Halkidiki holidays

It's Blue Flag galore in Halkidiki. The area's beaches stacked up 96 of the prestigious awards in 2022. So pretty much whereever you go, the sand will be soft and white, and the water warm and clear. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the town, the more lively its beach will be.

The big-name beach round these parts is Nea Moudania Beach. It's a Blue Flag beauty that unravels for 2 kilometres. It's good for families, thanks to a shallow sea and a load of restaurants, cafés and bars backing the sand. Kalithea Beach should get a mention here, too. It's a 20-minute drive down the coast from Nea Moudania. Kalithea is a bit more of a party town, which is reflected in the lively bars lining the seafront.

For something with a bit more of a sssshhhhhh factor, head out to Nea Poteidia's western beach. It's only a 15-minute drive south from Nea Moudania. The sand stretches out for 5 kilometres, so grab a towel and a paperback, walk out for half an hour and you'll probably have the place to yourself.

Every Wednesday in Nea Moudania there's a market just behind the bus station. It's the biggest in Halkidiki and is the perfect place to pick up the best in locally-grown produce, like olives, honey and ouzo. It also does a good line in leather goods and embroidery. The market only goes on 'til midday, so get there early to pick things up at knock-down prices – they'll be cheaper here than in the shops.

For some on-trend brands like Bershka and H&M, head to the outskirts of Thessaloniki. About half an hour's drive from Nea Moudania is a gigantic out-of-town shopping centre called Mediterranean Cosmos, on Greek National Road 67. It's got over 200 shops, and is a particularly good shout for jewellery. In Nea Moudania, the high street has a few boutiquey places, so head there for artwork and clothing.

Get to Thessaloniki if you've got cash to splash on designer labels. It's only about a half-hour drive away from Nea Moudania, and high-end brands like D&G are up for grabs from the shops on Tsimiski Street. If you're after a fur coat, head to Kalithea. It's just over a 30-minute drive in the other direction, and clocks up about 20 fur shops in the centre of town.

For a low-key evening, hang back in Nea Moudania and head to the port. There are a good few restaurants and some laid-back bars lining the water. If you want to head out, Hanioti is a 30-minute drive away. It's got a bit more life than Nea Moudania thanks to a central square that's lined by cocktail bars. You'll find things here carry on 'til later at night, too.

For a night out that seriously steps it up a notch, jump in a cab to Kalithea. The journey only takes around 20 minutes. There's a handful of clubs on the Perimetriki Kassandras road that leads out of town, just by the go-kart track. Or, stay in Nea Moudania and zone in on the western side of town, just behind the port. There are a few clubs and buzzier bars spread around the streets here.

This dish is a plain and simple bean soup. The main ingredient is usually either haricot or lima beans, which are mixed with olive oil and veg like carrots, onions and parsley. It's a well-loved dish – it's sometimes called the 'national food of the Greeks' – although versions of it are also found in Italian, Egyptian and Turkish cooking.

Meatballs in tomato sauce might sound Italian, but this recipe has been knocking around Greek kitchens for years. The Greeks make it their own with flavourings like cumin and allspice. It's a regular on taverna menus and family dinnertables.

Meze is the Greek version of tapas, and you'll find it on the menu of any taverna worth its salt. It's a pick and mix of lots of small dishes, so you get a taste of a few flavours in one go. It usually includes things like feta cheese, olives drizzled with olive oil, meatballs, and grilled octopus.

This firewater is probably the most famous Greek drink. It started life just down the road in Mount Athos, where Monks were making a similar drink called tsipouro. One version was flavoured with aniseed and ouzo was born. You can have it as a shot, but try mixing it with some water and watch what happens...

Some things in life are better in bite-size bits. Baklava is one of them. They're mini desserts that come in endless combos. They're all made from layers of sweet filo pastry, but they're filled with different things, like chopped pistachios with syrup, honey, and cinnamon.