Holiday in Pelion

What makes Pelion special as a destination?

Pelion is Greece's best-kept secret – a mountainous peninsula in Thessaly that perfectly combines beach and mountains like hardly any other place in the Mediterranean. According to Greek mythology, Pelion was the home of the Centaurs, those hybrids of man and horse, and the place from which Jason set off with the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. Today, the peninsula enchants with a landscape surprisingly reminiscent of Switzerland – only with the sea. The mountain villages of Pelion are architectural gems: Makrinitsa, the "Balcony of Pelion," offers a breathtaking view over the Pagasetic Gulf to Olympus. Tsagarada impresses with a 1,000-year-old plane tree in the village square and leads down to the dream beach of Milopotamos. Vizitsa and Portaria entice with traditional stone houses, babbling fountains, and taverns that invite you to linger under ancient chestnut trees. The eastern side of the peninsula offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece: Mylopotamos with its natural rock bridge, Damouchari – filming location of Mamma Mia – and Papa Nero are dream beaches nestled in lush green gorges. The western side by the Pagasetic Gulf is quieter and warmer. In winter, Pelion transforms into a small ski area at Agriolefkes, and the mountain villages take on a snowy fairy-tale atmosphere. Pelion is a year-round destination – perfect for beach and hiking in summer, for chestnut festivals and mushrooms in autumn, for cozy evenings by the fireplace and skiing in winter, and for blooming orchards in spring. From Germany, you fly to Thessaloniki (2.5 hours) and then drive to Volos at the foot of Pelion (about 3 hours). A rental car is essential for the winding mountain roads.