Volos

Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326km north of Athens.

The area by the main harbour is a good best place to enjoy lunch. Iasonos Street, one block in, has a wide variety of shops, offer items such as clothing, crafts, toys, ornaments and Greek icons painted on wood.

The Greek Orthodox Agios Nikolaos (Church of St Nicholas) is filled with solid silver icons, carved altars, pulpit and choir stalls, crystal chandeliers, and elaborately painted walls and ceilings.

The Volos Archaeological Museum houses a collection of items from the Bronze Age and well preserved paintings.

The Municipal Gallery contains a fine collection of paintings, sculptures and engravings by contemporary Greek artists.

Further afield, the pretty mountain village of Makrynitsa is packed with shops selling local honey, herbs and ceramics, and has great views of Volos.

The Meteora Monastery dates from 1356 and is set hundreds of feet up on sandstone rock faces.

Alikos Beach is about 4 miles from the port.

South along the coast is the lively town of Argalasti. The town has a pretty main square lined with shops and cafes. Nearby is the soft sands of Melani Beach.

Local dishes include calamari (deep-fried, battered squid), 'pastitso' (minced lamb with macaroni) and 'gemista' (tomatoes or peppers stuffed with minced lamb and rice). The aniseed flavoured Ouzo is the drink of choice here.

The port of Volos is in an industrial area with no passenger amenities. It is a 1 mile walk from the port to the beginning of the promenade.

Most cruiselines offer shuttle buses and taxis are available.