24 fun things to do in Volos Greece – gateway to the Pelion

The city of Volos in Northern Greece is a gateway for visitors heading to the beautiful mountain villages of the Pelion peninsula and the islands of Skiathos and Skopelos. But we found plenty of fun things to do in Volos that warrant a longer stop. From beaches and shopping to fascinating museums and street art, Volos makes a great city break destination. This university town has a relaxed vibe, with flat promenades that demand to be cycled and harbour front cafes to while away hours with a coffee.

Set by the sea within the sheltered Pagasetic Gulf, Volos grew rapidly in the industrial boom of 19th century. It remains the main port of the fertile Thessaly region of Greece. Known as the City of the Argonauts, Greek legend has it that Volos was where Jason set off with his ship the Argo and crew of Argonauts to search for the Golden Fleece.

You may spot a replica of the Argo ship in the harbour and you’ll certainly see it represented in sculptures and monuments around the city. Sailors love to stop in Volos on a tour of the northern Aegean. It makes a great place to people watch and admire the smart yachts lined up along the harbour front.

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My top 6 things to do in Volos

If you are short of time, here are my recommendations for the top things to do in Volos.

• Explore the harbour front – whether you walk or cycle, there are luxury yachts to admire, endless coffee bars, promenades at sunset and shady parks on the stretch of harbour between the port and the beach.
• Hire a bike to enjoy the cycling city of Volos with flat streets and seaside paths.
• Try the Tsipouro – an anise flavoured spirit which is served with plates of mezes.
• Check out some of the street art in Volos, with striking murals from Greece’s top urban artists.
• Spend the day in Makrinitsa – balcony of the Pelion with amazing views over the city and sea.
• Take the little train of Pelion from Ano Lekhonia up to the pretty mountain village of Milies.

Check out our guide to Pelion Greece – from the mountains to the sea!

1. Walk along the harbour front

Any visit to Volos starts with a walk along the harbour front. This port city boasts a strong industrial past and remains a thriving commercial port that serves Northern Greece. It’s also a sailing hub that attracts yachts to the protected harbour. From here boats leave to sail around the Sporades archipelago of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.

The harbour front divides into different sections, with the port at one end and the beach at the other. Between the port car park and the commercial port is a good place to look at yachts and see some smaller, traditional fishing boats.

From the port area where the ferries leave for the Sporades, you can wander down the promenade to find numerous cafes lining the seafront. By day this is a place to relax with a morning coffee, to shelter from the summer heat and watch the world go by.

At the end of the cafes is the yellow University of Thessaly building set on the corner, where a small bridge will take you onto a long pier. Continue further to the shady, green St Konstantinos Park with the pretty church of Saints Konstantinos and Helenas at the end. Beyond this is the city beach, with a few nice beach bars where you can take a swim and relax.

Walk along the harbour at dusk

As evening falls the harbour front becomes the place to take a walk in the cooler night air, admire the swanky yachts and meet friends for a drink or a meal. We can recommend the Achilleion bar on the seafront. It’s in a beautiful old building dating back to 1925 that was formerly a cinema and makes an elegant place to stop for an aperitif.

2. Walk the Kordoni (shoe lace) at sunset

While on your evening promenade, we can recommend crossing the foot bridge by the University of Thessaly building. Wander along this pier that’s known locally as the “Kordoni” which means shoe lace. At sunset the cool breezes ripple the water of the Pagasetic Gulf. Locals are out fishing and you can admire the yachts lined up along the pier and wonder where they have come from.

Walk to the very end of the long pier and you may see a yacht coming into harbour after a day’s sailing,. Or look back to see the lights of the city and port as night offers some relief from the heat of the day.

3. Agios Konstantinos Park and Anavros Park

The stretch of harbour beyond the University of Thessaly building is backed by a pleasant green space named after Saint Konstantinos, whose church also sits overlooking the sea. This broad promenade makes a great place for cycling and the trees offer some cool shade to sit among the statues and sculptures. There are a number of seafront cafes to choose from at the park, to indulge in the unmissable Volos pass-time of morning coffee.

