Larissa

Larissa is the capital and largest city of Thessaly, set on the banks of the Pineios River in the fertile plain of central Greece. One of the country's oldest continuously inhabited cities, it combines a lively agricultural and commercial centre with a relaxed, student-friendly pace of life.

The city's history reaches back to antiquity, when it was a leading city of ancient Thessaly and later an important Roman and Byzantine centre. Today its ancient theatres, including the large Hellenistic theatre on the slopes of the Frourio hill, stand beside Ottoman-era monuments such as the Yeni Tzami and the hilltop fortress that gave the city its name.

Larissa's centre is compact and walkable, arranged around pedestrian streets, squares and the shaded Pineios riverfront. The Diachronic Museum of Larissa traces the region's past from prehistory to modern times, while Alcazar Park and the riverside offer green spaces popular with locals.

As a regional hub for agriculture, transport and services, Larissa also hosts one of Greece's larger universities and a busy calendar of markets, cultural events and festivals. Its café culture and traditional tavernas give the city a distinctly Thessalian character.

For travellers, Larissa works both as a gateway to Mount Olympus, Meteora and the Thessalian countryside and as an authentic, unhurried Greek city stop between Athens and Thessaloniki.