki, has no toll roads.
Pay attention! In Greece, traffic lights have a yellow flashing signal with direction indicator arrows. This means that when a signal of this type flashes, you can turn in that direction.
Small villages and settlements have many narrow streets with steep rises. This issue makes the road difficult to use for two cars.
Driving on dirt roads should be approached with caution. If there is a problem on such a site, you will not be able to rely on insurance.
Pay attention! Take extra caution at night because some sections of the road are not well lit!
The speed limit in Halkidiki is 50-90-110-130 in the settlement, outside the city, on regular roads, and on autobahns, respectively.
There is only one main road on the peninsula, which is extremely congested during the summer. This is especially true on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, when residents of Thessaloniki flock to Halkidiki for the weekend, and on Sunday evenings, when vacationers return to the city.
Despite the fact that there are few police officers on the roads, one does not recommend that you break traffic regulations because the fines in Greece are high.
Pay attention! Local drivers do not always follow traffic regulations. That is why it is highly recommended that you stay cautious on the road all time.
To rent a car in Greek Halkidiki and Kassandra, you will need the following documents:
If the services are paid for with a bank card, the card must be issued in the driver’s name.