Volos is one of my favorite cities in mainland Greece. I’m Greek and have visited both Volos and nearby Pelion many times.
Built along the Pagasetic Gulf with the mountains rising behind it, Volos is a lively seaside city known for its long waterfront, excellent tsipouradika, and easy access to beautiful villages and beaches.
Volos is also known as the City of the Argonauts. According to Greek mythology, the nearby ancient city of Iolcos was home to Jason, who set sail aboard the Argo with the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece.
In this guide, I’ll show you my favorite things to do in Volos, including walking the waterfront, eating at a traditional tsipouradiko, exploring Palea, visiting the beaches, and using the city as a base for Pelion.
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Is Volos Worth Visiting?
Yes, I think Volos is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you’re planning to explore Pelion as well.
What I like about Volos is that it feels like a real Greek city rather than a place built around tourism. The center is lively, much of it is easy to explore on foot, and the long waterfront is always pleasant for a walk, particularly in the evening.
Food is another reason I love Volos. The town is famous throughout Greece for its tsipouradika, where you order a small glass of tsipouro, a strong Greek grape spirit, and it comes with small plates of seafood and other meze.
Volos YouTube Video
Want to see what Volos is really like? Take a look at my video below for a walk around the city, waterfront, and some of the places covered in this guide.
Best Things to Do in Volos
Walk Along the Volos Waterfront and Port
One of the first things I recommend doing in Volos is walking along the waterfront.
It’s a long, flat promenade lined with cafes and restaurants, with views across the Pagasetic Gulf and plenty of benches if you want to stop for a while.
As you walk, look out for the statue of Jason and the Argo, a reminder of Volos’ connection to the famous Argonaut myth.
The waterfront is lively throughout the day, but I particularly like it in the late afternoon and evening, when locals come out for their volta — the traditional Greek evening stroll.
Walk the Kordoni at Sunset
For a lovely evening walk, head to the Kordoni, a long pier next to the University of Thessaly that stretches out into the Pagasetic Gulf.
Its name means “shoelace” in Greek, a nickname locals use because of its long, narrow shape.
Walk all the way to the end for views back toward Volos and across the water.
I particularly like coming here around sunset, when the light over the gulf is beautiful and the waterfront starts filling with people out for their evening walk.
Visit Agios Konstantinos Park and Church
Continue along the waterfront, and you’ll reach Agios Konstantinos Park, a green space by the sea that’s popular for walking and relaxing.
Right on the waterfront is the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen (Agios Konstantinos and Eleni).
If the church is open, it’s worth stepping inside to see its marble columns and richly painted interior with gold details.
The park and church are easy to combine with your waterfront walk, and from here you can continue along the coast toward Anavros.
Go to the Beach: Anavros and Alykes
If you’re visiting Volos in the warmer months, you don’t have to travel far to go for a swim.
Anavros Beach is the easiest option if you’re staying in the center.
It’s just beyond Agios Konstantinos Park, and you can reach it on foot by continuing along the waterfront. It’s a convenient place for a quick swim without leaving the city.
For more of a beach day, head to Alykes, a seaside area a few kilometers from central Volos.
The beach here is longer, with shallow water and places nearby for coffee or something to eat.
Neither beach is the main reason I would travel to Volos — Pelion has far more impressive beaches — but they’re very convenient when you want to combine sightseeing in the city with a few hours by the sea.
Explore and Shop in Central Volos
Leave the waterfront for a while and wander through the center of Volos. Much of the main shopping is on the pedestrianized Ermou Street, three blocks from the sea.
You’ll find a mix of local shops, boutiques, cafes, bakeries, and familiar Greek and international brands.
The pedestrian streets are usually busy with locals shopping, meeting for coffee, or simply going about their day.
I like this part of Volos because you get to see more of everyday city life away from the waterfront. If you like shopping, it’s also a good place to browse for Greek fashion, shoes, and local products.
Eat at a Volos Tsipouradiko
You really shouldn’t visit Volos without eating at a tsipouradiko. These small restaurants are a big part of the city’s food culture and one of my favorite things about visiting Volos.
Traditionally, you order a small glass of tsipouro, and it comes with a plate of meze. Order another round and a different plate arrives.
