Exploring the Beauty and Charm of Pelion: Your Ultimate Guide
Pelion is located in central Greece, between the cities of Volos and Larissa. It is easily accessible by car or bus, and there are also several small airports in the region.It is home to several picturesque villages, including Makrinitsa, Portaria, and Tsagarada. Visitors of Pelion can explore the Byzantine church of Agia Marina in Vizitsa, the monastery of Agiou Ioanni Prodromou in Zagora, and other historic sites.The local cuisine of Pelion includes dishes such as spetzofai and boumbari.
Combining beautiful modern Greek towns, atmospheric accommodation in historic mansions and mountains, routes in nature, stunning beaches, and abundant local cuisine, Pelion -the `mountain of Centaurs` in Thessaly as it has been known since antiquity- is not accidentally one of the most popular destinations in Greece for all seasons.
From the autumn road trips across the orange-red forests to the spring getaways that include fruit picking, and from the relaxed island-like moments in the summer fishing towns to the skiing adventures between the beeches and the wild whites in the ski resort of Chania, Mount Pelion has many faces.
Here, we will help you discover the rural beauty of Pelion and learn everything you need, in order to ensure your trip to this striking part of Greece becomes unforgettable! This is your sign to book your next visit to Greece!
Reasons to visit
- For its beaches. Emerald waters, golden sand, and luscious greenery reach the sea. No one can deny that its beaches are a thing of beauty, full of blue-green waters and magic.
- Mylopotamos, Horefto, Agioi Saranda, Papa Nero, Melani, and Potistika, are among the top beaches, but you can find several more that will blow your mind.
- For its "secret" villages. They are many, and each one is unique. Lafkos with its beautiful "ceiling" due to the trees square and the path that ends at the beach of Agios Konstantinos.
- Pouri, a small townlet hanging like a balcony above Horefto. Kissos, famous for its taverns and the delectable dishes of local cuisine they offer. The amphitheatrically-built Afissos, the coastal Milina, Afetes with its arched bridges, and the island of Trikeri are just some of them that make up the treasures of Pelio.
- For its food. It is certain that in Peliiton, even the pickiest of eaters will find something to drool over. Most of the taverns and restaurants in the area are excellent and offer the same high-quality food. ‘Aleka’ in Tsagarada, ‘Kardamos’ in Makrinitsa, ‘Steki’ in Portaria, ‘Polydroso’ in Pouri, ‘Synantisi’ in Kissos, ‘Stefanis’ in Agios Georgios, and ‘Plymari’ on the beach of Analipsi are just a few of the eateries that will offer you the opportunity to taste its delicious gastronomic creations.
- For its picturesque paths. They are many beautiful paths, with the majority of them being well-marked and easily accessible. They vary in difficulty, offering the luxury of choosing between easy 20-minute paths or more difficult ones that require a map and a compass.
- In general, they follow the cobbled streets that connected the townlets with each other and with the railway lines that were used far before the roads were built.
- For the city of Volos. Yes, it is technically not included in Pelion, but it is the classic gateway to it, and you should honor it properly before or on your return. The beach of the city, with its many tsipouro restaurants, is a hot spot where someone can enjoy the local spirit alongside tasty ‘meze’ dishes. If you want to further savor the taste of tsipouro, in Nea Ionia and in some other areas of the city, you will find the traditional tsipouro restaurants that made the capital of Magnesia famous for its drinkers.
How to get there
Pelion and the whole prefecture of Magnesia, in general, are located in the center of Greece. The distance from both Athens and Thessaloniki to Pelion is relatively short, making it easy and comfortable for travelers to access. In specific, the distance between Athens and Pelion is 320 km, while the distance between Thessaloniki and Pelio is 217 km.
You can reach Pelion by KTEL Buses. From Athens, the bus ride takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. From Thessaloniki, you can be in it in only about 2 hours. Additionally, the Ktel buses have itineraries that connect Pelion with the cities of Patras, Ioannina, Kozani, Lamia, and Larissa, in Thessaly, Greece.
If you decide to drive to Pelion in your own car, you should keep in mind that you can reach Pelio considerably faster, with the drive from Athens taking around 3 hours and 50 minutes, and the drive from Thessaloniki taking around 2 hours and 10 minutes. Furthermore, you can access Pelion by train. You can reach Pelio from Athens by train with "Intercity" in 5 hours. From Thessaloniki, the train takes 3 hours and 30 minutes.
From abroad, you can arrive at Pelion with international Charter flights directly to the airports of Nea Anchialos and Skiathos to admire the Aegean sea or through the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki and from there by road or rail.
Article source: https://greeking.me/