Continuing past the church, you’ll walk through another green space, Anavros Park where there are some striking sculptures of the Greek Sculptor Philolaos Tloupas. The concrete orbs bounded by metal that shimmer in the sun, remain from the 1st International Sculpture Symposium that took place here in 1988.

4. Church of St Konstantinos & Eleni

The pretty church of St Konstantinos and Eleni on the quayside is worth a stop if it’s open, with marble pillars and painted frescoes covered in gold. The church in its present form was built in 1936 on the site of an earlier wooden church and makes a peaceful place to stop for reflection or to light a candle.

5. Volos beaches

If you are looking for the beaches in Volos, the Anavros beach is the city’s main beach and offers plenty of relaxation and calm waters. Near the Domotel Xenia Volos Hotel is a small stretch of shingle beach with clear water, which seemed to be used mainly by guests of the hotel and a few locals.

On this stretch, we stopped for a drink at the stylish Isalos Beach Club, which has a wonderful setting overlooking the sea and some sunbeds and tables directly on the beach. This is the more pricy of the two beach bars here, the other coffee bar being Kyma Kafe which is set back a little above the beach.

Anavros Beach

Continue on through Anavros Park to the much larger Anavros beach, with sandy stretches and shallow water between protective stone piers. This is mainly a local’s beach with showers, changing cubicles and fixed sun umbrellas you can use for free, or bring your own chairs and umbrellas.

At the furthest end are several beach restaurants which seemed to be very popular and busy when we were there in summer. We found them a nice place to take lunch or dinner with the sand between your toes. One of the most popular is the Avra restaurant, which is one of the oldest seafood tavernas in Volos, serving traditional seafood dishes.

6. Hire Bikes in Volos

The stretch of harbour front that I’ve described is quite a long, albeit very pleasant walk, so you may like to hire bikes to get around while staying in Volos. We hired from a shop called Bike30 that’s close to Agios Konstantinos Park and I think the cost us a reasonable €8 per bike per day.

Since Volos is so flat and many of the city streets are either pedestrianised or one way, the city makes an excellent cycling destination. We used our bikes to cycle along the harbour front, which is free of cars, stopping at the different sites along the way, which would make a pleasant day’s cycling.

Cycle to Alykes Beach

We also took the longer cycle ride along the coast to the beach at Alykes, along a dedicated cycle path that runs beside the busy main road and then veers off to follows the coast all the way to the beach. This was a really fun ride, although there’s a stretch of the cycle path that takes a short cut over a (not too steep) hill.

Take your time if you are there in the heat of the summer as we were. The cycle ride to Alykes beach takes 1-2 hours and then you can spend the time swimming and relaxing on the beach, where there are numerous cafes and bars.

7. Alykes Beach near Volos

If you are looking for a day on the beach, Alykes (also spelt Alikes) at Nees Pagases is the most easily accessible from Volos. It’s on the western side of the Pagasetic Gulf and a 15 minute drive or 1 hour cycle ride from Volos with plenty of parking along the beach road and in local car parks.

The beach is very long and sandy between stone piers that help prevent erosion. The water here is calm and shallow, so it’s ideal for families. In the summer months watch out for small jellyfish that get swept towards the beaches especially after windy weather. They give a mild sting, so pack your antihistamine cream.

An authentic Greek beach resort

If you want to experience a real Greek resort that’s not too marked by international tourism, you’ll find it at Alykes. This small resort offers numerous holiday apartments and beach bars. In summer the beach is pretty much covered with sun beds that you may need to rent. Otherwise can use them for free so long as you are buying drinks and snacks at the beach bar that runs them.

Be aware that in the summer months and especially at weekends, the resort can be very busy and crowded. However, you can find quieter spots at either end of the main beach area.

