This page provides practical guidance for travelling to Volos, Greece, for academics and researchers who are participating in the Revitalisation of Linguistic Diversity & Cultural Heritage (LocalLing) project in March 2026. Volos is well-connected to Greece’s two largest cities and can be reached comfortably by train, intercity bus, or car. March is a good time to travel: transport networks operate normally, tourist pressure is low, and weather-related disruptions are rare.
Arriving in Greece
For visits in March, most international visitors arrive via Athens or Thessaloniki.
Nea Anchialos Airport (Volos)
Volos is served by Nea Anchialos National Airport (VOL), which is located approximately 25 km southwest of the city. However, this airport mainly operates seasonal international charter flights. In March, scheduled commercial flights are minimal. There are no domestic flights connecting Volos with Athens or Thessaloniki. For this reason, Nea Anchialos Airport is not a reliable option for March arrivals, and most visiting academics do not use it.
Recommended Gateways into Greece
For March travel, we recommend arriving via Athens International Airport (ATH) or Thessaloniki/Macedonia International Airport (SKG). Athens is the best-connected option, and enjoys frequent onward train and bus services. Arriving in Thessaloniki involves a relatively shorter onward journey to Volos and may also be a more convenient option for visitors arriving from northern Europe. Both airports offer reliable, year-round connections to Volos by train, intercity bus (KTEL), or car.
Reaching Volos by train
Train travel is comfortable and predictable in March, with fewer crowds than in peak seasons. However, recent accidents have raised some concern about the safety of the train services and limited the provision of trains arriving directly in Volos from either Athens or Thessaloniki. The trip from Larissa to Volos is generally handled by bus replacement services. Tickets can be booked from Hellenic Train, the official operator. The train station in Volos is centrally located. There are bus lines and taxis available nearby, and the University can be reached on foot by a short (10-15 minute) walk.
From Athens
Athens → Larissa → Volos
⏱ approx. 4.5–5 hours
From Athens Airport to Athens Railway Station
Metro Line 3 (Airport → Syntagma), then Line 2 to Larissis Station
Or suburban railway (Proastiakos) directly to Larissis Station
⏱ approx. 45–60 minutes
From Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki → Larissa → Volos
⏱ approx. 3–3.5 hours
From Thessaloniki Airport to Thessaloniki Railway Station
Bus X1 (day) or N1 (night) to city centre, then taxi or local bus
⏱ Taxi directly from airport: ~25 minutes
Reaching Volos by intercity bus
Most visitors to Volos prefer the buses (KTEL). KTEL buses are frequent, efficient, and often faster than trains, although they can be crowded and less comfortable. Advance booking is rarely needed, although tt may be helpful on Fridays and Sundays. Note that bus tickets are numbered, although passengers may sit flexibly when the bus is not crowded. You should feel very free to ask people to vacate your seat if it is occupied. The bus station in Volos is centrally located. There are bus lines and taxis available nearby, and the University can be reached on foot by a short (10-15 minute) walk.
From Athens
Departure: Liosion Intercity Bus Station
⏱ approx. 4 hours
From Athens Airport to Liosion Bus Station
Metro Line 3 (Airport → Syntagma), then taxi or Line 2 + short walk
Taxi directly: ~45–60 minutes
From Thessaloniki
Departure: Macedonia Intercity Bus Station
⏱ approx. 2.5–3 hours
From Thessaloniki Airport to Macedonia Bus Station
Bus X1/N1 to city centre, then local bus or taxi
Taxi directly: ~20–25 minutes
Reaching Volos by car
Driving is straightforward and particularly useful if you plan to explore the region, visit Mount Pelion (not recommended unless you are a confident driver) or travel to other towns. For visitors staying mainly in central Volos and commuting to the university, a car is generally not needed.
The motorways are modern, well signposted, and in good condition [however, be aware of roadworks at the Thessaloniki Ring Road]. Travel is unlikely to be affected by snow or adverse weather conditions. Greek motorways operate a pay-as-you-go toll system. This will involve paying several times at toll stations. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted at all toll stations. There is no vignette or flat-rate pass. No advance payment or registration is required.
Parking in central Volos can be limited. On-street parking in the city centre is regulated and regularly policed. If you choose to rent a car, accommodation with parking is strongly recommended. There are short-term paid parking facilities in various places near the university and throughout the city centre. In many streets, including near the university, you can use an app (or a ticket that you can buy locally) to pay for up to three hours of parking, at which time you will be expected to move your vehicle.
