Pelion

Stone villages between forested mountain and two contrasting seas.

Pelion combines mansion villages, old cobbled paths, beaches on the Aegean and Pagasetic Gulf, mountain food and a historic narrow-gauge railway.

Pelion's forested slopes descend east to the open Aegean and west to the calmer Pagasetic Gulf. Villages such as Makrinitsa, Tsagarada, Zagora and Milies use stone roofs and mansions adapted to rain and steep ground.

Kalderimi paths cross chestnut and beech forest, the little train reaches Milies on selected days and local kitchens use apples, herbs, spoon sweets and mountain produce. Pelion changes with every season rather than belonging only to summer.

Practical information

A car is useful, but roads are winding and winter snow is common. Avoid trying to cross the mountain repeatedly; choose a coast and check railway operations.