Pelion travel guide: villages, beaches, steam train and skiing
A forested mountain range above Volos: stone villages, clear-water beaches, a historic steam train and a ski centre with a sea view.
- About 2.5 hours by car from Thessaloniki and 4–5 hours from Athens, according to travel.gr.
- Standout villages: Makrinitsa, Portaria, Tsagarada, Milies and Vizitsa.
- Beaches in summer; snow and skiing at Chania village in winter.
From Israel the easiest route is to fly to Thessaloniki and hire a car. Choose your base by season: east for beaches, west for Volos, the upper villages for winter.
What is Pelion and why go?
Pelion (Pilio) is a forested mountain range on a peninsula in central-eastern Greece, above the city of Volos. It combines stone villages on the slopes, chestnut forests and apple orchards with clear-water beaches below. It works all year: beaches in summer, nature and hiking in autumn, and villages, fireplaces and snow in winter. It is a great choice if you want a "different" Greece without the crowded islands.
How to get to Pelion
| From | How | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | Car, via the motorway towards Lamia and Volos | 4–5 hours |
| Thessaloniki | Car, on the E75 | about 2.5 hours |
| Athens / Thessaloniki | KTEL bus to Volos | 4–5 hours from Athens, about 3 from Thessaloniki |
| Athens / Thessaloniki | Train to Volos | 4–5 hours from Athens, about 3 from Thessaloniki |
| Nea Anchialos airport (Volos) | about 26 km from Volos | mainly summer charters |
Times according to travel.gr. From Israel most people fly to Athens or Thessaloniki and continue by hire car; Thessaloniki is the shorter drive. Fares to both cities update every morning on our flights page.
Which Pelion villages not to miss
According to Discover Greece, these are among the standouts:
- Portaria: the "gateway" to Pelion, about 11 km from Volos.
- Makrinitsa: known as the "balcony of Pelion", with views over the Pagasetic Gulf.
- Chania: near the summit, close to the ski centre.
- Milies: home to the historic railway station and a church with zodiac murals.
- Vizitsa: one of the most photographed villages, with two-storey stone mansions.
- Tsagarada: coffee under a plane tree said to be about 1,000 years old in Agia Paraskevi square.
- Zagora: the commercial centre of the eastern villages.
- Milina: a coastal village from which you can kayak to the islet of Alata.
The historic Moutzouris train
Moutzouris, a late-19th-century steam train, runs mainly from spring to early autumn between Ano Lechonia and Milies, through villages and scenery, according to travel.gr. It is a good outing with kids. Check the timetable before you go, as it does not run every day.
Pelion's beaches
According to Greeka, the standout beaches are Mylopotamos and Fakistra on the east coast, Agios Ioannis and Horefto. On the east side facing the Aegean the water is especially clear but sometimes wavy. On the west side, in the Pagasetic Gulf, the sea is calmer and better for small children. Many beaches are at the end of winding roads, so a car is almost essential.
Pelion in winter: skiing and snow
The village of Chania, near the summit, has Pelion's ski centre, with a view of the sea. In winter the upper villages are sometimes snowy and roads may require chains. See also our ski resorts in Greece guide and Greece in winter: where to go.
Getting around Pelion
- Hire car: the easiest option. Roads are narrow and winding, so allow more time than you expect. Israelis also need an International Driving Permit; see Israeli driving licence in Greece.
- Buses: KTEL Volou reaches nearly every village from Volos, but not often.
- Taxis: taxi and minibus services operate from Volos.
FAQ
How long is the drive from Thessaloniki to Pelion? About 2.5 hours by car to Volos, then half an hour to an hour to the villages, depending on where you are going.
When is the best time to visit Pelion? Summer for beaches, September–October for nature and walks, and winter for snow and villages. Spring is lovely with everything in bloom.
Do I need a car in Pelion? Almost certainly. Buses reach the villages but not every beach, and they are infrequent.
Where should I stay in Pelion? West side (Portaria, Makrinitsa) for easy access to Volos; east side (Tsagarada, Mylopotamos) for the best beaches; south (Milina, Afissos) for calm sea.
