Discovering the city of the Argonauts
Located on the foothills of Mount Pelion, this hospitable, open and charming city welcomes visitors with sea aura, authentic tastes and plenty of tsipouro.
Combining mountain and sea landscapes, Volos is the capital of Magnesia Prefecture and the second largest city in the Thessaly Region. It lies on the coastline of the Pagasetic Gulf, near the site of ancient Iolkos; while three of the Northern Sporades islands (Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos) are connected to mainland through its port.
The seafront of Volos is the city’s gem: full of shops and joints, it is the place that locals and visitors choose for their walks, since it offers many options for coffee, food and drinks.
Walking by the seafront, you can see St. Constantine Park right next to the University of Thessaly. The Park extends to St. Constantine’s church after which it was named; a significant monument of the city that was built in 1936.
Your exploration of Volos should include a walk to “Palaia”, the district behind the City Hall, where you can find many nice taverns, as well as a visit to the neighborhood of Nea Ionia with its many traditional “tsipouradika” (i.e. meze-bistros that serve primarily the traditional Greek spirit called tsipouro). Volos's “tsipouradika” are infamous throughout Greece for their fine tsipouro and delicious meze variety.
Must see
Amongst the must-see landmarks of the city, the Archaeological Museum of Volos stands out, with collections of exhibits from the Prehistoric period up to the Byzantine era; and the multipurpose space Tsalapata Complex, which is housed in the 1926 former factory premises, where you can visit the N. & S. Tsalapata Clay Roof Tile and Brickworks Museum as well. Also, don’t miss the nightlife's hot spots of Volos.
University of Thessaly – Papastratos’ Complex: The former warehouses complex of Papastratos’ tobacco factory, located on the seaside promenade of Volos, houses several Departments of the University of Thessaly, as well as two fully equipped conference rooms.
Sts. Constantine and Helena Church: Designed by architect Aristotle Zachos, the structure was built in 1936. Its elaborate architecture in combination with its key position on the seafront made the church a landmark of the modern city.
St. Constantine Park: The former King George I Square, centrally located on the seafront, was transformed into a recreational park in the 1920s, under the guidance of architect N. Kitsikis.
Bank of Greece: The neoclassical building was constructed in 1930 and its design is a hallmark of public-building-architecture of that era.
Achillion: Designed by native architect K. Argyris, the movie theatre was built in 1925 and remains open to date.
St. Nicholas Cathedral: The construction of the city cathedral was completed in 1934 and was the first of the three churches architect Aristotle Zachos has designed in Volos. The old bell tower in the temple courtyard, dating back to 1884, is the work of the Italian sculptor Previsan.
The little train of Pelion: The legendary “Moutzouris” (i.e. smudgy), the once steam-powered train of Pelion, started operating in 1895. The railway line was constructed under the supervision of the Italian engineer Evaristo de Chirico and was considered to be an outstanding technological achievement. The railway line is operational to date. Starting from Lechonia, the train slowly winds its way up the mountain before reaching the terminal in Mileai (Milies).
Volos Railway Station: The railway station building was erected in 1884 and its design was influenced by the European aesthetics of the architects working for Thessaly Railways at the time. Its distinctive facade was restored and remains unchanged in time; while a museum with rare historical railway artifacts operates on the first floor of the station.
Giorgio de Chirico Art Centre: Located right next to the Municipal Conservatory, the three-storey building of the Art Centre also houses Alekos K. Damtsas Museum. Its permanent exhibition includes an artwork selection off the Municipal Collection, while it hosts temporary visual arts exhibitions.
The “tsipouradika” of Volos
Volos has been famous for its “tsipouradika” for years. You can find these classic joints on the seafront promenade of the city, where locals and visitors can combine the enjoyment of food and tsipouro drinking with a nice sea view. Another option is Nea Ionia: in its narrow alleys you can discover cozy spots that serve fresh fish meze. Don’t forget that Volos “tsipouradika” have established an ISO certification, which practically means that at least 60% of the ingredients come from local producers, meze is cooked the traditional way, and tsipouro is of finest quality and of protected designation of origin (PDO). Reference: EnjoyThessaly, www.enjoythessaly.com.
Did you know?
About eight kilometers west of Volos, lies the archaeological site of Sesklo, a prehistoric settlement built on Kastraki Hill and one of the oldest settlements discovered in Europe (inhabited in the early 7th Millennium BC).
The famous “tsipouradika” are a tradition formed after 1922 by the refugees of Asia Minor, who used to gather in the harbour's small cafes, drinking tsipouro and eating mainly seafood meze.
For dining and drinking options or socialising and live concerts, take a walk around the paved centre streets Ermou, Kontaratou or Ogle, and St. Nicholas Square as well; where the heart of the city beats all day long.
At present, many of the sites mentioned above are closed, following government measures aimed at protecting public health.
Info
Volos is connected to Athens with daily itineraries. However, modifications or cancellations may occur to certain routes following government measures for the protection of public health. You may find more information on our website.
