Volos is a city located in central mainland Greece, approximately 326 km north of Athens, in Thessaly, 215 km south of Thessaloniki, and 60 km southeast of Larissa at the foot of the Centaurs Mountain - Pelion. In Greek poetry, Pelion is the most beautiful mountain in Greece. The city’s population is approximately 144,500 (2011). The city of Volos is the administrative center of the Magnesia prefecture.
The history of the place, steeped in myths, captures a guest’s imagination. Magnesia is mentioned in some of the most remarkable legends of Greek mythology. The founder of the people was Magnes, the son of Zeus and Aeolus; it is also believed that Magnesia is the birthplace of the strange creatures of a certain race - the centaurs, half-human, half-horse beings, born as a result of the union of Nephele and Ixion. Students of the Centaur Chiron, besides others, included Asclepius and Achilles. In the poem “Argonauts,” one of the greatest works of Greek mythology, it is said that the Argonauts set off on their journey from the Pagasaean Gulf.
Volos is the fifth-largest city in Greece and the country’s third most important port. Despite its status as an industrial city, Volos boasts a remarkable “excursion scene” - it was built on the ruins of three ancient Greek cities at once, including Iolkos, the home of the well-known seeker of the Golden Fleece, Jason.
The city port provides connections with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Volos has an active daily schedule of sea services not only to the Sporades islands: Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos, but also to islands such as Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, and Skyros.
Today, Volos is a very popular tourist center with excellent infrastructure. Here you will find a great selection of hotels and comfortable apartments, wonderful beaches, and plenty of various entertainment options. A favorite place of rest for both locals and the city’s guests is the picturesque waterfront with many excellent restaurants, cafés, and taverns, as well as the cozy city park adjacent to it. Many outstanding beaches, picturesque coves, and resort towns can also be found in the surrounding area of Volos. A resort located 52 km from Volos - Agios Ioannis - is especially popular.
ClimateThe climate of this area is known as one of the best in the world: it is characterized by a long, hot, and dry summer and a humid but relatively warm winter. Precipitation during the warm season may be absent for several months in a row. Snow in winter is a very rare occurrence, and frosts are generally mild and short-lived.
The average temperature in winter is about +10 degrees. The average air temperature in summer is +27, and the water temperature is +25.
