Larissa

Larissa (Greek: Λάρισα), has a population of 162.591 people (2011). It is the 4th largest city in Greece, and is in Thessaly, between Athens (355 km) and Thessaloniki (150 km). A lively agricultural and university town, it is visited by few tourists. Nevertheless, its sights and energetic cafe and bar scene make it worth a stop.

The cathedral of Saint Achillius of Larissa, the city's patron, as seen from Pineios river

Understand

Central Square

History

Alkazar Park (Entrance)

Larissa is one of the oldest settlements in Greece with artifacts uncovered dating at least the Neolithic period (6000 BC). The name means "stronghold" in ancient Greek. It was also the head of the Thessalian League during the Hellenistic and Roman era. Today, it's a modern city and is Thessaly's capital.

Get in

By plane

• 🌍 Volos Airport (Nea Anchialos National Airport VOL ^IATA) (in Nea Anchialos, about 75 km (47 mi) south-west from the city.). This is the nearest airfield but only offers service during the warm-weather months.  

TUIFly operates every Saturday from 24/04/17 - 08/10/17 (Flights to/from Munich) and Codor operates every Saturday from 29/04/17 - 28/10/17 (Flights to/from Munich).

There is a bus connecting the airport and Volos bus station. Buses are scheduled based on flights. The cost from the airport to Volos Bus station is 3 €. Then you need to get another bus or train from Volos to Larissa. The bus station in Volos is about 1 km from the train station.

The nearest airport offering year-round international service is in Thessaloniki (SKG ^IATA) about 2.5 hours away.

By international bus

There are buses connecting Larissa with some eastern European cities. FPtravel (Serbia, Hungary).

By regional bus

Interurban coaches (("KTEL" buses) 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 Larissa about 15 times a day (cost is about €20), as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Larissa about 10 times a day (about €13.5). The main bus station is at Georgiadou & Olympou streets (☎[phone]) providing service to most cities. KTEL buses have free Wi-Fi and coffee. For service to Trikala and Kalampaka (Meteora) the bus station is on Iroön Polytehniou near the junction with Gazi Anthimou (☎[phone]).

By train

TrainOSE connect Larissa to other cities in Greece including Athens, Thessaloniki, and Volos. 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. 🌍 Larissa railway station (☎[phone]) lies just south of the ring road a little less than 1 km from the city center. Also there is an OSE office downtown (☎[phone]) at Papakyriazi 35, opposite the town hall.

Get around

By foot

The best way to get around the central district, since most of the streets in the commercial centre are pedestrianized. This area is small enough so that most locations are just a few minutes apart.

By bicycle

Larissa is a flat city thus bicycle in a nice way to explore it. The city center has many pedestrian streets. there are also some streets with bicycle lanes in recent years. These are: Papanastasiou st., part of Kyprou st.

By car

Parking in the central district can be a challenge, especially on-street parking. There are parking lots scattered throughout town.

By bus

There is an efficient public transport system going around the city (ticket price about €1), detailed info in the regional bus terminal (called "Astiko KTEL") or at its official website.

By taxi

Taxis in Larissa, as everywhere in Greece are comparably cheap. You should not pay more than €4 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 05:00 till 24:00, and rate 2, the double rate, from midnight to 05:00. 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 or the train station, and a surcharge if you call for a taxi service on demand.

