The Best Weather in Halkidiki: A Guide to Autumn in Sithonia

When travelers think of Halkidiki, they often picture its turquoise waters, pine-fringed beaches, and lively summer vibe. But if you ask locals, they’ll tell you: the best time to experience Halkidiki is not in the crowded months of July and August, but in the mellow beauty of autumn. September, October, and even November bring warm seas, golden light, and a slower pace—perfect for discovering the real charm of Sithonia and its traditional villages.

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Weather & Temperatures in Autumn

• September: The perfect balance. The air temperature ranges between 24–29°C (75–84°F) during the day, cooling pleasantly at night. The sea is at its warmest after soaking up summer heat, averaging around 25°C (77°F)—ideal for long swims.

• October: Still mild, with daytime highs around 20–25°C (68–77°F). The sea remains swimmable at 22–23°C (71–73°F), so you can enjoy beach days with fewer people. It’s also harvest season—grapes, olives, and honey fill local markets.

• November: A quieter, cooler month. Expect 15–20°C (59–68°F) during the day and cooler evenings. The sea is cooler too, around 19–20°C (66–68°F), but many locals still enjoy a refreshing dip. It’s a perfect time for hiking, exploring villages, and experiencing Halkidiki like a local.

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What to Do in Sithonia in Autumn

1. Beach Bliss Without Crowds
   Famous beaches like Kavourotripes, Armenistis, and Kalamitsi are almost empty—no umbrellas in sight, just calm seas and soft sand.

2. Hiking & Nature Walks
   Autumn brings cooler breezes, perfect for hiking trails around Mount Itamos or exploring Sithonia’s pine forests and coastal paths. The light is golden, making the landscapes even more magical.

3. Wine & Olive Tours
   Visit local wineries to taste Halkidiki’s unique wines, or join an olive harvest in a family-owned grove. You’ll learn firsthand how locals produce their celebrated olive oil.

4. Fishing & Sailing
   Autumn seas are calm, great for small boat trips or fishing with locals. Many villages still keep their traditional fishing culture alive.

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Staying in a Traditional Village

To truly feel the heart of Halkidiki, consider staying in one of Sithonia’s charming traditional villages such as Parthenonas, Nikiti (old village), or Agios Nikolaos.

• In Parthenonas, stone houses overlook the Toroneos Gulf, offering stunning sunsets.

• In Nikiti’s old village, you’ll walk through narrow stone-paved alleys, with blooming bougainvillea and old fountains. Rent traditional villa in Sithonia Greece

• In Agios Nikolaos, you can join locals in the main square for ouzo, meze, and music.

Choosing to stay in family-run guesthouses or with locals gives you the chance to share meals, stories, and traditions. You might be invited to a homemade dinner with fresh tsipouro, roasted lamb, or warm pies straight from a village oven.

BOOK VILLA IN PALIO NIKITI

Traditional villa in Sithonia nestled in the heart of Palio Nikiti full of authentic charm, this spacious 4 bedrooms villa offers a unique escape into the true Greek way of life. Just steps away, you’ll find a cozy kafeneio where locals gather over coffee, and a typical taverna serving fresh Mediterranean flavors in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Only 3 km away, the endless wild and beautiful beaches of Sithonia await, offering crystal-clear waters and hidden coves perfect for relaxation or adventure.

The villa itself features four elegant bedrooms and five bathrooms, along with a comfortable living room and a fully equipped kitchen. Guests can unwind in the lush garden or enjoy dining al fresco on the terrace with its serene views.

Modern amenities include free WiFi, air conditioning, soundproofing, a washing machine, and a dishwasher. For added luxury, the villa also boasts a relaxing hot tub and a private indoor hot tube—ideal for year-round enjoyment.

Combining modern comfort with authentic Greek atmosphere, this villa in Sithonia is the perfect setting for an unforgettable stay in Halkidiki Greece.

• WhatsApp: +306908215663
• info@halkidikivilla.com
• www.halkidikivilla.com

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Why Visit in Autumn?

Visiting Halkidiki in September, October, or November means experiencing Greece beyond tourism. You’ll swim in warm seas, hike under golden light, taste seasonal harvests, and connect with the authentic life of Sithonia’s villages.

If you’re searching for a slower, more genuine travel experience—Halkidiki’s autumn is the perfect secret season. Rent your villa in Sithonia - enjoy your perfect getaway.

Top 10 Thessaloniki Attractions

1. White Tower

The symbol of our city at the seaside, a 500-year-old sea fort and later a prison. Now it is the Museum of the City of Thessaloniki and its top floor offers a great view to the sea and the city. No visit to Thessaloniki would be complete without at least a photo in front of the White Tower! You can read more info in our article on The White Tower.

 

2. Archaeological Museum

Greece is full of ancient artifacts and Thessaloniki does have its fair share of them! At the Archaeological Museum you can see a lot of great stuff from the city's prehistoric, Macedonian and Roman civilization. The museum is not huge – you can easily tour it within an hour if you are not a huge history lover. The museum's official site is here (In English).

