Visitors to the town can enjoy all the advantages of a large city, in terms of the services available, the vibrant artistic and cultural life, modern infrastructure, large shopping district and lively cultural and social activities.

The port of Volos, the airport at Nea Anchialos, the modern national road, the rail network and comfortable inter-city buses meet all transportation needs for any destination. In addition, the excursions to the magnificent Mountain of the Centaurs with the Little Train of Pelion, a unique feature in Europe proposed as a global heritage monument by Unesco, offer unforgettable experiences.

The region of Volos has always attracted people looking for a permanent home as well as travelers, merchants, investors, tourists, scientists and academics studying the history of Greek civilization . Strong proof of human activity in the region is provided by the existence of remarkable historical monuments that testify to a glorious part whose beginnings are lost in the depths of time.

The recognition that Volos has gained due to its important, age-old cultural and sporting tradition and its prospects as a dynamic urban centre in Greece and the whole of Europe, was crowned with its selection as an Olympic City for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Modern Volos is progressing rapidly. When the University of Thessaly was established in 1985, boasting state-of-the-art facilities, it further enhanced the town’s existing infrastructure and played a decisive role in Volos’ modernization and growth.

Various interventions were made, mainly by the municipal authorities, to transform the parks and squares into place where people would go to relax and enjoy themselves and where cultural activities could be held. The coastal park of Agios Konstantinos, the Anavrou Square, which has a permanent open-air sculpture exhibition, and the Field of Mars, which has been landscaped in order to accommodate the contemporary Argo of the Volos Municipality, as a point linking the legendary Argonaut Expedition to the modern-day town.

Volos also has international-standard sports centres that were used as training centres before and during the Olympic Games, while nine matches of the Olympic soccer tournament were held in the modern Panthessalian Stadium.

Volos has utilized its rich industrial heritage by reusing old factories and converting them into modern, multi-purpose venues hosting artistic and academic events of national and international scope, its achievements even surpassing similar efforts throughout Europe.

Today visitors can pass the time pleasantly and creatively in this interesting modern town by taking a variety of trips in space and time. They can learn about the splendid history of the region, immerse themselves in Greek tradition and popular culture and lose themselves in picturesque routes, enjoying the natural beauty of a unique landscape that combines the enchantment of the mountain and the magic of the sea.

The town’s cultural life is evident in the rich programme containing painting, sculpture and photography exhibitions, concerts held by eminent artists, presentations by old and new folklore and modern music bands, plays hosted by the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Volos,performances staged by the Musical Theatre Centre, scientific conferences and talks. This truly remarkable cultural programme serves as the continuation and renewal of the region’s glorious tradition in the art and literature and offers quality entertainment to even the most demanding of visitors.

Volos can also be enjoyed through its picturesque little tavernas, where local cuisine and good wine can be sampled, and its traditional ouzeri, where the aroma of the tsipouro and seafood delicacies pervade the air. The town’s nightlife will not disappoint those in search of a bar or live music venue, or people with a penchant for original tastes accompanied by fitting music.

Organized excursions from Volos to Pelion or the beaches along the Pagasitic Gulf or Aegean Sea will not fail to astound those seeking to spend more time in nature. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire the traditional architecture of Pelion, relax in the embrace of dense vegetation and revel in the freshness of the ever-flowing springs.

Last but not least, one can take advantage of the frequent connections available to visit the beautiful islands of the northern Sporades, Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos as well as the marine park north of Alonnisos,which is home to the Mediterranean monk seal.

Related Links:
U.S. Department of State: Greece Profile
Greek National Tourism Organisation
Lonely Planet: Greece
Volos, Greece Photo Gallery
The Acropolis of Athens, Greece