Survival Guide

Welcome to

Larisa !

Larisa, the mythical daughter of King Danaus of Argos, awaits you on her throne, in the heart of the Valley of Thessaly

Larisa

Larisa Survival Guide

Table of contents Larisa, the city of Pineios River

University of Thessaly

How to get to Larisa

Map of the city

Hospitals and Labs

Boarding and lodging

Transportation

Exploring the City

Around the area

Events

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Larisa

City of Pineios River

Larisa ranks among the five biggest cities of Greece, with roughly

300,000 residents and is the capital of the Thessaly prefecture.

Nowadays, it is a major commercial and industrial center of Greece,

with rich agricultural and livestock production. What is notable for this

city, is that it is mostly flat, without many uphill or downhill ways, as

it’s located at a valley and is crossed by the river Pineios. The city

also has a strong military presence, with many army camps and a

military hospital, mostly because the main corps of the Greek army is

situated here.

Tip: The weather of Larisa is very transitional, going from wet and

quite cold during the winter (snowstorms are known for ruining many

crops in the county) to very hot in summer, with temperatures over

40˚C often occurring.

University of Thessaly

The University of Thessaly was founded about 30 years ago. It is

located in the area of central Greece with campuses in the cities of

Volos, Larisa, Trikala and Karditsa. Despite its young age, it

demonstrates a remarkable presence in the academic ranking of

universities. You can find more information about it here.

Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine is located in Larisa, along with the

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. The Medicine faculty

was founded in 1985 and started accepting students in 1990.

Approximately 100 students are enrolled in the undergraduate

program of the School per year, with a total number of students of

700. The premises of the Faculty of Medicine include laboratories for

pre-clinical study, teaching rooms, auditorials, and administrative

services quarters, all of which are situated in the new building of the

Faculty of Medicine in Biopolis, with the University Hospital of Larisa

close by. More information can be found here.

How to get to Larisa

By plane

Volos’ airport is the nearest airfield but only offers service during the

warm-weather months. There is a bus connecting the airport, Volos

bus station and the city center, but buses are scheduled based on

flights. Then you need to get another intercity bus (KTEL) or train to

Larisa which is 40 minutes away.

•Volos-Larisa round trip by bus: 11 euros

•Volos-Larisa round trip by train: 5,90 euros

The nearest airport offering year-round international service is

located in Thessaloniki (SKG) about 2 hours away. There is a steady

bus program which connects the airport with the railway and the

intercity bus station (KTEL). Then you need to get another intercity

bus or train to Larisa.

•Thessaloniki-Larisa round trip by bus: 25 euros

•Thessaloniki-Larisa round trip by train: 23 euros (or even cheaper if

booked in advance)

Athens’ airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is the biggest airport in Greece.

It’s almost sure that there will be a flight connecting your country with

this airport. From the airport, you can reach the intercity bus station

(KTEL) of Athens by X93-bus or by metro M1 and switch to line M3

(Agios Nikolaos station) + walking (10min) or you can go to the train

station by metro M1 then switch to line M2 (Larisa station).

• Athens-Larisa round trip by bus: 60 euros

There is frequent bus service from Athens (Liossion) Station to Larisa

about 10 times a day. Intercity buses have free Wi-Fi.

• Athens-Larisa round trip by train: 38 euros (or even cheaper if

booked in advance)

International buses and trains

There are buses and trains connecting Larisa with some eastern

European cities and Turkey directly or with connection to Thessaloniki.

It could be a cheap solution to reach us.

• More bus info: here (in Greek) (Your CP will help you with no-english

option)

• More train info: here (English option) Every month there are special

offers in the tickets which you can buy for only 9 euros. These tickets

are announced 5-6 days before the offered month. You can buy them

online by signing in at the site and using a credit card.

Map of the city

How lost would you be if it weren’t for us?

This map is a valuable tool that lists many things of interest about the

city itself. We will keep it updated throughout your exchange with

things that we think are worth sightseeing, places to shop and dine,

nightlife areas and above all places that will be useful for your

exchange! Click on the map below to see more information. If you

notice something that you’d like to see as well, tell us and we’ll add

it!

