Volos

Modern Volos is built on the area of the ancient cities of Demetrias, Pagasae and Iolkos. Iolkos was the homeland of ancient Greek hero Jason who boarded the ship Argo accompanied by the Argonauts and sailed in the quest for the Golden Fleece to Colchis. Demetrias was established by Demetrius Poliorcetes, King of Macedonia, in 293/92 BC. In 197 BC Romans annexed Demetrias.

To the west of Volos there are the Neolithic settlements of Dimini with a ruined acropolis, walls and two beehive tombs dated between 4000-1200 BC and Sesklo with the remains of the oldest acropolis in Greece (6000 BC), as well as the foundations of a palace and mansions, among the most typical examples of Neolithic civilisation.

During the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Justinian I in 551 fortified Palea hill. In 1423 Ottomans annexed Volos. Volos during the Ottoman Empire was a hamlet, build on the hill in Palea district. The hill was fortified with walls. Today just a few parts of the walls can be seen near the Tsalapata building.

After its annexation to Greece from the Ottoman Empire in 1881, it had a population of only 4,900 but rapidly grew within the next 4 decades. Houses were built outside the walls and the main area of Volos by the sea was built up. Merchants, businessmen, craftsmen and sailors moved to Volos from the surrounding area. In the 1920s there was a large influx of refugees in Volos, especially from Ionia, but also from Pontus, Cappadocia and Eastern Thrace. In the 1920 census, Volos had 30,046 inhabitants but according to the 1928 census, its population had grown to 47,892.

Volos, unlike other towns of the Thessalian plain, enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with can-be-hot-but-bearable summers (though a little bit humid) and mild winters. Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit the city itself, Winter is the time to be on the Pelion mountain villages, and Summer should definitely be dedicated to the numerous beaches of the region on the Pagasetic gulf and the Aegean Sea.

Being privileged to be situated on the foothills of Mount Pelion, the mythical mountain of the centaurs, and bounded by Goritsa Hill to the Southeast, Volos sports nice weather all year long, with the sea and mountain breezes dominant in all city areas.

Volos tourist office has plenty of useful information about Volos, including a free town map and a free Volos travel guide. Volos tourist office is located opposite the bus station in Palea district.

Volos Airport (VOL ^IATA) is in Nea Anchialos, about 30 km SW from the city. The Volos Airport Official Page has a full updated timeline.

It also operates weekly charter flights during the summer, directly from Amsterdam, the UK and Germany.

There is a bus connecting airport and Volos Bus Station . Buses are waiting to pick up travelers after a plane lands. The cost from the airport to Volos Bus Station is €5. Travellers of charter flights are transferred to their accommodation by their tour agency.

If you have a car, the airport parking area charge is free.

There are buses that originate in Serbia or Hungary and go to Volos, and also buses that start from Athens and stop on the highway close to Volos (at Velestino exit). This exit is far away from both the airport and Volos, so it is not recommended.

Generally, intercity coaches ("KTEL" buses) (KTEL Volou) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece, as well as for intra-regional travelling. This is doubly true for travelling to Volos from Athens, where the train takes four to five and you have to change in Larissa, as opposed to the bus that needs 4 hours to connect directly from Athens. However, the train station in Athens is better accessible by the metro than Liosion Bus Terminal.

There is frequent bus service from Athens Liossion Station to Volos about 15 times a day (cost is about €20), as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Volos about 10 times a day (about €12). Volos is also connected with daily direct routes frm Patras, Ioannina, Larissa, Trikala, Karditsa and from many more places in continental Greece via Larissa. Interurban Bus Terminal is opposite the Volos Info Center near the City Hall, the Railway Station and the Port, on a major hub. If you buy the return ticket, it is cheaper than buying two separate tickets, though the return leg must be completed within one month.

Trains (OSE) connect Volos from other cities in Greece via Larisa. Travelling with ordinary trains can be cheaper, although a little bit slower, whereas choosing a faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money, or even more than a KTEL bus. The train from Athens, takes approximately four hours and involves a change at Larissa. Most locals travel from Athens by intercity coaches. If you are travelling from Thessaloniki or elsewhere in the northern parts of Greece then trains are often quicker then a bus. The historic 🌍 Volos station, built in the 1880s, is located just west of the city centre.

There are ferry services to Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos.

