Volos: Your Gateway to the Northern Sporades

Volos lies at the foot of Mount Pelion, at the head of the Pagasitic Gulf — a sheltered inland water that serves as a natural practice ground for sailors. It is the fourth largest port city in Greece, a university town with a lively city centre and — for those wishing to explore the Sporades — the perfect departure point. We set sail from here every week. Here is everything you need to know before you arrive.

How to reach Volos

Volos has a small airport (Nea Anchialos, IATA: VOL) but international connections are limited. Most guests choose one of these routes:

Via Thessaloniki (recommended): fly to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) — excellent connections from across Europe via Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air and others. Hire a car or book a transfer to Volos: 1.5 hours by motorway, straightforward and comfortable. We can arrange a transfer service on request.

Via Athens: fly to Athens International Airport (ATH). Train or bus to Volos takes approximately 4 hours. Less convenient than Thessaloniki but sometimes cheaper. Driving from Athens takes 4.5 hours.

Arrive a day early

We always recommend sleeping in Volos the night before departure. The charter starts early in the morning — arriving on the same day risks a delayed flight holding the entire group. Sleep comfortably in Volos and step aboard refreshed in the morning.

Exploring Volos: more than a stopover

Volos deserves more attention than most sailors give it. The city has a distinct character of its own and is not a typical tourist destination — which is precisely what makes it interesting.

Palio: the harbour district

The old neighbourhood of Palio, right next to the harbour, is the tsipouro capital of Greece. Tsipouro is a Greek grappa — pure distilled spirit, dry and strong. You drink it standing at the bar of a small mezerekaia, accompanied by small plates of food that are automatically brought with every round: fried courgette, stuffed peppers, raw prawns in lemon juice. It is not an aperitif — it is an age-old social custom. Set aside an afternoon for it.

The harbour and promenade

Volos harbour has a long, pleasant promenade along the waterfront. Cafés, ice cream shops, playing children, strolling families. In the evenings, half of Volos is here. An ideal place to spend the first evening before boarding the next day.

The Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Volos is one of the finest in Greece and far too rarely visited. It holds a unique collection of painted gravestones from the Hellenistic period (marble slabs with realistic portraits of the deceased) and Neolithic finds from the hilltop settlements of the Thessalian plain. A visit of 1.5 to 2 hours is recommended.

The Pelion region

If you have an extra day, an excursion to the Pelion peninsula is strongly recommended. The mountainous landscape with its apple orchards, wooded slopes and traditional stone villages stands in striking contrast to the bare rocks of the Aegean islands. Makrinitsa and Portaria are the classic villages — an hour's drive from Volos.

Grocery shopping for the charter

Do your big weekly shop in Volos. AB Vasilopoulos supermarket on Larisis Avenue and Sklavenitis are excellent and lie a short distance from the marina. Buy generously: fresh bread, local cheese, Greek yoghurt, vegetables, fruit, wine, water and for the first evening a good bottle of tsipouro. On the islands, shops are smaller, more expensive and sometimes closed in the afternoon.

The marina

Volos marina sits centrally in the city centre, within walking distance of all facilities. Fuelling, water, shore power — everything is available. After the charter you moor here again, and there is ample parking for hire cars.

Return: plan an extra night

After a week on the islands, returning to a city always takes a moment of adjustment. If possible, plan one more night in Volos after the return voyage. Not to do anything particular — just to decompress quietly before driving to the airport. A final evening of tsipouro in Palio is the perfect ending to a sailing holiday.