From Athens International Airport
~346 km
€23.65 in tolls
⏱ approx. 4–4.5 hours
From Thessaloniki International Airport
~224 km
€12.20 in tolls
⏱ approx. 2–2.5 hours
Getting around in Volos
Volos is a compact and walkable city, and most daily destinations, including accommodation, the university, cafés, and the seafront, are within short distances. For a stay of several weeks in March, you will likely combine walking with local buses and occasional taxis. Some information about these services is provided below (see section above for using a car)
On foot
For many people in Volos, walking is the default mode of transport. The city centre, seafront, and many university buildings are within 10–25 minutes’ walk of each other. Pavements are generally good, though less accessible in older areas. There are few steep inclines. March weather is well-suited to walking (cool mornings, mild afternoons).
Volos is generally a safe and well-lit city, and many people walk on foot in the evening and at night, particularly in the city centre and along the seafront. This includes women walking alone. However, you should exercise situational awareness in less well-lit or very quiet side streets late at night, especially if unfamiliar with the area, carrying valuables, or walking alone.
That said, we recognise that comfort levels vary. Feel free to reach out if you would like additional guidance.
Local bus service
Volos has a reliable local bus network serving the city and nearby suburbs.
This page (in Greek) lists the addresses of locations where tickets can be bought.
For most destinations, a ticket costs 1.20€ (1.50€ if bought from the bus driver). A bundle of 11 tickets costs 12€, and a month-long pass costs 55€.
Tickets are valid for one trip and need to be validated as soon as you get on the bus (you do so by inserting the ticket in the validating machine).
Taxi
Taxis are widely available and affordable by European standards. There are taxi ranks near the bus and train stations as well as the University. You can also call taxis by phone (+30 2421027777).
A short trip in the city typically costs 5-10€. Trips outside the city and between 12 and 5 am are more expensive but not prohibitively so. There are surcharges for calling a taxi, starting a trip at a bus or train station, and for additional luggage. Taxis do not charge more money for additional passengers. Paying by credit card and getting a receipt can be an issue, so alert the driver about your needs before setting off.
Volos is generally a safe city, and taxis are widely used by women, including late in the evening. However, if you have questions or concerns about transport, including those related to gender or cultural expectations, we will be happy to offer advice or assistance.
Cycling and Micromobility
Cycling infrastructure is limited but improving in the town centre. Cycling is feasible for confident riders, though high levels of traffic awareness are required. Do not assume that all drivers will respect cycling lanes or red lights.
Shared scooters and bikes are not consistently available year-round.
About me
Achilleas Kostoulas is an applied linguist and language teacher educator at the Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, Greece. He holds a PhD and an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Manchester, UK and a BA in English Studies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
His research explores a wide range of issues connected with language (teacher) education, including language contact and plurilingualism, linguistic identities and ideologies, language policy and didactics, often using a Complex Dynamic Systems Theory to tease out connections between them. Some of his work in the field includes the research monograph The Intentional Dynamics of TESOL (2021, De Gruyter; with Juup Stelma) and the edited volume Doctoral Study and Getting Published (2025, Emerald; with Richard Fay), as well as numerous other publications.
Achilleas currently contributes to several projects that bring together his long-standing interests in language education, teacher development, and the social dimensions of language learning. As the coordinator of the expert team of AI Lang (Artificial Intelligence in Language Education), an initiative of the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe, he works on developing principles and resources to help educators make informed, pedagogically grounded use of AI in their teaching. He also leads the University of Thessaly team of ReaLiTea (Research Literacy of Teachers), a project that supports language teachers in developing the capacity to engage with, and contribute to, educational research. Alongside these, he contributes to LocalLing, a Horizon-funded initiative to preserve and strengthen heritage and minority languages globally.
In addition to the above, Achilleas is the (co)editor-in-chief of the newly established European Journal of Education and Language Review, and welcomes contributions that explore the dynamic intersections between language, education, and society.
About this page
This page contains information for the members of the EU-funded Revitalisation of Linguistic Diversity & Cultural Heritage (LocalLing) project, who will be visiting the University of Thessaly (Volos Campus) in March 2026. The information is curated by the University of Thessaly LocalLing team, under the direction of Achilleas Kostoulas, but it is not in any way endorsed by the University of Thessaly or by the European Union. Likewise, the LocalLing team provides the information as a service to colleagues, but it does not necessarily endorse the services or venues described in this page.
The page was created on 21st December 2025, and was last updated on 21st December 2025. Although every effort has been made to provide information that is factually correct at the time of writing, the authors cannot accept responsibility for errors in the information we have been given or subsequent changes.
The featured image, by flovie @ Adobe Stock, is used with license. AI has been been used to assist with translation, copyediting and search engine optimisation of content. However, all content has been initially drafted and subsequently reviewed by human editors.