The Best Things to Do in Zagora Greece

Zagora Greece in Pelion Mt is a large, prosperous, totally unspoiled village spread on a green slope overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Zagora Greece is famous in Greece because of its huge production of apples (more than 9,000 tons annually) and the deep green and fertile natural environment.

Zagora Greece is also a historical village founded in the early 12th century with public buildings housing the significant village’s past. Its four large squares, located all around the village, house centuries-old cafes, imposing churches, and small family shops.

A few km far from Zagora is its popular and gorgeous Chorefto beach, and with dozens of hiking trails around, Zagora Greece will definitely charm you. For those of you who have never heard of Pelion villages before, imagine a stunning Greek area with an abundance of forests, wildlife, streams, exotic beaches, and some of the most beautiful villages in Greece.

Read along for the best things to do in Zagora Greece on Pelion Mt.

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Best Things to Do in Zagora Greece

Get your Zagora interactive map here to visit the locations of the sites mentioned in this post.

Stay in a Traditional Zagora Greece Mansion

Zagora is built at a height of 500 meters on one of the slopes of Pelion Mountain and most of the houses are centuries old and made mostly with wood and stone.

One of the best things to do in Zagora Greece is to stay at a traditional mansion.

I stayed at Guesthouse Theareston in a quiet street in Zagora, with a large swimming pool in the garden and great sea views.

Guesthouse Theareston has traditionally decorated rooms with a fireplace, a beautiful hotel full of charm, local character, and modern facilities. And breakfast included!

Visit the Beautiful Churches of Zagora

At the main Square of Zagora with centuries-old plane trees, you will find the Agios Georgios Church, built in 1765, with a very impressive wood-carved iconostasis (1774).

**The pink house in the above photo is the Zagora women’s fruit cooperative where they sell their delicious, freshly homemade jams, marmalades, and other local sweets.

At Agia Kyriaki Square in Zagora, you will find the Chruch of Agia Kyriaki (1740), a very impressive church with brilliant interior decoration and a magnificent gilded wood-carved iconostasis.

If you love churches and chapels Zagora has plenty you can visit and explore their tradition and decoration by walking around the narrow cobblestone alleys. 

Agia Kyriaki is also a fantastic place to have your lunch or dinner.

Explore the Historical Library of Zagora Greece

The famous Library of Zagora in Pelion, founded in 1762, holds today more than 10,000 titles of books, magazines, and about 3,500 old books and manuscripts. The Library is housed in a building owned by the Municipality of Zagora, under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Education.

The Zagora Library holds precious books like ‘Greek Grammar’ by Theodoros Gazis printed in January 1495, in Venice. Many books have handwritten notes in the white margins of their pages, very enlightening for the history of Zagora, but also the Greek history of the 18th century in general.

The library is next to the main square of Zagora Greece and I had the pleasure to be guided to the library’s treasures by the very kind lady responsible for the Museum.

More about their library and its exhibits you can read on their website.

Munch on the Renown Zagorin Apples

One of the best things to do in Zagora Pelion is to eat…apples!

Zagora is famous for its Starling variety of juicy, delicious red apples, so unique that they now are a Protected Designation of Origin products. The apples are exported all over the world under the Zagorin brand, from the local Zagora Agricultural Cooperative contributing significantly to the prosperity and local wealth of the village.

Zagora village has also a succulent variety of fruits such as plums, strawberries, pears, kiwis, quinces, and large chestnuts.

Visit the Ellinomouseio or Rigas Feraios School

Ellinomouseio is the oldest school of Pelion, founded in 1777, and some of its students are famous in Greece as they became later the pioneers of the Greek War of Independence (1821):

Rigas Feraios, Anthimos Gazis, Grigoris Konstantas, and Kallinikos Lapatis studied Philosophy, ancient Greek, Latin, and French, history, and mathematics.

The building is one of the most beautiful and durable buildings of Pelion, a remnant of the popular culture that endured the raids of many during the centuries.

Today it works as a museum and library, containing a large number of books, maps, and manuscripts from Greek history.

Have a meal at the Best-View Traditional Tavern in Zagora

Having lunch with my friends in Meintani traditional tavern, was one of my happiest moments and one of the best things to do in Zagora Greece!

Meintani or Niki’s Tavern – Niki is the amazing owner – is a 5-minute walk from Zagora’s main square. Tasteful Greek dishes, such as her famous stuffed zucchini flower, dolmadaki, filled vine leaves, freshly caught fish, spetzofai (Pelion traditional dish), and local wine are just perfect and remind us of old Greece.

We stayed on the balcony, with a breathtaking view of the mountains and Chorefto Beach. At this tavern, I had one of the best memories of Zagora.

Other taverns with great food that you can visit in Zagora Greece are:

• Patis Taverna (Tel. (+30) 24260.222.02), in the district of Agia Kyriaki which specializes in mushrooms
•  Psilou Taverna (Tel. (+30) 24260.236.33), in the district of Agios Georgios, is a nice place specializing in meat, grilled perfectly
• Ylien café (Tel. (+30) 24260.235.77), where you can have coffee, apple pie, or even breakfast. 

