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Damouchari: A Comprehensive Guide to a Hidden Gem on the Pelion Peninsula

Ever heard of Damouchari in Greece? My guess is probably not! Damouchari is a beautiful off the beaten path seaside settlement in the Pelion region in Thessaly on mainland Greece. While it is known among many Greeks as a beloved weekend getaway, Damouchari is not on the radar of international tourists and that is exactly why this cute little seaside spot still retains this typical Greek charm. Without further ado, let’s dive into this Damouchari guide!

The history of Damouchari Pelion

beaches in Pelion: Damouchari Beach

Damouchari Beach

Damouchari was put on the map during “Venokratia”. It was a period when the Venetians rules the Mediterranean and an easy place for them to make camp because of the small natural port. They built a castle on the hilltop on-off which they could keep a close eye on the port and attack pirates and other enemies if necessary. You can still visit the ruin of this medieval castle which is situated on a small piece of land that separates the port from the beach in Damouchari. 

There is no consensus of where the name “Damouchari” comes from. Some Greeks say it is derived from the virgin Mary to who the sailors prayed (Dammi Dhari). Others say it comes from the French word “amour”. 

Damouchari Mamma Mia

Cafe Victoria Damouchari Pelion Greece

Damouchari Harbor

Damouchari was in the spotlight for a while in 2007 when the little harbor was used to shoot some scenes for the film “Mamma Mia”. The film was mainly shot on Skopelos and Skiathos, two islands close to the Pelion Peninsula but a few scenes at the beginning of the film feature a wooden bridge that was built in Damouchari harbor. 

There are still quite a few reminders of that period to be seen in Damouchari as a way to attract tourists, like travel souvenirs and a “cave guesthouse” on the beach called Damma Mia named after the movie. 

Damouchari Beach

Damouchari Beach Pelion Greece

Damouchari Beach

The beach of Damouchari is where you want to spend your mornings. The light of the sun in the morning gives the beach a magical feel and it’s the perfect spot to practice some yoga or meditation. 

The beach is a mix of pebbles and sand and you can find basic changing cabins and a shower on the beach. There are no sunbeds on the beach but the taverna close to the beach offers lounging chairs under the Olive trees next to the restaurant which offers a beach and sea view. 

Damouchari is easily one of the most beautiful beaches on the Pelion peninsula.

Damouchari restaurants

Stuffed peppers with rice

Gemista (stuffed peppers with rice)

Damouchari has a few restaurants and it is easy to locate them walking the cute picturesque cobbled pathway that connects the harbor with the beach. In general, I do have to say that the quality of the food wasn’t always the best so I will give you advice on what to expect at each restaurant and some tips for great restaurants at nearby beaches and villages.

Victoria Café

Victoria Café s the best place to go for breakfast, lunch or diner in Damouchari. You will immediately fall in love with the beautiful terrace overlooking the harbor and its peaceful feel. The food on the menu is healthy and delicious and they have clearly indicated options for vegans and vegetarians which makes it easy to travel here as a vegan in Greece. The food is not all typical Greek. While you can find spanakopita (spinach pie) and other Greek dishes, they also offer sandwiches, smoothies and a full vegan breakfast. Plant milk is offered to go with their selection of coffees. 

Karagatsi restaurant

Karagatsi restaurant is located next to Victoria Café. While they have a beautiful menu of excellent Greek dishes and an idyllic harbor view, our visit was completely ruined by the woman hosting the restaurant who was unfriendly and rude. The pater familias of the house who greets you upon arrival is very friendly and welcoming though. The food is of average quality and portions are small. 

Uncle Stergios

Uncle Stergios is located on the other side of Karagatsi restaurant. Our experience here was the opposite of the one we had at Karagatsi restaurant. We were welcomed by a young girl and her service to us was excellent. Unfortunately, the beetroot salad we ordered was bland and soaked in olive oil while the Briam tasted like it had been standing in the oven for a few days already. Too bad, because the location is beautiful.

