To the west of Volos there are the Neolithic settlements of Dimini with a ruined acropolis, walls and two beehive tombs dated between 4000-1200 BC and Sesklo with the remains of the oldest acropolis in Greece (6000 BC), as well as the foundations of a palace and mansions, among the most typical examples of Neolithic civilisation.
During Byzantine empire, emperor Justinian I in 551 fortified Palea hill. In 1423 Ottomans annexed Volos. Volos during the Ottoman empire was a hamlet, build on the hill in Palea district. The hill was fortified with walls. Today just a few parts of the walls can be seen near the Tsalapata building.
After its annexation to Greece from the Ottoman Empire in 1881, it had a population of only 4,900 but rapidly grew within the next 4 decades. Houses were built outside the walls and the main area of Volos by the sea was built up. Merchants, businessmen, craftsmen and sailors moved to Volos from the surrounding area. In the 1920s there was a large influx of refugees in Volos, especially from Ionia, but also from Pontus, Cappadocia and Eastern Thrace. In the 1920 census, Volos had 30,046 inhabitants but according to the 1928 census, its population had grown to 47,892.
Volos, unlike other towns in Thessalian plain, enjoys a mild mediterranean climate with can-be-hot-but-bearable summers (though a little bit humid) and mild winters. Spring and Autumn are the best to visit the city itself, Winter is the time to be on the Pelion mountain villages, and Summer definitely dedicated to the numerous beaches of the region on Pagasetic gulf and the Aegean Sea.
Being privileged to be situated on the foothills of Mount Pelion, the mythical mountain of the centaurs, and bounded by Goritsa Hill to the Southeast, Volos sports a nice weather all year long, with the sea and mountain breezes dominant in all city areas.
Volos was one of the 4 cities in Greece, other than Athens, where Olympic venues where constructed for the olympic football tournament. Apart from the flashy 22,000 seats "Panthessaliko Stadium" that was built in the district of Nea Ionia, there have been constructed some new roads (like a ring road to the city, making access to Pelion easier for travellers coming from E75 Athens or Thessaloniki) plus a facelift of the waterfront and the city inner districts.
Approximately 2 years after the Olympic Games, Volos is the first Greek city to host a major sport event on an international level; The Men&Women, Juniors and Seniors Artistic Gymnastics European Championship 2006. The Games took place at Nea Ionia Sport Complex, and particularly at the Indoor Swimming Hall, which was specially transformed for this cause. There was a major works' scheme in the city, with renovation and enlargement of hotels etc, in order to be able to host the Games.
The Artistic Gymnastics Games took place between the end of April and the beginning of May 2006.
Volos, together with neighbouring city of Larisa have filed a common candidacy bid for organizing the Mediterranean Games of 2013.
Volos airport (VOL) is situated in ([http://www.anchialos.com/ Nea Anchialos]), about 30 km SW from the city, and currently operates mostly weekly charter flights during the summer, directly from Amsterdam, the UK and Germany.
[http://www.airberlin.com/site/index.php?LANG=eng Air Berlin] will operate every Monday and every Friday from 2 May 2008 to 31 October 2008 (Flights to/from Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Nuremberg, Vienna).
There are expansion projects of the airport underway, as well as a rail connection from Volos city to the airport, so as to be able to start some commercial routes as well.
At this moment there is no regular bus connection from the airport to Volos or Pelion. The buses available at VOL airport meet only travellers of scheduled charter flights to transfer them to their accommodation, booked through a travelling agency. Other travellers can take a taxi from the airport, or travel by rental car.
Another way to arrive in Volos from abroad by plane is to land to the nearby island of Skiathos (offering domestic and international flights, charter and commercial ones) and then take the ferry (about 3 hours) or the hydrofoil (about 1 hour) to Volos
Interurban coaches ("KTEL" buses) ([http://www.ktelvolou.gr/ KTEL Volou] (site in Greek)) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece, as well as for intra-regional travelling. There is frequent bus service from Athens Liossion Station to Volos about 15 times a day (cost is about ?20), as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Volos about 10 times a day (about ? 12). Volos is also connected with daily direct routes to Patras, Ioannina, Larissa, Trikala, Karditsa and to many more places in continental Greece via Larissa. Interurban Bus Terminal is opposite to "Volos info center" near the City Hall, the Railway Station and the Port, on a major hub.
Trains ([http://www.ose.gr/ OSE]) connect Volos to other cities in Greece via Larisa. Travelling with ordinary trains can be cheaper, although a little bit slower, whereas choosing a fancy faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money, or even more than a KTEL bus.
There are ferry services to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos.
