Volos and Pelion – my own favorite Greek places is written by Antonella Thoma.
Pelion has it all for half the price
Greece's many islands are always popular holiday destinations, but the Greek mainland also has a lot to offer.
Volos and the nearby mountain Pelion are popular destinations due to their short distance to Athens, about 3 hours drive by car or bus, but the area is still a bit of a secret to other tourists.
However, its popularity among Athenians does not mean that Pelion is overcrowded, as this magical place has a lot of places to stay and activities to suit all tastes.
For me personally, it is a very special place that I never get tired of visiting. There are several reasons for this. The area is well located and is ideal for travelers who want to enjoy both the mountains and the Aegean Sea. If you too can live with spending a little less money than you typically get out on the islands, well, then you should consider Volos.
In this beautiful area you can swim in crystal clear waters, hike or ride on the mountain trails through the fertile lands of the centaurs – the mythological creatures of half horse and half man come from here, according to myths.
Plus you can eat the best local dishes as well as fresh seafood - and believe me, it will be very difficult to leave this place and return to reality afterwards.
Volos and the nearby mountain Pelion have it all, and that's why I love it. Let the journey begin.
The city of Volos is an obvious holiday destination
If you want to visit Pelion, you can take the bus to Volos either from Athens or from Thessaloniki, as I did.
Volos is a pleasant coastal town, located at the foot of Mount Pelion and opening onto the Pagasetic Gulf. It is a major port city with daily ferry connections to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos in the Sporades archipelago and also Limnos, Lesbos, Chios and SkirosIt is a really good idea to split your holiday between Pelion and one of these islands.
Volos is a great place to eat seafood; especially at the restaurants along the bay called ‘tsipouradika’. The restaurants there are quite cheap and they make an effort to have the best local seafood.
If you are not very hungry, you can always order a round of 'tsipouro' brandy for not much money, and then you usually get a reasonable portion of 'everything-good-from-the-sea-meze' - the Greek version of tapas – with next to it.
If you are coming to Volos by bus, it might be a good idea to rent a car, when you arrive, so you can easily get around. If you don't, you can use the local transportation, but it will limit you somewhat, and believe me - there is a lot to see.
Although Volos is a charming little town, if you have your daily life in Athens, you will probably prefer to run away from city life and live in one of the small villages around Pelion as far from the main road as possible - as I did.
Mount Pelion – local delicacies and unforgettable views
On the drive through Volos on the way to Pelion, we passed a strip of small coastal villages until we finally started driving up the narrow roads towards the mountain and its beautiful little villages. From some of them there are views of the Bay of Pagaseti and the town of Volos, and others are just surrounded by the rich flora of the trees and forests that this amazing mountain offers.
Some of these villages are Agios Georgios Nilias, Milies, Vizitsa, Tsagkarada, Chania, Portaria and Makrinitsa. My own favorite village on this side of the mountain is Milies.
Milies is one of the villages that is really beautiful to stroll around in. Here you can find small shops with handicrafts - made of local materials - as well as good restaurants.
And not only that; there is even a train station in this small cozy village, from where a mechanical train runs up through the beautiful nature towards the mountain and the view is impressive. Finally, take the trip if you have time.
If you have time, try visiting the better-known villages of Portaria and Makrinitsa, which are popular winter destinations with a good selection of hotels, a lot of activities and have the best views of Volos.
Chania – not to be confused with the city of Crete of the same name – is also a popular winter destination and has one of the finest ski areas in the country. And yes, there is snow in Greece.
The food in Pelion is reason enough to visit the area. You can't visit Pelion without trying the local specialties 'spetzofai' - a dish with sausages and peppers, 'exohiko' - roasted lamb with vegetables in a thin crispy dough, rooster in tomato sauce and red wine, meat with vegetables and cheese in a clay pot and all the other local delicacies.
We had decided to stay in the small and more discreet village of Agios Georgios Nileias in an elegant neoclassical villa, which is not as expensive as it sounds. The house had a really nice panoramic view of Volos and a cozy garden with a lovely pool.
This village is really charming, but it was a short distance from the beaches we also wanted to visit, so keep this in mind as Pelion has plenty of accommodation options depending on what you are most into.
The sea around Volos and Pelion
On the second half of the trip, we were ready to explore the beach side of Pelion. As you drive down from the mountain on the opposite side of Volos, the turquoise blue water begins to appear in front of you framed by oak, plane tree, apple, walnut, beech, chestnut and all-other-trees. I was so glad we were more to drive so I could enjoy the beautiful sight and store it in my memory forever.
The most famous beach on this side of Pelion is the unique Mylopotamos with crystal clear water and small rocky caves. It may be a good idea to keep in mind that this beach is packed midday during the high season.
Instead, you can choose one of the other beaches such as Agii Saranta, Agios Ioannis, Fakistra, which is located down to the village of Tsagkarada, or the 'Mamma-Mia'-famous small village of Damouchari.
Damouchari is also a village that is worth visiting in my opinion. The people behind the film Mamma Mia After all, they did their research. This village is without the typical mountain scenery, and it is closer to the style and atmosphere of the Sporades with its typical green-blue water and rich plant life.
Try diving at the rocky beach in Damouchari, take a walk through the narrow cobbled streets and alleys, visit the small souvenir shops and enjoy fresh seafood from the tavernas by the beach - then you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience.
Finally, I want to say that my little trips to Pelion have been eminent every single time. You can easily visit the area yourself and be creative. Book a hotel somewhere around Pelion, rent a car and let your heart take you around and explore the mountain. Wherever you end up, it will be perfect. I dare promise you that.
Good trips to Volos and Pelion.
These places you must see in Volos and Pelion
- Agios Georgios Nilias
- Milies
- Visit
- Tsagkarada
- Chania
- ordinance
- Makrinitsa
- Agii Saranta
- Agios Ioannis
- Fakistra
- Damouchari
Did you know: Here are the 7 cities in Europe with the most hours of sunshine
7: Nice in France – 342 hours/month
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Did you know: Here are the 7 cities in Europe with the most hours of sunshine!
7: Nice in France – 342 hours/month
6: Valencia in Spain – 343 hours/month
Get numbers 1-5 immediately by signing up for the newsletter, and look in the welcome email:
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