Lush Green Journey
The route has a total length of 122 kilometers and lasts about 2.5 hours by car or motorcycle, without stops. It is easy, accessible year-round, and ideal for visitors who love nature, hiking, mountaineering, the sea, tranquility as well as adventure—and, of course, good food.
In a journey of about 2.5 hours, from Polygyros to Ouranoupoli, Halkidiki reveals its rare mosaic of traditional villages, verdant mountains, memories of ancient philosophers, and flavors that unite land and sea.
From the capital of Chalkidiki, Polygyros, with its sense of vitality and history and a variety of local products—such as the goat cheese reputed for its health benefits, which we will encounter again at later stops on our route in Riza and Ierissos—the view rises toward the traditional settlement of Palaiokastro and continues along the trails of Mount Cholomon. In Taxiarchis, surrounded by dense forests, the air is filled with the aroma of herbs, wild mushrooms, and honey. The stately and picturesque Arnaia, with its stone-built houses, rare textiles, and rich history, offers tables filled with goat cheeses, honey, and syrupy touloubakia. In all the mountain villages, flavors are hearty and warming: pies with greens, cheese, or pumpkin, traditional sausages with orange pieces, wild boar with plums or quinces. At Aristotle’s Stagira — the home of the greatest philosopher of Antiquity — with its forest; in nearby Siderokausia, where the Ottoman-era silver miners’ facilities have recently been restored; and in Stratoni, history meets the present.
Further down, Ierissos, with its old shipyards and coastal cuisine, evokes the eternal bond with the sea. Orkini, a unique fish similar to small tuna, brings the aroma of the Aegean to the plate. At Nea Roda, the famous Xerxes Canal reminds of the region’s ancient history. The journey ends in Ouranoupoli, gateway to Mount Athos, with its Byzantine Tower of Prosforion, collections of Christian art, and views of Ammouliani and its stunning beaches.
If the landscapes fill the eyes, the flavors uplift the soul. Green olive oil and Halkidiki olives, local cheeses, honeys of many kinds, traditional mountovina of Arnaia (honey spirit), Holomon herbs, sausages, Taxiarchis black pig, all accompanied by local wine varieties, seal the gastronomic essence of this journey.
You can find this rare mosaic of flavors in the many local shops or enjoy it in the taverns and restaurants along the route. If you wish to stay overnight, charming guesthouses are found everywhere—in Polygyros, Taxiarchis, and Arnaia—while seaside accommodations are plentiful in Ierissos and Ouranoupoli.
Route Products
PDO products: Halkidiki green olive oil, Halkidiki green olives, Batzos cheese, Feta cheese, Kasseri cheese, Manouri cheese (Central Macedonia).
PGI products: Halkidiki wine.
Special products: Halkidiki goat cheese, Ierissos and Arnaia sausages, pine honey, blossom honey, forest honey, mountovina (honey distillate), Ierissos orkini fish, seafood, “Louvídia” yellow beans of Neochori, mushrooms, potatoes and beans of Taxiarchis, Holomon mountain tea and herbs, trachanas, chylopites, Taxiarchis black pig, Greek blond beef of Polygyros, spoon sweets, jams, Arnaia touloubakia.
Route Delicacies
Orkini: A seasonal fish found abundantly, especially in May, in the Gulf of Ierissos. Particularly tasty and nutritious, ideal as an ouzo meze. Locally, it is cooked with onion and tomato stew, with zucchini and rice, boiled, or preserved.
or wine.
Arnaia pie: A traditional pie with hand-rolled dough. The filling uses local ingredients such as Arnaia feta, spinach, leeks, and wild greens. Before baking, the top crust is brushed with premium Halkidiki olive oil, creating a dish that embodies the region’s gastronomic identity.