Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lamía and around
LAMÍA
(population approx. 50,000) is a busy transport hub that inspires few overnight
visitors. From here, most travellers head north toward Metéora, west to the
mountainous Karpeníssi Valley, or east and then north to Vólos and the Pelion. To the
southwest stands 2150m
Mount Íti
, one of the country's most beautiful mountains, and
its national park, offering spectacular views of surrounding peaks, including Parnassós.
If you choose to stay in this city - or have to - you'll find Lamía's sprawling foothills
setting attractive enough, and its main squares full of life and local colour, not to
mention tavernas offering local cuisine.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
LAMÍA
By train
The main-line train station is at Lianokládhi,
16km west of Lamía, but there's an in-town OSE (Greek
railway office) at Avérof 28, southwest of the main square,
Platía Párkou.
Destinations
Athens (15 daily; 2hr 30min-3hr 30min);
Lárissa (11 daily; 1hr); Thessaloníki (15 daily; 2hr 30min-
3hr 30min); Vólos (1 daily; 2hr 20min).
Up to 6 scheduled buses per day from Lamía serve the train
station (add 20min extra & check connections; see below).
By bus
Buses arrive at several scattered terminals, though
none is much further than a 10min walk from the main
square, Platía Párkou. Services for Karpeníssi and western
Fthiotídha in general call at a terminal at Márkou Bótsari 3,
near the little-used, in-town train station on the Stylídha-
Lianokládhi spur line; buses for Dhelfí and Tríkala stop out
on Thermopýlon near the corner of Nikopóleos, past the
train tracks; those for Vólos use a central stop at the corner
of Kapodhistríou and Rozáki-Ángeli; while buses for Athens
and Thessaloníki go from the corner of Papakyriazí and
Satovriándou, near the Karpeníssi station.
Destinations
Karpeníssi (5 daily; 1hr 30min); Tríkala (7-8
daily; 2hr 30min); Vólos (2 daily; 2hr).
3
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Lamia is an almost inevitable connection if using public transport to see the region, so in case you have to spend the night,
there are acceptable options.
Athina
Rozakis Angelis 41
T
22310 20700,
W
hotelsline
.gr/athina.
About 2km from the main bus station and 3km
from the motorway, this large, modern facility has been
recently refurbished. Public rooms are rather bland, but
guestrooms are large, clean and well appointe
d, w
ith free
wi-fi. Private parking extra. Breakfast included.
€65
Fitilis
Platía Laou 6
T
22310 26761.
One of many on this
main square, this restaurant specializes in the region's
grilled meats, including goat and lamb, but also offers the
usual non-meat plates and
mayireftá
. Expect about €15-
20/person.
Daily lunch & dinner.
Mount Íti
To the southwest of Lamía,
Mount Íti
boasts one of the most beautiful of Greek
national parks - along its green northeast slopes - which is also unusually accessible by
Greek standards. The classic
full traverse
of the range from Ypáti to Pávliani, taking in
the summit, takes about eleven hours, best spread over two days (described in reverse in
The Mountains of Greece
; see “Books” p.806). The flat-topped peak of Pyrá (“the pyre”)
is where in legend Hercules immolated himself to escape the agony of the poisoned
tunic which his wife Deinaneira had given him.
A rewarding
one-day outing
through Íti's sheer rock ramparts and lush meadows
involves two overnights in Ypáti. The way uphill, starting from the square, is patchily
marked with red paint splodges or square placards; the actual path from the top of the
village leads in around four hours to an EOS
refuge at
Trápeza
(usually locked, but
with a spring nearby). From there you could return on a different path via
Zapandólakka to Ypáti for a circular hike.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
MOUNT ÍTI
By bus and train
Almost hourly buses cover the 22km
from Lamía to Ypáti, the usual trailhead; if you arrive by
train, these can be picked up en route at the main
Lianokládhi station. Be sure not to get off the bus at Loutrá
Ypátis spa, 5km before Ypáti proper.
Maps
Two topographic maps of Mount Íti are available,
FROM TOP
ÓSIOS LOUKÁS (P.211); DAMOÚHARI, PELION (P.226) >
