Katigiorgis, Pelion – for fresh fish with a view of Skiathos

Katigiorgis is a small fishing village in SE Pelion, Magnesia Prefecture, famous for its taverns that serve fresh fish from the area daily.

It is located on the Aegean Sea side, directly opposite the island of Skiathos (2.5 nm). A small settlement with a harbor, a sandy beach with shallow, crystal-clear waters and a beautiful pine forest that touches the sea.

KATIGIORGIS – ACCESS FROM VOLOS

Administratively it belongs to the Municipality of South Pelion (former Municipality of Sipiada), with its headquarters in Argalasti and is 65 km from Volos and 17 km from Lafkos Pelion. Access from Volos is via the direction of Argalasti and Lafkos. After Lafkos, there is a junction and two routes, one to Promyri - Lyri - Katigiorgis and the other to Platanias - Mousges (left) - Kastri (before the settlement) - Katigiorgis.

Promyri is a glorious village, famous for the "Promyri Massacre" on 8-5-1823 (by the Turks). It has stone-built houses, cobblestone streets, a picturesque square with old plane trees, a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with a festival on 15 August and the Trani Fountain, with cool water. It is worth seeing the house where the fighter of 1821, Nikolaos Filaretos (1805-1868) was born.

KATIGIORGIS – ACCESS FROM SKIATHOS

From Skiathos, and specifically from the old port of Skiathos Town, many boats that make day trips to the island's beaches have included, as an intermediate stop, Katigiorgis Pelion for lunch at its fish taverns (only during the summer months). Many tourists who have their own boats, and who mainly stay in the Sporades, choose the taverns of Katigiorgis for a variety of fish mezes accompanied by tsipouro, wine or beer.

From the picturesque port of Katigiorgis (during the summer months and only when the weather is good) water taxis depart for Skiathos and the rest of the Sporades or Evia.

Indicatively the skiathos water taxi, operates routes from Koukounaries and Skiathos Town to Katigiorgis and Platanias, Pelion Prefecture or Evia, for more information: tel.: 6980 200200, https://www.skiathoswatertaxi.gr .

• From the port of Platanias (a settlement in the prefecture of Katigiorgis), boats depart daily for excursions to Skiathos, for swimming and touring the island and then returning to Platanias, with a stop in Katigiorgis for fish (Platanias is only 6 nm from Skiathos).
• From Milina and Lafkos in Pelion Prefecture, daily cruises are organized, mainly by hotels, departing from Platanias, to Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos or to the beaches of Pelion Prefecture, ending at Koukounaries in Skiathos.

CATEGORY – FOOD

• «Roaring», the well-known fish tavern of Voulgaris with tables on the sand, tel.: 24230 71071 (open from morning until evening). Famous dishes include kakavia, i.e. fish soup made from fresh fish of the day caught in Katigiorgis, fried squid, grilled octopus, crayfish-pasta, as well as the unique, in taste, Pelion salad with tsitsiravla (wild pistachio shoots in brine and vinegar) and wild kritamos (mountain herb).
• «Virtue», Stamoulis' fish tavern, with tables facing the sea, tel.: 24230 71440 (open from morning until evening). Try seafood pasta or barley with shrimp, crayfish or lobster and their famous fish appetizers.
• «Aura», for coffee, dessert, ice cream (they also have rooms to rent), www.studiosavra.gr to Katigiorgis.
• «Seaside», Café – Lounge bar, for coffee and drinks by the sea.

In the settlement you will also find a souvlaki restaurant and a super market.

KATIGIORGIS – BEACHES OF MOUNT PELION FROM THE AEGEAN SIDE

• The beach of Katigiorgis (or Agios Georgios) with its taverns and cafes on the sea, is ideal for families with children. The beach is protected from passing cars and children can play freely in the sand and swim in the shallow waters.

At night, on the small beach, some people choose to party, accompanied by soft music, under the moonlight.

• In Katigiorgis and towards Vromoneri there is a small sandy beach, the Vlahorema, with pine trees all the way to the sea and a small stream. You will arrive by following a beautiful path through the pine trees (10′).

