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Voykit pocket guide · Greece
Chalcis
Χαλκίδα
Spend a half‑day to see the old suspension bridge, the Byzantine‑Venetian church, and a quick beach stop; add a night if you want a relaxed pace.
Chalcis is the main town on Evvia, straddling the Euripus Strait. Its sights cluster around the old bridge, a few historic sites and nearby beaches, all within easy walking distance. One day covers the highlights; a second night lets you enjoy sunset at Liani Ammos and a relaxed dinner.
- Country
- Greece
- Local name
- Χαλκίδα
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, crowded beaches)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; card terminals are required in many businesses.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; a passport is needed to register.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1571
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Leave the coins, €0.50–1.; Taverna or restaurant: 5–10% in cash on the table; not expected at gyros shops.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night.; Boat crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure.
- Toilets
- Use cafés (buy something), museums and sites. Paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–3 |
| Greek salad | €4–6 |
| Fish tavern plate | €8–12 |
| Local wine glass | €3–5 |
| Bus ticket Athens‑Chalcis | €5–7 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ATH · Athens Eleftherios Venizelos
- 69 km (43 mi), about 45 min by bus or train43 mi (69 km), about 45 min by bus or train
Typical fares
- Athens → Chalcis (bus/train)
- about €6 each way (check)
- Taxi within Chalcis (5 km)
- ≈ €12–15
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
City is linked by two bridges; local bus and the Athens‑Evia suburban railway run every 30 min. Walkable centre, rent a bike for beach hops.
See and do
Known for
- Old suspension bridge (night opening)
- Church of Agia Paraskevi
- Karababa Castle
- Diachronic Museum Arethousa
- Fish taverns on the waterfront
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eretria | Car or bus, about 20 min west along the coast | ≈30 min |
| Ancient Aulis | Car, 15 min north‑west | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Hara Hotel
- Mainland side, rooms with Gulf view, rooftop bar, breakfast included
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Συγγνώμηsee-gnó-mee |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώef-ha-ree-STO |
| How much is it? | Πόσο κοστίζει;PO-so ko-STEE-zee |
| Where is the toilet? | Πού είναι η τουαλέτα;POO EE-neh ee too-a-LE-ta |
| Can I pay by card? | Μπορώ να πληρώ με κάρτα;bo-RO na plee-RO me KAR-ta |
| I would like a table for two | Θα ήθελα τραπέζι για δύοtha EE-the-la tra-PE-zee ya thee-O |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'kaliméra' (morning) or 'kalispéra' (evening) on entering shops and tavernas; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Hospitality: Accept offered coffee, sweets or raki; it is part of the welcome; avoid: Refusing flatly — take a little
- Churches: Covered shoulders and knees; quiet voices; a small candle donation; avoid: Turning your back on the altar for photos during a service
- Gestures: Wave with the palm turned towards yourself; avoid: The open palm pushed forward (moutza)
- Conversation: Family, food and football are easy topics; avoid: Lecturing on the debt crisis, Türkiye or the name of North Macedonia
- Dinner at a home: Bring pastries or wine; arrive a little late; avoid: Leaving food on the plate if you have been served more
- Dress: Casual; long trousers or skirt for monasteries; avoid: Swimwear in town, shops and churches
Scams and watch-outs
- Bridge opening schedule varies; ask the port authority (check).
- Summer tide currents in the Euripus can be strong; swim only at designated beaches.
Chalcis is generally safe; stay aware of traffic on bridges and watch the tide before swimming.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chalcis yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Old suspension bridge (night opening)
- Church of Agia Paraskevi
- Karababa Castle
- Diachronic Museum Arethousa
- Fish taverns on the waterfront
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Chalcis: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18176333
- Official municipality site: dimoschalkideon.gr
- Wikivoyage: Chalcis, revision 5302252 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5302252
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chalcis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.