Old Damouchari

Old Ntamouxari is the only restaurant that is located by the beach of Damouchari. We did not eat here because we noticed that the prices were a bit inflated compared to other nearby restaurants probably due to being the only restaurant with a beach view. It is a nice place though to enjoy a coffee in the morning and refreshment in the afternoon. 

Tip: El Resto Bar

A highlight of your trip should be a visit to El Resto bar. El resto bar is located in Mouresi, near Papa Nero beach. El Resto bar is a gastronomic restaurant serving a mix of traditional Greek cuisine and modern techniques. It is definitely a bit more expensive but worth every penny. You can find them at the Agapitos Villas & guesthouses (location).

Tip: The beautiful beach

Only a 20-min walk from the port of Damouchari, you can find this breezy restaurant at Papa Nero Beach. The beautiful beach serves up traditional Greek cuisine and can make any cocktail you ask for! The stuffed peppers (Gemista) here are delicious and the staff goes out of their way to make your visit cozy and comfy. When you leave Damouchari, walk uphill for 10 minutes and then take the steep pathway down at Katerina Fotopoulos rooms and apartments to access the beach trail leading to Papa Nero Beach. 

Damouchari activities

Damouchari, Pelion, Thessaly, Greece

Damouchari is a small port village but the activities you can partake in are plenty! Of course, as slow travelers, we don’t like to stuff our days, but there is so much to do in the Pelion area you can stay there for weeks without getting bored. In this post, we will only highlight the activities in Damouchari itself and a few close by.

Snorkeling

People snorkeling

Bring your snorkel if you are planning to visit Damouchari! The rocky edges at the beaches and small coves are perfect to spot local marine fauna and flora. As far as we know, there are no organized snorkel trips in the neighborhood but the area itself lends itself so well for snorkeling that you’ll be satisfied with what you can see on your own. 

SUP & kayaking

SUP and kayak Damouchari harbor

At the picturesque Damouchari harbor, you can rent SUP boards and kayaks to explore on your own as well as take SUP lessons or kayak tours to explore the coastline. Get in touch with Shakayak to start your SUP or kayak adventure in Damouchari. 

Hiking

Hiking trail to Fakistra beach

Hiking is one of the main activities you can do in Damouchari. With countless trails all over Pelion hiking can keep you busy for days and you won’t be able to get enough of every new viewpoint you will discover. From Damouchari there’s an easy beach trail all the way to Plaka beach in the north of Pelion. At the other end of Damouchari beach, there is a stairway leading you to a path that goes all the way to Fakistra beach.

Natural pools

Natural pools Damouchari

The natural pools of Damouchari are located at a hidden spot outside the main area of Damouchari. There is some sort of hotel at the location with dogs who will bark at you when you arrive but don’t let that scare you away. This scenic spot is pure bliss. Don’t forget to bring your snorkel gear. Here are the directions.

Visit nearby beaches

From Damouchari, you have easy access by foot to two nearby beaches, Fakistra beach and Papa Nero beach.

Fakistra Beach

Fakistra Beach, Mouresi, Pelion, Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece

Fakistra beach is an isolated beach on the Pelion peninsula and can only be reached through a steep 200-meter pathway that is generally safe but not suitable for people who are afraid of heights. From Damouchari beach, take the steep staircase on your right facing the beach to walk all the way to Fakistra Beach. You can read this in-depth guide to Fakistra beach to plan your travel adventure there. 

Papa Nero beach

Papa Nero Beach

An easy 20-min walk from Damouchari you can find this beautiful semi-organized beach. While sunbeds and umbrella’s can be rented and there are some beach sport activities, this beach doesn’t feel too touristy and doesn’t really get crowded. When you’re there, be sure to have lunch or diner at The beautiful beach

Souvenir shopping at Agios Ioannis

Pelion beaches: Agios Ioannis beach

A little further down the road from Papa Nero beach, you can find Agios Ioannis, the main coastal tourist hub in the Pelion area. While it is the main tourist hub, this tiny coastal town does not get irritably crowded with tourists and still retains a local charm. You can come here to do some souvenir shopping, laze at the small beach and have a seaside lunch.

