Explore Olympiada
Relax by the sea
Olympiada is popular for its countless beaches, some of them organized and cosmopolitan, while others quiet, even secret, waiting to be discovered. Casa Alegria is less than 5 minutes on foot from the main beach of Olympiada, where you can find cafés, restaurants and taverns, all of them offering sunbeds and umbrellas. For those wanting to further explore the area and make the most of their time here, there are also magnificent, exotic beaches 5-10 minutes away by car, to meet all preferences. Ammos Beach, Totos Beach and Babylon Beach are all organized, long sandy beaches where you can find beach bars, sunbeds and umbrellas. And if organized is not your thing, but you prefer going off the beaten track and avoiding the crowds, there are countless hidden, wild beaches that will satisfy the adventurer in you.
Immerse yourself in history
Visit Ancient Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle, the philosopher who shaped western thought and was the teacher of one of the most famous emperors of all time, Alexander the Great. Ramble among the ruins of the ancient city and marvel at breathtaking views, as the forest and the walls of the city meet the endless blue of the sea. At only 300 meters from Olympiada, Ancient Stagira makes for a great evening walk. For those wanting to dive deeper into Aristotle’s thought, visiting Aristotle’s Park in the village of Stagira is recommended (high on the mountain, 30 minutes from Olympiada, not to be confused with Ancient Stagira). If feeling extra adventurous, you can also follow the Aristotelian Trail, which starts right next to the thematic park and takes you all the way down to Olympiada, through lush vegetation. Make sure, though, that you are adequately prepared, equipped and in relatively good shape, since this is a 15 km route.
Go waterfall swimming
Waterfall swimming is a whole different experience, and Olympiada offers that option too. A day at the beach is undeniably fun, but if you feel like trying something a bit out of the ordinary, a visit to Varvara’s waterfalls will not let you down. From Casa Alegria, it is a 20-minute car ride to the beginning of the short forest trail that will lead you to two magnificent waterfalls. The trail and the views are rewarding enough, but to make the most of it, taking a dip is strongly recommended. As for the trail, it is relatively easy to follow and does not require special trekking skills.
Varvara’s waterfalls
Explore the monasteries
Eastern Chalkidiki is known, among everything else, as the “passageway” to Mount Athos, and thus has a very strong religious heritage that is depicted in its century-old monasteries, churches, and chapels. Olympiada is home to the monastery of the Annunciation of Mary, but for those wanting to explore further the area’s religious past (and present), a cruise around the Athos peninsula is the best way to do it, since visiting the Athos’ monasteries is, sadly, only allowed to men and requires a special permit.Summer festivals and festivities
Every 7th of July Olympiada hosts the Mussel Festival, a celebration dedicated to the world-famous mussels of Olympiada; a day full of traditional music, dance, wine and, of course, mussels. Festivities also take place every August, to celebrate the August full moon.
Another great festival that attracts thousands of people from Northern Greece is Varvara’s music festival, which takes place every summer, either on the last weekend of July or the first weekend of August. Throughout the years, the festival has hosted the biggest and most respected names in the Greek music industry and is considered to be one of the area’s major cultural events.
