Milina, Pelion, Greece - Milina, Pilion, Greece

Milina is a small village, located some 51.5 km (32 miles) from Volos, 9 km (5.5 miles) from Argalasti and 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from Horto. It is unique in that it lacks a central square, shaded by plane trees, a characteristic feature of all villages on Mt. Pelion. Instead, the various shops and cafes are spread out along the waterfront.

The beaches, located at the village's edges, are very small, but the waters are really nice and clean. In general, it's a cool place to visit, the only drawback being it is too tourist oriented.

Top

There are numerous cafes, tavernas, restaurants and bars along the coast. There are also at least four mini markets (i.e. tiny supermarkets), a couple of pretty good bakeries, and a multitude of shops that sell ceramic items, clothes, etc. The village is usually crowded during the summer, so it's fun to sit by the sea and watch the promenading, while sipping on a cold drink.

I recently received an e-mail from Liv, a London resident who has purchased a villa in Milina and is quite familiar with the area, which I would like to share with you:

"If you drive through Milina towards Trikeri for about two miles you will find Favios Taverna. It is a family run restaurant in Mavri Petra (Black Rock). Favio is a wonderful and welcoming man, and his food is really great, probably because he is a chef rather than a fisherman who cooks. For example, he does chicken fillet - two huge fillets - in a cream and mushroom sauce that is truly superb. He does all the usual Greek foods, fresh fish and barbeque. The Calamari (squids) are fantastic, but be warned they come whole - tentacles included! The local Greeks know the place well and go there to eat, hold their wedding parties, etc. Favio doesn't speak much English, but he's working on it! We have eaten at most places in the Milina area and nowhere comes close to Favios.

When we fancy a change our second choice is Stathis. His restaurant is the first commercial building you come to as you enter Milina heading south. His Taverna looks due west, so he is perfectly placed for watching the sun go down as you eat. He speaks English very well, and will invite you in to look at the food and make your choices. He has a broad selection of choices every evening. For starters the fried anchovies and the red pepper salad are a must. Two favourite main courses are the stuffed peppers and the pork schnitzel, both delicious.

Third on our list of choices is the Argentina. The food is typical of the local quality, but Maria makes the place. She is a lovely woman, speaks English very well - she teaches English - and she can tell you everything you need to know about the area.

For light snacks Aleku is the place to go. His place is recognisable by the very comfortable reclining orange chairs along the sea front. It's the best place to relax and look out for dolphins, which usually come hunting in the bay at around 10 a.m."

As Liv says, Favio is highly regarded by the locals and I have personally attended several wedding and christening receptions at his place, however last time I ate there in the summer of 2002, with a couple of friends from the UK, I was quite disappointed with the service and food, so I haven't returned since.

Regarding Stathis' taverna, I have received half a dozen e-mails from site visitors, who recommend it unreservedly. So, although I've never eaten there, I'm thinking of casting my vote his way.

Another restaurant that has opened recently in Milina is "En Plo" (On Sail). It's located on the outskirts of the village towards Trikeri and it serves some pretty delicious dishes. My favorites include Basmati rice and stuffed avocados.

Accommodation

There are lots of furnished studios and rooms to let, as well as a number of hostels. However, if you plan to visit Milina in high summer, you had better make arrangements in advance, as the place is usually teeming with tourists.

Camping

There's a camping site, named "Olizon", just outside Milina, on the road to Trikeri. It's really close to the village and, therefore, has access to all its facilities. The beach is a narrow strip of brown sand, separated from the campsite by the country road.

The site is open from April till October.

Directions

Getting to Milina is really simple. If you're in Volos, drive to Argalasti and then follow the road to Trikeri. You'll pass through Horto on the way to Milina. The road is paved all the way to the village, though the stretch between Horto and Milina is rather narrow and there are quite a few tight bends.

While driving to Milina you'll pass through century-old olive groves and will encounter a number of fantastic coves, the nicest of which is probably "Vathia Spilia" (Deep Cave).

To get a better understanding of the area, check out the associated map.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Liv, from London, England, who provided all the useful info about the restaurants in Milina.