Walking the old kalderimi mule paths between villages is the best way to experience Pelion — many are well-marked and pass through orchards and dense forest. The peninsula has two personalities: the western shore facing the calm Pagasitic Gulf is the more accessible side, with the classic villages of Makrinitsa and Portaria close to Volos; the eastern Aegean coast is wilder, with dramatic clifftop views, pebble beaches accessible by foot, and the more remote villages of Tsagarada and Damouchari.
The historic Pelion Railway runs from Ano Lechonia on the coast up through chestnut forest to the village of Milies on weekends. For beaches, Agios Ioannis is the most developed option on the eastern coast; Mylopotamos is more beautiful and accessible only on foot.