# The Ultimate Guide to Siviri in Halkidiki > Kassandra’s "Greek" west side: a shallow family beach, Olympus-view sunsets and the Kassandra Festival amphitheatre — a guide with all the practical detail. Siviri is the "Greek" side of Kassandra: a seaside village of ~800 residents on the west coast, where the sun sets into the sea and most umbrella labels bear Greek names. It is about 95 km from Thessaloniki and 4 km from [Kallithea](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/kallithea) — five minutes from the peninsula's fullest infrastructure, yet on a completely different rhythm. ## Beach and sea Siviri's beach is sandy, shallow and family-friendly, organized in front of the village with free space at the ends. Facing west, afternoons are the point here: swimming until late and a sunset over the Thermaic Gulf — with Mount Olympus visible on the horizon on clear days. Nearby alternatives: free [Elani](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/elani-beach-kassandra) (5.3 km) for quiet, [Agios Nikolaos](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/agios-nikolaos-kassandra) (4.9 km), and fully organized [Kallithea](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/beaches/kallithea-kassandra) across on the east coast. See all options: [beaches near Siviri](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/siviri/beaches). ## The amphitheatre and the Kassandra Festival Siviri hides one of Halkidiki's loveliest cultural settings: the open-air "Sani-Siviri" amphitheatre above the sea, which hosts the Kassandra Festival every summer — concerts and performances with the sunset as a backdrop. If your dates line up, it makes for one of the most special evenings in Halkidiki. ## Things to do - **Sunset drinks**: The seafront beach bars face the sunset head-on — arrive by 19:30. - **Water park**: The area's [aquapark](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/activities/kassandra-aquapark) is 5.5 km away — a guaranteed hit with kids. - **West coast drive**: South towards [Fourka](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/fourka) (4.9 km) and [Possidi](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/posidi) — one of Kassandra's finest "sunset lines". ## Food and stay Fish tavernas and family-run places on the seafront — you eat more locally and more affordably here than on the Kallithea-Hanioti strip. Accommodation is mostly rooms and villas; browse [stays in the area](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/listings). ## Practical - **Distance**: ~95 km from Thessaloniki (1h 25m). - **Parking**: Fairly comfortable even in August — a west-coast advantage. - **Best period**: July-August for the buzz and the festival, September for peace. ## Practical notes for international visitors Siviri is Kassandra's west coast as it should be: a family sandy beach, sunset over the sea — Mount Olympus on the horizon on clear days — and a crowd that speaks more Greek than English. The simplest escape from the east-coast bustle: Kallithea is only 5 minutes over the hill. Culture bonus few guides mention: the open-air amphitheatre above the sea, home to the summer Kassandra Festival. ## Frequently asked questions ### How does west Kassandra differ from the east? The east (Kallithea-Hanioti-Pefkochori) has the big tourist infrastructure and nightlife; the west (Siviri, Fourka, Possidi) has the sunset, a more Greek crowd and a calmer pace — and it's only a 10-15 minute drive between them. ### Is Siviri a good base for all of Kassandra? Yes — it sits mid-peninsula, with Kallithea 5 minutes away and the whole south (Possidi, Paliouri) under half an hour. More: [the Siviri page](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/places/siviri) and [Kassandra's best beaches](https://chalkidikihub.gr/en/blog/keyword-oi-kalyteres-paralies-kassandras). --- Source: Type: BlogPosting · Halkidiki, Greece