Hanioti, Halkidiki: 2026 Travel Guide (Beach, Village, Getting There)

Hanioti (also written Chaniotis or Haniotis) sits in the middle of the east coast of the Kassandra peninsula, facing the Toronean Gulf and the mountains of Sithonia. It is a young village, founded in the 1930s by families from an older settlement inland, and has about 1,000 permanent residents.

Today it is the social centre of the east coast: Polychrono lies 4 km to the north-west and Pefkochori 3 km to the south-east, and together the three villages form one long, lively resort strip.

In front of the village is a large sandy beach, fully organised with sunbeds, beach bars and water sports. The water gets deeper gently, which suits families, but there is almost no natural shade, so plan on a sunbed or umbrella in high summer.

Two stretches of the beach hold the Blue Flag in 2026: “Hanioti 1” and the stretch in front of Domes Noruz Kassandra. Kassandra has 32 Blue Flag beaches this year and Halkidiki 93, more than any other area in Greece.

Hanioti is known for its central square and the streets around it, where in summer the evening begins: families walking, children playing, cafés and bars full until late. There are hundreds of small shops, from souvenirs and beachwear to jewellery and local products.

Hanioti is livelier than Polychrono, but it has no big clubs. For clubbing, the place is Kallithea, about 20 minutes away. That balance, a busy evening without loud nightlife next door, is why so many families come back every year.

• Walk to Pefkochori along the beach or the main road (about 3 km) for a change of promenade.
• Swim at Glarokavos, a small lagoon with shallow water south of Pefkochori, or at the wide sandy bay of Xenia (Golden Beach) in Paliouri.
• Watch the sunset in Afytos, the stone village on a cliff above the sea, 25–30 minutes away.
• Try the thermal springs of Loutra at the southern tip of Kassandra, with warm sulphur water.
• Ride a horse near Kallithea, where a riding ranch offers trail rides for beginners and rides into the sea.
• Go to the Kassandra Festival, the summer festival of concerts and plays at the open-air theatre of Siviri in July and August, including shows for children.
• Take a boat trip along Kassandra or towards Sithonia; cruises are sold in the village.

Prefer to go with a driver? Our private Kassandra highlights and Afytos tour picks you up at your hotel in Hanioti.

Hanioti has tavernas, grill houses, pizzerias and seafront cafés for every budget. For fish, choose the tavernas on the beach; for a traditional evening with meze and tsipouro, drive to the inland villages such as Agia Paraskevi. In July and August restaurants fill up after 21:00, so go early or book.

Hanioti has a wide choice: family-run hotels and studios in the village, larger beach hotels at both ends of the bay, and the adults-only Domes Noruz Kassandra (minimum age 16) directly on the beach. For quiet nights, stay at the edges of the village; to walk everywhere, choose a hotel near the square. Comparing resorts? Read Sani vs Ikos vs Domes.

The two are neighbours and very similar. Hanioti has the bigger village centre with its square, more shops and a slightly more family-oriented evening. Pefkochori has a longer pedestrian promenade, more bars and is closer to Glarokavos and Paliouri. See our Pefkochori travel guide.

The drive is about 90 km and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes in normal traffic, via Nea Moudania and the Potidea canal. On summer Saturdays and Sundays, when hotels change guests, allow 15 to 30 minutes more.

• Private transfer: fixed price per vehicle, meet & greet in arrivals and drop-off at your hotel door. From €94 in an Economy car and from €118 in a minivan for up to 8.
• KTEL bus: from the Halkidiki bus station in Thessaloniki, with a change if you start from the airport; slower, with many stops.
• Airport taxi: on the meter, usually more expensive for this distance.

All details are on our Thessaloniki Airport to Hanioti page.

• Health care: the nearest health centre is in Kassandreia (tel. +30 23743 50000) and the regional hospital in Polygyros. Emergencies: 112, ambulance 166.
• Pharmacies, supermarkets and ATMs are in the village and along the main road.
• Child seats for your transfer cost €4 each; ask for a minivan if you travel with a stroller.
• Crowds: busiest from late June to August; June and September are calmer and the sea is still warm.
• Going home: leave Hanioti about 3¼ to 3½ hours before an international flight from Thessaloniki.

Written by the GetSeat team in Thessaloniki. Distances and prices come from our booking system; drive times are typical for normal traffic. Blue Flag beaches are from the 2026 awards (14 May 2026); local information is from the Municipality of Kassandra and the Region of Central Macedonia tourism site.