Many tourists come to the northern capital of Greece in order to enjoy the atmosphere of Greece and see the sights. One of the most common purposes of visiting the resort area is a beach holiday in Thessaloniki (Greece). Despite the fact that swimming is prohibited in the city, there are many comfortable and beautiful beaches in the immediate vicinity.
General information
Thessaloniki is a large port city, and on the water surface you can clearly see the traces of the presence of a huge number of ships. That is why swimming is prohibited on the beaches on the shore of the Thermal Bay of Thessaloniki. However, sailing regattas and water sports competitions are often held here. Pleasure boats regularly run here to delight guests of the city.
Especially noteworthy is the embankment, which is a great place for romantic walks in the evenings, bike rides and delicious dinners in one of the many restaurants or bars.
Closer to the east coast is the area of Kalamaria, but in this part of Thessaloniki the sea is still quite dirty and swimming is not recommended here. However, this does not stop local residents, and many Greeks prefer to relax in Kalamariya.
Please note! Read more about the city’s top attractions here.
Beaches around Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is located on the shore of the bay, the water here is warm. Beaches near the city have their own characteristics:
- Piraeus and Nei Epivates attract young people with fun and lots of entertainment;
- Agia Triada is located in a peaceful and picturesque location;
- starting in the direction of the Halkidiki peninsula, vacationers get to the quiet, peaceful beaches of Nea Michanyon and Epanomi.
All the beaches of Thessaloniki have only a positive effect on vacationers – here you can easily forget about everyday life, plunge into the beauty of nature and a carefree holiday.
How to get
The main advantage of a beach holiday in this part of Greece is the compact location of all holiday destinations. 3-4 hours are enough to arrive at the beach, swim, relax and return to Thessaloniki. There are several ways to get to the nearby beaches.
By car
The small resort villages of Agia Triada, Perea are located 25-30 km from the airport of Macedonia, and a little further – Epanomi and Nea Mihanona. The tracks are busy on weekends.
By public transport – by bus
Buses run regularly from Thessaloniki city center to the bus station, from where you can reach Epanomi, Nea Michagnona, Perea and Agia Triada. The frequency of departure is 15-20 minutes. The total travel time is one hour (30 minutes from the center to the bus station and 30 minutes to the resort villages).
Public transport runs from early morning until 11 pm. Travel on any bus is 1 euro, as a rule, drivers do not give change, prepare small things in advance.
By water transport
The ships run regularly from May to September. You can get to any beach of Thessaloniki in Greece.
Travel time is approximately one hour. Ships depart approximately once an hour. The first one departs at 9: 00, the last one-at 9 pm. The one-way fare is 3 euros.
To make sure you get on the ship, try to get to the pier early in the morning, there are too many people who want to make the trip in the afternoon.
Best holiday villages
A beach holiday in Thessaloniki is not limited to visiting only one resort. In the vicinity of the northern capital of Greece, there are beaches, each of which is beautiful and colorful in its own way.
Perea
Quite a large settlement, which is located 25 km from Thessaloniki. The tourist season continues all year round, shops, cafes and bars are always open on the beautiful embankment. In the evening, it is quite noisy here – music sounds all night long.
Vacationers love this resort for its abundance of pine forests and clear azure waters. The length of the beach is approximately 2 km, the width is small, but the infrastructure here is at a height-there are comfortable sun beds, large umbrellas, clean toilets and showers everywhere. Buy a glass of juice and enjoy everything on the beach for free.
The descent into the water is gentle, so families with children rest on the beach, but keep in mind that a little further down the sea floor sharply deepens.
At the end of July and August, the water in the sea warms up to +28 degrees, in May and September, the water is cooler, but swimming is quite comfortable.
Nei Epivates
If you are vacationing in Perea, Nei Epivates is a short walk away. There is no border between these resort settlements. The length of the sand strip is also several kilometers, the sand is crumbly and fine. There are well-organized places for relaxing with sun beds and umbrellas, and you can also find free areas of the beach if you prefer privacy.
The descent into the water is no different from the descent to Perea – it is gentle, but then abruptly goes deeper. Not far from the beach there is a road for cyclists, along it there are cafes and bars, however, as well as on the beach. There are vineyards all around the resort, and you should definitely try the local Mandovani wine.
Kriopigi — a peaceful Greek resort for families
Agia Triad
Of all the resorts near Thessaloniki, this is the only one that is awarded the European Blue Flag award. And for good reason – according to many tourists, the sand is softer, the water is cleaner and the air is fresher. From the village of Nei Epivates, you can walk here on foot, but you should not walk here at night – sometimes there are thickets of bushes and large stones on the road.
This is a quiet and peaceful beach, as there are almost no bars on its territory. Most of the beach is free, there are few sun beds and umbrellas, but there are enough toilets and changing rooms. If you want to relax in a peaceful environment, away from Thessaloniki, the resort of Agia Triada is the best choice. From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sea bay and the cape, covered with an emerald dense forest.
The sea in this resort of Greece is clean, the descent is gentle, comfortable for children. The beach looks very beautiful in the evening – in the rays of the setting sun, the water takes on a golden hue, and the sky is painted with bright shades of red and yellow.
On a note! One of the best beaches on the Halkidiki peninsula, near Thessaloniki, is located in the village of Toroni. You will find its description with a photo on this page.
Nea Michagnona
The resort is located on the opposite side of the cape, that is, opposite Agia Triada. Here is a small fishing village, where travelers come to relax and swim, as well as buy sea delicacies. To buy a truly unique product, come to the village early, at this time there is a market with fresh catch right on the coast. Cafes and bars are located a short distance from the beach-as if towering over the shore, in the shade of spreading trees, where you can enjoy an amazing view of the pier.
The beach infrastructure is excellent – there are umbrellas, sun beds, toilets and changing rooms. A wide line of sand allows you to comfortably accommodate all vacationers.
If you are interested in a beach holiday with lots of entertainment and an active nightlife, go to Hanioti on the Kassandra peninsula (Halkidiki). For more information about it, see this article.
The most remote beach from Thessaloniki is located on the Greek mainland, from the bus stop you will have to walk at least 40 minutes, approximately 4 km. If you like hiking, this distance will not frighten you, but keep in mind that it is very hot during the day, so it is better to arrive early in the morning or in the evening.
Many recommend renting a car to go to Epanomi. This is one of the most spacious beaches, there are comfortable playgrounds for sports games – volleyball and golf. This resort area is also awarded the European Blue Flag award. In addition to the amazing nature, you will find a decent service – comfortable sun beds and umbrellas in sufficient quantity, showers, changing rooms, bars and taverns. There are vineyards here that produce local wine with the same name – Epanomi.
To the right of the village, the sea is ideal for swimming-quiet, without waves, but to the left it is quite deep, there are often waves, this is where surfers prefer to swim.
Walking along the beach, you will probably see its main attraction-a shipwrecked 40 years ago. The remains of the ship are in the water, everyone can try to swim to it, but the part under water can only be examined in special equipment.
This is followed by the beaches of the Halkidiki peninsula. One of the most popular resorts in this region is Neos Marmaras, which is described in detail on this page. People who visit the northern part of Greece quite consciously choose remote resort settlements. Maybe a beach holiday in Thessaloniki (Greece) is not ideal, but it is good, it can be combined with cultural enrichment.
