Travel & Planning

Flight

Flying to Greece

Volos is the largest near-by city, a 20 minute drive from the wedding location (Portaria, Pelion). There is an airport in Volos, however it is not a major hub and is not well connected. The two major airports nearby are Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia and Athens International Airport. Both are a fair distance from Portaria - so out-of-town guests will have to combine their flight with another means of transport. As both Thessaloniki and Athens are interesting travel destinations, you could also stop for a few days to sightsee before heading to the wedding. The best way to get around Greece is (unfortunately) by car. However, it can be inconvenient driving long distances around Greece, so we have compiled public travel options to reach Volos / Portaria.

Train

By Train to Volos or Pelion

The train network takes you past some beautiful landscapes and is one of our favourite ways to get around. From Athens airport- Take the the metro or taxi to “Larissa Train Station” (its a direct transfer on the red metro line). Get a train ticket to Volos. The journey takes 5-6 hours and you will need to change trains in the city of Larissa using the same ticket. Note- People often confuse the "Larissa train station" in Athens with the town of Larissa in the north of Greece. They are not related- just a Greek quirk! For your journey, you start at Larissa station in Athens and change trains in the city of Larissa. From Thessaloniki- There is no train directly connecting Thessaloniki and Volos. Instead, you can take a train from Thessaloniki to the city of Larissa, where you can change to either a train or a bus to Volos. This can be a long and tiring journey, so taking a bus to Volos may be better. Check the Hellenic Trains website for itineraries & booking- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en (Note- The website glitches when you access it in English, it's easier to access it in Greek and auto-translate to English in your browser). Note- Since Volos experienced floods in 2023, the train lines have suffered water damage. If the trains are not up and running by 2025, the information on this page will be updated.

Train

Bus to Volos

From Athens Airport to Volos- Take (between airport doors 4 and 5) the bus X93 (dep. every 20 min.), you should get off at “KTEL Liosion” and get a direct ticket to Volos (Athens-Volos ticket price: approx. 28,00 Euro). Trip duration between 3 and 4 hours. From Athens City Centre to Volos- Take the Athens city bus 024 from Syntagma square or from Panepistimiou street and get off at “KTEL Liosion” (260 Liosion street). The buses run every 20 min. between 05:00 and midnight. Take the direct Intercity bus to Volos (Athens-Volos ticket price: approx. 28,00 Euro). From Thessaloniki Airport to Volos- On arrival at Macedonia International Airport, you can use the bus Line X1, route Airport-KTEL /central bus station (approx. price 2-3,00 Euro), which goes directly to the Intercity Bus Station. At the station, take the direct Intercity bus to Volos (Thessaloniki-Volos ticket price: approx. 22,00 Euro). From Thessaloniki City Centre to Volos- The Intercity Bus Station is located 5km west of Thessaloniki city center, at Giannitson 244, 54628 Thessaloniki. It is accessible from the city center by the city bus no. 12, 31 and 8. Once at the station, take the Intercity bus to Volos (Thessaloniki-Volos ticket price: approx. 22,00 Euro). Check the KTEL website for itinerary & bookings- https://ktelvolou.gr/en/routes/map/&map=greece

Rental Car

From Volos to Portaria or Pelion

A flight, a train and/or a bus later, you reach Volos! This sea-side city is about 20 minutes away from Portaria. Bus to Portaria- There are buses between Volos and Portaria. You can take the local bus from Volos Bus Station to Makrinitsa (through Portaria). The buses leave approximately every two hours. The bus timetable can be found here- https://ktelvolou.gr/en/routes/map/&map=magnesia Car to Portaria- You can choose to rent a car in Volos to drive to Portaria. Having a car will allow you to travel around Pelion as well - visiting the mountainous villages or the beautiful beaches on the other side of Pelion. There is a lot to see in Pelion! Note that you will need a valid driving license for this.

Hotel

Portaria Hotel

This is where the wedding reception will be hosted. You can book a room here, at a discounted rate (More info in the RSVP). There are several other hotels and b&b options in the village. You can check sites such as booking.com and expedia.com, or reach out to us for suggestions.

Travel Note

Visa Information

Guests with Indian passports- Unfortunately, you will require visas to travel to Greece. Visa applications can be made through the GVCW Visa Application Centers. - https://in-gr.gvcworld.eu/en/visa-info-tourism. Guests with US passports- You do not require a visa but may be required to complete an online form prior to your travel. This online verification system is not yet in effect, but keep an eye on changes in travel regulations.