Chalkida is an ideal destination for a short getaway from Athens, even for a day trip. These are the stops you should make in Evia's capital.
A stone's throw (just 78 km) from Athens, Halkida is always a great idea for a quick getaway that includes laid-back seafront strolls with stops at ouzo tavernas for wonderful seafood. Built along the sides of the Euripus Strait, Halkida is the main gateway to the island of Evia and a favorite weekend destination.
The city has plenty of hidden gems and interesting options for everyone. From spring through autumn is the best time to plan a mini escape and discover Halkida's charm.
Halkida: Strolls and sights
The bridge with the «mad waters»
At Halkida's entrance, the new impressive cable (suspension) bridge welcomes you. The old movable bridge, Euripus Bridge, is the spot where you can watch the magical dance of the «mad waters». The waters of the Euripus channel, a narrow strip of sea 39 meters wide and 40 meters long, change direction every 6 hours, flowing one time to the North and one time to the South. It's a unique and impressively complex phenomenon caused by tidal forces and observed only there.
Stroll along the seafront
The city's heart beats along the seafront promenade. The waterfront that starts at the Old Bridge and reaches the striking Red House is full of life. Everyone meets on the coastal road for strolls, coffee, and a glass of ouzo. Restaurants serving fresh fish and select meze, as well as great bars for the evening, await you here.
A stroll scented with history
The waterfront mansions will catch your eye. At the end of the promenade, the emblematic Red House of the Mallios family was built in 1884 by the French architect Flegis in such a way that it's washed by the sea on three sides. Also, on your stroll you'll see the House with the Statues (composer Nikos Skalkottas's childhood home) and the Kotsikas Mansion with its distinctive domes, which houses the Town Hall. Don't forget to wander through the Agia Paraskevi neighborhood to visit the Church of Agia Paraskevi, a Byzantine church rebuilt by the Venetians in the 14th century. A few lanes further on you'll also see the Emir Zade Mosque with its impressive dome, the only mosque in the city that survives to this day.
Visit to Karababa Castle
Don't miss climbing up to Karababa Castle, on the wooded hill above the city, to enjoy the view over the Euboean Gulf. It was completed in 1684 and prevented Francesco Morosini from conquering Halkida during the Venetian-Ottoman war. The castle's battlements are the best spot to soak up the enchanting views over the gulf.
The New Archaeological Museum
The new Halkida Archaeological Museum «Arethousa» opened its doors in early 2021 and is housed in a 20th-century industrial building, the old «Arethousa AE» distillery, which is an exhibit in its own right and has been declared a monument of world heritage. The museum presents four key facets of Halkida's history - civic organization, worship, the economy, and cultural identities - and features sub-themes too, such as the history of the building that houses it.
