 The old town hall in Polygyros | ||
| Polygyros | ||
| region | Central Macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 6.121 (2011) | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Polygyros is a city in Chalkidiki.
background
Polygyros is a small town in the mountains in the hinterland of the peninsula. Politically, Polygyros is the capital of the prefecture of Chalkidiki. The prefecture of Chalkidiki is not identical to the peninsula itself, the border runs right through the peninsula.
getting there
By plane
The nearest commercial airport is the Thessaloniki Airport
(IATA: SKG) . From here you get connections all over the world. Of course about that Athens-Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
(IATA: ATH) . Fly in the summer months TUIfly and Germanwings Thessaloniki from Germany. It's harder to get a connection in the winter flight schedule.
In the street
Polygyros is best reached via the north-south connection. In the north it branches off from the east-west connection from Paleochori to Vasilika to the south and connects the route with the coastal road from Nea Moudania to Nikiti. In Polygyros itself you have to be careful if you want to stay on the right road. It gets a bit tight and you don't always know the signage is clear. Polygyros itself is clearly signposted. It is a little difficult to find a parking space when the city is full. A little away from the city center, however, you will usually find what you are looking for quickly. You only have to take a short walk.
mobility
There are some bus connections to Polygyros. Getting there is pretty easy. But if you have to go back to the hotel, it becomes more difficult. There are no timetables like those in Germany. The most important bus stops have departure times, but they are not really binding. The best way to get to Polygyros is by car. If you come from the south, the drive is wonderful, you have a view of the mountains, the road is excellent and you can see a lot.
Tourist Attractions
There is a very nice pedestrian zone in downtown Polygyros. There are only a few shops, you can't really shop, but there are numerous taverns, all of which offer open-air seating. The alleys to the left and right of the pedestrian zone are interesting and invite you to take long walks. They have an extraordinary flair.
The old courthouse is also on the pedestrian zone. You should definitely see that.
If you've ever been to Polygyros, you shouldn't miss out on a trip to where the Greeks live. There are different neighborhoods, some with very poor people, some with richer people. There is a lot to discover, it doesn't always have to be downtown.
activities
If you want to experience the small town life of Greece, you are definitely right in Polygyros. Here you can enjoy the hospitality of the Greeks, here you can experience Greek life. You can see how people live. It is best to come in the morning or in the afternoon until late in the evening. At noon, the students go through the streets, otherwise the population takes a siesta. It's empty, almost deserted. But it's also fun to watch the students. Even if you don't understand what they are talking about, you know and you can hear the music through the headphones and you can see the technology they have with them, it's like in Germany.
shop
Polygyros is not a shopping paradise. The place only has the most important things ready for its population. The supermarkets are in the outskirts, the usual suspects you know from Germany. The chains here have a different range, tailored to the Greek clientele. In the pedestrian zone you can also go shopping a little comfortably, even if the offer is not really big. The city only offers the bare essentials. The residents of Polygyros also go shopping to go shopping Thessaloniki.
kitchen
In the taverns, Greek cuisine is offered almost exclusively, even if you can also get different sausages. You can sit outside in any restaurant, the service is quick and courteous. There are sometimes language barriers because many employees only speak Greek. But with a little improvisation you can do it well. Sometimes something is written on the (paper) tablecloth with a pen. it's really cozy if you like the loud conversations of the Greek neighbors. They discuss every little thing loudly and with a lot of physical effort. This should not be missed.
nightlife
The nightlife is also typically Greek. You sit in the taverns, eat and drink red wine and ouzo. As a foreigner, you are always welcome and treated very openly and courteously. When a party is really being celebrated, and this is a very good place to do it here, you are also involved.
accommodation
Polygyros has a few hotels to offer, but they belong to the lower class to the middle class. They are not hotels for vacationers either, but hotels for people who work here. They are all very small, there is no such thing as a big house. But you can also get holiday apartments, even if there are only a few.
Work
Jobs are in short supply in Polygyros. You can hardly get hold of anything here. One should orientate oneself to the south, where there is a lot of agriculture, where workers are needed more often.
security
If you follow the general principles, you will have no problem in Polygyros. Crime is enviable low. There is also no imported crime by tourists. There is also a certain police presence. But they don't seem to have much to do either.
health
There is a full range of doctors in Polygyros, but you have to be able to communicate with them. In the event of illness, it is best to go to the tourist resorts, there are numerous German-speaking doctors here. If it is really acute, you should switch to Thessaloniki. There are corresponding hospitals here. Medicines are generally cheaper in Greece than in Germany. Many drugs can also be obtained without a prescription. There are also medicines that you can no longer buy in Germany. You can stock up on these things well in Polygyros.
Practical advice
The street chaos in Polygyros takes some getting used to. The main streets become quite narrow towards the center, there are parking spaces, but they are not always easy to find. In the suburbs of Polygyros the streets are narrow and winding. It's only better in the new districts. Because Polygyros is in the mountains, you can see very late how far you are in the city. If you come from the south there is a place name sign, but you cannot see Polygyros at all. You continue to drive through the landscape. But this is not unusual in Greece, so you get along very quickly in Polygyros.
With your mobile phone you don't always have a connection to the provider of your choice. You should already see which provider is on the display. That can save a lot of money.
trips
If you are in Polygyros and have a day available for an excursion, you should take a tour around Sithonia do. Here you can discover beautiful places, admire wonderful views, enjoy wonderful Greek food and discover lonely, beautiful beaches and landscapes. Also the view of the mountain Athos is an incomparable experience.
