Car Hire in Volos

About Volos

Volos is a seaport on the coast of Thessaly, halfway to the Greek mainland. It is the sixth most populous city in Greece and the capital of the regional unit Magnesia in the region of Thessaly. The city is an important industrial centre and its port forms a bridge between Europe and Asia. The port of Volos is the third-largest in Greece, just after Piraeus and Thessaloniki. It is also known as the seat of the Orthodox Bishop of Demetrias.

Excavations in the 20th century show that the area of the city was inhabited since the beginning of the Bronze Age, about 2500 years before Christ. Volos has a rich and turbulent past and changed its name several times over the years. There have been many different nations and religions that have ruled over this city throughout history. Today, Volos is the youngest of the Greek port cities. This is mainly due to the devastating earthquakes of 1955 that devastated the city and its surroundings. After the earthquakes, the city was rebuilt and restored, so today there are many modern buildings throughout the city, but the old town is still preserved and restored and it is around this old town that the modern part of Volos has grown over the years.

Volos participated in the Olympic Games in 2004 and the facilities that were built mainly for the Olympic Games are now used for many sporting events, but also concerts and other cultural events, as well as many different conferences and meetings.

Volos is generally a very lively city. This is mainly due to its busy port, which connects Volos with other parts of Greece and the world. But the port is also a great place for relaxing walks. This area comes alive, especially in the evenings. Fridays and Saturdays are especially lively because that is also when many students come, as Volos is an important university town and young people from all over Greece come to study here. For this reason, the city also has good nightlife to offer. There are many different bars, clubs, and discos in the city that are open all year round.

But Volos is not only transit, students, and parties. The city also has a great cultural offer. Especially in the old town, there are many cultural sites that you can visit. There are some quality museums and galleries and in the summer there are also some festivals and concerts that are worth a visit. But of course, we can not forget about the surroundings of Volos. The landscape around the city is very mountainous and you will find some exceptional mountain villages in this area that you will fall in love with. There is also a great culinary offer here, so you can indulge yourself in a variety of ways.

The best thing to do here is to rent a car and take a short road trip first through the city and then through the surrounding areas of the city. The city has a lot to offer and it is up to you what you prefer. You just need to plan well, buckle up and drive safely!

Basic info and car hire in Volos

• Location: Region of Thessaly, Greece
• Population: 144,449
• Official language: Greek
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: Volos, has a Mediterranean climate  
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Volos are in good condition.
• Car hire in Volos: The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Volos is at Volos Nea Anchialos Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Volos!

 Driving in Volos

Renting a car here in Volos is the best solution if you want to explore Volos and its surroundings properly. All you need to know is that the traffic here can be quite heavy at times. Especially during rush hour. Traffic is higher in the port area, as the port also supplies industry, so there are sometimes a lot of transit trucks here as well.

Highway 12 is an extension of Highway 1 that serves the city of Volos and is also used as a bypass around the city. Although it is two lanes in each direction, there are some signalized intersections, which means that not all parts are built to highway standards.

It is good to know that Volos has a ring road that is quite easy to use. The Volos ring road starts in Dimini and ends in Agria, crossing the town of Volos. It crosses Nea Ionia from the north in the Hiliadou and Kallithea districts. Although the original plan of the ring road is not yet fully completed, it has significantly reduced travel times for those wishing to avoid congestion in downtown Volos. The current endpoints of the ring road are the end of Larisa Street and the village of Agria.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Greece is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old and with some rental companies for people over 75 years old. Young driver surcharges may apply to those under 25 with many rental companies.
• International Driving Permit:  Visitors need a valid driving license to legally drive a car in Greece. Drivers of motorcycles up to 125cc must be at least 18 years old, while drivers of mopeds (up to 50cc) must be at least 16 years old. Driving licenses issued in EU and EEA countries are accepted. With an International Driving Permit (IDP), you can legally drive in Greece and 174 other countries and must present your valid driver's license. In the US, only two organizations issue IDPs: Automobile Association of America (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA), and you can order it online if there is no office near you.
• Additional papers: Identification (passport), a valid driver's license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to take out insurance with the car rental company in case your policy does not cover you when driving in Greece). 
• Additional requirements: Warning triangle (mandatory in every vehicle), headlight deflectors (for vehicles from UK. Depending on the vehicle, you may either need deflector stickers or have to manually adjust the beam), fire extinguisher (mandatory in every vehicle), first aid kit (mandatory in every vehicle), warning triangles, spare wheels are required, and hands-free devices with hearing aids if you are talking on the phone while driving. 
• Children in the car:  A suitable child seat must be fitted in the car for children under 3 years of age. Child restraint systems that comply with the ECE R44/03 standard are approved by local authorities. A suitable child seat should also be used for children between 3 and 11 years of age who are smaller than 1.35 meters. Adult seat belts are already approved for children over 12 years of age and over 1.35 meters tall. If you wish to fit a rear-facing child seat, you may do so on the condition that the front passenger airbag is deactivated.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights: In poor daytime visibility, use low beam headlights. The use of high beams in cities is strictly prohibited.  
• General speed limits: Unless otherwise stated, the maximum speed on the motorway is 120 km per hour. On rural roads, you may drive 110 km/68 mi per hour. In residential areas, the speed limit is 50 km/31 mi per hour.
• Parking suggestions: Parking is prohibited in Greece: Within 5 meters (m) of intersections, within 15m of railway crossings, within 15m of bus and tram stops, within 3m of a fire hydrant, within 5m of a stop sign, or traffic light. In some streets, signs indicate which side of the street to park on. Parking fees vary from city to city, with meters usually operating between 30 minutes and two hours. In Athens, special parking areas are reserved for tourists. EU disability cards should be recognized in Greece. However, to be on the safe side, you should apply for a card from the Institute for the Rehabilitation of Disabled People in Athens or from local prefects in other provinces.

What to see in Volos

Volos is a really simple and beautiful city that has a lot to offer. For example, you can just relax and walk along the coast of Volos. You can start your walk at the marina and walk to the college and even further. Many sections of the coast are pedestrian-only, so you can enjoy the walk as the sound of the sea waves crashes against the bay and there are no vehicles to disturb this soothing sound of the sea. In the evenings, you can enjoy beautiful sunsets from various spots along the coast.

You can also walk around the town centre where there are many great shops to visit. In Ermou street you will find many luxury boutiques and shops with upscale clothing. Ikonomiki Street has many bars and restaurants and is crowded at all times of the day. When you are here in the city centre, you can discover the Tsipouradiko tradition. tsipouradika are restaurants where tsipouro (a distilled spirit similar to raki) is served in combination with mezes. These are delicious dishes that range from fresh fish and crabs to salads and dips. Another place in the centre of the city that you should visit is the Kolonaki neighbourhood. It is considered one of the hippest neighbourhoods in the city and is a great place for evening gatherings. There are many bars here where you can drink cocktails and also many places where you can dance and party until the morning.

If you want to know more about the history of the city and the region, be sure to visit the Archeology Museum. It is considered one of the oldest archaeological museums in Greece. Here you can admire various artefacts from the Neolithic settlements of Dimini and Sesklo, the first Neolithic settlement in Europe, as well as a variety of objects from ancient Greece.

Best restaurants in Volos:

Stathmos Mezedopolio

Vinsanto Italian Wine Bar – Restaurant

Peliades Eatery & Drink

Lagini Rock Cafe

Stafylos

Valentin Curious Bierkneipe