Getting Around Larisa
Larisa is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region, and for a visitor its central district is compact and easy to navigate. The information below covers the practical options for moving around the city and for reaching it from the nearest airports.
On Foot
Walking is the best way to get around the central district. Most of the streets in the commercial centre are pedestrianized, and the area is small enough that most locations are just a few minutes apart. If you are basing yourself centrally, you can reasonably plan to cover the sights, shops and restaurants on foot.
By Bicycle
Larisa is a flat city, which makes cycling a pleasant way to explore it. The city centre has many pedestrian streets, and there are also some streets with dedicated bicycle lanes, including Papanastasiou Street and part of Kyprou Street.
Public Transport: Buses
The city has an efficient public transport system running around Larisa, operated as the urban service known as "Astiko KTEL". Detailed information is available at the regional bus terminal or on its official website. Tickets can be bought through the operator's mobile app — check the official website for the app store links.
For travel beyond the city, interurban coaches (known in Greece as "KTEL" buses) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece and for intra-regional trips. KTEL buses offer free Wi-Fi and coffee. Larisa has two main bus stations:
- Main bus station (at Georgiadou & Olympou streets) — provides service to most cities.
- Second bus station (Iroön Polytehniou, near the junction with Gazi Anthimou) — serves Trikala and Kalampaka (Meteora).
There are also international buses connecting Larisa with some eastern European cities, including services run by FPtravel (Serbia, Hungary).
By Train
TrainOSE connects Larisa to other cities in Greece, including Athens, Thessaloniki and Volos. Ordinary trains can be cheaper, though a little slower, while choosing a faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money or even more than a KTEL bus.
The railway station lies just south of the ring road, a little less than a kilometre from the city centre. There is also an OSE office downtown on Papakyriazi Street, opposite the town hall.
By Car
Parking in the central district can be a challenge, especially on-street parking. There are parking lots scattered throughout town, so it is worth heading for one of those rather than circling for a kerb space.
Taxis
Taxis in Larisa, as everywhere in Greece, are comparably cheap. You should not pay more than about €4 if you hail a cab (they are silver in colour) on the road to take you anywhere in the city. Taxi meters have two rates: rate 1 applies from 05:00 until 24:00, and rate 2, the double rate, applies from midnight to 05:00. Make sure the correct rate is showing.
Taxi fare fraud is not widespread but it still happens. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (drivers are obliged to give one), take the plate number, and phone the tourist police on 171 to report the driver. Expect to pay €1 or €2 extra if you take a taxi from the bus station or the train station, and a surcharge if you call for a taxi service on demand.
Getting There from the Airport
The nearest airfield is Volos Airport (Nea Anchialos National Airport, VOL), in Nea Anchialos, about 75 km south-west of Larisa. It only offers service during the warm-weather months. A bus connects the airport with Volos bus station, scheduled around flights. From Volos bus station you then need to take another bus or train onward to Larisa; the bus station in Volos is about 1 km from the train station.
The nearest airport offering year-round international service is in Thessaloniki (SKG), about 2½ hours away.