There are twelve bus lines going around the city (tickets cost €1.10 for inner city routes, whilst using inner city buses for close destinations outside Volos costs €1.20 Zone A, €1.50 Zone B), detailed info in the regional bus terminal (called "Astiko KTEL"), next to the Interurban Bus Terminal ("Yperastiko KTEL"). Details on buses, can be found online here

For going further away around Volos, you can use the Interurban Bus Terminal ("Yperastiko KTEL"). Details on buses, can be found online here

Taxis in Volos, as everywhere in Greece are comparably cheap. You should not pay more than €7 if you hail a cab (silver colour) on the road to take you anywhere in the city. Note that taxi meters have two rates - rate 1 applies from 05:00 till 00:00, and rate 2, the double rate, from 00:00 to 05:00. Taxi fare fraud is rather rare but it could still happen, so make sure the rate is correct. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171. Expect to pay €1 or €2 extra if you take a taxi from the bus station, the train station or the port, and a surcharge if you call for a taxi service on demand. Note, also that the minimum charge is €3.39. Groups of three or four could consider using a taxi to go sightseeing around Volos, Pelion [for example. It's more expensive but more comfortable, and in some cases quite cost-effective.

Most of Volos is quite flat, that makes it very easy for cycling, and a lot of locals do cycle. Especially the waterfront is the best area for cycling. Generally, cycling is a recommended way to move around. Volos has a network of bicycle lanes, however the lines are often blocked with parked cars and hardly anybody use them.

Several streets at the center of the town have been pedestrianized, mainly around Ermou Street and St. Nicolas church. Along the pedestrianized streets there are a lot of cafe places. The waterfront is also an excellent area for walking. When the weather is good it's packed with people walking around and enjoying the sun.

There are acceptable beaches towards the southern end of the city at Anavros. To get there, follow the coastal promenade south from Argonafton St or park in the roads behind the city hospital.

There is also Alykes municipal beach, a 5-minute-drive from the center to the southwest, in the more easygoing Alykes district of Volos, having cafes and bars offering sunbeds on the sand during late at night, where you can enjoy your cocktail and take a swim as well. The municipal beach in Alykes has an entrance fee of €1 during the day, offering a lifeguard, showering facilities, clothes-changing chambers and a beach bar. You can easily go to Alykes with city bus (blue bus) number 6 from the city hall.

Most locals, however, head to beaches outside of the city on the other side of the giant cement works, to beaches at Agria (20 min by bus), or Platanidia. You can easily go to Agria and Platanidia with city bus (blue bus) number 5 which starts from the Bus Station and passes through Iasonos and Polymeri str. Generally, the water is clearer and cleaner the further away from Volos' port.

If you do have a car and you want to go to a beach, it is well worth getting out of the city limits and beyond - some of the best beaches on the Greek mainland can be found on Pelion.

There are several cinemas in Volos. Films are shown in original language with Greek subtitles, whereas cartoons are dubbed. In the summer make sure you get to one of the open air cinemas (Θερινό σινεμά).

• 🌍 Village cinemas, Gianitson (Γιαννιτσών) 29, ☏ +30 2108108080. Four screens. €7.50 for an adult ticket. 
• 🌍 Metaksourgio (Greek: Μεταξουργείο), Nikomedieas 2, Nea Ionia, ☏ +30 2421 028517. Every Friday at 21:30. Art movies. €2. 
• 🌍 Achillion (Greek: Αχίλλειον), Koumoundourou. Open infrequently. 
• 🌍 Εxoraistiki (Εξωραϊστική), Dimitriados 263 (Opposite Argonauton park), ☏ +30 2421 030303, openaircinema@exoraistiki.gr. Evenings. Open only in the summer. Summer outdoor cinema. The only one in Volos. €5. (updated Dec 2015)

• Football: Volos FC play soccer in Superleague, the Greek top tier. Their home ground is Panthessaliko Stadium (capacity 22,700) by the ring road 3 km north of town centre.