See

Yeni Tzami former Archeological Museum Larissa

• Ancient Greek Theater. Built by the Macedonian King Philip V in 3rd century BC. It sits at the foot of the ancient Acropolis. The Acropolis during classical times held the temple of Polias Athena and during medieval times the Kastro (Castle). The theater is on the north end of the central district. It is not open to the public but can be well seen from along Elftheriou Venizelou Street. 
• Second Ancient Theater. Dating from the Roman period. Smaller, two rows of seats remain along with a portion of the stage. The site is not open but can viewed from the streets nearby. It is near the center of town at the intersection of Ergatiki Protomagia and Tagmatarhou Velissariou streets. 
• 🌍 Diachronic Museum of Larissa (Διαχρονικό Μουσείο Λάρισας), Mezourlo Hill. One of the 10 biggest museums in Greece, it exhibits archaelogical finds from the paleolithic period until the liberation of Larissa in 1881 by the Greek army. It is the only diachronic museum in Greece, whose openings were on 28 November 2015. (updated Nov 2018)
• Municipal Art Gallery - G I Katsigras Museum, Franklinou Roosevelt 59. Contains a collection of modern Greek art (19th and 20th century, the website is in Greek language) the third largest art gallery in Greece. 
• 🌍 Folklore Museum of Larissa (Λαογραφικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο Λάρισας). Entry €3. (updated Nov 2018)
• St. Achilios, ☎ [phone]. 

Do

Lake in Alkazar Park

Cinemas

Films shown in original language with Greek subtitles. Cartoons are often translated to Greek.

• Ster Cinema (in Pantheon shopping center on south side of city). Multiplex 

Parks

• Alkazar Park. Just across the river from the town center and along the Pinios River. A nice place to cool down and relax with a large fountain and a statue of Hippocrates who is supposed to have been buried in Larissa. 

Football

• AEL 1964 FC (Larissa), AEL FC Arena (Niapoli District). Plays in the Greek Football League. AEL's stadium holds over 16,000 seats. 

Cycling

During the summer months you may have the chance to follow the weekly night ride. Bikers usually gather every Thursday night at the Central Square and form a large group that later rovers on a common route around the city.

Running

Various running events take place in the city during the year with the most notable ones being:

• Imimarathonios Tyrnavos-Larisa. A half-marathon from Tyrnavos to Larisa, it usually takes place in the first week of December. 
• Gyros tis Larisas. 5 km run in the streets of the city, usually in the last weeks of May. 
• Ippokratios Agonas Dromou. Newly established event where runners are required to cover about 10 km on unpaved roads that run through the fields in the west edge of the city. In June the weather conditions are extremely hot in Larisa but most people will forget the heat and enjoy the wide view of the Thessaly's lowland and the surrounding mountains. 

Many locals enjoy training by the river which offers paths almost 1.5 km long on each side.

Drink

Winter bars, pubs and clubs, usually close down during summer. Most of them have a different facility for the summer. Dancing in clubs is common only during a party.

Winter

Tsipouro is a very famous beverage in Greece, but most of the areas in Thessaly are famous for making some of the purest and strongest tsipouro in the country. It's really good in cold weather, because of its high concentration in alcohol. Tyrnavos is known for its local production which is known and sold as Tsipouro Tyrnavou.

Clubs:

• Stage. Often live music venue, mostly rock. 

Summer

Tsipouro, Ouzo or Wine, as in the rest of Greece, are good choices. There are many bars downtown, so the visitor is not expected to have any problem finding a place to enjoy a drink. Youths buy drinks and sit around the Frourio square during the summer nights while the restaurants and pubs in that area thrive with people this season. Another popular place is Neapoli square where a big number of pubs is to be found around the square.

Buy

The First Ancient Theatre of Larissa

There many shops downtown. Be aware that shopping hours vary by the day of the week. Monday-Saturday shops are open from around 9am to 2pm. Monday, Wednesday and Friday they reopen around 6pm and stay open until 20:00-21:00. On Sundays about the only places open are cafes, restaurants, and kiosks.

Malls

• 🌍 Pantheon Plaza. A big mall with a lot of shops. Among others: Mediamarkt, Fokas. Also many cafeterias and places to eat, e.g. Goody's. Cinema too. 
• Gaea Lifestyle Center, Αγίας Τριάδας 60, ☎ [phone]. A mall with shops. 

Farmers Market

Or more properly "People's Market" and locally known as "Laiki agora" is a weekly event in many Greek cities. Farmers sell their fresh products directly to the housekeepers for very affordable prices from morning to noon. Peoples Market instances in Larissa include:

• Every Saturday in the Neapoli region on the street "Dimitri Karaoli"
• Every Wednesday on the street "Kalitheas" next to Pinios river.