Hospitals and Labs

The University General Hospital of Larisa is a relatively new hospital

that started operating in 1999. It is located in the city of Larisa at the

Mezourlo region. You can find more information about it here.

Here you may find a list of our research exchange projects and clinical

departments.

The University Hospital, apart from the SCOPE clinics hosts also the

laboratories of Neurology, Immunology, Radiotherapy, Genetics. The

rest are located in the University campus.

During the first day of your exchange your Contact Person will guide

you to your appointed clinic or laboratory, in order to greet you to

your professor.

Boarding & Lodging

Boarding

Lunch will be offered by us in the hospital cafeteria. You will be given

a monthly card from us in order to enjoy your lunch there whether you

are a SCORE or a SCOPE incoming. Usually one meal per day is

provided. Some months breakfast or dinner is provided but your CP

will inform you about it. Your Contact Person will show you the

hospital cafeteria on your first day.

Lodging

Student Flat: A student will open his or her house to welcome you

and to offer accommodation for your exchange period. You are kindly

requested to be polite with him/her and to respect his/her property

and remember that he/she opens his/her house to make you feel

more comfortable in a house instead of staying in a hostel.

Student Hostel: Because the comfortable student flats are not

infinite, for some of the incomings lodging will be provided in a

student hostel. Rooms for 2 or 3 incomings will be provided, so, if you

want to share a room with a specific incoming, it would be preferable

to ask for it in advance.

Information about the flat or the hostel which will host you will be

provided by our LEOs.

Transportation

How to reach the University or Hospital.

You can buy tickets from automatic machines in the center or from the

Central Square, or from the University’s Cafeteria (not a safe choice

because they don’t have all the time) or from the “periptero”-kiosk

outside the Hospital which is next to the bus stop.

If you have the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), you will be

able to buy tickets with 50% discount but you will have to carry the

ISIC with you. If you buy the ticket from the mentioned places and

have an ISIC, it costs 60 cents. If you buy the ticket from the bus

driver with an ISIC, it cost 1 euro. You need 1 ticket per route.

Routes

Route No4:

The University and the Hospital are outside of the city but next to each

other, so both SCORE and SCOPE incomings use the same bus. The

number of the bus which you are going to use is number 4.

BUT you need to be careful as there are 3 different routes marked

as number 4 with different destinations!

Let’s say that A spot is the departure spot and B spot is the

destination spot. A spot is always the Central Square from which all

the different numbers start. But B spots in 4-buses differ.

Cemetery 4: There is a 4-bus which heads to the Cemetery. Irony

ha? In the front is written with big greek letters “ΚΟΙΜΗΤΗΡΙΟ”.

You are not going to use this bus.

Hospital 4: There is a 4-bus which heads to the Hospital. In the

front is written with big greek letters “Π.Π.ΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΟ”. This

is the bus you need for the Hospital. You can also use this bus to go to

the university but you will have to walk 7min from the Hospital to the

University.

University 4: There is a 4-bus which heads to the University. In the

front is written with big greek letters “ΙΑΤΡΙΚΗ ΣΧΟΛΗ’’. This is

the bus you need for the University. It also passes next to the Hospital

so you can use this bus to go to the Hospital too.

From both Hospital’s and University’s bus stops, the 4-buses follow the

same route to the Central Square.

Exploring the city Main Squares

Central Square - Kendriki Platia (in Greek)

It’s the main square of Larisa, next to the city’s courthouse. It is

framed by four main roads, Papanastasiou (that leads to the county’s

regulating house, called Nomarchia), Kyprou (that leads to the Evraion

Square on the left), Megalou Alexandrou and Kouma. All of these are

‘shopping’ roads, with many shops and coffee houses.

Post Office Square - Platia Taxidromiou (in Greek)

It’s called like that because it used to have a post office. Now it

doesn’t, but the old medicine school is located there. It’s very close to

the central square and framed by three main roads: Roosevelt,

Papakyriazi and Panagouli. This square has many coffee shops.

