Beaches near Thessaloniki: where locals actually swim
Published · by ThessalonikiHub
You do not swim in the city. How far the first real sea actually is, and what you get at each distance.
In this guide6
Let us start with the most common misunderstanding: you do not swim in Thessaloniki.
The city sits at the head of the Thermaic Gulf, at its most enclosed point, and its waterfront is a working port and a promenade. The Nea Paralia seafront is the finest walk in the city and nobody gets into the water there. You will not see a local do it either.
The good news is that swimmable sea starts early — half an hour's drive — and that there are three clear zones depending on how much time you have.
Zone 1: "Paralia", 20-30 km
South-east of the city, on the far side of the bay, runs a string of seaside settlements that locals collectively call "Paralia": Peraia, Nei Epivates, Agia Triada.
This is the nearest real sea and the easiest day out. Half an hour by car outside rush hour, a seafront promenade of cafés and beach bars, fish tavernas looking back at Thessaloniki — at night you see the city lights lying on the water.
Peraia is also next to the airport, which makes it a sensible choice for the last night of a trip.
In summer there is a boat connection from the centre, which is plainly the nicest way to go. Sailings are seasonal and change from year to year — we do not publish times that are not true all year, so check before you set off.
Zone 2: further down the same coast, 30-40 km
Carry on south and the coast opens out and the water clears: Nea Michaniona, Angelochori, and beyond them Epanomi and Potamos.
The character changes here. Less building, more sand, a wider horizon. The Epanomi area also has a wetland, so it is not only a beach.
This is the choice if you have a car and want a real swim without an hour of driving.
Zone 3: Chalkidiki, from 45 km
Chalkidiki begins at Nea Kallikratia and Nea Moudania, and from there on you are talking about a different category of sea altogether.
Kassandra, the first of the three peninsulas, starts roughly 70-100 km from Thessaloniki — about an hour. Sithonia is further, wilder and, by common agreement, more beautiful.
For a day trip, Kassandra works comfortably. Sithonia wants an overnight, or you will spend half the day in the car.
Which zone to choose
| You have | Go to |
|---|---|
| Half a day, no car | Peraia — and in summer, by boat |
| A day with a car | Epanomi or Angelochori |
| A full day | Kassandra |
| Two days or more | Sithonia, unhurried |
When
The swimming season runs roughly from mid-May to mid-September. July and August guarantee the weather and also the crowds; June and September give you the same sea with less of a queue.
From November to March this entire coast is shut or nearly so. The walk still stands up; the swim does not.
Practical
- Distances above are by road and approximate, measured from the city centre. On a summer weekend the road south is busy — allow more.
- Buses: both "Paralia" and Chalkidiki are served by intercity coaches on seasonal timetables. Check them the day before; they are not frequent the way city buses are.
- Organised or not: in zone 1 you will find loungers and a beach bar almost everywhere. Zones 2 and 3 include unorganised beaches — bring water and shade.
- If you have no car and it is winter: stay on the Nea Paralia. It is a promenade, not a beach, but it is why this city loves a sea it never swims in.
For everything south of Moudania there is a separate guide: chalkidikihub.gr, ThessalonikiHub's sister site.
