Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
Choosing Psakoudia happened because of booking.com – I had a set price range, PLUS, I wanted to stay somewhere with a balcony overlooking a waterfront…and, Greece certainly has more than its fair share of those to choose from!
And, as of now, I’ve visited Psakoudia TWICE – once in March, once in September…
Both months offer different settings (left, March; right, September):
Though, that difference isn’t conveyed too well in these pictures!
Getting There…
Driving to Psakoudia from Thessaloniki Airport is around 45mins.
And, the journey becomes a super pleasant one the moment you’re driving nearer the Halkidiki coastline.
Visiting Psakoudia ‘out-of-season’ (October-March) did mean that many businesses were closed during my first visit there.
And, because my time there was short, this meant I was only able to experience a handful of gems in this seaside village…
However, the second visit to Psakoudia (in September) managed to fill-in the missing pieces.
SEEING
March, 2018:
The beach, by far, is the most obvious attraction in Psakoudia!
It’s closest to the Second Finger (the Sithonia Peninsula), which can be reached in 15-20mins by car…
And, from Psakoudia beach, you can also see the First Finger (Kassandra) on the horizon.
Oh, and while sunrise is nice here, the sunsets are outstanding!
September, 2018:
Unlike how it appeared in March, the beach was now crowded with masses of umbrellas & sun-loungers, lined up along the sand, bodied by sunbathers.
This didn’t ruin the views & the sunsets in any way at all, though.
Something I rarely do is bathe in the ocean myself.
Yet, during this second time in Psakoudia – in September, when the water is warmer – I did actually take a shallow dip, where I sat in the sea up to neck level for a good hour…
It was a peaceful experience, regardless of a nearby water-yoga class instructor bellowing exercises at his clients.
EATING
March, 2018:
Many restaurants & bars align the waterfront, each with outdoor seating & ocean views…
And, because many were closed during the low-season month of March, and, because I was staying in self-catering accommodation, this meant I was able to use the nearby Μασούτης supermarket, only 3mins away by car, or 15mins on foot!
NOTE: If you don’t speak Greek and you can’t read the signs, there’s a downstairs to this Supermarket, too.
September, 2018:
Returning 7 months later, I was able to witness these outdoor seating areas no longer standing vacant.
One food establishment that lured me in was EatAlia.
I’ll be honest – I arrived into Psakoudia feeling very ill, and, I needed to consume food & drink that was going to help improve my health…
And here, in Eatalia, I enjoyed their delicious, healthy smoothies and their Italian-influenced menu, that never felt too heavy on the stomach.
The prices were slightly higher than some of the other eating venues along the Psakoudia strip, but the seating area felt more open & expansive than the others did.
Also, I was still able to use the nearby local supermarket, to buy groceries each day…
NOTE: The Μασούτης supermarket does NOT sell cold & flu medication (unlike UK supermarkets). I used the Google Translate app on my phone to show a supermarket worker the translation of “cold tablets”, to which she directed me to the freezer section, offering me a bag of ice-cubes…
In all fairness, if you think about it, they are actually cold tablets…in a completely different format.
DRINKING
March, 2018:
The very first bar I went to (I recall there were only two bars open during this low season, in early March) was the Ammos Beach Bar.
This is definitely a favourite for the locals (in here, I bumped into the owner of Apocalypsis Apartments, where I was staying), with TV monitors screening sporting events, so I do feel this could be labelled a ‘Sports Bar’…
After this, needing a break from the alpha-male environment of Ammos, I found The Maze seaside bar. Now, this was more my kinda place, with funky background music, pleasant staff, and, a seemingly equal mix of gender.
September, 2018:
Because I was unwell during this second trip to Psakoudia, it was wise not to interrupt my body’s immune system with servings of alcohol…
BUT, the owner of Apocalypsis Apartments & his wife (their full review will be published early next year) helped nurse me back to health with a home-cooked BBQ dinner…accompanied by one bottle of beer!
EPILOGUE
Psakoudia is known for being a beach resort, and from those two words, I hope you get the impression of what to expect.
It’s a small, intimate stretch of beach that allows you to feel at home, AND, is a good place to recover, if you’re feeling ill…
Though, it’s best to mention that the nearest Pharmacy to Psakoudia is a short drive away – in Nikiti – so, make sure you stock up on medication before you arrive…
Or you’ll have to depend on ice-cubes to help you get better!
See more pictures on our Facebook & Instagram feeds!
You can find out more about Psakoudia in our series GOING SOLO, available to watch here on YouTube!
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