Paralia Katerini is the beach suburb of Katerini, lying about 5 km directly east of the town centre. The beach runs for approximately 8 kilometres along the Thermaic Gulf, with fine sand and very gradual shelving that makes it safe for children and non-swimmers. The EU Blue Flag certification has been maintained consistently, and water quality is generally good.
The resort strip behind the beach is dense with tavernas, ice cream shops, beach equipment rental, and smaller hotels. July and August bring enormous crowds — Paralia is one of the most popular domestic beach destinations in northern Greece and it shows, with beach chairs packed onto every metre of sand and restaurants busy until late. The flip side is that the infrastructure is good: parking is plentiful, the beach is cleaned daily, and the choice of places to eat is wide. The promenade along the seafront is the place to be in the evening. Off season (October through May) the resort largely closes and the beach reverts to something quieter and more atmospheric.