 

3. Museum of Byzantine Culture

Thessaloniki was the Byzantine Empire's second most important city and there are so many things to admire from this period. The museum won the 2005 Museum Prize of the European Council. The museum's official site is here .

4. The seaside

Thessaloniki's most important tourist attraction to our opinion! The seaside walk is a Thessalonican favourite summer evening pastime – do it like a true Thessalonican and take your time stolling the 4,5-km walk from the port's Pier 1 to the Thessaloniki Concert Hall! And, yes, of course we've got you covered with our article on the Thessaloniki Seaside Walk.

5. Aristotelous Square

Thessaloniki's most central square, a great place to have a coffee and stroll from the sea to Venizelos' statue. You can also find the City of Thessaloniki's central information kiosk at the centre of the square. You can read more information on the square and its quite interesting history in Aristotelous Square and the Hebrard plan.

 

 

6. Kapani and Modiano Markets

The central food markets of Thessaloniki, exactly to the west of Aristotelous Sq. At Kapani Market you can see and taste a very lively aspect of Thessaloniki's life – plus you will find a lot of shops selling fresh produce, spices and cheap household items. The next-door covered Modiano Market is a quite melancholic place, as it has most of its shops closed nowadays, but it is always interesting to admire the early-20th century architecture and eat at the old-school tavernas inside the market.

7. Agios Dimitrios Basilica

Thessaloniki's most famous Byzantine church, the place of martyrdom of St. Demetrius. Many visitors visit the city just for a visit to the basilica and its catacombs – a great place to worship and to admire the architecture. Don't forget to visit the catacombs!

8. The Rotonda

A large cylindrical Roman structure built by the Roman emperor Galerius. We still don't know what it was built for, but it was converted into a Christian church during Byzantine times and into a mosque during Ottoman times. It is still used as a church once a month. It is surely worth a quick visit.

Tip: it is in the centre of the student residence area of Thessaloniki, hence you will find great student spots nearby.

9. Ladadika

Next to the port, the old oil-merchants' quarter that was once a notorious dodgy district of the city, converted into a great entertainment area in the 1990s. Nowadays it is full of great restaurants, classy bars and some tacky clubs. Great for lunch, dinner or a glass of beer.

 10. Ano Poli

The area north of Agiou Dimitriou Str., the only part of the city that survived the great fire of 1917. It is a great place to admire the view and get intentionally lost in the alleys. Ano Poli is a quiet residential area, full of small two-storey houses and streets with little traffic. If you are careful you will see the life of the village-like neighbourhood and find its quiet little spots. It's a steep area of the city, so in order not to get tired, take the bus to Trigoniou Tower to admire the view and work your way down.

Tip: We've compiled a walk that connects most of these top-10 attractions of the city, loaded with lots of info on each one. You may read our article on The Walk In The Thessaloniki Centre.

by: http://www.thessalonikiinfoguide.com

Traditional Greek Coffee

In many languages, the term "Turkish" coffee has been replaced by the local variant name as a political euphemism - as in "Greek coffee" (ελληνικός καφές ellinikós kafés), and "Cypriot coffee" (κυπριακός καφές kypriakós kafés) - or it is dropped altogether. The words for "coffee" and "coffeeshop" remained unchanged in Greek as in the other Balkan languages.

In Greece, Turkish coffee was formerly referred to simply as τούρκικος 'Turkish'. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the name soon changed to 'ελληνικός' 'Greek': "...Greco-Turkish relations at all levels became strained, τούρκικος καφές [Turkish coffee] became ελληνικός καφές [Greek coffee] by substitution of one Greek word for another while leaving the Turkish loan-word, for which there is no Greek equivalent, unchanged."The recipe remained unchanged.

Greek coffee is easy to make. First, measure the required cups of water into the briki. The measure should be one of the cups that the coffee is going to be served in. It is advisable not to make more than 3-4 small cups of coffee at a time.

Greek coffee can be made in four different ways. He can be sketos (without sugar, strong and bitter), metrios (medium, usually with one teaspoonful of sugar), glykys or vari glykos (almost honey-sweet) and glykys vrastos - sweet but boiled more then once so it loses most of its froth. Depending on which art of Greek Coffee you like, measure and add into the briki the coffee, a teaspoonful of coffee per cup, and the sugar. For a medium coffee the best balance is to add the same amount of sugar as coffee. Put the briki on a low heat and stir its contents a little, until the coffee is diluted in the water.

Hold the briki by the handle all the time as it boils so quickly and spills everywhere. Watch it starting to rise with a bubbly foam. Let it rise - and don't panic! - until it reaches the lips of the briki and then immediately withdraw from the heat. Once the coffee has been made, let it stand for one minute to allow the coffee grounds to settle at the bottom of the briki. Pour a little in each cup, to distribute the froth in all the cups. Then proceed and just fill them up to the brim.

 

Greek coffee is never stirred once it has been made and served and is drunk slowly. Serve it together with a glass of cold water.