Eat

There are plenty of options for eating out in Larissa.

• Taverns, (Ταβέρνα), are where mostly meat dishes are served.
• Restaurants, (Εστιατόριο), Greek dishes can be found at most of them, however there are Italian and Chinese restaurants options as well.
• Psistaries, (Ψησταριά), these are grill houses. These serve mostly meat, salads and french fries. The meat usually is ordered by weight, and the price is per kilo also. One portion is 330 gr of grilled meat.
• Fast Food, choices are local Souvlatzidika, (Οβελιστήριο or Σουβλατζίδικο) where souvlaki is served, and typical fast food chains such as Goody's, To-Eat, and Everest.

There is a large concentration of restaurants along Filellinon Street on the north side of the central district.

People in Greece usually eat late in the evening (21:00-24:00); during the day most taverns, psistaries and restaurants are closed. However, fast-food restaurants are open all day long.

Budget

• 🌍 Kimatothrafstis (Κιματοθραύστης), Kentavron 2 (Κεντάυρων 2), ☎ [phone]. Small plate for €3.5, big for €6, soup for €3. 

Mid range

• Nikodimos (Νικόδημος), Karaiskaki 2 (Καραϊσκάκη 2), ☎ [phone]. Nice old tavern with a nice backyard. 
• Syndrivani (on south side of Platiea Ethnarhou Makariou), ☎ [phone]. Open all day and known for its lamb and moussaka. 

Splurge

Inside the medieval fortress.

Sleep

There are many hotels in Larissa. Most are in center. Car parking could be hard to find in the center of Larissa.

Budget

(1 and 2 Stars)

• Achillion Hotel Larisa, 10 Kentavron, ☎ [phone]. In center of town 
• Avra hotel. 
• GR Louis Larissa Hotel, 1 Skarlatou Soutsou, ☎ [phone]. In center of city 
• Helena Hotel Larisa (Elena), 13 Oktovriou 28th, ☎ [phone]. Inside ring road on southeast side. 
• Pantheon Hotel, Railway Square, ☎ [phone]. Near the train station. 

Mid-range

(3 and 4 Stars)

• Asteras Hotel Larissa, Kouma & Asklipiou, ☎ [phone]. In center of city 
• Dionissos Hotel Larissa, L. Katsoni & 23rd October, ☎ [phone]. In center of city 
• Grand Hotel, 16 Papakiriazi St. (Tachidromiou Sqr), ☎ [phone]. In center of city 
• Hotel Metropol, 14 Roosevelt, ☎ [phone]. In center of city 
• Park Hotel Larissa, 1 August 31st, ☎ [phone]. In center of city 

The Municipal Gallery of Larissa.

Splurge

• 🌍 Divani Palace Larissa, 19 Papanastassiou, ☎ [phone]. In center of city (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Grecotel Larissa Imperial, 182 Farsalon, ☎ [phone]. On south side of city (updated Nov 2018)

Nearby

Metaxochori

• Archontiko Soulioti (35 km east of Larissa), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Traditional settlement in a small village. Offers a great view of the valley and plains of Thessaly. 

Stay safe

Thessalian Theatre

Larissa's football club known as AEL has a very aggressive fan club called Monsters. It is probable that you get attacked in the street if you are seen wearing cloths with logos of other football teams, especially Greek ones. Avoid wearing such clothing and do not come in conduct with anyone that seems like a sports fanatic.

Dial 112 in case of emergency.

• University Hospital, Mezourlo (southwest side of town), ☎ [phone]. 
• Larissa General Hospital (Koutlimbaneio & Triantafylleio General Hospital Of Larissa), Tsakalof 1 (northeast side of town), ☎ [phone]. 

Go next

Nearby are the famous Meteora, the Mount Olympos National Park, and Tembi Valley. They can be reached by train, bus or car.