Exterior of the Athanasiko Archaeological Museum of Volos, Greece, with its neoclassical façade, garden and statue.

Archaeological Museum of Volos

The Athanasiko Archaeological Museum of Volos is a must-see attraction that was built in 1909 and is set in a beautiful rose garden. Many of the objects on display were discovered in the early 20th century or during modern excavations in Thessaly, with some of the earliest finds from the archaeological sites of Sesklo and Dimini (the latter is the home of ancient Iolkos, from where Jason and the Argonauts set out). There are incredible collections from the Neolithic era to the Roman times, including coins, jewelry, gold artifacts, tools, weapons, rare grave stelae and ancient tombs, and figurines. On a more modern note, the Volos Museum of the City, located in a former tobacco warehouse in the city’s Palaia district, features evocative photos that trace the history of Volos from the 1800s onward, with a fascinating section on the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Don’t miss the great museum cafe.

Historic Pelion Railway train travelling through a forested mountain landscape near Volos, Greece.

Historic Railway Station of Volos

The Historic Railway Station of Volos, designed by Italian engineer Evaristo De Chirico and completed in 1884, is well worth a visit for its elaborate neoclassical architecture and a stunning roof with wooden decoration. It was one of the few buildings left intact after a devastating earthquake that struck Volos in 1955.

The first floor of the building is home to the Railway Museum of Thessaly, which houses numerous exhibits, including old photos, telegraphs, uniforms, engine parts, and ticket machines that showcase the station’s history. If this whets your appetite for a train ride, consider an excursion on the Pelion train, a throwback to 1896 when this narrow-gauge railway entered service from Volos. The four-wagon, steam-powered train now traces a lone mountainous track between Ano Lechonia and Milies, with a short stop at the village of Ano Gatzea.

Grilled octopus served with tomato, lemon and lettuce at a traditional taverna in Volos, Greece.

Tsipouradika Tavernas

Argonauts Avenue is a pretty promenade that runs along the port and leads to a replica of Jason and the Argonaut’s ancient Argo ship. As you follow the paved walkway around the seafront, you’ll spot lots of yachts, colorful fishing boats, and an array of tsipouradika tavernas for which Volos is renowned. These casual eateries serve up some of the city’s most delicious food accompanied by a tsipouro, or pomace brandy. With just under 600 tsipouradika in Volos, they’re a gastronomic destination. You just order the tsipouro and when it’s served it will come accompanied by two or three tasty mezedes, or meze (small plates) consisting of fish and fried seafood mezedes, meat dishes, olives, cheese, pickled vegetables, smoked red pepper, stuffed vine leaves, and more. If the plates seem small, don’t worry, because with each little bottle of tsipouro will come more meze! For a heartier option, try the spentzofáï, a local stew made with sliced pork sausage, shallots, and green and red peppers.

Hillside village on Mount Pelion, Greece, with traditional houses and red-tiled roofs surrounded by lush greenery.

Mount Pelion

Since Volos is the closest big city to Mount Pelion, you can discover the natural paradise of Pelion with a journey into the hills. Considered by many to be the most stunning region of Greece, Pelion feels like a mythical wonderland with wild vegetation, olive groves, plane trees, hidden valleys, waterfalls, dense forests, and gorgeous beaches, too.

The mountain villages are the real gems of Pelion. Makrinitsa, known as the ‘balcony of Mount Pelion’, is located 700m above sea level and overlooks the entire gulf of Volos. Then there’s Tsangarada village, with its narrow cobblestone streets, 1000-year-old plane tree, and spectacular views of the Aegean Sea. If you prefer relaxing beach days, head to the eastern side of the peninsula for the most exotic beaches, including Fakistra, Horefto, Papa Nero Agios Ioannis, and Mylopotas. And if you’re a fan of the Mamma Mia movie, go to the coast of Damouchari, where the ‘Dancing Queen’ scene was filmed.

Great Meteoron Monastery perched atop rocky cliffs in Meteora, Greece.

Meteora

Otherworldly, enchanting, simply stunning: the extraordinary rock formations and cliff-top monasteries of Meteroa invite superlatives. Located in the heart of western Thessaly, the UNESCO-listed monastery complex of Meteora—which means ‘suspended in air’— is one of the most popular Volos cruise excurions. Film buffs might recognize the unique landscape of the area and the huge protruding rocks reaching upwards of 400 meters in height from the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only. These stone giants are the unlikely foundations for some of the largest and most precipitously built Eastern Orthodox monasteries, some dating back to the late 11th century.

Seeing really is believing when it comes to Meteora, where your eyes will be drawn to the sky as these giant rocks appear out of nowhere. At their feet, you’ll find the sleepy village of Kastraki, but the spiritual energy is literally on a higher level here. Out of 30 historical monasteries, six are still in use and open to the public, including Rousanou (today a nunnery), Varlaam, which was built in 1541 and is today home to seven monks, St Nicholas Anapausas with just one monk in residence, and the mid-14th century Great Meteoron, which is the largest. Their exquisite frescoes are a sight to behold, as are the panoramic views from the top. The spectacular monasteries can be reached by staircases cut into the rocks—and trust us when we say the breathtaking views from the top are well worth the climb!