• 🌍 O Dervisis (Ο Δερβίσης), Kazatzaki Nikoy 25a (Καζατζάκι Νίκου 25α με Γιάννη Δήμου), ☏ +30 2421 059913. 12:00 - 0:00. You have to taste the chips, soft and tasty. (updated May 2016)
• 🌍 Ntinos (Ντίνος), Analipseos 136, ☏ +30 2421043840. Souvlaki. One of the cheapest pitta gyros in town, gyros for €1.70. 
• 🌍 Nostimia (Νοστιμιά), Krokiou (Κροκίου) 4, ☏ +30 2421030666. Cheap price, souvlaki for €1.80. (updated Jan 2017)

• 🌍 Papadis (Παπαδής), Solonos 1 (Σόλωνος 1), ☏ +30 2421 029360. Tsipouradiko and seafood. At the waterfront. 25cl tsipouro with meze €3.5, 25cl bottled tsipouro with meze €4, serves 3 meze per 4x25cl. 
• 🌍 MeZen (ΜεΖεν), Alonnisou 8 (Αλοννήσου 8), ☏ +30 2421 020844. 12:00 - 00:00. Good gourmet food, difficult to find an empty table to sit. 
• 🌍 I Yiota (Η Γιώτα), Krokiou (Κροκίου) 15, ☏ +30 694 707 4830 (non-geographic number). Popular among youngsters (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 To kochyli (Το κοχύλι), Makrigianni (Μακρυγιάννη) 64Α & Metamorphoseos (Μεταμορφώσεως), ☏ +30 2421 052345. (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Ta filarakia (Τα Φιλαράκια), Antonopoulou (Αντωνοπούλου) 98-100. (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Mimikos (Μιμίκος), Ferron (Φερών) 25 (Διπλά στο μουσείο της Πόλης του Βόλου). (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Mpokos (Μπόκος), Meandrou (Μαιάνδρου) 143 & Ellispontou (Ελλησπόντου), ☏ +30 2421 066683. (updated Apr 2016)

• 🌍 Thraka (Θράκα), Borel (Μπόρελ) 8 (Παραλία Βόλου), ☏ +30 24210 28370. (updated Jul 2015)
• 🌍 I kaftra (Η καύτρα), Kassaveti (Κασσαβέτη) 122 & Ethnikis Antistaseos (Εθν. Αντιστάσεως), ☏ +30 24210 78537, +30 6937 173840 (non-geographic number). (updated Jul 2015)
• 🌍 I Voskopoula (Η Βοσκοπούλα), Thermopylon (Θερμοπυλών) 48, ☏ +30 2421054206, vazisath@gmail.com. 

• 🌍 Gea (Γαία) (Traditional Greek cuisine), Argonafton 15 (Αργοναυτών 15) (at the seafront near the port), ☏ +30 2421034153. Cheap, traditional Greek restaurant. One of the best options if you want to try Greek cuisine. 

• 🌍 Lemonas Leonidas, Karaiskaki 2, Volos 38222. Good food, good fish. Nice outdoor seating near the church €15pp will get you a good amount of food.. 
• 🌍 La Marimba (Mexican restaurant), Nikotsara St (Νικοτσάρα), ☏ +30 2421071167. 20:30-01:30. Closed on Monday. Romantic restaurant with a cosy courtyard with a lot of trees. Good Mexican food, albeit adjusted to the Greek palate, with considerably less spiciness! Great drinks - try their margaritas, or caipirinhas and mojitos. It might be a good idea to book ahead during the high season if you're hoping to eat here between 21:00 and 23:00. Set menu around €15 per person. 
• 🌍 Sogno di San (Italian restaurant), Ferron str (Φερρών), Palea district, ☏ +30 2421032690. Italian style pizzas and pasta. (Evening only) 
• 🌍 Plagios (Πλαγίως), Kontaratou 8, ☏ +30 2421 021900. Greek flavours with a twenty-first century twist. Very tasty food, excitingly presented and in a stylish, yet unpretentious, restaurant. Avoid weekends if you want to avoid crowds - it gets very busy on F-Su evenings, with people coming in for drinks as well as food. Starters €5-7, mains €12-15.. (updated Feb 2016)

• 🌍 PocoPico, Koumoundourou (Κουμουνδούρου). Tiny budget choice. Open all year round. Beer €3.0, Spirits €5-6.. 

