Taking a ferry to Volos, one will meet one of the largest cities and one of the major commercial ports in Greece, with daily ferry connections to the Sporades!
Volos is a coastal port city of Thessaly located in the middle of the Greek mainland, about 330 kilometres north of Athens and 220 kilometres south of Thessaloniki and is built at the innermost point of the Pagasitikos Gulf and at the foot of Mount Pelion. The port is located on the harbour of the ancient Thessalian settlement of Iolkos. According to Greek mythology, this was the place where the hero Jason built his trireme, Argo, and together with his rowers set course for Colchis, bringing back and marrying the priestess Medea.
The new port was founded in 1893 and was the most important element in the industrial development of the region. Nowadays, Volos is one of the most important commercial ports of mainland Greece in the Aegean (after Piraeus and Thessaloniki), with ferry and hydrofoil connections to the nearby islands of the Sporades, including Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos.
Three main rivers/former torrents all originate from Mount Pelion (with its peak at 1,610 metres), crossing the city, creating a unique urban geography, before ending in the Pagasitikos Gulf flowing westwards.
The uniqueness of Pelion's landscape with its magnificent nature captivates and dazzles its numerous visitors with its wild, inaccessible and lush vegetation. A visit to the main villages of Pelion (Makrinitsa, Anakasia, Portaria, Chania - Ski Centre, Zagora, Veneto (Caves), Chorefto) is essential in order to admire the magnificent tower houses, the basilica-type churches with their wood-carved temples and exquisite hagiographies, the cobbled cobbled streets, the cool squares, the stone fountains and the stone fountains which to this day make up the unique Pelion scenery.
Volos, having a Mediterranean climate, is favourable for all kinds of activities. The mountain of Pelion, with its own microclimate, influences the city's weather.
Volos is also a lively city, known for its countless taverns (traditional tsipouradika) for its variety of delicacies and tsipouro (a clear alcoholic drink).
Book your ferry tickets to Volos in advance and start your journeys from Volos to the beautiful Sporades Islands!
Traveling by ferry from Volos
The choice of traveling by ferry from Volos is very popular, not only for foreigners, but also for Greeks, as it is one of the easiest and fastest ways to travel to the Sporades Islands from Athens and northern Greece.
More specifically, the port of Volos serves regular daily ferry services to the islands of the Sporades cluster, such as Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos with catamarans and flying dolphins.
Ferry from Volos to Skopelos
There are frequent ferry connections from Volos to Skopelos that has three ports, the port of Skopelos, the port of Glossa and the port of Agnontas with most calls to Skopelos and Glossa and lest to Agnontas. The time duration depends on the type of vessel and varies from 3 hours and 45 minutes with a conventional vessel, 2 hours and 50 minutes with a catamaran and 2 hours with a hydrofoil (flying dolphin).
Ferry from Volos to Skiathos
The journey by ferry from Volos to Skiathos is made with frequent weekly calls throughout the year and is increased considerably (up to 20 weekly crossings) during the summer. The route is served by both high-speed and conventional vessels.The duration of the trip depends on the type of ship and varies from 1 hour and 20 minutes with a flying dolphin to 2 hours and 45 minutes with conventional ships.
Ferry from Volos to Alonissos
There is a frequent ferry connection Volos to Alonissos with about 5 weekly departures during the winter months while with daily itineraries in the summer months. The duration of the trip from Volos to Alonissos lasts from 3 hours to 5.5 hours depending on the type of ferry (fast ferry or conventional).
Ferry from Volos to Mantoudi
The ferry route from Volos to Mantoudi connects the northern part of Greece with Evia (on the Euboikos peninsula) and is currently offered exclusively by a single ferry company. There are up to 5 crossings per week and the journey time is approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes. The port of Mantoudi is seasonally connected with Volos port.
Port of Volos
The port of Volos is located in northern mainland Greece and is a busy and main port for ferries to and from the Sporades islands and occasionally a connection opportunity for the seasonal route Thessaloniki - Sporades, which does not operate every year. In the area of the port, which is close to the city centre, the traveler can find a variety of monuments, restaurants, cafes and shops along the pedestrian area. There are 3 piers, two of them for commercial activities and the passenger terminal for conventional and high-speed ferries to the Sporades, which is located within walking distance from the centre of Volos.
From Volos Center to Volos Port
From the city centre of Volos, the port area is just nearby and can be reached on foot, as many streets have been pedestrianised. Visitors can also use a bicycle, as cycle paths have been laid out, and there is also the possibility of renting a motorbike or a car. Otherwise, there is also the possibility of taking a taxi, as there are many on the streets.
From Volos Airport to Volos Port
Travel from Volos "Nea Anchialos" airport to Volos Ferry port is easy, as the airport is located at a distance of about 25 km and is connected to the port and the city of Volos by the intercity bus "Magnesia Intercity Bus Station", which is fully adapted to the arrivals/departures of flights as well as by several taxis outside the terminal.
More specifically, the available means of transport from Volos' airport to Volos' center and ferry port are:
Bus
The most inexpensive option for your transfer from the airport to Volos city or Volos ferry port is always to take a bus (Ktel) which operates every day with specified route schedules. For more information on the intercity bus timetables, please check Volos Airport Bus.
