Agii Saranta beach

Mount Pelion (also spelt Pelio or Pelium; Greek, Modern: Πήλιο, Ancient/Katharevousa: Πήλιον) forms a hook-like peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea.

North East Pelion (Population: 5,809 (2011), Municipality of Zagora - Mouresi) lies by the Aegean Sea

The mountains are entirely forested, with beech, oak, maple and chestnut trees. Pelion is a tourist attraction throughout the year: the mountain includes trails and sidewalks for walking within small and large beaches with sand or pebbles.

Located near the city of Volos, in the prefecture of Magnesia.

Villages

Villages are grouped together in clusters of nearby villages:

• 1 Agios Ioannis, Mouresi, Kissos, Anilio, Papa Nero, Ntamouchari are located southeast of Chorefto, north of Mylopotamos beach. Agios Ioannis is about 55 km east of the city of Volos (Magnesia's capital). Agios Ioannis is linked with the road linking with Tsagkarada and near Zagora. It stretches from north to south.
• 2 Zagora, Pouri, Chorefto, Agii Saranta, Makrirrachi, Ovrios
• 3 Tsagkarada, Milopotamos, Fakistra are located southeast of Zagora, north of Agios Lavrentios and about 55 km east of the city of Volos (Magnesia's capital). Tsagkarada is linked with the road linking with Agios Lavrentios and near Zagora. It stretches from north to south as well as residential buildings and are surrounded by forests as well. Its population in 2001 was 710 and 784 for its municipal district which includes Mylopotamos beach. The altitude is 450 meters. It offers a view of the Aegean Sea to the northeast. The area around Tsagkarada are made up of forest to the east and the west while the extreme west features grasslands and the top of mount Pilio.
• 4 Neochori
• Kalamaki, Lampinou, Xourichti

Get in

It takes about 1 hour from Volos by car to reach the North East Coast of Pelion.

By bus it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. You can take the bus from Volos Interurban Bus Terminal ("Yperastiko KTEL") (KTEL Volou). Details on buses, can be found online here

Do

• Walk along the recognized hiking routes.

Beaches

There is a good variety of beaches on Pelion. Beaches on the Aegean sea are huge sandy beaches with deep waters and sometimes big waves.

• Agios Ioannis has 3 main beaches:

• The main beach in front of the village
• Papa Nero, to the south
• Plaka, to the north

• Tsangarada has a few sandy beaches.

Eat

• 1 Plimari, Analipsi Beach, Pouri (From Pouri, follow signs down a (very) steep road to Analipsi Beach. Park at the road's end and walk along the stony beach for 50 meters.), ☏ +30 6977706151. Plimari is the Greek seaside restaurant ideal. It sits in splendid isolation in front of the sea-worn rocks of Analipsi beach, with tables scattered under shady trees. Spyros and Anna serve well-crafted, fresh taverna food, with most ingredients sourced from their gardens or by Spyros from the sea. The excellent, often ambitious, cooking and friendly service attracts locals as well as regulars from around Greece, Europe and the world. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Dovas Home Cooking, Horefto, Magnesia (On the beach road in Horefto, just before the Horefto branch of the Zagorin supermarket.), ☏ +30 2426023535. Well cooked seafood and complex stews are the specialties of this Pilion treasure. A warm welcome and smooth, local tsipouro or a cold beer will relax you. (updated Apr 2021)

Drink

The tap water is drinkable and restaurants will serve glasses of ice water upon request. Local drinks include Mythos (beer) and tsipouro (a grappa-like drink made with or without anise, and served over ice).

Stay safe

Northeast Pelion is a generally safe destination.

• The summer sun tends to get very strong. You should not take the risk of dehydration, sunburns or even heat strokes lightly. Wear appropriate clothes, maybe with a hat and sunglasses; use sunscreen; bring enough water on excursions and know when to stop exhausting yourself and seek the shade of a tree.