I hesitate to recommend one beach bar over another. There are plenty that range from super trendy to the traditional family run beach restaurants and ouzo bars, so it’s best to see what suits your taste.

8. Street art in Volos

I was surprised to spot some street art murals as we explored Volos. On investigating further we realised that there’s a whole outdoor art gallery waiting to be discovered. Much of it is due to projects by Urban Act, an organisation that promotes street art and organises mural festivals in Athens and other locations around Greece.

Many of the artists that I had seen on our Street Art tour in Athens such as Same84 and Kez, had also worked on murals in Volos. Some of them are around the port area, others on schools, apartments or other public buildings.

The murals tend to be spread throughout the city, so unfortunately you can’t see all the street art in one area. I recommend hiring a car or bike or just keeping your eyes open as you are sightseeing. You can download a map of the street art in Volos from the Urban Act website or pick up a printed map from the Volos Info Centre opposite the bus station and use it to locate the murals.

9. Shopping in Volos

While you’re in the centre of Volos I should mention that as one of the major cities of Greece, Volos has some great shopping for fashion and clothing. If you are taking the ferry to the Sporades archipelago or planning a tour of the Pelion peninsula, this is the place to shop for the latest styles to wear on your holiday.

Since much of the central area is pedestrianised, it’s a pleasure to wander around and window-shop for the latest Greek fashions. Along the main street of Dimitriados running parallel to the harbour there are lots of high street stores. On the side streets that lead off from the Cathedral square of Agios Nikolaos are plenty more independent and mainstream clothes stores.

Shopping hours in Greece tend to be mainly in the morning from around 9am to 2pm, when the shops will close for an extended lunch break. They often open again around 6pm for a few hours to take advantage of people strolling around in the evening. Opening hours may vary and most shops in Volos are closed on Sundays all day and on the Monday and Wednesday evenings.

10. St Nicholas Cathedral in Volos

In the heart of Volos is the square with Agios Nikolaos or St Nicholas Metropolitan Cathedral which is surrounded by streets of shops, restaurants and bars. It’s a landmark of the city and worth a look for the beautiful frescoes and peaceful atmosphere among the bustle of the streets nearby.

The church is relatively new, being built in the 1920s on the site of an earlier church that burned down in the 1890s. This square is a pleasant place to stroll in the evening, with coffee bars set in the pedestrianised streets surrounding the cathedral and children playing in the square.

11. Tsipouradika – traditional seafood restaurants

If you’re a food lover, one of the most fun things to do in Volos is try the Tsipouro, which is a local speciality. Although there are ouzo bars all over Greece, Tsipouro is a slightly different anise flavoured spirit, derived from distilled grapes rather than the grain normally used for Ouzo.

In bars it comes in small individual bottles, and is offered with or without the anise or liquorice flavour. The anise version will go a milky white when you add some water to the glass before you drink.

In the Ouzeries or Tsipouradika bars of Volos, Tsipouro is always served with a Mezedes, small plates of appetisers such as grilled fish, fried courgette balls or aubergine dips. The system is that you pay for each individual bottle of Tsipouro and then get a small dish of food included in the price.

Dishes are brought out from the kitchen gradually as they are ready. So if you want 6 dishes to share, then order 6 Tsipouro and even if you don’t drink them all, you can take the small bottles home. The custom of Tsipouro is said to have originated with the workers in the port and factories. Since they did not always have time to get home at lunchtime, they needed some small dishes of food to sustain them.

At the recommendation of my friend Anastasia of Natbeestravel who met us in Volos, we tried our Tsipouro at a Papadis (3 Solonis) on the harbour front and tried an excellent spread of delicious seafood Mezedes.

12. Palea district – old town for bars & restaurants

One of the best places for nightlife in Volos is the Palia district or Old Town, which comes alive in the evening with bars and restaurants. If you walk around in the daytime, you’ll be forgiven for wondering what the fuss is about, since the area appears scruffy and run down with not too many old buildings.

