Pelion Beaches: Mylopotamos, Papa Nero, Agios Ioannis & Kala Nera

Pelion has beaches on both of its coasts, calm and shallow on the Pagasetic Gulf and wilder and greener on the open Aegean. The west coast keeps the long sands of Kala Nera and Koropi (Boufa Beach), the family beaches of Afissos and Kato Gatzea, and the quiet coves of Lefokastro, Kalamos and Milina. The east coast holds the turquoise pebbles of Mylopotamos, the blue-flag sands of Agios Ioannis and Papa Nero, the golden bay of Mikro, and the cliff-backed sands of Potistika and Platanias.

Longest

Kala Nera (Boufa)

Prettiest

Mikro & Mylopotamos

Blue flag

Agios Ioannis

Family-safe

Kala Nera & Afissos

The Aegean beaches (east coast)

The east coast of Pelion faces the open Aegean and keeps the wildest, most scenic beaches, looking out to the Sporades islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.

Mylopotamos

Mylopotamos beach lies in the north-east of Pelion, 52 kilometres from Volos. It is part sand and mostly small white pebbles, and a rock splits it into two beaches joined by a winding, pine-shaded path. The sea water is a clear turquoise, and cliffs and rocks in the sea frame the bay. A beach bar rents umbrellas and sunbeds, a few tavernas stand nearby, and one side is organised while the other is free. The last stretch down is by steps and paths, so the beach stays relatively quiet; the sea drops steeply, so it suits strong swimmers rather than small children.

Agios Ioannis & Papa Nero

Agios Ioannis, 45 kilometres from Volos, has a large organised beach of small pebbles with the blue flag, shallow and safe for children, with sunbeds, umbrellas, canoes and pedal boats to rent. Papa Nero, an extension of the same coast, is a very big beach of small pebbles and fine white sand with a turquoise sea, popular but wide enough to find space, and quieter toward its far end. Plaka Beach, just north of Agios Ioannis, is smaller, reached on foot or by car, with some sunbeds and shade under the vegetation.

Mikro & Potistika

Mikro beach sits in a beautiful bay in the south-east, 57 kilometres from Volos, with fine golden sand, tiny pebbles and turquoise water, rated one of the prettiest beaches on the peninsula and still peaceful. It is reached on foot from Platanias in about 20 minutes or by a summer water taxi. Potistika, 53 kilometres from Volos, is a large sandy beach backed by cliffs with a big rock in the sea; it has a beach bar and a couple of tavernas but no bus, so it needs your own transport, and the nearby beach of Melani adds another quiet option. Platanias keeps a child-friendly beach among olive groves, with the beach of Kastri a few kilometres north.

The Pagasetic Gulf beaches (west coast)

The west coast faces the sheltered Pagasetic Gulf, so its beaches are calm, shallow and easy to reach from Volos, which makes them the best choice for families.

Kala Nera & Koropi

Kala Nera, 18 kilometres from Volos, has the longest beach on Pelion, sometimes called Boufa Beach, which runs 3 kilometres toward the next village of Koropi. The beach in Kala Nera itself is about 600 metres long, and the nearby Theretro Axiomatikon beach is a little smaller; all three carry the blue flag, with sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports, shallow water and shade from the trees. Koropi keeps its own Boufa beach, one and a half kilometres of sand with sunbeds and umbrellas, and the narrower Ramnos beach just south where a river meets the sea, with Kato Lechonia beach between Kala Nera and Koropi.

Afissos, Kato Gatzea & the south

Afissos, 26 kilometres from Volos, keeps two main beaches: sandy Kalifteri, with sunbeds and umbrellas, and Ambovos of sand and small pebbles, plus the pebbly Lagoudi nearby, all with tree shade and a gentle slope safe for children. Kato Gatzea has a quiet sand-and-pebble beach, with sandy Sikia beach and its campsite just north toward Kala Nera, shallow and calm for swimming. Further south, Agria keeps the beach of Soutrali a kilometre away, while Lefokastro (Rasi and Agia Efimia beaches), Kalamos and Milina hold small, quiet pebble beaches among the olive groves.