Boat trips and boat rental

Boat trips Pelion Greece

Boat trips and boat rentals can be organized through your guesthouse. They depart at the little harbor of Agios Ioannis and cost around € 60. If you don’t feel like walking the trail to nearby beaches this is the perfect option to still visit them without doing much effort. It is also possible to book them yourself by contacting Les Hirondelles.

Damouchari weather

Sky Pelion
Natural pools Damouchari Pelion Greece

The best time to visit Damouchari is in the shoulder season, from May to June or September to October. The temperatures are still great during those times of the year and, although not many foreigners visit this region, it will be calmer than during peak season. 

How to get to Damouchari

Volos, Greece

Volos, Greece

Getting to Damouchari is the easiest by renting a car upon your arrival in Athens or Thessaloniki considering you will be be flying into Greece. Public transport in the Pelion region is not reliable and because of the rugged landscape with a lot of hairpins turns and steep pathways to landmarks it is not convenient to travel without a car. Even though, if you are willing to travel to Damouchari by public transport I’ll explain to you how to get there from Athens and Thessaloniki.

From Athens

From Athens airport, use the metro to get to Larissa Train Station and buy a train ticket to Volos. Look for a train that stops in the city of Larissa and change there to a Volos bound train using the same ticket. Once in Volos, look for a taxi to take you to Damouchari. The taxi costs around € 65. 

Alternatively you can also take a bus to Volos. From the airport, take bus X93 to “KTEL Liosion and hop on an intercity bus to Volos. In Volos, look for a taxi to take you to Damouchari.

Both bus and train will cost around € 30 to take you from Athens to Volos. Together with the taxi you are looking at around € 200 for a round trip if you are traveling solo. 

From Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki airport has a great bus connection to Volos. From the airport, hop on bus X1 to the central bus station west of Thessaloniki city. Buy a ticket to Volos and hop on the intercity bus to Volos. From there, take a taxi to Damouchari. 

The bus from Thessaloniki will cost around € 25 so is not much cheaper compared to traveling from Athens but the duration is slightly shorter traveling from Thessaloniki. 

If you don’t want to take a taxi from Volos you can take a local bus but as said before, they are not that reliable and the locals we met advised against taking the public bus. It will also not take you all the way to Damouchari but drop you of in Agios Ioannis or Tsagarada and you will need to walk from there. However, here is the local bus website where you find the timetables. 

Where to stay in Damouchari

Katerina FotoPoulos rooms and appartments, Pelion, Greece

Katerina Fotopoulos rooms & apartments

With only a dozen of accommodation options in Damouchari be sure to book ahead, especially if you decide to travel during peak season. We handpicked the best options in the area for you!

Katerina Fotopoulos rooms and apartments

You can find Katerina Fotopoulos Rooms and Apartments between Papa Nero Beach and Damouchari Beach along the Pelion coast. It’s situated right by the sea and you can take a dip in the ocean in the morning walking down from your room. There is a yoga deck by the sea, bakery delivery in the morning and the accommodation is right by a coastal path linking the beaches of Papa Nero and Damouchari with each other. Go here if you like accommodation with a homey feel. 

Ghermaniko Guesthouse

Ghermaniko Guesthouse is located in the center of Damouchari and is your best bet regarding price and quality. It is a small local hotel that is owned by the same family as Victoria café which happens to be the best place to eat in Damouchari. They serve up a delicious breakfast, have a little store where they sell traditional local products and can assist you on arranging activities.

Damma Mia

Are you looking for a unique and unusual stay? Then Damma Mia is your top choice! Used as a storage space next to the castle in the past, this cave is now turned into a luxurious beach villa in Pelion only steps away from the sea. The amenities are incredible. Aside from the fancy indoor design and decoration, you can find a well-equipped terrace with a jacuzzi and barbeque facing the sea. 

There you go! This is the end of my Damouchari guide! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or if you feel like something is missing! You can also drop me a message through my contact page.

ENJOY!

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Full guide to Damouchari Beach
Full guide to Damouchari Beach

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travelers and dreamers

Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!

On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!

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