The restaurants are situated on pedestrianised streets on either side of the busy Grigoriou Lampraki that leads out of town. They are tucked behind the commercial port area and in the roads close to the train station. Although the buildings don’t look especially old or notable in any way, this is the first place that the city of Volos was developed around the port with the old castle that guarded the entrance to town.

Head to the Palea district to wander around in the evening and choose a place to eat from the many restaurants and Tsipouradika that you’ll find here.

13. Old Train Station of Volos

Although most of the restaurants are closed during the day, the Palia district is still worth a wander around for the museums and old city walls that are located there. At the same time, take a look at the attractive old station of Volos that was built in 1884 in the style of a traditional northern Greek building, with ornate woodwork and painted decoration.

This was once the starting point for a train service that connected the mountain villages of the Pelion with the busy metropolis of Volos. The journey would previously have taken days by donkey. Now the remains of this train service can be experienced in the “Little Train of Pelion” running from Ano Lekhonia to the mountain village of Milies.

You can also take the train to other parts of the Thessaly region and to Athens from here. However, it’s not a direct line, and the coach is faster. On the other side of the tracks from the main station building is a station yard filled with old locomotives, although the gate was locked and we couldn’t see a way to see them close up.

14. Old Castle Walls

Near the brickworks museum are the remains of the old castle walls of Volos. It’s worth a pause to read the interpretive boards that explain the history. The castle was built in the 6th century on the high ground which had a good view over both the port of Volos and the hinterland of Thessaly.

Providing protection from the raids that came from the sea, the fortified castle enclosure stretched over several blocks. But most of the 7 metre high walls were destroyed in 1889, although those that remain have been restored in recent years.

15. Tsalapatas museum – the old rooftiles and brickworks factory

To discover more about the industrial history of Volos, visit the Tsalapatas Museum housed in the old Rooftiles and Brickworks factory in the Palea district. The factory was founded in the 1920s by the brothers Nikolaos and Spyridon Tsalapatas. It rode the wave of growing industrialisation in Volos which created a high demand for building materials.

The brickworks operated until the 1950s when the earthquake of 1956 and flooding from the river nearby caused a decline. More recently it was restored as a museum and opened in 2006, run by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation.

Within the factory complex you can follow the production process through the clay silos, trolleys, grinding mills, cutters and engines, with plenty of information boards in English. My favourite part of the visit was to walk inside the Hoffman Kiln. The kiln burned 24 hours a day to fire the bricks and clay roof tiles, which are now stacked inside the domed brick kiln.

16. Museum of the City of Volos

In the same Palea district, close to the Tsalapatas Museum is the Museum of the City of Volos. It’s worth a visit to understand more of the history of this area. The museum is housed in the old Papadou tobacco warehouse built in the 1920s and is a beautifully renovated and laid out modern museum.

Volos City Museum galleries on three floors trace the history of Volos through its rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in the early 19th century to its transformation into a modern city of leisure and commerce.

Old photographs and papers from the past century show how Volos fared during its occupation by Germans in WW2. Other displays show how the railway opened up the city, how it has been a magnet for immigration and trade and how modern tourism and leisure activities such as cycling have developed.

17. Archaeological Museum of Volos

At the other end of town, just behind Anavros park, sits the Athanasakio Archaeological museum of Volos. The museum, which was built in 1909 in neoclassical style, houses finds from the many archaeological sites that surround Volos and the wider Thessaly region. There are representations of Neolithic graves and settlements from the region, as well as ceramic pots and artefacts.

I loved looking at the delicate golden necklaces from Ancient Greek times and wondering about the persons who wore them. Curvaceous clay figurines are on display that were perhaps fertility symbols or offerings to the gods.

