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 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 [wiki=e8d1f49cb2d8e1466f42b0421575fb3d]Mount Pelion[/wiki], 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 airport [url=http://www.volosairport.gr/]](VOL) is situated in Nea Anchialos, about 25 km SW from the city.
Air Berlin [url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/index.php?LANG=eng[/url]]operates every Monday and every Friday from May to October (Flights to/from [[Berlin[/url]], [wiki=35d7df6ed3d93be2927d14acc5f1fc9a]Hamburg[/wiki], [wiki=c25fa34ca987da7badf27ae2882c4979]Dusseldorf[/wiki], [wiki=baa993ff1d0f2fccb0573468522a2a4a]Nuremberg[/wiki], [wiki=601f9226a92f0a314068aa4395f65528]Vienna[/wiki]).
Austrian Airlines [url=http://www.laudaair.com/]]operate to/from [[Vienna[/url]].
Transavia [url=http://www.transavia.com/hv/main/splash]]operate to/from [[Amsterdam[/url]].
Sky Express [url=http://www.skyexpress.gr/]]operates to/from [[Heraklion[/url]] and [wiki=fdd5174c1da55bd2c224abf3749a2c65]Mykonos[/wiki].
Small Planet Airlines booked through Monarch Airlines or www.charterflights.co.uk operate to/from [wiki=daf83a5d5c42a578da9d776373889068]London Gatwick[/wiki] via Skiathos on Fridays and Sundays
HellasAirlines [url=http://www.en-gb.flyhellasairlines.com/]]will operate to/from [[Athens[/url]], [wiki=6ca5bea86fe229aa3c559cd8cb5fe493]Thessaloniki[/wiki], [wiki=f6665e2a9ab77abefd148781e4dd135c]Heraklion[/wiki]
It also operates weekly charter flights during the summer, directly from Amsterdam, the UK and Germany.
Travellers of charter flights are transferred to their accommodation by their travelling agency. There is no longer a public bus connecting the airport and Volos bus station (since Ryan Air stopped flying into Volos). A taxi from the airport to Volos town centre costs about 35€.Car rental is available at the airport too. If you have a car, the airport parking area charge 8 €p/d 47€ p/w.
There are buses starting from Volos, and also buses that starts from Athens and stops on the highway close to Volos (at Velestino exit). FPtravel [http://http://www.fptravel.gr/] (Serbia, Hungary).
Generally, intercity coaches ("KTEL" buses) ([url=http://www.ktelvolou.gr/]KTEL Volou[/url] (site in Greek and English)) 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 [wiki=e14045c6b4fe1e65d04aade91b1f8c1b]Athens[/wiki], where the train takes five hours as opposed to three on the coach.
There is frequent bus service from Athens Liossion Station to Volos about 15 times a day (cost is about €27 single ticket, €47 return ticket), 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 to [wiki=b7f5020e39714a89048ca66a2e4c7eba]Patras[/wiki], [wiki=82472da019e4c6fb326b757e04a333e1]Ioannina[/wiki], [wiki=328d2df3814bab9aadf0f09b3cf5bd78]Larissa[/wiki], [wiki=35e3361cadcea6e815c6a8fda01602d6]Trikala[/wiki], [wiki=ac257a08b68210d39d6e369dc5cdb233]Karditsa[/wiki] and to many more places in continental Greece via Larissa. Interurban Bus Terminal is opposite to "Volos info center" near the City Hall, the Railway Station and the Port, on a major hub.
Trains ([url=http://www.trainose.gr/]OSE[/url]) connect Volos to 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 [wiki=e14045c6b4fe1e65d04aade91b1f8c1b]Athens[/wiki], whilst travelling through some of the most attractive parts of the country, takes approximately five hours and involves a change at [wiki=328d2df3814bab9aadf0f09b3cf5bd78]Larissa[/wiki] - it's really not worth it! All the locals travel from Athens by intercity coaches. If you are travelling from [wiki=6ca5bea86fe229aa3c559cd8cb5fe493]Thessaloniki[/wiki] or elsewhere in the north, there's not much to choose between the coach and the train in terms of duration or cost. The train wins on comfort, with space to get up and move around.
There are ferry services to [wiki=e1609dec417673889a85bbc215970789]Skiathos[/wiki], [wiki=18a5b2ca44c03215f9a1eefb0e3f43ed]Skopelos[/wiki], and [wiki=9e6c457fb7e3ca998e85c5c92fb5d868]Alonissos[/wiki].
