Located at the narrowest point of the Halkidiki Peninsula, Nea Roda is famed for its 5th-century BC canal established by Xerxes, King of Persia. This small seaside village was settled by migrants from the Turkish village of Roda during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey.
Spend your days relaxing at Nea Roda Beach, which stretches along the entire length of the village. A short drive east is one of the Athos Peninsula’s most stunning beaches at Komitsa, where you’ll find sun loungers and a restaurant serving traditional Greek fare. At one end of Komitsa Beach is the Mount Athos Border Wall, which marks the Holy Mountain’s boundary.
Nea Roda makes an ideal base for visiting the ancient settlement of Stagira, which is famed as the birthplace of Aristotle. Founded by Ionians in the 7th century BC, its stone-built ruins offer superb views across the Aegean Sea.
Getting there
Nea Roda is around five minutes’ drive from Ierissos and 1.5 hours from Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Nea Roda and the village is small enough to explore on foot.