18. Folklore Museum of Kitsos Makris

One museum that we would have liked to visit, but was unfortunately closed is the Folklore Museum of Kitsos Makris, which belongs to the University of Thessaly. It’s located in the backstreets a few blocks away from the Archaeological Museum. The elegant traditional house was built in the 1950s although it looks much older.

It makes an incongruous contrast to the modern, concrete apartment blocks that surround it. The museum houses the collections of books, artwork and frescoes of Kitsos Makris, a scholar and collector of folk art. Notable are the beautiful paintings by local folk artist Theofilos, the murals of Pagonides and the works of painter N. Christopoulos.

Volos Tourist information

If you are in the Palia Old Town area or arriving at the bus station, be sure to stop at the Volos Info centre which is on the west side of town and easy to access by car. The information centre has lots of useful information about things to do in Volos and the Pelion region. Multi-lingual staff can help with leaflets, free city maps and guides that give you all the highlights of the region.

More things to see close to Volos

There are still more interesting things to see close to Volos, but you’ll need a hire car, bicycle, take a guided tour or use public transport to reach them. While you don’t need a car to explore the city of Volos itself, I recommend hiring a car to visit the beautiful Pelion peninsula and add some of these other places to your itinerary.

19. Little train of Pelion

It’s a fun day out to take the Little Train of Pelion up to the mountain villages of Ano Gatzea and Milies. Despite being on most lists of things to do in Volos, the train starts at Ano Lekhonia Station, which is a 25 minute drive from downtown Volos or can be accessed by taking the local bus in the direction of Kala Nera.

The vintage train is part of the route that was built in the 1890s and once ran all the way to Volos, connecting the mountain villages of the Pelion with the metropolis. The narrow gauge steam train takes you through the gorges and forests of the Pelion, with a brief stop at the small village of Ano Gatzea where you may just have time for a drink in a cafe.

The old bridges of the Pelion train

Then it continues over the stone arches of Kalorama bridge and the metal De Chirico bridge with views over the sea and surrounding countryside, before arriving at the large mountain village of Milies. A steep walk up cobbled paths will bring you to the shady square of the village centre. Here you can sit for a drink at one of the cafes and visit the beautiful church and the museum if open.

On arrival at Milies station, passengers have the novelty of helping to turn the train around on its turntable, before the train continues on the return journey a few hours later. The Pelion train operates on weekends and leaves at 10am, returning in the afternoon, so it makes a full day’s excursion. You can buy tickets at the station ticket office for either direction, but in high season it may be best to pre-book in advance on the Trainose website.

Unfortunately the train was not running while we were there, so as an alternative we hiked up the path from Kala Nera to Argireika and then walking along the railway track to Milies. It was a wonderful walk with views over the countryside and sea, although very hot as we were there in June!

20. Makrinitsa – balcony of Mount Pelion

Another great day out is to visit the mountain village of Makrinitsa, which has a beautiful location set on the mountainside high above Volos. It’s a 35 minute drive via the nearby village of Portaria or you can take the KTEA bus to Portaria – Makrinitsa which runs several times through the day.

Makrinitsa is known as the Balcony of Pelion and when you get up there you can see why, with stunning views over the city and Pagasetic Gulf. There’s a parking area at the entrance to the village as you arrive from Portaria. Parking is limited so I’d arrive early, take the bus, or stay a night in the village as we did at the lovely Hotel Selina Centavrus, which has its own parking garage.

Stroll up the old cobbled street to the main square, which is surrounded by traditional mansions, with their stone tiled roofs and painted window decorations, set on the side of the steep hill. A typical house of the Pelion has three floors. The lower two floors are made of stone with small windows to keep you cosy in winter and an upper floor made of wood with more windows is mainly used in summer.

Relax in the main square of Makrinitsa

The main square is a charming location to sit under the shady plane trees for a drink or lunch and there are numerous restaurants in the town to have something to eat. We also took a look around the Byzantine Museum in the main square which houses beautiful icons and religious paintings collected from churches and monasteries in the area.

