Bridge of Khalkis
Bridge of Khalkis
4.5
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The place where the bridge is built, is the narrowest point of the channel, and the water current can reach the speed of 15km (9 miles) per hour! It is really interesting to watch the reversion of flow direction that happens about every 6 hours. The exact time of reversion is determined by the position of the moon.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
237 reviews
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Paul B
Greater Manchester, UK817 contributions
Mar 2023
A deservedly popular place to visit where a strong current changes direction twice a day like a tide - but in a tideless sea! This was a subject of curiosity from ancient times. The bridge occupies a site where a huge Venetian fortress once stood, of which sadly hardly a trace remains. Around the bridge and running along the Evia side of the bridge to the north are many bars and restaurants catering to the large number of both Greek and foreign tourists
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
REDMAN
Egaleo, Greece5,049 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Visit this city with my cousin and relax while observing the "crazy" waters! It is a charming city and close to the capital.
Written February 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda L
Crete57 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
We were lucky enough to see the bridge open for ships to pass through. It was amazing to watch small fish try to swim against the tide, only to be forced backwards till they turn and swim back the way they came.
Written June 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michael s
Meitar, Israel31 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
This place is owsome ,we went there for sunset ,there was a tide and water colour and the city was lovely .there is a lot of resturants and Cafe ,easyly i would say this place is even better than the ramblas st in Barcelona.
Written July 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RheaStathatos
Forest Hills, NY34 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
The best place to watch currents under the bridge that change direction every 6 hours, the waters stands still for a few minutes and change directions. Have have fun , go and have coffee on the castro and you will see the city, great
Written August 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debi N
Fort Worth, TX177 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
An old bridge with a great view of the city. Very popular with the locals, especially during the changing of the tide.
Written August 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shifra w
toronto4,651 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
Khalkis is absolutely beautiful, a quaint seaside town with a beautiful promenade along the water.
If you have spent a few days in Athens, this is a great place to get away to for its leisurely pace.
The town is connected to mainland Greece by two bridges, the "Sliding Bridge" in the west at the narrowest point of the Euripus Strait and a suspension bridge.
A special tidal phenomenon takes place in the strait, as strong tidal currents reverse direction once every six hours, creating strong currents.
The tour guide of our Jewish Heritage Tour was born here and took us on a day tour to experience his home town.
One of the stops we made was at this sliding bridge.
To our delight, we spied several sea turtles in the swirling waters, though they submerged too quickly for me to get a picture of them.
We also ate lunch along the waterfront and visited the synagogue and Jewish cemetery.
Here is some historical information about the sliding bridge--
The Euripus Strait which separates the city and the island from the mainland was bridged in 411 BC with a wooden bridge. In the time of Justinian the fixed bridge was replaced with a movable structure. The Turks replaced this once again with a fixed bridge. In 1856, a wooden swing bridge was built; in 1896, an iron swing bridge, and in 1962, the existing "sliding bridge"; the construction works of the 19th century destroyed the most part of the medieval castle built across the bridge. The cable stay suspension bridge which joins Khalkis to the mainland to the south was opened in 1993.
Since I do not see an entry for Khalkis itself, I am also including some historical information about the Jewish community, which you might not be aware of. I certainly wasn't.
Chalkis is the chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. It is the capital of the island of Evoia, one of "The large islands" (Evoia, Cyprus, Crete) according to Prophet Joshuah and (one of the most distinguished), according to Philon of Alexandria. The Romaniote Jewish Community of Chalkis may not be the oldest one in Greece, but it is the only one in Europe that has been living in the same city for 2,500 years without interruption. It is active in the city's life and has therefore naturally written a history of its own.
It is said that the name of the city derives from the Semitic root "chalek", which means "to split up".
The Jewish presence in Evoia and especially Chalkis goes so far back that it is assumed that the first Jews arrived around 586 B.C.
In 1940, in the Greek - Italian war, one of the first Greek officers who fell heroically in battle was a Jew from Chalkis, Colonel Mordechai Frizis.
Chalkis is one of the few communities that lost only 22 out of 327 members during World War II. This is due to the protection given by fellow citizens, the National Resistance Fighters and by the Metropolitan Bishop Grigorios, who hid sacred objects belonging to the Synagogue inside the Metropolitan Church.
If you have spent a few days in Athens, this is a great place to get away to for its leisurely pace.
The town is connected to mainland Greece by two bridges, the "Sliding Bridge" in the west at the narrowest point of the Euripus Strait and a suspension bridge.
A special tidal phenomenon takes place in the strait, as strong tidal currents reverse direction once every six hours, creating strong currents.
The tour guide of our Jewish Heritage Tour was born here and took us on a day tour to experience his home town.
