Halkidiki from Thessaloniki: which beach day trip should you book?
Updated October 18, 2026 · 5 min read
The answer first. For a first beach day, book the Halkidiki and Sithonia swim, sunset and olive tour. It costs €39.15 per person, lasts 8 hours and has 4.7 stars from 301 reviews. If you want to spend the day on a boat, the Blue Lagoon cruise is the best-selling trip of the group: €66, 10 hours, 4.4 stars from 392 reviews.
What is on offer
| Tour | Length | From | Rating | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sithonia swim, sunset and olive tour | 8 hours | €39.15 | 4.7 (301) | Olive grove with tastings, a swim and the sunset |
| Blue Lagoon cruise | 10 hours | €66 | 4.4 (392) | Boat day with uninhabited islands, swimming and snorkelling |
| Arnaia, Ierissos swim and tasting | 9 hours | €39.15 | 4.6 (59) | A mountain village, honey tasting and a beach |
| Kassandra beaches private tour | 7.5 hours | €75 | 4.3 (103) | Private coastal day with seaside villages and a quiet beach |
| Private day trip in Kassandra | 7 hours | €190 | 5.0 (4) | A private day on the Kassandra peninsula |
The last row has four reviews, so its 5.0 says little. The Kassandra private tour at €75 is listed per person, but check the booking page to see whether the price changes with group size.
What the trips cover
Halkidiki is a peninsula with three prongs. The Sithonia trip is the all-rounder: it adds a food stop and the evening light to the swim. The Blue Lagoon trip is the one for the water itself, with swimming and snorkelling in clear water and golden-sand beaches. The listing speaks of uninhabited islands, but not which ones. The Arnaia trip is for people who want a village and a museum visit before the beach, and Ierissos is where you swim. The Kassandra tours are private and aimed at beaches and seaside villages.
Should you drive yourself?
The group trips are cheap for what they include, and you do not have to drive after a day in the sun. A car does give you freedom to stay at a beach you like for as long as you want. If that appeals, you can compare rental cars for Thessaloniki and check the excess and deposit terms of each offer before you book. If you plan a stay of several days on the peninsula, the car makes more sense than a day trip.
What to check on the booking page
The pick-up point in Thessaloniki and the return time, because a 10-hour day can end late. Whether swim time is guaranteed, and how long you actually spend at each stop. Whether the food tastings are included in the price. On the cruise, the cancellation terms if the sea is rough.
Athos and Ouranoupoli
Ouranoupoli, where the Mount Athos cruise starts, also lies on Halkidiki, a couple of hours or more by road from Thessaloniki. That is a separate trip: see Mount Athos by boat from Ouranoupoli.
Who should skip it
If you have only one day and cannot choose between beach and sights, pick a sights trip such as Vergina and Pella instead. A long day on a coach to swim for an hour is a poor deal for anyone who does not like the sea.
Our recommendation
Book the Sithonia swim, sunset and olive tour for most trips: it shares the lowest price with the Arnaia trip, has the best rating of the group trips and a full programme. Choose the Blue Lagoon cruise if the boat matters more. All options are on the Halkidiki day trips page.