We visited many other mountain villages of the Pelion during our trip but Makrinitsa is the largest, most beautiful and most accessible from Volos, so if you only have time to visit one, it should be this one.

21. Kontos house – Theofilos museum of Anakasia

If you are driving up from Volos to Portaria or Makrinitsa, it’s worth stopping half way up the mountain at the Kontos House. It’s also known as the Theofilos Museum, and is tucked away in the village streets of Anakasia. This traditional 3 story house was built in the 19th century and its interiors are covered with paintings by the folk artist Theofilos Hatzimihail, who was a friend of the owner.

The 16 frescoes are beautiful examples of folk art, inspired by scenes from the Greek wars of independence and the gods of ancient Greek history. Theofilos was a talented folk artist who wandered around Volos and the Pelion for years at the end of the 19th century. He scraped a living by painting shops and interiors, was an eccentric lover of dressing up and inspired by Greek heroic past.

Unfortunately I was not able to photograph the frescoes as photography is not allowed inside the house, but they are very beautiful and the house has also been preserved to show the traditional interiors of the 19th century. The Museum is free to visit, but best to check if it’s open before you make a special trip.

22. Dimini archaeological site

There are a number of archaeological sites around Volos and we drove the short distance to the west of the city to visit Dimini. The ongoing excavations there have uncovered a Neolithic settlement, set on a low hill with easy views towards the sea, which was the most likely source attack.

You can walk around the low stone walls that trace the buildings of the settlement, with interpretation signs to explain the life and society that lived here. Any finds of ceramics or jewellery from this and other nearby sites are now housed in the Archaeological Museum in Volos.

The Mycean Tholos tombs

My favourite part of the visit was walking into the beehive shaped Mycean Tholos tomb which was constructed after the Neolithic settlement had been abandoned and would have been the resting place for a king or very important person.

The Tholos tomb within the main site is open to the sky, since its roof had long since fallen in. A short walk down the road is a second tomb which is intact. This was locked up but the curator kindly came to open it for us. It was truly impressive walking inside to experience the full height of the tomb.

If you are interested in archaeology and history, there are further archaeological sites near Volos that can be visited at Sesklo and the ancient city of Demetrias.

24. Drive out to Agria

If you’d like to explore a bit more of life in the Pelion, head out of Volos to the pretty seaside town of Agria, which is just a 20 minutes drive along the coast. The picturesque harbour is lined with fishing boats and traditional tavernas and we stayed there for a few nights after visiting Volos to explore more of the Pelion.

It’s a favourite place for locals from Volos to visit in the evening, to have dinner at one of the many of the restaurants lining the seafront and watch the sunset. There are numerous places to choose from but we had some delicious seafood at the Mastrali fish restaurant followed by an ice cream at the excellent Boukis ice cream shop next door.

Hotels in Volos

There are numerous hotels in and around Volos which make an ideal base to explore the city for a few days. The ones that we recommend for a pleasant break in Volos are;

Hotel Aegli Volos – contemporary hotel in Volos

Hotel Aegli is a mid range hotel right on the harbour front and close to the bus station, train station and port (useful if you are connecting with the ferries to the Sporades). Two neo-classical buildings from the beginning of the 19th century, combine to enclose a glass covered central atrium.

The 72 rooms and suites are contemporary in style, with views over the harbour and a buffet breakfast on offer. This would be an excellent choice of hotel for a city break in Volos if you want somewhere that’s stylish but very central.

Domotel Xenia Volos – 5 star resort hotel in Volos

We passed the large 5 star Domotel Xenia Volos hotel on our way to the beach in Volos. While Volos is not really a resort town, this is the closest thing you’ll get to a resort style hotel within the city. The hotel is located right on the seafront with views towards the Pagasetic Gulf, pleasant gardens and swimming pools, a spa and large car park.

