Kosher food and Shabbat in Halkidiki: where to eat and what to do on Shabbat
There is no kosher restaurant in Halkidiki, but Thessaloniki is close. Here is how to manage kosher food and Shabbat on a Halkidiki holiday.
- Halkidiki has no kosher restaurant or Chabad house; the nearest are in Thessaloniki.
- The Shalom restaurant in Thessaloniki also caters kosher meals to Halkidiki hotels, by arrangement.
- At Passover and Sukkot there are sometimes organised kosher programmes at hotels in the area.
If you keep kosher and are heading to Halkidiki, arrange meals from Thessaloniki in advance, stop in the city on the way from the airport, and ask the hotel for a regular key for Shabbat.
Is there kosher food in Halkidiki?
There is currently no permanent kosher restaurant in Halkidiki, and no Chabad house on any of its three peninsulas. But Halkidiki is close to Thessaloniki, which has an active Jewish community, a Chabad house and a kosher restaurant. Kosher-keeping Israelis in Halkidiki usually manage in three ways: kosher meals delivered from Thessaloniki, shopping at a kosher outlet in Thessaloniki on the way from the airport, or a holiday with an organised kosher programme at a hotel.
Kosher food from Thessaloniki
- Shalom restaurant at the Astoria hotel, Thessaloniki: the only kosher restaurant in the city according to current kosher guides, under Chabad of Thessaloniki (Rabbi Yoel Kaplan). It serves meat and vegetarian dishes and also prepares packed meals for trips.
- Delivery to hotels: according to Kids Love Greece, the restaurant offers kosher catering to hotels in Thessaloniki and on the Halkidiki peninsula. Arrange it a few days ahead.
- In winter: from November to February it is mainly frozen food to order and collect.
Thessaloniki to Halkidiki is about one to two hours' drive, depending on the peninsula. Stop in the city on the way from the airport and collect food for a few days.
Shabbat in Halkidiki
- Shabbat times: Halkidiki is in the same area as Thessaloniki, and candle-lighting and havdalah times are very close to Thessaloniki's. See Shabbat times and kosher in Greece.
- Synagogue: there is no active synagogue in Halkidiki. Thessaloniki has synagogues and a Chabad house, and you can book Shabbat meals through Chabad of Thessaloniki (jewishthessaloniki.com).
- At the hotel: ask in advance for a room with a regular key instead of a card, and check for light sensors in corridors.
Organised kosher programmes in Halkidiki
At festivals (mainly Passover and Sukkot) kosher tour operators take over hotels in Halkidiki and run a supervised kitchen. For example, a kosher programme at a hotel in Kassandra was advertised for Sukkot 2025. Programmes change every year, so check the kosher holiday operators' websites before the festival. See also Passover in Greece: kosher hotels.
What can you buy in a supermarket in Halkidiki?
Large Greek supermarkets stock some products with a hechsher, but not many, and no meat. Fruit, vegetables, fresh fish with fins and scales, and packaged products with a recognised kosher symbol are the basics. See kosher products in Greek supermarkets.
How to get to Halkidiki from Israel
Fly to Thessaloniki. In summer 2026 Sun d'Or, Israir and Arkia flew direct from Tel Aviv to Thessaloniki, according to the airlines' announcements. From there, rent a car. More in our Halkidiki guide.
FAQ
Is there a Chabad house in Halkidiki? No. The nearest Chabad house is in Thessaloniki, one to two hours' drive away, where you can book Shabbat meals.
Can I get kosher meals delivered to a hotel in Halkidiki? Yes, according to kosher guides the Shalom restaurant in Thessaloniki offers kosher catering to hotels in Halkidiki. Arrange it in advance.
When does Shabbat start in Halkidiki? Times are very close to Thessaloniki's. Exact times for the coming week are on Yavanet's Shabbat times page.
Is there a kosher hotel in Halkidiki? There is no year-round kosher hotel. At Passover and Sukkot there are sometimes organised kosher programmes at hotels in the area.
