Larissa - city of Thessaly region in Greece

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.

Understand

History

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 IATA: VOL), 39.219444°, 22.794167°. This is the nearest airfield but only offers service during the warm-weather months.

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 (IATA: SKG) about 2½ 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 between Athens Liossion Station and Larissa about 15 times a day (cost is about €30), as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Larissa about 10 times a day (about €13.5). KTEL buses have free Wi-Fi and coffee.

• Main bus station, +30 2410 537777. Providing service to most cities.
• bus station, Iroön Polytehniou (near the junction with Gazi Anthimou), +30 2410 610124. For service to Trikala and Kalampaka (Meteora)

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, 39.629486°, 22.422346°, +30 2410 590143.
  • OSE office, Papakyriazi 35 (downtown, opposite the town hall), +30 2410 590239.

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 centre has many pedestrian streets. There are also some streets with bicycle lanes: 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 (dead link: January 2023).

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. 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

• 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. 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, 39.618344°, 22.393483°. 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,which opened on 28 November 2015. 2018-11-21
• 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), 39.627511°, 22.424939°. Entry €3 2018-11-21
• St. Achilios, +30 2410 537159.

Do

Cinemas

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

• Village Cinemas. Multiplex
• Victoria Cinemas, +30 2410 230707, cinema@victoria-cinema.gr. 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:

• {{do | name=Imimarathonios Tyrnavos-Larisa | url=http://dopael.gr/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address= | lat= | long= | directions= | phone= | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content=A half-marathon from Tyrnavos to Larisa, it usually takes place in the first week of December. }}
• {{do | name=Gyros tis Larisas | url=http://dopael.gr/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address= | lat= | long= | directions= | phone= | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content=5-km run in the streets of the city, usually in the last weeks of May. }}
• Ippokratios Agonas Dromou. 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. It

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

There many shops downtown. Be aware that shopping hours vary by the day of the week. Monday-Saturday shops are open from around 09:00 to 14:00. Monday, Wednesday and Friday they reopen around 18:00 and stay open until 20:00-21:00. On Sundays about the only places open are cafes, restaurants, and kiosks.

Malls

• Pantheon Plaza, 39.60630°, 22.44169°. 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, +30 2410 610922. A mall with shops.

Farmers market

The People's Market, 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 g 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), 39.64080°, 22.41254°, +30 2410 256722. Small plate for €3.5, big for €6, soup for €3

Mid range

• Nikodimos (Νικόδημος), Karaiskaki 2 (Καραϊσκάκη 2), +30 2410 535042. Nice old tavern with a nice backyard.
• Syndrivani, +30 2410 535933. Open all day and known for its lamb and moussaka.

Splurge

Sleep

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

Budget

(1 and 2 stars)

• Achillion Hotel Larisa, 10 Kentavron, +30 2410 537401. In centre of city.
• Avra hotel.
• GR Louis Larissa Hotel, 1 Skarlatou Soutsou, +30 2410 535024. In centre of city.
• Helena Hotel Larisa (Elena), 13 Oktovriou 28th, +30 2410 287461. Inside ring road on southeast side.
• Pantheon Hotel, Railway Square, +30 2410 234810. Near the train station.

Mid-range

(3 and 4 stars)

• Asteras Hotel Larissa, Kouma & Asklipiou, +30 2410 534772. In centre of city.
• Dionissos Hotel Larissa, L. Katsoni & 23rd October, +30 2410 230101. In centre of city.
• Grand Hotel, 16 Papakiriazi St. (Tachidromiou Sqr), +30 2410 257711. In centre of city.
• Hotel Metropol, 14 Roosevelt, +30 2410 537161. In centre of city.
• Park Hotel Larissa, 1 August 31st, +30 2410 257071. In centre of city.

Splurge

• Divani Palace Larissa, 19 Papanastassiou, 39.639672°, 22.415448°, +30 2410 252791. In centre of city. 2018-11-21
• Grecotel Larissa Imperial, 182 Farsalon, 39.606696°, 22.432884°, +30 2810 300330. On south side of city. 2018-11-21

Nearby

Metaxochori

• Archontiko Soulioti, +30 24940 22040, xenones@lar.forthnet.gr. Traditional settlement in a small village. Offers a great view of the valley and plains of Thessaly.

Stay safe

Dial 112 in case of emergency.

• University Hospital, Mezourlo (southwest side of town), +30 24135 01000.
• Larissa General Hospital (Koutlimbaneio & Triantafylleio General Hospital Of Larissa), Tsakalof 1 (northeast side of town), +30 2410 230031.

Go next

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