You are just a short walk from the harbour front, shopping and restaurants of Volos and this would be an excellent choice of hotel for those who like to combine relaxation with sightseeing. It’s also ideal for families, with pools, beach and lots of facilities.

Hotel Argo – budget hotel in Volos

If you need a centrally located budget hotel, perhaps just for one night before taking the ferry, try Hotel Argo. It’s in the centre of town and walking distance to everything, with a 24 hour reception and helpful staff. The rooms are small but clean and comfortable.

If you’d like to explore more of the Pelion or stay a little further outside of Volos we recommend:

Selina Centavrus Pelion – boutique hotel in Makrinitsa

We stayed a couple of nights and really enjoyed our time Selina Centavrus Pelion in Makrinitsa. This boutique hotel is part of a small international group that aims to appeal to nomadic travellers and digital nomads. It offers a community and local connections as well as a great place to stay for a holiday. The decor here is stylish and contemporary, but with lots of reference in the wall murals and accessories to local crafts and traditions.

The hotel is made up of a collection of adjoining traditional houses, with its own parking garages. A short walk up the steep path above the hotel takes you to the central square of Makrinitsa. An excellent, healthy breakfast is on offer and the hotels also organises regular activities for their guests. Makrinitsa is a 35 minute drive from Volos so this makes a good second base to explore more of the Pelion.

Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel – charming hotel in Portaria

Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel is a charming, small hotel in the shady square in the centre of Portaria, which is a good alternative village to stay instead of Makrinitsa. The village is a 30 minute drive up the mountain from Volos, so this would make a good base to explore some of the Pelion villages, once you have seen the sites of Volos.

The rooms are traditional and comfortable, but the hotel has a strong reputation for its local cuisine and also has a car park nearby, which is a big benefit since parking can be tight in the mountain villages. Even if you don’t stay here, we can highly recommend it as a stop for lunch or dinner to taste some regional dishes.

Map of Volos and the Pelion peninsula

You can find all the places mentioned in this article in this handy map of Volos and the Pelion.

How long should I stay in Volos?

I would recommend at least 2 full days to explore Volos, to see the main sites and soak up the atmosphere of the harbour and square. For exploring the city itself you don’t need a car. Indeed it’s quite difficult to park in the centre of Volos, although residential areas have free parking.

You may like to hire a car and take a third day to explore some of the areas that are close to the city, such as Makrinitsa, Alykes beach or the archaeological sites. All can be reached by public transport or by hiring a bike.

After spending 2-3 days in Volos, we highly recommend you add some additional days to explore other places in the beautiful Pelion peninsula. Alternatively, take the ferry to the Sporades islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos.

How to get to Volos

Flights – there is an airport at Volos which is mainly used for summer charter flights. If you can get a direct flight from the UK or other European location, perhaps for a 7 day break, you could spend some of the time in Volos and the rest exploring other parts of the Pelion peninsula. Alternative airports in Greece are Athens (4 hours by bus) or Thessaloniki (3 hours by bus).

Bus – assuming you are already in mainland Greece, bus is probably the best way to reach Volos. We took the inter-city bus from Athens, which runs several times a day and takes 4 hours, with a rest stop at the service station at the halfway point. The inter-city bus from Thessaloniki to Volos also runs regularly and takes around 3 hours. Both buses can be booked online in advance at the KTEL website or tickets can be bought on the day at the bus station. Look out for the buses that run direct which are the quickest.

Train – you can also travel to Volos from Athens by train and from other towns within the region of Thessaly. Because the train does not go direct to Athens, but requires a change, the journey is longer and also a bit more expensive.

Ferry – Volos is linked with numerous ferries from the Sporades islands and there is an international airport on Skiathos, so this is an alternative way to reach Volos, especially if you want to combine city sightseeing with island beaches. Ferries between Volos and the Sporades islands are operated by Hellenic Seaways, Anes Ferries and Aegean Flying Dolphins.

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This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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