Volos has its own airport, but most of its flights are seasonal. Many visitors to Pelion therefore fly into Thessaloniki (SKG) or Athens (ATH). Both work well. Here is how they compare.
Distance and driving time
Thessaloniki is closer: about 2 hours 30 minutes by road to Volos. From Athens it is about 3 hours 30 minutes. To the villages on the Aegean side of Pelion, such as Tsagarada or Agios Ioannis, add a little over an hour from Volos.
Flights
Athens has the most international flights, all year round. Thessaloniki also has many direct flights from European cities, especially in summer. If you find a good flight to Volos Airport itself, that is the shortest way of all.
By bus or train
- From Athens: take the airport bus to the KTEL Liosion bus station, then the KTEL bus to Volos (about 4 hours). By train, you go from Athens to Larissa and change there for Volos.
- From Thessaloniki: take the city bus from the airport to the KTEL Macedonia bus station, then the KTEL bus to Volos (about 2 hours 30 minutes), or the train with a change in Larissa.
Either way you arrive in Volos, and you still need a local bus or a taxi to reach your village. With luggage, a full day of connections is normal.
Private transfer prices
Fixed prices per vehicle, one way: car for 1–3 passengers / minivan for 4–7 (November 2026).
| To | From Thessaloniki (SKG) | From Athens (ATH) |
|---|---|---|
| Volos (city centre) | ~2 h 30 min · 285 € / 411 € | ~3 h 30 min · 380 € / 475 € |
| Milies, Afissos (Zone A) | ~3 h 10 min · 316 € / 391 € | ~4 h 10 min · 443 € / 475 € |
| Tsagarada, Zagora, Agios Ioannis (Zone B) | ~3 h 45 min · 380 € / 475 € | ~4 h 45 min · 506 € / 601 € |
| Platanias (South Pelion) | ~3 h 45 min · 456 € / 570 € | ~4 h 45 min · 607 € / 721 € |
Because you pay per vehicle, a group shares the cost: six people in a minivan from Athens Airport to Tsagarada pay about 100 € each.
So which one?
- Choose Thessaloniki if the flights are similar: it is about an hour closer and the transfer costs less.
- Choose Athens if it gives you a direct flight, better times or a much cheaper ticket, or if you want to spend a few days in Athens first.
- Arriving late? Both routes are long after a flight. With a transfer your driver waits at arrivals, follows your flight and you can sleep on the way.
See prices and book: from Thessaloniki Airport · from Athens Airport, or call us on +30 24210 32171.
Discussion
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