The meze often includes seafood such as octopus, mussels, shrimp, calamari, or small fried fish, although what you get varies from one tsipouradiko to another.
You can, of course, order dishes separately too, and you don’t have to drink tsipouro to enjoy the food.
There are tsipouradika all over Volos, from the city center to the waterfront and neighborhoods around the port. At lunchtime, you’ll often see tables full of locals sharing plates, talking, and taking their time over the meal.
If you haven’t tried a tsipouradiko before, come hungry and order gradually. Part of the fun is seeing what meze arrives with the next round.
Explore Palea, the Old Town of Volos
For a different side of Volos, head to Palea, the city’s oldest neighborhood, on the western side of the center.
Its history goes all the way back to the Mycenaean period, and for many years archaeologists believed this was the site of ancient Iolcos.
As you walk around Palea, you’ll come across neoclassical buildings, Roman baths, and remains of the 6th-century walls built during the reign of Emperor Justinian.
You can also walk through Agii Theodori Square and see several old industrial buildings that have been converted for new uses.
One of them is the Papantou Tobacco Warehouse, built in 1920 and now home to the Volos City Museum. Another is the former Loulis flour mill, dating from 1918.
Palea is also where you’ll find the Tsalapatas Rooftile and Brickworks Museum, housed inside the former Tsalapatas factory.
Today, this is also one of the best areas in Volos for an evening out.
The neighborhood has plenty of tsipouradika, traditional tavernas, live rebetiko music venues, and bars, so it’s worth coming back after dark even if you explore the historic sights during the day.
Visit the Archaeological Museum of Volos
If you’re interested in history, visit the Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos, located near Anavros Beach. It’s one of the oldest archaeological museums in Greece, with finds from Volos and the wider Thessaly region.
The collections cover several periods, from prehistoric times through the Roman era. One of the highlights is the collection of Neolithic artifacts from the settlements of Sesklo and Dimini, two important prehistoric sites located close to Volos.
You’ll also see ancient pottery, jewelry, sculptures, and painted funerary stelae from the region.
The museum isn’t huge, so you don’t need to set aside half a day for it. It also fits easily into the same walk as Agios Konstantinos Park and Anavros Beach.
Visit Agria
If you have some extra time in Volos, take a short trip to Agria, a small seaside town about 7 km east of the city. The drive follows the coast and takes around 15 minutes.
Agria has a long seafront lined with cafes, tavernas, and tsipouradika, making it a nice place to come for lunch, coffee, or an evening walk by the water. It feels quieter than central Volos but still has plenty of local life.
Use Volos as a Gateway to Pelion
One of the biggest advantages of visiting Volos is how close it is to Pelion.
The mountain rises behind the city, and within a relatively short drive you can be walking through traditional stone villages, hiking in the forest, or heading down to some beautiful beaches.
I love Pelion and have traveled around the area many times. What makes it special is how different the villages can feel from one another.
Makrinitsa and Portaria are among the easiest to visit from Volos, while villages farther into the peninsula give you a completely different experience.
If you have a car, I recommend spending at least a couple of days exploring Pelion rather than trying to squeeze everything into one day.
Volos also works well as a base if you prefer staying in a lively city in the evening and taking day trips into Pelion during the day.
Use Volos as a Gateway to the Sporades Islands
Volos is also a convenient gateway to the Sporades Islands, with ferries leaving from the port in the city center for Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos.
This makes it easy to combine a few days in Volos and Pelion with an island stay, without having to return to Athens first. In summer, there are several ferry connections, although schedules and frequency vary throughout the year.
Skiathos is known for its sandy beaches and lively atmosphere, Skopelos is greener and quieter, while Alonissos is a great choice if you prefer nature and a more relaxed island experience.
Where to Stay in Volos
If it’s your first visit to Volos, I recommend staying close to the waterfront or in the city center. You’ll be able to walk to the port, shopping streets, restaurants, cafes, and many of the places covered in this guide.
Volos Palace is near the port, set in a beautiful building, and serves a hearty breakfast.
Lithos Boutique Residences is a little farther from the seafront, but you get modern, beautifully decorated rooms in a quieter part of central Volos.
If you have a car and prefer somewhere quieter, you could also stay along the coast in Agria.
The Dream House is a good choice if you want more space, with two bedrooms, a private patio, and the seafront a short walk away.
