Larissa (prefecture) Voyage Tips and guide

Larissa is the biggest prefecture of Thessaly, Greece. The tallest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus (2,917 m) is in the northeastern part of the region.

39°38′13″N 22°25′2″E

Map of Larissa (prefecture)

• 39.63849322.4130611 Larissa – its sights and energetic cafe and bar scene make it worth a stop
• Tyrnavos
• Elassona
• Farsala
• Agiokampos, Kato Sotiritsa, Velika, Kato Polydendri
• Sotmio, Kokkino Nero

• Olympos National Park

It covers about one-third of Thessaly. Mount Ossa is in the east, at the Aegean coast. The lower stretch of the river Pineios flows through the Vale of Tempe, between Olympus and Ossa.

The northern part is covered with forests, but most of the regional unit is fertile land, the Thessalian Plain. The Thessalian Plain is famous for its crops including fruits (watermelon and melon), vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, onions, etc.), cotton, dairy, cattle and other crops.

Larissa has a mainly Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Winter is harsher in the mountains areas, notably the north and Mount Olympus. Larissa is often the warmest area in Greece in summer and the coldest in winter.

Volos airport (VOL ^IATA) is about 30 km SW of Nea Anchialos. It operates only weekly charter flights during the summer, directly from Amsterdam and the UK. 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.

Interurban coaches ("KTEL" buses) 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 Larisa about 15 times a day (cost is about €20), as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Larisa about 10 times a day (about €12).

There are a number of highways, and the E75, that cross Thessaly.

The main railway from Athens to Thessaloniki connects Larissa to other cities in Greece. 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 (regional unit)