There is an efficient public transport system with 12 bus lines going around the city (ticket price about 1), detailed info in the regional bus terminal (called "Astiko KTEL"), directly adjacent to the Interurban Bus Terminal ("Yperastiko KTEL").
Taxi in Volos, as everywhere in Greece are comparably cheap. You should not pay more than ? 3 if you hail a cab (silver colour) on the road to take you anywhere in the city. Note that taxi meters have two rates - rate 1 applies from 5am till midnight, and rate 2, the double rate, from midnight to 5am. Taxi fare fraud is not widespread but it still happens, so make sure the rate is correct. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171. Expect to pay ? 1 or ? 2 extra if you take a taxi from the bus station, the train station or the port, and a surcharge if you call for a taxi service on demand.
Volos hasn't been lucky to preserve the large number of neoclassical buildings that could be spotted almost everywhere, as a sign of its industrial boom in the early twentieth century. Unfortunately, a devastating series of earthquakes in 1955 destroyed many parts of the old town. The architectural and urban-planning character of Volos is achieved by the layouts of streets and squares. The current urban plan of Volos was fundamentally formed in 1882, shortly after the liberation of the city and was much influenced by concepts of neoclassical town planning. Modern city isn't really interesting architecturally, apart from "Achilleion" cinema on the promenade, '''Volos railway station''' (officially described as one of the most beautiful in Greece from Hellenic Railways, once a departure point for the nowadays touristic "Pelion train") and the churches of '''Aghios Nikolaos''' (cathedral) and '''Aghios Konstantinos''' (basilica, on the promenade). Former brick factory '''"Tsalapatas"''' renovated in a museum and leisure area with taverns, bars etc. The University of Thessaly, has preserved a series of old industrial warehouses and other buildings in various places in the city, to use them as academic faculties today, '''"Papastratos building"''' on the promenade, originally a greek tobacco company warehouse is the administration building of the university and could be thought as the trademark of Volos. Some typical examples of '''Neoclassical buildings''' are: The 3-storeyed '''Hotel de France''', with its impressive decorative murals (1894, Iasonos and K. Kartali streets), The '''National Bank''', formerly the Epirothessalian Bank(1895), The Athens Bank (1903, today the '''library of University of Thessaly'''), The '''Achilllopouleion Hospital''' (1901), The '''Archaeological Museum of Volos''', Athanasakeio (1909), The '''Agricultural Bank''' (1909, formerly the Kosmadopoulos Bank), The '''Cinetheater Achillion''', (1925), The '''Aegli Hotel''', (1927), designed by Kassiopoulos, The Building of the '''Air-force High officials Club''' near Agios Konstantinos Park, believed that it was designed by Le Corbusier, The '''Bank of Greece''' (1935), The '''Averofeian courts of Justice''', The well preserved Regas house and its singular decorative murals, today the '''Lyceum of Greek women'''.
English books can be bought at '''Public''' and '''Papasotiriou''' (__________________?____), both in the center.
The choices for eating are '''Tsipouradika''' (______________?________ or __________?) where seafood is served, '''Taverns''' (______?______) where mostly meat dishes are served, '''Restaurants''' (____________?______) where Greek dishes can be found (there are Italian and Chinese restaurants also), '''Psistaries''' (______________?) (Grill houses) where the main dish is grilled meat, '''Fast Food''' choices are local '''Souvlatzidika''' (______________?______ or ________________?________) where souvlaki is served, and typical fast food chains such as Goody's and Everest. '''Souvlatzidika''' is the cheapest option if you are on a budget.
People in Greece usually eats late in the evening (21:00 - 24:00), during the day most Taverns, Psistaries and Restaurants are closed. However, Tsipouradika and Fast Food restaurants are open all day long.
Sporades Islands are famous during summer. Ferries and hydrofoils connects Volos Port with the islands. <!--- As well as the seaside villages of the Pelion peninsula which can be pretty touristy there are are few nice villages on the eastern side of the Pagasitic Gulf, particularly Amaliapolis. It sits in its own bay with a small island off-shore and has a gently sloping sandy beach (good for kids) and several tavernas and bars, some of which stay open all year. The tavernas are particularly well-known for the fresh fish they serve and have many customers at week-ends with day-trippers from Volos. It is also popular as a holiday destination in August for Athenians. However outside August it is a great spot to get 'away from it all' and there are hardly any foreign tourists. Prices are also very reasonable as the Greek visitors won't put up with over-charging! There is a choice of small hotels and apartments to rent which any web search can turn up. There are other nice beaches within easy reach of Amaliapolis - for example, Nies and near Pigadi. --->