Halki 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Halki, Greece

Known to many as the island of peace and friendship, Halki (also often referred to as Chalki) is a Greek island which is located approximately 1 hour and 15 mins to 2 hours from Rhodes by ferry.

The Greek island of Halki has a longstanding history, and this is made obvious by the wealth of tastefully designed buildings, temples, and monasteries that speak of the dominance of the people who once lived there.

From the ancient architecture to vehicle-free surroundings, Halki Island is a place where visitors come to feast their eyes on unspoiled beauty.

This is where spiritualists and artists go to find enlightenment and inspiration; a place which has families and couples returning from their vacations saying that they wouldn’t trade their Halki holiday time for any other island in Greece.

Before You Go: Travel Insurance

When planning a trip to Greece and the Greek Islands your first priority should be to make sure you make a small investment towards your health and well being by considering an affordable travel insurance policy for your trip.

Not only will this budget friendly travel insurance policy cover you if your bags are lost/stolen and if your flight is delayed/cancelled, but you’ll also be covered for all medical and injury related issues as well. 

Let’s face it. No parents, family or friends want to have to cover the cost of you getting medevaced home from Greece.

Unfortunate things do happen.

Especially when you least expect it.

Do yourself a favor and consider purchasing travel insurance coverage for your trip so you can rest assured that you’ll be taken care of in the event of a serious emergency in Greece. 

P.S. You won’t believe how reasonably priced this travel insurance is.

How to Get to Halki

Being a small and isolated island, charting out how to get to Halki can sometimes be an adventure in itself.

There are no airports or flights available to Halki — the closest airport to Halki is located on Rhodes Island.

Fortunately, what you would miss out on in regards to speed is made up in the scenery as there are ferries which will take you to Halki from Athens, Rhodes, Kos, Nisyros, and a few more nearby islands.

Getting to Halki By Ferry

The amount of time it takes to get to Halki typically depends on where you choose to take the ferry from.

If you decide to take the ferry from Rhodes to Halki, you can plan your arrival at Rhodes with any of the three days when the ferries pass through the port and hop on the ferry to Halki.

You can also take the much longer, more scenic journey by take the Halki Ferry at its port of origin at Piraeus in Athens.

The ride from the port of Piraeus in Athens to Halki takes approximately 22 hours so we don’t necessarily recommend this option unless you have a lot of time on your hands.

Check Ferry Schedules & Prices:

Where to Stay in Halki

When trying to figure out where to stay in Halki, you will find a wide variety of options ranging from beautiful hotels to small, basic studio apartments on Airbnb, villas, hostels and more.

Accommodations in Halki vary in both size and price, so be sure to weigh out all your options before settling on a place to stay.

Airbnb

We always recommend Airbnb when it comes to finding places to stay in the Greek islands due to their affordability and comfort among other things.

Halki villa rentals are highly recommended for groups or families who want to stay together in one single home, while Haiki apartments are best for couples or families that want some space for themselves.

Get a discount of up to $37 on your first Airbnb stay by clicking here.

Here are some Halki Airbnb recommendations below:

Budget

Midrange

Luxury

🔎 If this is your first time using Airbnb, we recommend you read our Insider’s Guide to Saving Money on Airbnb Apartments.

Hotels

Halki hotels are beautiful and the staff are warm, friendly, and helpful.

Below, you’ll find a short list of recommended hotels to check out in Halki. You’ll also notice the interactive map below which will give you a better idea of the locations of the accommodations.

• Aretanassa Hotel ( Hotels Combined / Booking.com )
• Art Hotel Halki ( Hotels Combined / Booking.com )
• Saint Nicolas Boutique ( Hotels Combined / Booking.com )
• Hiona Art ( Hotels Combined / Booking.com )

Booking.com

Things to Do in Halki

Despite it being a fairly small Greek island, there are quite a few things to do in Halki; whether it’s visiting ancient structures or simply enjoying the sunshine and the sea at some of the numerous beaches on offer.

If you’re into history, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to explore the Old Village and the ruins of the Castle of the Knights where you can get an up close and personal look at the beautiful murals inside the monasteries and the panoramic views surrounding it.

Visitors can also wander through the streets of Nimporio, or make their way through the streets and to the beaches for some fun, good food, and swimming.

The Old Village (Chorio / Horio)

The Old Village of Chorio (or Horio) was once the capital of the island of Halki, but it was pretty much abandoned after the emigration of the mid-20th century.

Now, visitors to Halki have a chance to wander around the remains of the town and take advantage of the many photo opportunities on offer.

Castle of the Knights

Also known as the Medieval Castle of Halki, this now ruined castle is located on a hill above Chorio, and was built by the Knights of Saint John in the 14th century to protect the island and its inhabitants from pirates and enemies.

Monastery of Taxiarhis Michael Palarniotis

Located on the hill of Agios Onoufrios and possessing a panoramic view of the island, this monastery is a sample of masterful artwork.

The Byzantine murals it boasts not only have laid over layers from the 14th century, but those from the 13th century as well.

Monastery of Agios Ioannis Alargas

The Monastery of Agios Ioannis Alagas is small but significant to the residents of Halki.

Inside, you’ll find a beautiful courtyard with a large cypress tree in the middle of the monastery.

Wander Around Nimporio

If Chorio is the old capital of Halki, then Nimporio Village is considered to be the new capital with the busiest port and the largest residential settlement on the island.

Wander through this scenic village and feast your eyes on the beautiful Venetian architecture.

Let your feet draw you to the windmills, the Bell Tower of Saint Nicholas, or the market square to mingle and try the delicious seafood and wine.

Beaches in Halki

• Kania Beach – A 30-minute walk or 7 minute drive from Nimporio, the pebble beach of Kania calls tourists to come and play. The beach is well organized for visitors with sunbeds and shade; meals and drinks are available as well.
• Pondamos Beach – Having the ideal mix of sand and the beautiful, clear sea, Pandamos is known for being very clean and being safe for children. Sunbeds areavailable for rent, and food is available for purchase here.
• Ftenagia Beach – Also walking distance from Nimporio, Ftenagia is known for being a decent place to snorkel. As with the other beaches, sunbeds and food can be purchased on-site.

Getting Around Halki

Halki is small enough for most people to get around by walking, and most people do just that.

But for those who wish to be transported, the island does offer some help.

Unlike major cities where everyone gets around by bus, train, or taxi, only one bus and one taxi serve the entire village.

As you can imagine, wait times are quite high, and most people simply forget about transportation and just decide to walk.

Best Time to Visit Halki

Like a majority of the most beautiful Greek islands, Halki is best experienced at specific times of the year.

Based on the nature of the Halki weather and temperature, the best times to visit Halki are from late March to early June and from September to late October.

However, the bulk of Halki’s visitors make their way there between the months of May and August.

Conclusion

Halki island is a gorgeous, stress-relieving place to visit and is known as one of the more relaxing and budget friendly Greek islands. From the architecture to the beaches and the experience of sheer beauty and ease of moving around the island, Halki is an island not to be missed.

Interested in visiting the Greek islands? If so, be sure to check out my full collection of Greek Island Travel Guides.

🔎 Did you find this travel guide useful? If so, please comment below and be sure to share it with your family and friends.

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