Did you know that Pelion was one of the Mamma Mia locations?

Hike the Zagora Trails

One of the best things to do in Zagora is to hike from the Zagora center to Chorefto Beach, a 3,1 km total distance.

The trail passes from Ellinomouseio, and if you walk for 150 meters down the main asphalt you will find a signed post where the kalderimi (Greek type of trail found in rural and islands) begins.

As you hike downwards towards the beautiful beach of Chorefto, you pass by fields of apple trees and the large Zagorin factory. On a couple of occasions, you end up on the main street, and you have to find again the trail a bit further down. That happens a lot with Pelion hiking close to the villages as they have made the roads around the old donkey trails.

Swim in Chorefto Beach, Zagora’s Main Beach

Chorefto Beach (or Horefto) is one of the most beautiful beaches in Pelion Mt. It is a popular beach with soft golden sand and crystal clear blue-green waters of ​​the Aegean Sea.

As Chorefto beach is 2.5 km in length, there is a part of it that is busy and organized, especially during August but also many quieter and secluded spots to choose from if you prefer the quiet beach scene.

One of my favorite – and one of the most amazing places to stay in Chorefto – is Aeolos Hotel & Villas – Pelion. A beachfront quality hotel that has managed to combine beautifully the tradition of the Pelion mountain with a Greek island feeling. Highly recommended!

Ski in Agriolefkes, Pelion Ski Resort

The ski center Agriolefkes in Chania Pelion is 21 km from Zagora and is one of the most picturesque ski resorts in Greece. While you ski you get to have amazing panoramic views of the Pagasitikos Gulf and the Aegean Sea.

It has 5 lifts and 5 slopes, one is Lang-Lauf,  at 1471 m height, a chalet, shops to rent or buy ski gear, restaurants, and a cafe. A great place in total if you love skiing with sea views!

Explore the other Stunning Pelion villages

Zagora is not the only beautiful village in Pelion Mountain. Pelion has 70 traditional, beautiful villages and settlements full of old mansions and monuments, trees laden with pears, apples, chestnuts, planes, streams, and centuries-old bridges.

Some of the most popular villages in Pelion and relatively close to Zagora that you will love to explore are:

Makrinitsa, Portaria, Tsagarada, Kissos, Milies, Argalasti, Damouchari and Agios Ioannis.

When is Best to go to Zagora Pelion

Pelion is simply amazing whenever you visit, as all four seasons offer endless opportunities for both adventurous and relaxed vacations.

Summer vacation in Pelion starts in June and it will be over by early September. The beaches are simply stunning, sandy with trees and clear waters. The waters might be cooler than it is in the south of Greece.

October and November are fantastic months for hiking, and watching the colors of the forests change from green to purple, orange, pink, and all colors in between. December – March is the perfect month for skiing or snow hiking. And the rich wildflowers and dense forests in Spring Pelion and Zagora, in particular, will just astonish you.

Related Article: When is the Best Time to Go to Greece?

How to Get to Zagora in Pelion

How to reach Zagora by air

The closest airport to Pelion is the Nea Anchialos National Airport,  30 km from the town of Volos near Almiros. During summer several European airlines fly to Nea Anchialos. If this is not possible for you, you can fly to Athens (334 km away from Pelion, driving time 3.5-4 hours) or to Thessaloniki (218 km away, driving 2,5-3 hours).

How to reach Zagora by car

Zagora is 365 km from Athens and 252 km from Thessaloniki and the cost for tolls and fuel is estimated at €70 and €40 respectively, for a one-way trip. Driving to Pelion Greece is my favorite way of traveling and it is not only because I love driving and the roads leading to Volos are impeccable. It is the freedom to stop whenever I want and visit a site en route I have never been to before.

I suggest you check out Discover Cars to find the best deal for renting a car in Greece!

How to reach Zagora by Bus

If driving is not your thing, you can take the public bus from the Athens bus station (KTEL) in Liosion (there is a large KTEL in Kifisos but it doesn’t go to Pelion). Find the routes to Volos and how to issue your ticket here. The thing with the public buses is that when you get to Volos you will have to change buses that go to Pelion Greece. Choose your destination village from this list here.

How to reach Zagora by Private Tour

A private tour to Pelion Greece, customized to your wishes with a tailored itinerary and a professional, English-speaking driver (with live commentary on the road), is the most carefree choice.

FAQ for Zagora Pelion

Are there any ATMs in Zagora?

Yes, there is an ATM of Piraeus Bank in the center of Zagora (see Zagora Map on top).

More Pelion Villages Reading

• Pelion Travel Guide
• Makrinitsa, Pelion’s Balcony
• Portaria, with the stone mansions
• Tsagarada, the famous
• Agios Ioannis, the seaside resort

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