Is Pelion expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Pelion is good value by Greek island standards: cheaper than Santorini or Mykonos, and similar to other mainland holiday regions. A mid-range day is about €140 per person, with the room and the rental car taking most of it. Tavernas and tsipouradika in Volos are among the best value meals in Greece.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €60 | €130 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €40 | €70 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €15 | €30 |
| Local transport | €15 | €25 | €45 |
| Per person, per day | €80 | €140 | €275 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Pelion day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Tsipouro with meze, three or four rounds in Volos | about €15-25 per person |
| Taverna meal with wine in Tsagarada | roughly €18-25 per person |
| Fresh fish by the kilo in Agios Ioannis | roughly €50-80/kg |
| Athanasakeio Archaeological Museum, Volos | about €6 |
| Greek coffee or freddo in a village square | about €2.50-4 |
| KTEL bus Athens to Volos | roughly €30 |
| Rental car per day | from about €35-50 |
| Stone guesthouse in Portaria or Makrinitsa | €80-140 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Rooms are the main cost: Volos is cheapest, stone guesthouses in the villages cost €80-150 and restored mansions in Tsagarada, Vyzitsa or Milies €160-300. A car is close to essential, so transport (rental and fuel on slow mountain roads) is the next share. Food is good value, especially tsipouro rounds with meze. Rooms also carry the Greek climate resilience fee, charged per room per night and higher from April to October.
When it is cheaper
Prices drop in spring and late autumn outside holidays. Mid-July to late August, especially around the 15 August holiday, and winter weekends at Christmas and Carnival are the busiest and most expensive times; check current rates.
How to spend less
- Eat dinner in a Volos tsipouradiko, where each round of tsipouro brings a new meze.
- Stay in Volos for the cheapest rooms and day-trip to Makrinitsa and Portaria by KTEL bus.
- Fill the tank in Volos; petrol stations are few over the mountain.
- Ask the price per kilo before choosing fish in beach tavernas.
- Walk the old kalderimia (stone paths) between villages instead of paying for tours.
- Visit in June or September, when sea and weather are good and rooms cheaper.
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Common questions
Is Pelion expensive?
No, it is fair value for Greece: about €80 a day on a budget or €140 mid-range per person.
How much is a tsipouro meal in Volos?
About €15-25 per person for three or four rounds of tsipouro, each with a different meze.
Do I need a car in Pelion?
Almost. Buses reach Portaria and Makrinitsa often, but the east coast only a few times a day. A rental car costs from about €35-50 a day.