What makes this region so exciting is the hard-to-beat combination of the glories of both mountain and sea. In winter, Pelion is a great place for skiing and during summer, it offers some of the best beaches around (you have to see it to believe it). There are also terrific local specialties available 365 days a year. Pelion is also said to have some of the best hiking trails and most beautiful villages in Greece. If you are an unconditional mountain fan, cannot picture your holidays outside a luscious green setting, or if hiking is something you just have to do (and you wouldn’t mind a bit of refreshing swimming, either), then this is the perfect place for you.
Scattered across the Pelion peninsula are over 70 villages varying in size, popularity and, of course, mountainous or sea-side location. All that makes renting a car a great idea if you want to get around. Most of these villages have preserved their traditional stone and wood, red tile-capped houses, which surface out of a layer of thick vegetation that descends down to sea level. A good thing about Pelion is that the nature around the villages -- miles of apple, chestnut, and plane trees; waterfalls pouring from the sky then disappearing into the ground on their journey down to the sea -- is as stunning as the villages themselves. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore all of Pelion’s wonders by hiking, driving, or using Pelion’s little steam train, called Moutzouris (the Smudgy), a modern version of its 100-year-old predecessor. Pelion’s mountainous villages, some of which are located as high as 1200m above sea level, offer majestic views of the surrounding countryside and the sea below. Their narrow, winding, cobble-stoned streets are often filled with small shops that sell candied fruit, herbs, spices, and local products. The northern region of Pelion is where the popular villages of Tsagarada, Portaria, Makrinitsa, Milies, and Zagora are located, while to the south you will find several beautiful coastal resorts. There, the atmosphere ranges from quite touristy, such as at Milina, to more tranquil, as in the Platanias fishing village. That said, there are fantastic beaches everywhere that will make you forget you are on a mountain. Pelion is not the place to go if you are looking for luxurious, Dubai-like accommodation options or if you are fascinated by ancient ruins, as it has neither. Rest assured though, there are plenty of old houses that have been turned into small boutique hotels and guesthouses which are not only extremely charming, but very comfortable.
The bottom line: No matter what type of holiday you desire, mountain or sea, Pelion will be able to satisfy you. And to top it off, the natural beauty of this region is stunning! Now go pack your stuff.