One of the stops we made was at this sliding bridge.
To our delight, we spied several sea turtles in the swirling waters, though they submerged too quickly for me to get a picture of them.
We also ate lunch along the waterfront and visited the synagogue and Jewish cemetery.
Here is some historical information about the sliding bridge--
The Euripus Strait which separates the city and the island from the mainland was bridged in 411 BC with a wooden bridge. In the time of Justinian the fixed bridge was replaced with a movable structure. The Turks replaced this once again with a fixed bridge. In 1856, a wooden swing bridge was built; in 1896, an iron swing bridge, and in 1962, the existing "sliding bridge"; the construction works of the 19th century destroyed the most part of the medieval castle built across the bridge. The cable stay suspension bridge which joins Khalkis to the mainland to the south was opened in 1993.
Since I do not see an entry for Khalkis itself, I am also including some historical information about the Jewish community, which you might not be aware of. I certainly wasn't.
Chalkis is the chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. It is the capital of the island of Evoia, one of "The large islands" (Evoia, Cyprus, Crete) according to Prophet Joshuah and (one of the most distinguished), according to Philon of Alexandria. The Romaniote Jewish Community of Chalkis may not be the oldest one in Greece, but it is the only one in Europe that has been living in the same city for 2,500 years without interruption. It is active in the city's life and has therefore naturally written a history of its own.
It is said that the name of the city derives from the Semitic root "chalek", which means "to split up".
The Jewish presence in Evoia and especially Chalkis goes so far back that it is assumed that the first Jews arrived around 586 B.C.
In 1940, in the Greek - Italian war, one of the first Greek officers who fell heroically in battle was a Jew from Chalkis, Colonel Mordechai Frizis.
Chalkis is one of the few communities that lost only 22 out of 327 members during World War II. This is due to the protection given by fellow citizens, the National Resistance Fighters and by the Metropolitan Bishop Grigorios, who hid sacred objects belonging to the Synagogue inside the Metropolitan Church.
Written July 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greekcypriot2009
Athens, Greece8,970 contributions
Dec 2015 • Family
The city of Chalkida is built partly on Evia and partly at Viotia (mainland of Greece).
The connection with Evia is easy because of two bridges, the old one (a historical bridge tht used to be wooden and it is nice to walk on) and the modern bridge (built in 1993) for the car traffic.
The old bridge is much more interesting though because you can stand there for the view of the city and the new bridge on the far distance. Hundreds of years before there was a wooden bridge there but this iron bridge was built on 1962.
What’s more if you are lucky it’s the best place to watch the weird phenomenon of the waters under the bridge that change direction every 6 hours! It stands still for 8 minutes and then it goes the other way.
The explanation has nothing to do with legends and philosophy of course, it has to do with the position of the moon and how it affects the waters.
TIP:The best place to see it is under the old bridge at the center of the city.
The connection with Evia is easy because of two bridges, the old one (a historical bridge tht used to be wooden and it is nice to walk on) and the modern bridge (built in 1993) for the car traffic.
The old bridge is much more interesting though because you can stand there for the view of the city and the new bridge on the far distance. Hundreds of years before there was a wooden bridge there but this iron bridge was built on 1962.
What’s more if you are lucky it’s the best place to watch the weird phenomenon of the waters under the bridge that change direction every 6 hours! It stands still for 8 minutes and then it goes the other way.
The explanation has nothing to do with legends and philosophy of course, it has to do with the position of the moon and how it affects the waters.
TIP:The best place to see it is under the old bridge at the center of the city.
Written April 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
REDMAN
Egaleo, Greece5,049 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Call it crazy waters because for some hours of the day flowing one way and the rest of the day flowing the other way. Think it's by the tide. It's an interesting phenomenon to see.
Written October 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,452 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Well, what is interesting about this bridge is a very strong current, running two ways during high and low tide and its opening to let ships through.
During our stay in Evia we were three times here and saw only that strong current. Yes, it is unusual as it looks like a powerful river flowing, but that's it. If you want to see it running in another direction you should wait or come back after several hours. The bridge opening times are displayed on a board by the bridge, and during our stay it was very late, around midnight, so we didn't bother waiting.
Apart from that, the area around is nice with many restaurants and cafes around by the sea and promenade.
During our stay in Evia we were three times here and saw only that strong current. Yes, it is unusual as it looks like a powerful river flowing, but that's it. If you want to see it running in another direction you should wait or come back after several hours. The bridge opening times are displayed on a board by the bridge, and during our stay it was very late, around midnight, so we didn't bother waiting.
Apart from that, the area around is nice with many restaurants and cafes around by the sea and promenade.
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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