Volos and Pelion 

The city of Volos has several museums and is a major port, and also the gateway to the charming Pelion peninsula with its traditional villages and beaches.

The Pelion CoastThe Pelion Coast

Tradition holds that the Pelion peninsula is where the Greek Gods used to go to enjoy themselves by relaxing, eating, and drinking. Today it's where modern Greeks go to do the same, joined by an increasing number of discerning visitors.

The city of Volos, the gateway to the Pelion, is just over a three-hour drive from Athens, and a little over two hours from Thessaloniki. The region's highlights include beaches, unspoiled mountain villages, forests, good walking, orchards, and abundant fruit and vegetables that make for a unique and excellent cuisine.

The Harbour in VolosThe Harbour in Volos

Centaurs

In Greek mythology the Pelion was home to the centaurs, those creatures who had the upper torso and head of a man on the body of a horse and were known for their lusty and drunken ways. 

Jason and the Golden Fleece

The exception was the wise and good centaur, Chiron, who was tutor to the young Jason. In later life Jason undertook a quest for a famous trophy, the Golden Fleece, in order to claim his rightful kingdom. He set off on his heroic quest with his company of Argonauts from Volos.

Volos

Volos today is an industrial city and major port, which most people pass through on their way to the more rural delights of the Pelion. The main reason to spend a day or two  in Volos would be to visit the Archaeological Museum, an excellent museum with the best of the treasures from two local and lesser-known archaeological sites, Dimini and Sesklo. The City of Volos Museum tells the story of the city and is housed in an old tobacco warehouse, and there are a few other museums and churches like the impressive Ayios Nektarios.

Ayios Nektarios in VolosAyios Nektarios in Volos

To the Pelion

Leaving Volos you enter the green and densely-wooded Pelion. Here your first stop, depending which route you take, may well be Makrinitsa, one of 24 villages scattered across Mount Pelion (1,624m/5,328ft), the spine of the Pelion peninsula. Makrinitsa was founded in the 13th century by refugees fleeing from Constantinople. Its steep, cobbled streets and protected status mean that you will have to leave your car outside the village and explore the lovely centre on foot. 

Makrinitsa on the Pelion PeninsulaMakrinitsa on the Pelion Peninsula

Makrinitsa

Several traditional mansions have been well-restored, and some of these have been turned into stylish hotels. There are tavernas serving gourmet food, a folk art museum, a Byzantine museum, a number of old churches to visit, and a monastery, as well as a wonderful view over Volos and the bay on which it stands. The large main square, shaded by huge trees and filled with restaurants, is the perfect place for lunch or dinner.

View of Volos from the PelionView of Volos from the Pelion

Vizitsa

Vizitsa is a similar village about an hour's drive further south in the Pelion, and should also not be missed. It too has mansions converted into guesthouses and hotels, and some memorable eating places. It can be busy during the daytime, but at night it reverts to being the peaceful and traditional mountain settlement it has always been. 

Milies

To reach Vizitsa, turn off the main road at the larger village of Milies, where there are more attractive old mansions, as well as churches to visit and a folklore museum. It was here that the good centaur, Chiron, lived in a cave. Milies is connected to Ano Lechonia by a steam train which usually runs on summer weekends and provides a fun and easy way to enjoy some of the Pelion's best scenery. You can also get to Milies from Volos on the Pelion Railway, in the summer.

Our Pick of the Guides to Greece

Rough-Guide-Greece-2022.png

Agios Ioannis

If you're looking for a beach, head to Agios Ioannis, an attractive, small resort at the end of a steep and zigzagging road coming down from Pelion's hills. It has one of the best beaches, with watersports too, and several restaurants serving traditional Pelion cuisine. 

South from Agios Ioannis is the inland village of Tsagkarada. Sprawling over a wide area of the northeast coast, it retains a distinctly village feel. Its main claim to fame is having the biggest and oldest plane tree in Greece, reputedly a thousand years old and with a massive trunk that is 59 feet (18m) in circumference. This whole area is covered in forests of plane and oak trees, with apple and cherry orchards, and old stone houses with their terraces draped in vines.

Trikerion

Further south still is a small bump at the very end of the peninsula called Trikerion. It's much quieter than the rest of the Pelion, and its local architecture is more reminiscent of the Cyclades. The beautiful fishing village of Agia Kiriaki is everything you ever dreamed a Greek fishing village could be.

Boats are still made here by traditional methods in the boatyard. Although there's no beach, there are a few rooms to rent and places to eat, and the village makes an idyllic place for a relaxing get-away-from-it-all break. It's connected by road and tracks to the even more peaceful hilltop village of Trikeri. Regular boats leave from here in summer for the Sporades, if you wish to move on into the Aegean.

Other Central Greece and Thessaly pages

  • This beautiful drive along the northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth (Korinthiakos Kolpos), goes from Delphi to Missolonghi via Galixidi and Nafpaktos.

    Gulf of Corinth Drive

    This beautiful drive along the northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth (Korinthiakos Kolpos), goes from Delphi to Missolonghi via Galixidi and Nafpaktos.

  • The Parnassus Mountains rise behind ancient Delphi and the mountain village of Arachova, and the Parnassus National Park is one of the two oldest in Greece.