Taxi
Arriving at Volos airport you can find many taxis waiting to take you to the city of Volos , the port of Volos and nearby destinations of special interest , so you can have a wonderful experience during your stay in Volos.We would suggest you to have agreed the price with the driver before your trip. Also, there are private taxi service companies that offer high quality transportation and in case of more than 2 passengers there is the option of a bus which is more economical than having two or more taxis. Usually the transfer from the airport to the city centre costs about 35€. For more information, you may visit Volos Airport Taxi.
Reach Volos from Athens International Airport
You can reach Volos from Athens International Airport in two ways. You can take the metro or taxi to Larissa station to catch the train to Volos or the airport bus (X93) to Ktel Liosion to travel by intercity bus. The distance between Athens and Volos is 325 km and The bus journey time between Athens and Volos can take from 2 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the bus route. For update schedules, please visit Athens to Volos Bus.
The train option, on the other hand, is very interesting, as the connection is made by express trains which makes the journey comfortable and pleasant. The duration of the journey takes me about 5 hours. For information on train schedules between Athens and Volos, please visit Athens to Volos Train.
Reach Volos from Thessaloniki
There is always the possibility to reach Volos from Thessaloniki with a total distance of 208 km and a duration of the journey of about 2 hours and 20 minutes by car. The duration of the journey with the bus of the Magnesia KTEL from Thessaloniki to Volos takes about 2-2,5 hours. For more information about bus schedules from Thessaloniki, please check Thessaloniki to Volos Bus.
Reach Volos from Igoumenitsa Ferry Port
In case a traveler wishes to reach Volos from Igoumenitsa port, it is possible by car, while by bus they will have to travel to Ioannina and then take another bus to Volos. For more information, please click on Igoumenitsa to Volos Bus.
Holidays in Volos
Holidays in Volos mean visiting a hospitable, lively town at the foot of the magical Pelion and the beauty of the Pagasitikos Gulf creating a wonderful landscape.
Volos combines the past, with its picturesque neighborhoods and cobbled streets, with the present, with young students flooding the waterfront of Volos every day, which is one of the most beautiful walks in Greece, a meeting point for all the locals and visitors who can enjoy their coffee with a view of the sea or tasting the delicious local delicacies accompanied by tsipouro in one of the tsipouradika for which this beautiful seaside town is famous or finally having a drink in one of the bustling bars!
The visitor will be impressed with the utilization of the old industrial buildings of Volos such as brickworks, tobacco warehouses, blacksmiths, textile mills, roller mills that now host multiplexes, cinemas, restaurants and will be impressed by the intense rhythms of live concerts.
The destination of Volos is inseparably linked to the magnificent Pelion with its forests, its springs, its picturesque stone bridges, its picturesque villages connected by delightful paths, beautiful beaches in the greenery and its wonderful natural landscape that hosts a variety of plants and trees and makes visitors feel enchanted.The wonderful beaches in Volos & the natural environment of Pelion with all the shades of green together with the Aegean & Pagasitikos seas make it one of the most beautiful holiday destinations.
There are many hotel options both in the city of Volos and in the nearby villages of Pelion that will offer the visitor an unforgettable experience!
Sightseeing Tour of Volos
A sightseeing tour of Volos will compensate you as it contains historical, cultural and recreational interest. A list of the most popular are:
- Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos
- Volos Entomological Museum
- The Rooftile and Brickworks Museum N. & S. Tsalapatas
- Dimini Archaeological Site
- Sesklo Archaeological Site
- Mount Pelion
- Portaria
- Centaurs' Path
- Pelion Railway
- Anavros Park
- Alikes Beach
- Agiou Konstantinou Park
- Hill of Goritsa
- Castle of Volos
- Theofilos Museum of Anakasia
- Tsipouradika
- Byzantine Museum of Makrinitsa
- Makrinitsa
- Panagia Portarea
- Paschalis Art House
- Canyoning Hellenic
- Old Train Station of Volos
- Old Castle Walls
- The Mycean Tholos Tombs
- Folklore Museum
Hotels in Volos
There are many hotels in and nearby areas around Volos, which are an ideal base for exploring the city for a few days. The range includes hotels in the city of Volos and traditional guesthouses in the villages of Pelion as well as smaller units with pleasant rooms and suites. Recommended for a pleasant stay in Volos are the following (according to customers):
- Domotel Xenia Volos
- Hotel Aegli Volos
- Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel –Portaria
- Selina Centavrus Pelion – Makrinitsa
- Hotel Jason
- Valis Resort Hotel
- Hotel Kalloni
Beaches in Volos
There are beaches in Volos and in the greater area which are very popular in Greece and offer stunning scenery and many recreational facilities. The Pelion peninsula hosts some of the most stunning beaches in Greece with crystal clear waters surrounded by green hillsides. Below you will find a list of the best beaches in Volos and Pelion:
- Agios Dimitrios
- Anchialos
- Alykes
- Pigadia
Beaches in Pelion Peninsula:
- Mylopotamos
- Agios Ioannis
- Fakistra
- Papa Nero
- Horefto
- Platanias
- Damouchari