• 🌍 Αββαείο (Abbey), N. Votsi, ☏ +30 24210 33130. Huge variety of beers. Beer from €5 to €12, Spirits €7. Serves food, nice mostly German dishes, food on the expensive side. Open all year round. 
• 🌍 Balthassar, , center. Huge variety of beers. Beer from €4 to €12, Spirits €7. Has also 7 options for eating like pizza etc. Open all year round. 
• Brazil. Close to Agios Konstantinos church. Spacious, nice sea and Volos view. Beer €4, Spirits €7. Open all year round. 
• 🌍 Cafe Santan, Ergatikou Kentrou 12, ☏ +306980384693. Rock, Jazz, Blues Bar, one of the most famous bars in Greece. Has been around for almost 30 years and is known for its place in the Greek Rock History as most of the famous Greek rock singers have sometime played there, along with worldwide famous blues and jazz artists. Open all year round. Beer: €5, Spirits: €7-10. 
• 🌍 Posh, Papakyriazi (Παπακυριαζή) 38, Palea district. Electronic music. Beer €5, Spirits €7. Open all year round. 
• 🌍 Lab Art. Friday & Saturday (22:00 - 06:00). Live rock music every Friday and Saturday. Open in the winter only. 
• 🌍 Isalos, Parko Anavrou. Nice, classy coffee shop on the waterfront. Nicely decorated. €3-4 for a coffee. (updated Sep 2015)

• 🌍 Puerto Volos, Argonafton - Koumoundourou (Αργοναυτών - Κουμουνδούρου). 09:00 - 01:00. Coffee €2.5-3.2. 
• 🌍 Perispomeni (Περισπωμένη), Nikolaou Plastira (Νικολάου Πλαστήρα) 4, ☏ +30 2421024133. In front of a park with a kids playground. (updated Jan 2017)
• 🌍 Bossa, Topali (Τοπάλη) 18 (on 1st floor), ☏ +30 2421039313. Nice decoration, clean area, one of the few places that smoking is not allowed. Try hot chocolate. Chocolate €4.5, coffee €3-4. (updated Jan 2017)

• Avra hotel (Αύρα), Solonos 5, ☏ +30 24210 25370. 
• Galaxy hotel (Γαλαξίας), Ag. Nikolaou 3, ☏ +30 24210 20750. 
• 🌍 Roussas hostel (Ρουσσάς Ξενώνας), Iatrou Tzanou 1, ☏ +30 24210 21732. 
• 🌍 Philippos Hotel (Hotel Philippos), 9, Solonos, 38333, Volos, ☏ +30 24210 37607, fax: +30 24210 39550, info@philippos.gr. Hotel Philippos is a two-star city hotel in the city center of Volos, close to the main commercial road of Ermou and just a block away from the Port road. It has well equipped, air conditioned rooms ideal for travellers. Free Wifi. 

• 🌍 Aegli hotel (Αίγλη), Argonafton 24, ☏ +30 24210 25691. Comfortable hotel, with good breakfast provided. 
• 🌍 Kalloni hotel (Καλλονή) (N. Pagases), ☏ +30 24210 88240, hotelkal@otenet.gr. 
• 🌍 Park hotel (Παρκ), Deligiorgi str., ☏ +30 2421 036511. 

• 🌍 Domotel Xenia Volou Hotel, 1, Plastira Street, ☏ +30 24210 92700, resaxenia@domotel.gr. A five-star hotel near the waterfront, ten minutes walk to the south of the centre. 
• 🌍 Volos Palace, Xenofontos & Thrakon Streets (behind the city hall, near the waterfront and train station), ☏ +30 24210 76501. Very nice hotel with breakfast buffet, bar and restaurant. Modern, comfortable rooms, half of which have a sea view. Helpful staff, most of whom speak English. 

There are many internet cafes, mostly used for playing online games. Most cafes have free WiFi access, as does Public (on Ogl).

• 🌍 Volos Post Office, Dimitriados Str.. Daily 08:00-20:00. Greek Post is the best way to send items, postcards etc abroad. 

There are also courier services in Volos.

Volos is home to a few consulates:

• Consulate of Belgium. 
• Consulate of Denmark. 
• Consulate of France. 
• Consulate of the Germany, Konstanta 154, ☏ +30 24210 35988, fax: +30 24210 35989, volos@hk-diplo.de. 
• Consulate of Italy, El. Venizelou 80, ☏ +30 24210 40452, marar@internet.gr. Ms Maria Arfe 
• Vice consulate of The Netherlands, ☏ +30 24210-37714.