    Parnassus Mountains

    The Parnassus Mountains rise behind ancient Delphi and the mountain village of Arachova, and the Parnassus National Park is one of the two oldest in Greece.

  • Visiting the monasteries of Meteora on the Plain of Thessaly, with hotels in Kalambaka and guided tours available.

    Meteora

    Visiting the monasteries of Meteora on the Plain of Thessaly, with hotels in Kalambaka and guided tours available.

  • Trikala is a city in Thessaly, noted for its traditional architecture with lots of things to see and a good base for visiting the monasteries of Meteora.

    Things to See in Trikala

    Trikala is a city in Thessaly, noted for its traditional architecture with lots of things to see and a good base for visiting the monasteries of Meteora.

  • Arachova is a mountain town in the Parnassus Mountains of Greece and a good base for visiting the ancient archaeological site of Delphi, a 15-minute drive away.

    Arachova

    Arachova is a mountain town in the Parnassus Mountains of Greece and a good base for visiting the ancient archaeological site of Delphi, a 15-minute drive away.

  • The Bradt Guide to Northern Greece is a detailed guide to Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Thrace, The Pelion, The Sporades and the rest of Northern Greece.

    Northern Greece Guide

    The Bradt Guide to Northern Greece is a detailed guide to Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Thrace, The Pelion, The Sporades and the rest of Northern Greece.

  • The Pindus Mountains range runs along the border between Epirus and Thessaly, includes two national parks and some of the highest mountain peaks in the country.

    Pindus Mountains

    The Pindus Mountains range runs along the border between Epirus and Thessaly, includes two national parks and some of the highest mountain peaks in the country.

  • Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and is in the Mount Olympus National Park in Macedonia, with Litochoro being the best base.

    Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece

    Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and is in the Mount Olympus National Park in Macedonia, with Litochoro being the best base.

  • Visiting the ancient site of Delphi and its archaeological museum in the Parnassos Mountains of Central Greece.

    Delphi, Ancient Greek Site and Archaeological Museum

    Visiting the ancient site of Delphi and its archaeological museum in the Parnassos Mountains of Central Greece.

  • Ossios Loukas is a Byzantine monastery that stands between Athens and Delphi and is the burial place of the Greek hermit, Blessed Luke.

    Ossios Loukas

    Ossios Loukas is a Byzantine monastery that stands between Athens and Delphi and is the burial place of the Greek hermit, Blessed Luke.

  • Central Greece and Thessaly has many Greek visitor attractions, like ancient Delphi, Meteora, the Pelion and Ossios Loukas monastery.

    Central Greece and Thessaly

    Central Greece and Thessaly has many Greek visitor attractions, like ancient Delphi, Meteora, the Pelion and Ossios Loukas monastery.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Paris 2024 Olympic Flame Lit at Ancient Olympia, Countdown to Games Begins

    The Olympic flame that will be burning for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer was lit in Ancient Olympia on Tuesday, April 16. Located in western Peloponnese, Ancient Olympia is one of the most…

    Read More

  2. April 17 Greece National Strike to Affect Public Transport, Ferry Travel

    Public transportation in Athens as well as ferry travel in Greece will be disrupted on Wednesday, April 17, due to a 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the cou…

    Read More

  3. The Ikaria Way

    the-ikaria-way-front-and-back-cover-900.webp
    Greece Travel Secrets reviews the Greek cookbook, The Ikaria Way by Diane Kochilas, containing 100 delicious plant-based recipes.

    Read More

  4. Greece Announces Steep Fines for Beach Access Violations

    The Greek Finance Ministry announced this week that it would taking strict measures including fines of up to 60,000 euros to ensure that Greece’s beaches are always accessible to the public. Fines ran…

    Read More

  5. Cyprus-Greece Ferry Connection to Start on May 29

    For a third year in a row, the ferry service linking Cyprus with Greece is scheduled to resume operations on May 29. The Cypriot-flagged Daleela, which can transport 400 passengers and 200 vehicles, w…

    Read More

  6. Greece Aiming to Include Knossos on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

    The Region of Crete announced this week that all actions had been taken to include the world-famous archaeological site of Knossos on Crete on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    Read More

  7. Travel & Tourism Set to Break All Records in 2024, Says WTTC

    The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is projecting a record-breaking year for Travel & Tourism in 2024, with the sector’s global economic contribution set to reach an all-time high of $11.1 tri…

    Read More

  8. Two Top Floors of Athens Hotel Blocking Acropolis View Shut Down

    The Greek Tourism Ministry announced this week that it had sealed off the two top floors and the rooftop bar of a hotel in the center of Athens which were blocking views to the Acropolis.

    Read More

  9. Greece Opens Visa Station on Rhodes to Facilitate Turkish Tourists

    In order to facilitate tourists arriving from neighboring Turkey under a new visa-on-arrival scheme, Greek authorities announced the opening of a visa station on Rhodes. Under the fast-track visa sche…

    Read More

  10. 10 Day Trips to Restaurants Near Athens

    You don't have to travel far to have a good time in Greece. Here's our list of 10 eateries for day trips from Athens.

    Read More