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 €1.50), detailed info in the regional bus terminal (called "Astiko KTEL"), directly adjacent to the Interurban Bus Terminal ("Yperastiko KTEL"). Details on buses, [url=http://ktel.org/index.php?pathID=1_2767]can be found online here[/url]
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 5am till midnight, and rate 2, the double rate, from midnight to 5am. 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 euros.
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. [url=http://www.volostaxiservice.gr/Prices.html]Price[/url]
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 recently has developed 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 recently 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.
Huge variety of beers. Beer from 5€ to 12€, Spirits 7€. Serves food, nice mostly german disches, food on the expensive side.
*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.
* Tiny budget choice. Beer 3.0€, Spirits 5-6€.
* Electronic music. Beer 5€, Spirits 7€.
* Huge variety of beers. Beer from 4€ to 12€, Spirits 7€. Has also 7 options for eating like pizza etc
* Close to Agios Konstantinos church. Spacious, nice sea and Volos view. Beer 4€, Spirits 7€.
* excellent summer choice which gathers many people from Volos. Summer hotspot.
*Relaxed atmosphere and music, sea view, homemade snacks.
Rock music. Beer 5€, Spirits 7€.
* Live rock music every Friday and Saturday
Downtown choices are:
Other choices are:
* in Soutrali, Agria 5km from Volos. Small venue, on a jetty with lovely view of Volos. Beer 3€, Spirits 6€.
* in Soutrali, Agria 5km from Volos. Beer 5€, Spirits 7.5€-8.5€.
* in Kato Gatzea 15km from Volos. A little far from Volos, but excellent summer choice which gathers many people from Volos. Open all day, by the sea, popular for swimming also. There is a dinner section. Beer 4€, Spirits 7€.
Most of tsiouradika have a fixed price for tsipouro with meze, the price may vary from 3€ - 3,5€ per 25cl, usually it's the same price in every tsipouradiko. The difference in price comes when ordering extra dishes. Meze vary from tsipouradiko to tsipouradiko also, some serve one meze per 25cl, while some in the center serve one meze per 50cl of tsipouro. Tsipouro is served in open bottles or closed bottles of 25cl, bottled is 0,5€ more expensive but the standard quality may be worth it.
* Seafood. At the waterfront. 25cl tsipouro with meze 3.5€, 25cl bottled tsipouro with meze 4,0€, serves 3 meze per 4x25cl.
Psistaries serve mostly meat, salads and french fries. The meat usually is ordered by weight, and the price is per kilo also. One portion is 330gr of grilled meat.
The cheapest gyros in town, 1.70€
*
*
*
*
*Hotel Philippos is a two-star city hotel right 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 rooms ideal for travellers, all with an air-conditioner, a private safe, a mini-fridge, a mini-safety box, a private WC with a Shower, an L.C.D. TV, a private balcony and Free highspeed WiFi internet access.
Enjoy your stay at one of the best hotels in Volos, Domotel Xenia 5 star hotel in Volos. The rooms and suites of Domotel Xenia Volou have been created to serve functionality.
* Very nice new hotel with breakfast buffet, bar and restaurant. Modern, comfortable rooms (half with sea view). Ballroom and conference rooms available for conventions, wedding receptions, special events. Helpful staff -- most speak English.
* New luxurious hotel with three restaurants at the sea front, two bars and spa. Modern, comfortable rooms (half with sea view, half with pelion view). Ballroom and conference rooms available for conventions, wedding receptions, special events. Parking.
Volos is home to a few consulates:
*
*
*
* e-mail: volos@hk-diplo.de, fax: +30 24210 35989
* Ms Maria Arfe, e-mail: marar@internet.gr
*
[wiki=cc704af31e6339bb0b8bc5e924a7ab40]de:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=931b27a1ec0266a093cabac2f0bb2284]es:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=4f5367d029e80a8fc6d1a007d4058ce5]fr:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=d213137828b66d0eb38bd3cedf6cbda7]it:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=64fd41341aca85359a15904d8cfa40f2]nl:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=7110384bcddf8f56cbcaeb3f3fe5ae8f]pl:Wolos[/wiki]
[wiki=38e0118a074b45d16f9b22cbb61b1d67]pt:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=89f7aea097f37af9449130e3a3b9332c]ro:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=7a6f34658cb0b5ed3ccd7b58ad25bbe0]ru:Волос[/wiki]
[wiki=9bb1e55d9fefddc591859d9bfb0eb214]sv:Volos[/wiki]
[wiki=1f74a535fd0613a10c4805522c96d016]wts:Category:Volos[/wiki]
[[WikiPedia:Volos]]