Impressive Exhibits and Beautiful Villages: Volos, Greece via Cruise Ship

Author: Janice Vazquez | Last updated: March 25, 2024

People standing in the courtyard of Volos Archaeological Museum with a truck and sculptures on the grass. — *People standing in the courtyard of the Volos Archaeological Museum*

On the 2nd day of the 10-day Viking Greek Odyssey Cruise, I arrived in Volos, Greece. We booked the complimentary shore excursion, Traditional Greek Villages & Archaeological Museum, where we saw impressive exhibits at the Athanasakeio Archaeological Museum of Volos and explored Makrinitsa village.

As we made our way to the first attraction, the tour guide, Babi, gave us a nice overview of Volos. It all started with the Greek myth of Jason and the Argaunatus, which you can learn more by clicking here. The tour guide then dove into fun facts about Volos such as:

Volos is the 6th biggest city in Greece.
Population is over 150,000 people.
A famous port city and an industrial town for making concrete and steel.

Unlock the secrets to navigating Volos arrival by cruise ship: Click here for vital tips to ensure your trip is flawlessly planned and truly unforgettable!

Athanasakeio Archaeological Museum of Volos

Our first stop of the tour was the Archaeological Museum of Volos, a small museum that boasts an exhibition of findings from 6000 BC to the Hellenic period.

A man stands in the front entrance of Archaeological Museum of Volos — Julius standing in the front entrance of Archaeological Museum of Volos

For each exhibit, the museum panels were all in Greek, so instead of wandering on our own like we did in Athens, we decided to listen to Babi explain the exhibits. In the first room, Babi pointed out the globular shaped bowls from Larissa and clay vessels that were decorated from Thessaly.

Clay vessels on display at Volos Archaeological Museum — *Globular shaped bowls and Clay vessels*

Then, Babi showed us some interesting reconstructions of the Neolithic houses at Dimini and Sesklo.

Reconstructed house showing empty rooms and broken pottery scattered on the floor. — *Reconstructed house and empty rooms*

Reconstructed house showing stairs on the left side and a small door that has burnt wood — *Reconstructed kitchen*

After spending 30 minutes in the museum, I went to the bathroom, which was located outside of the museum in a separate building. There were only two stalls for the ladies bathroom, so I had to wait 10 minutes to use the bathroom.

My brother didn’t need to use the bathroom and continued to explore the museum. He saw these neat white clay figurines.

Figurines standing on a black table at the Volos Archaeological Museum — *Figurines standing on a black table*

Once everyone used the bathroom, we boarded the bus and proceeded to the next stop.

Makrinitsa Village

On the drive to the next stop, I was feeling a bit tired, so I took a nap. When I woke up, I noticed we were ascending the mountain and I was surprised by the breathtaking views of the city of Volos, verdant vegetation, and the shimmering Aegean Sea. The mountains themselves were adorned with charming white houses, adding to the village’s picturesque appeal. After 40 minutes of driving, the bus dropped us off at a parking lot. We walked for 10 minutes uphill towards Makrinitsa village, a traditional Greek village nestled in the Pelion mountains,

A lady is posing in front of a backdrop of mountains, sea, and Volos. — *Janice at Makrinitsa Village*

View of the mountains, water, and Volos from Makrinitsa Village — *View of Volos from Makrinitsa Village*

On our walk, Babi took the opportunity to enlighten us about the village’s rich history. Babi said the name of the village originated from the Makrinitsa Monastery. Babi also mentioned that Makrinitsa is known as the noble village because it was mostly inhabited by wealthy people, which explains why most of the houses are noble mansions. The houses are decorated with tall walls and windows and 90% of the houses were 200 to 300 years old.

View of white houses sitting on a Mt. Pelion aka Makrinitsa Village — *White Houses on Mount Pelion*

When we reached the main square, Babi told us to explore on our own for 50 minutes. We spent some time exploring the village, seeking out picturesque locations to capture some memorable photos.

A stone fountain with floral designs in Makrinitsa Village — *A stone fountain with floral designs*

A man standing in front of a big tree in Makrinitsa Village while ascending a stone paved trail — *Julius ascending a stone paved trail*

A lady stands inside a tree, which is located in the courtyard of Makrinitsa Village — *Janice stands inside the tree*

Tip: Wear comfortable shoes to avoid slipping on the rocks.

Along the way, we made a stop at the Byzantine Museum and church, delving into the rich history and culture of the area. We also browsed through the souvenir shops, which sold a wide array of items such as mountain tea, toys, and magnets.

People visiting the shops on the streets of Makrinitsa Village — People visiting the shops

An example of a house in Makrinitsa Village which is built out of stones and wooden doors — An example of a house in Makrinitsa Village

After 50 minutes, we felt like we explored all of the village it had to offer. We walked back down the hill for 10 minutes and boarded the bus. The bus took us back to our cruise ship. Upon arrival at the port center, we presented our cruise card to the officers at the port center and were able to board the cruise ship.

Final Thoughts

In hindsight, we regretted not spending more time exploring the city of Volos before returning to the cruise ship.

Visiting Volos, Greece on a Cruise Ship? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

View Post

Bottles lined up on a bar counter with a back drop of string lights and signs. Bar stools are placed in front of the bar counter.

Best Local Greek Drinks You have to Try in Greece

View Post

JV Wanderings