Laou Square

A little bit further from Central Square, it has an underground parking

space and the city’s music hall. Framed by Kyprou, Amalias and

Venizelou Streets.

Places of interest

Ancient Greek Theater

Built by the Macedonian King Philip V in 3rd century BC, it sits at the

foot of the ancient Acropolis. The Acropolis during classical times held

the temple of Polias Athena and during medieval times the Kastro

(Castle). The theater is on the north end of the central district. It is

not open to the public but can be well seen from along Eleftheriou

Venizelou street.

Second Theater

Dating from the Roman period, it is smaller and not as well preserved

as the Greek Theater nearby. Two rows of seats remain along with a

part of the stage. The site is not open but can be viewed from the

streets nearby.

Archaeological Museum of Larisa

Occupying a former mosque (Augoustou 31), this museum contains a

collection of artifacts from the Neolithic age as well as from the

classical Greek and Roman times and into the Middle Ages.

Alcazar National Stadium and Alcazar park: The most famous park of

the city is the Alcazar Park, located near the Fort and the Agios

Achillios (church), and it is amazing for a walk. Inside the park there is

a small open theatre for summertime shows, as well as a small place

where you can drink a juice or some coffee if you want.

Alcazar national stadium is the home of the local football club AEL

1964 FC. The team became Greek Champion in 1988 and since then,

AEL is placed among the most important football clubs in Greece.

Around the area

There are beautiful places around Larisa which you must visit. We will

be more than pleased to help you organize them and offer you useful

advice.

Skopelos

A Greek island in the western Aegean Sea, one of several islands

which comprise the Northern Sporades island group and the filming

location of the film Mamma Mia. Skopelos is slightly larger

than Mykonos and Santorini but much more beautiful as it combines

both mountain and sea.

Skiathos

A small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. One of the hottest

tourist destinations for the summer, Skiathos awaits for her beauties

to be discovered. Amazing nighlife and sandy beaches await you!

Meteora

The Meteora, which literally means “middle of the sky” or “in the

heavens above”, is one of the largest and most important complexes

of Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece. The six monasteries are

built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of

the Plain of Thessaly. The nearest town is Kalambaka, which you can

visit by train from Larisa and you can even return at the same day in

order to avoid extra expenses.

Volos

Only 40 minutes away, Volos is the second biggest town in the region

of Thessaly where you can enjoy a walk by the sea and fresh seafood

with tsipouro.

Olympus

The highest mountain of Greece and the home of the ancient Gods. If

you love mountains and nature, you must not miss the chance for an

amazing route through the first, and the breath-taking view at the top.

It is an exceptional experience!

Events Depending on the month of your stay, there are many events

happening in Larisa, that you may be interested to see and experience

firsthand.

Festival of Pineios River

The biggest festival of Larisa happens just around mid-June! There are

lots of art and music events by the riverside featuring world renowned

and Greek-based DJs and bands. Lots of dancing and also folklore

music, arts and theatrical plays available for your enjoyment.

Mylos Open-air Cinema

Here you may find the program of the projections and shows that take

place in this cinema (site in Greek). A light night breeze is just perfect

for relaxation along with a favourite movie.

Alkazar park

Throughout the year lots of events and shows take place in the park.

From theatre to music shows, be sure to ask your CPs if there is

anything available.

Larisa Flea Market-Bazaar

During September every year for one week, there is a large flea

market in the city where you can find almost anything you want. From

clothes to local products, be sure to give it a go!

On behalf of

The Local Committee of

Larisa

We’re looking forward to meeting you!

National Exchange Officer (NEO)

National Officer on Research Exchange (NORE)

Publisher Hellenic Medical Students’ International Committee (HelMSIC)

General Secretariat Mikras Asias 75 Athens 11527

Greece Phone: +302107462033 E-mail: info@helmsic.gr

www.helmsic.gr

Copyright © 2016 - HelMSIC