The North of Greece is one of the best-known holiday regions of the country. The peninsula of Halkidiki with its three very diverse promontories boasts some of the best hotels in the whole of Greece. The monastic republic of Athos is restricted to men and only a limited number of tourists are allowed to visit per year, as each day only 10 non-orthodox men are permitted to visit the republic. For that reason it is advisable to plan your visit well in advance.

The peninsula of Sithonia, Halkidiki’s second ‘finger’, is the quietest part with beautiful natural scenery while Cassandra, the easternmost part of Halkidiki, is clearly marked by package tourism. You can get to Halkidiki via Thessaloniki, the second largest town in Greece.

Those who are planning a holiday on the islands of Thassos or Samothraki are better off flying to the small airport of Kavalla and taking the ferry boat from there. Even in antiquity, the Greek island of Thassos was well-known for its dazzlingly white marble. In olden times, the entire harbour area of the capital of Limenas is said to have been coated with marble, an extremely spectacular notion indeed. From the tourist point of view, Thassos has turned into a modern holiday destination in recent years. There is now a large selection of modern accommodation with modern Greek flair.

Samothraki attracts mainly those who love walking holidays. This Greek island is extremely quiet and its centre is completely uninhabited. Mount Fengari (1611m) is surrounded by dense forests, steep gorges and numerous water falls. Samothraki is indeed a gem of unspoilt nature and virtually deserted outside the main tourist season.