How to Get to Volos
Volos is about 325 km (202 miles) north of Athens and around 210 km (130 miles) south of Thessaloniki. If you’re planning to explore Pelion as well, I think traveling by car is the most convenient option.
From Athens
Driving from Athens to Volos takes around 3.5–4 hours, mostly on the highway. Having a car also makes it much easier to continue into Pelion, where many of the villages and beaches are difficult to explore without one.
If you don’t want to drive, KTEL intercity buses connect Athens with Volos. Check the current schedule before traveling, as departure times can change.
From Thessaloniki
Volos is roughly 2.5 hours by car from Thessaloniki. There are also direct KTEL buses between Thessaloniki and Volos, with several departures throughout the day.
Parking in Volos
If you’re driving to Volos, be prepared to spend some time looking for parking in the center. When I visited, I couldn’t find a convenient space near the seafront and ended up leaving my car quite a distance away and walking back.
Volos now has a controlled parking system in the city center, with paid visitor spaces marked in white. There are also municipal and private parking lots if you prefer not to search for street parking.
Once you’ve parked, I recommend leaving the car there while you explore. The center and waterfront are flat and very easy to get around on foot.
By Train
Rail travel to Volos is currently more complicated. The Larissa–Volos section is being served by Hellenic Train replacement buses, so I recommend checking the latest Hellenic Train schedules before planning your journey this way.
By Air
The nearest airport is Nea Anchialos National Airport, southwest of Volos, but it has limited and seasonal flight connections. For most international visitors, flying into Thessaloniki and continuing to Volos by car or bus is usually more practical.
How Many Days Do You Need in Volos?
For Volos itself, one or two days is usually enough. The center is compact and easy to explore on foot, so in one day you can walk along the waterfront, see the main sights, explore the shopping streets, and, of course, have lunch or dinner at a tsipouradiko.
I prefer two days if you don’t want to rush. This gives you time to visit the Archaeological Museum, explore Palea, spend some time at Anavros or Alykes Beach in summer, and enjoy the waterfront in the evening.
If you’re using Volos as a base for Pelion, stay longer. I’d allow at least another two or three days for the mountain villages and beaches rather than trying to squeeze Pelion into your Volos sightseeing day.
Best Time to Visit Volos
Volos is a year-round city, but I think the best times to visit are spring and early fall, especially if you also plan to explore Pelion.
From April to June, the weather is usually pleasant for walking around the city, eating outdoors, and exploring the villages of Pelion. By late spring, you can also start combining sightseeing with trips to the beach.
September and October are also great months to visit. The intense summer heat has usually eased, the sea is still warm enough for swimming, and it’s a lovely time for both Volos and Pelion.
July and August are good if beaches are a big part of your trip, but expect hotter weather. Volos itself remains lively, while many Greeks head toward Pelion and the nearby coast during summer.
Winter is quite different but still worth considering.
Volos continues to feel like a busy Greek city rather than a seasonal resort, while the mountain villages of Pelion become popular winter destinations.
FAQs About Visiting Volos
Is Volos walkable?
Yes. Central Volos is very walkable, and much of the shopping area is pedestrianized. You can easily explore the waterfront, port, shopping streets, and many restaurants on foot.
For places farther from the center, such as Alykes, Agria, and Pelion, you’ll need transportation.
What is Volos famous for?
Volos is particularly famous for its tsipouradika, where tsipouro is traditionally served with small plates of meze. The city is also closely associated with Jason and the Argonauts and is one of the main gateways to Mount Pelion and the Sporades islands.
Is Volos a good base for Pelion?
Yes, particularly if you prefer staying in a lively city with plenty of restaurants, shops, and nightlife.
Some of the closest Pelion villages, including Portaria and Makrinitsa, are easy to reach from Volos. If Pelion itself is the main focus of your trip, though, I would spend at least part of your stay in one of the villages.
Final Thoughts
I’ve been to Volos many times, and it’s a city I always enjoy returning to. Give yourself at least a day to walk along the waterfront, explore the center, and sit down for tsipouro and meze rather than treating Volos simply as a stop on the way to Pelion.
And if you have more time, combine the city with a few days in Pelion — for me, they make a wonderful trip together.
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Happy and safe travels,
Evgenia
