Pelion for kosher and Shabbat travellers: the Volos synagogue
What there is, and what there isn't, in Pelion and Volos for kosher and Shabbat travellers.
- Volos has an active synagogue at Mouson 11 and a community of about a hundred Jews.
- We found no kosher restaurant or Chabad house in the area.
- The answer: a rental with a kitchen, kosher supermarket products and contact with the community.
If you want a minyan, call the Volos community ahead. For food, plan a private kitchen and products from the supermarket or home.
Is there a Jewish community in Pelion?
Pelion itself is a mountain area of villages, but at its foot lies the city of Volos, which has an active Jewish community and a synagogue. According to JGuide Europe, about a hundred Jews remain in the community today. After the Second World War about 565 Jews lived in the city, and by 1967 only 210.
From Volos to the nearest Pelion villages, such as Portaria and Makrinitsa, is about half an hour by car. So anyone staying in Pelion can reach the synagogue with a short drive (before Shabbat, of course). About the area itself: Pelion travel guide.
The Volos synagogue: address and details
- Synagogue: Mouson 11, Volos. According to JGuide Europe, this smaller synagogue was built after an earthquake damaged the original, and it is still in use.
- Community office: Chatziargiri 51. Phone: +30 2421025302.
- Community website: jcvolos.gr.
- Holocaust memorial: Dimitriados 1, where the old synagogue once stood.
We did not find a regular public prayer schedule. Before you come for Shabbat or a holiday, call the community office and ask whether there is a minyan and when.
Is there kosher food in Pelion or Volos?
We found no kosher restaurant, kosher shop or Chabad house in Volos or Pelion. The nearest Chabad houses are in Athens and Thessaloniki, and it is worth asking them whether food can be ordered in advance: Chabad houses in Greece.
What you can do:
- Rent a villa or apartment with a kitchen. Pelion has many stone houses to rent, and this is the easiest way to keep kosher. Where to stay: where to stay in Pelion.
- Shop at the supermarket. The big Greek chains stock products with recognised kosher certification. How to spot them: kosher products in Greek supermarkets.
- Bring from home meat, cheese and hard-to-find products, subject to customs rules and your airline.
How to keep Shabbat in Pelion
Pelion suits a quiet Shabbat: many villages, walking trails and beaches. A few tips:
- Stay within walking distance of what you need. Mountain village roads are steep, and you will not drive on Shabbat.
- If you want a minyan, staying in Volos itself solves getting to the synagogue.
- Shabbat times: check candle-lighting and havdalah in the Shabbat times for Greece.
- Prepare everything before Shabbat: a hot plate or urn is not always found in rentals. Ask the host in advance.
What to see in Volos and Pelion
Volos is a port city with a long seafront promenade, and from there you go up to the mountain villages or down to the beaches. In winter Pelion has snow and a small ski centre. Beaches: Pelion's best beaches. Weather by season: Greece weather.
FAQ
Is there a synagogue in Volos? Yes. The community synagogue is at Mouson 11, and the community numbers about a hundred Jews today.
Is there a kosher restaurant in Pelion? We found no kosher restaurant in Pelion or Volos. The usual solution is an apartment with a kitchen and food from the supermarket or from home.
Is there a Chabad house in Volos? We found none in Volos. The nearest Chabad houses are in Athens and Thessaloniki.
How do I know if there is a minyan on Shabbat? Call the Volos community office (+30 2421025302) before you arrive.
