As of 15th June, Greece has opened its borders for some countries and we immediately decided to take a spontaneous road trip to Pelion, Greece. It is a beautiful and not so touristic region located in the northern side of Greece, which I visited a few years ago and since then I always wanted to return.
I was looking for a getaway to a remote corner of heaven, to just swim, enjoy the sea, the beach and the sun all day long. And Pelion was a perfect getaway to enjoy all these together with the beautiful Mediterranean scenery.
About Pelion region
I discovered Pelion a few years ago while I was looking for hidden gems in Greece and since then I always wanted to return. Mount Pelion is one of the most popular mountains among Greeks, a place full of natural wonders, although it’s quite less popular among the foreigners tourists compared with the islands.
From the forests with abundant and diverse vegetation, waterfalls, simple stone houses but beautifully decorated with colorful flower pots which seem to urge you to stay a little bit more, to some of the most beautiful beaches you will find in Greece, Pelion is truly a perfect holiday spot. The beaches offer a mix of clear turquoise water, surrounded by an abundance of forested hills, springs and waterfalls. Often, the most beautiful beaches can be reached after a little hike and you can enjoy them for yourself if you go there during weekdays.
An interesting fact which I found while I visited Pelion for the first time is that in Greece you can ski. I never thought that Greece could also be a destination for skiing, but there are ski lifts and slopes in Mount Pelion which are visited mostly by the locals.
How to get to Pelion
Mount Pelion is located in the northern Greece between Athens and Thessaloniki, being accessible by car either from one of these main airports or from the local airport of Volos- Nea Anchialos Airport. Volos is the main nearby city, located at the base of Mount Pelion, 1 hour drive away up in the mountain. On the way we passed through Portaria one of the most popular villages in the area, which is very charming – that’s why it’s worth a short stop to explore it and to find a tavern where to enjoy the Greek cuisine.
Where we stayed in Pelion
We stayed in Agios Dimitrios at Elda Hotel Pelion, which is a family owned villa with rooms and a beautiful garden overlooking the sea. It was my second stay at this villa, every time I felt here the hospitality of the Greek people and all the beauty this region has to offer.
Discover the best hotels in Pelion with a simple search:
The best things to do and to see in Pelion
We spent 1 week on the eastern side of Pelion, exploring every day a new beach and the surrounding area. The best part of visiting this region in June is that the weather wasn’t too hot and we even had some beaches all for ourselves, during the weekdays. Simply magical.
These are my top recommendations of things not to miss in Pelion:
Damouchari village, where Mamma Mia movie was filmed
Damouchari is a very small and simple, yet beautiful village which is also the place where scenes from Mamma Mia movie were filmed. You will only find a few houses which are hidden by the olives trees, some of them are hotels, shops and taverns. The beach of Damouchari is surrounded by the traditional taverns, a perfect place to try the traditional cuisine and to get into the local vibe.
Hiking
If you like to hike, is good to know that Damouchari belongs to Tsagarada – Fakistra – Damouchari – trail a 7.5 km long hike which takes you through the beautiful lush vegetation of Pelion, amazing panoramic sea views and leads to some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. It’s good to know before starting the hike that Fakistra is an isolated beach, while in Damouchari you will find taverns and hotels, being a better end point for the trail.
Tsagarada platanos tree, one of the oldest in Europe
One of the specific of the villages in the region are the plane trees, which are located in a square, in the center of the village, shading the place by their greatness. Many times you will find a tavern under the plane trees where you can enjoy the local cuisine.
But in Tsagarada you will find 1000 year old tree and this is one of the oldest in Europe.
Fakistra beach
Fakistra beach is the most beautiful beach in Pelion in my opinion. It is an isolated beach accessible after a 10 minutes hike, also being included in the top of the most beautiful beaches in the world by some publications. If you get there don’t miss the cave of Panagia Megalomata which is located on the left side of the beach. This cave used to be a secret school during the Ottoman occupation. Another secret place of Fakistra beach is a beautiful waterfall hidden into the forest, located just behind the beach.
A day-trip to Makrinitsa, “The balcony of Pelion”
Makrinitsa, also called “The balcony of Pelion” is located 1 hour drive away up in the mountain from our accommodation. I felt in love immediately with its authentic charm and beauty, the narrow and ancient pathways, stone made houses revealing a beautiful view over Pagasitikos Gulf. Just in the center of the village is an old platanus in the shade of which are few taverns being an ideal place to enjoy the traditional Greek specialties while admiring a panoramic view over Volos.
Makrinitsa can be visited as a day-trip, but if you have an extra time I recommend to book at least 1 night there.
The local cuisine
The Greek taverns are family owned restaurants being a perfect place to enjoy traditional cuisine and get into the local vibe. I love the Mediteranean mezze platter, which are small plates of traditional food, or simply the taste of Greek salad or tzatziki. I always believed that the fruits and vegetables are the tastiest in Greece. The best taverns we found are located in the biggest villages among which are Portaria, Makrinitsa and Damouchari.
The most beautiful beaches in Pelion
The beaches of Pelion peninsula are perfect for spending long summer days, dipping into the turquoise clear water. The forested hills that surround most of the beaches create a wild and beautiful scenery. Some beaches are partially organized and during the week are good chances to enjoy it all by yourself. This is one of my favorite parts about Pelion: to have a beach for yourself. This is possible if you visit the region outside the most popular months such as July and August and during the weekdays, because during the weekends many locals from Volos are going to the beach there.
One of the most popular beaches in Pelion is Myloponamos divided in two by a stone arch, Damouchari beach is a must visit since it is located in the beautiful village where Mamma Mia was filmed and Fakistra which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I also enjoyed Plaka Beach and Agios Saranta which has a beautiful tavern right at the end of the beach.
I really enjoyed this corner of heaven, somehow it remains my secret favorite destination where I will always return.
Mylopotamos Beach
I am absolutely in love with this place described here. The photos are very beautiful.
Pelion is a truly hidden gem 🙂
Oh man, I’m planning the last two days of our Greece trip and I came upon this. You have made this area sound so appealing!! Do you think it would be worth it to come for only two nights?
Hi, Pelion is not a touristy place, but it’s a great destination for beach – it has some beautiful beaches. However, for two nights I would recommend to visit/stay in Makrinitsa or Portaria. Makrinitsa is up in the mountain, being very romantic and authentic.
Nice article.Having spent many years of our life at the foot of Mount Pelion,and had its beautiful villages as our recreation and for our visits and stays with relatives there,we can only agree with what the writer of this article says….but a thousand times over.Pelion is truly an earthly paradise…in every season..and the food is marvellous,robust and unpretentious….as are our people there,on beautiful Mount Pelion.
Thank you so much :). Pelion remains one of my favorite destinations in Greece