The beach is very famous in the area and during the summer months it gets crowded early. You should bring water, snacks, umbrella etc. as there is no infrastructure here.

• Next to Katigiorgis, right behind the harbor, there is another small beach, the Agrilia, with easy access from a path (5′ walk). Following a course S. from Katigiorgis, the beaches are sandy, with rich vegetation and crystal clear waters.

You will find the following beaches:

• Vromoneri, Katigiorgis Prefecture, Small sandy beach that has been "abandoned" by the Menagia Village hotel unit. The beach has umbrellas, sunbeds, a beach bar and a tavern that belong to the hotel, but you can use and swim on the beach even if you are not a guest.

Vromoneri beach, like most of the Pelion Prefecture towards the Aegean, is influenced by the wind that blows in the Pelion-Skiathos sea channel, which is called by the locals "«blueberry». You can reach Vromoneri by following the path from Katigiorgis (about 20′ walk). Access by car is extremely difficult as the road leading to the beach is a dirt road in very poor condition. Opposite Vromoneri, on the Pelion-Skiathos channel, there is the extremely dangerous reef «Lefkari» or «Lefteris»", which is why a small lighthouse has been installed.

• For alternative activities, choose reef diving, around the old "«VERA Shipwreck».

The cargo ship "«WEDDING RING» ran aground on the reef in 1999, then broke in two and slowly sank. Today it lies at a depth of 17-28 m. with the bow upright and the stern resting on the seabed with its left side (information: https://www.zoumbosub.gr, based in Volos).

• Beach Kastri, to the south, 10 km from Katigiorgis and 6 km before Platanias. Beautiful beach with sand and plenty of wind, ideal for windsurfing.

On the beach you will find Camping Kastri Beach, which has space for tents and caravans, a tavern, bar, etc.,  https://www.campingkastribeach.com.

Kastri can be reached very easily by car by following the coastal road that connects Katigiorgis with Kastri. If you are in Platanias and want to go swimming in Kastri, you can rent a boat or kayak (as long as the weather permits).

• Platanias (or Platania), in the Prefecture of Katigiorgis, The seaside village has a large beach, accommodation, taverns, a port, a marina. From the port of Platanias, day boats depart daily (during the summer months) for excursions to neighboring Skiathos. In Platanias, the Camping Louisa, which occupies a fairly large, verdant area, http://www.camplouisa.gr.
• Mikro, N. after Platanias

SMALL SETTLEMENT, Source: https://www.ammosmikrobeach.com

A small settlement with nice houses, taverns, cafes, such as Ammos Restaurant – Cafe – Bar, which also has rooms to rent, https://www.ammosmikrobeach.com, and a small beach with sand and gravel. It is 57 km from the Volos (approximately 1.5 hours by car) and 17 km from Argalasti. You can reach the Mikro from the Lafkos by car (8.5 km) or by Platania, by boat - water taxi (distance 5′) or by path (approximately 800 m.). At Mikro and at a distance of 2 km from the beach, there is climbing field with 18 routes.

On the N. side of South Pelion, after Katigiorgis, the beaches have wild beauty, coarse pebbles, lots of wind and impressive formations created by rocks.

These are:

• Beach Lyre, N. of Katigiorgis. Small settlement with a few rooms to rent and a beach with wild beauty and large rocks. The business with the rooms «Lyre», tel: 24230 71405 can provide you with coffee or some snacks for beer or tsipouro (the old tavern is not open). On August 23, the chapel of the Virgin Mary in Lyri celebrates its feast day.
• Beach Mother of God, 5′ from Lyri. You will see the church of Theotokou (1807) and ruins of an ancient settlement, said to be ancient Sepiada. Small beach with pebbles and stones, very windy, for those seeking isolation.
• Beach Mourtia, N. of the Virgin Mary. Surrounded by rocks that look like statues in the water, it is ideal for taking beautiful photos.
• Beach Paltsi, N. from Mourtia. Settlement with many hotels and rooms to rent, taverns, cafes and the beach of Agios Konstantinos (or Paltsi), with pebbles, lots of people and of course air.