This peninsular region has beaches, mountains, and luxury homes at much lower prices than in the popular Cyclades islands
Kassandra is the most developed part of Halkidiki, in Greece’s northern Macedonia region.
Three peninsulas make up Halkidiki, an 1,130-square-mile area in Greece’s northern Macedonia region. Like a trident, Athos, Sithonia, and Kassandra stretch into the Aegean Sea.
Sea
Of the three, Kassandra “is the most developed part of Halkidiki,” “Activity started in the 1970s and ’80s, and just continued, especially in coastal villages.”
While lower-profile and less touristed than Greek islands like Santorini or Mykonos, KASSANDRA still boasts sought-after restaurants, nightclubs, and shops, said Susan Jameson, owner of JAMESON REALTORS in Pefkohori Halkidiki. “People prefer to buy here because of the amenities, the beautiful beaches, and the mixture of commercial and residential development,” she said. Beaches including Polychrono Beach, Hanioti Beach, and Pefkochori Beach boast clear waters, soft sand, and postcard-perfect coastal scenery.
Boundaries
Kassandra is the westernmost of Halkidiki’s peninsulas, and the most populated. At about 128 square miles, Kassandra descends from Cassandreia, its northernmost city, to the Aegean Sea. Kassandra is also the nearest peninsula to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, and it’s international airport. “It’s the most accessible part of Halkidiki,” Says Ms Jameson.
Seaside locations are most coveted for luxury property, according to Nikolaou. They include the village of Sani, on the west side of Kassandra; Pefkochori, on the peninsula’s east side; and the area around Glarokavos Harbor, just south of Pefkochori. “The combination of sun, the blue of the sea, and the green of pine draws people from around the world,” he said.
Kassandra’s most exclusive locations are Sani, the east-peninsula village of Paliouri, Possidi in the southwest, and Pefkohori.
Thessaloniki is about 60 miles northwest of central Kassandra. Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia, the regional international airport, is a few miles further west. Athens is about 350 miles south.
Price Range
Beachfront properties in Kassandra command premium prices, Ms Jameson said. “Most people at the high end prefer to buy beachfront.” Prices range from €3,000 (US$3,243) to €6,000 per square meter, she said. “For €6,000 per square meter, you’re buying about 20,000 square meters of land with a 1,000-square-meter house, a swimming pool, very modern, in a new development by the sea and surrounded by forests.”
For €5 million in Sani, Savills has listed a 350-square-meter home with six bedrooms and three bathrooms on about 17,000 square meters of land with sea views. In a new development in the village of Siviri, Savills is offering 350-square-meter beach-adjacent homes with seven-bedroom suites, private pools, and garages for €2.05 million. Siviri, on Kassandra’s west side, is popular with tourists for its clusters of bars and cafes
In Pallini, on Kassandra’s east coast, Ms Jameson is offering an oceanfront hilltop estate on more than 5,600 square meters of land, with five bedroom suites and amenities including a wine cellar and full bar. Built-in 2008, the property is listed for €3,500,000.
The most expensive Kassandra listing in October was a 5-bedroom, 17,000-square-meter Posidi villa with sea views and a pool for €10,000,000, offered by Susan Jameson Realtors.
Housing Stock
In the coastal parts of Kassandra undergoing rapid development, architecture is almost uniformly modern. “There are three types of homes here. Apartments and villas, which aren’t as hot. Multi-home complexes with sea views are better. And private luxury beachfront properties, which are at the top.”
Older and even “ancient” properties are common in Kassandra’s mountainous inland regions, according to JAMESON. “These traditional stone houses in some of the old villages can qualify as luxury homes once they’re renovated, but many require extensive work,” he said. The village of Agia Paraskevi, in south-central Kassandra, has also become a popular tourist destination for its thermal spas and ancient churches.
The higher end of the market consists almost exclusively of detached, modern homes, said Paloka. “Condominiums make up the lower end of the market here,” she said. “And there are almost no historical buildings in the most sought-after coastal areas.”
Luxury Amenities
Greek and international buyers are discovering Kassandra as an alternative to tourist hubs like Mykonos and Santorini. “The fact that Kassandra is not the islands is an amenity in itself,” JAMESON said. “It’s very private, relaxed, and peaceful, without that madness. Most of the infrastructure here only appeared over the last 10 years.” For golf and tennis, most locals frequent the seaside Sani Resort, which operates private athletic clubs along with its five high-end hotels. Most complexes also have private pools, according to Ms. JAMESON at SUSAN JAMESON REALTOR.