Rail travel to 

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How to travel by train & ferry from

London to Athens & Greece . . .

How to travel by train & ferry from the UK to Athens & Greece...

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 Country information

Trains within Greece:  

OSE (Organismos Sidirodromon Ellados): www.trainose.gr (previously www.ose.gr)

Map of Greek train routes    Athens-Istanbul by train    All-Europe online train times

 

 

Greek island ferries:

See www.ferries.gr or www.openseas.gr for all Greek island ferries & operators.

Ferries Italy-Greece:

Superfast Ferries, Blue Star ferries, Minoan Lines, Anek Lines, Hellenic Mediterranean Lines.  UK agent for most of these ferries: Viamare Travel

Railpasses:

Beginner's guide to European railpasses     Buy a rail pass online

Time zone & dialling code:

GMT+2 (GMT+3 last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October).  Dial code +30.

Currency:

Tourist information:

www.gnto.gr   Athens Metro: www.ametro.gr   Recommended guidebooks

Hotels & tours:

Find hotels in Greece   Hotel reviews:  www.tripadvisor.com     Backpacker hostels

Visas:

UK citizens do not need visas for travel via any of the routes shown here.

Page last updated:

18 January 2012.  Train times valid from 11 December 2011 to 9 June 2012.


 London to Greece without flying?

  The Parthenon, Athens.  It's easy to get to Greece by train!

The Parthenon in Athens, without flying...  You really can get there in comfort without having to fly!

No problem!  You can travel from the UK to mainland Greece in little more than 48 hours with great scenery on the way, by Eurostar and high-speed TGV to Italy through the Alps, then an overnight cruise ferry to Greece across the Adriatic in a comfortable en suite cabin, with restaurants & bars on board.  Sailing across blue seas under even bluer skies past the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia is perhaps the nicest way of all to reach Greece, a far more rewarding experience than 3 hours strapped to a seat on a plane, and it's practical & affordable, too.

On this page...

You'll find a step-by-step guide to planning, booking & making a train journey from London or Paris to Greece, one-way or return, eastbound or westbound, with schedules, fares, what the journey is like, and how to buy your tickets.

London to Greece: A guide to the different options, with route map

London to Athens by train & ferry via Paris & Italy (the quickest & cheapest route)

London to Athens by train via Paris, Munich, Budapest to Sofia, bus to Thessaloniki, train to Athens

London to Athens by train & ferry via Venice, with a relaxing Adriatic cruise

London to Thessaloniki & Larissa

London to Meteora (Kalambaka)

London to Corfu

London to Kefalonia

London to Crete

London to Rhodes & other Greek islands

Hotels & accommodation in Greece

On other pages...

Athens & Thessaloniki to Istanbul by train    Greece to Turkey by ferry    Buying UK train tickets to connect with Eurostar

Taking bikes   Dogs   Luggage   Left luggage facilities in Paris   General information    European train travel help line...

Sponsored links...

 

 London to Greece:  What are the options?

You can reach Greece from London either by train to Italy then a cruise ferry to Greece, or by train all the way to Athens across eastern Europe via Munich, Vienna & Budapest.  Here are the best options:

Option 1, by train to Italy then cruise ferry to Greece...

This is the quickest, cheapest and most comfortable way from London to Greece without flying, shown in red on the route map below.  It's a wonderful trip and a great alternative to a flight, taking little over 48 hours from St Pancras station to stepping ashore in Greece.  Take a morning Eurostar from London to Paris and an afternoon high-speed TGV from Paris to Milan.  Stay overnight, then take an air-conditioned Eurostar City 'Frecciabianca' train all along the Adriatic coast to Bari in southern Italy.  Modern cruise ferries sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece, for the train to Athens.  Why not stop off to see a little of Italy on the way?  Times, fares & information for this route are shown below.

Option 2, by train all the way to Athens...

The overland route from London to Greece takes you via Paris, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade & Sofia to Thessaloniki, Larissa & Athens, although sadly it now involves a long bus ride between Sofia and Thessaloniki as there are now no trains, see the 'Greece cut off' paragraph below to understand why.  The complete journey from London to Athens now takes 4 nights, with safe & comfortable sleeping-cars available for each of the overnight sections and one night in a hotel in Sofia.  It's an exciting journey with some wonderful scenery on the way.  Feel free to stop off if you like, too.  Train times, fares & information for this option are shown below.

Greece cut off!  Due to its dire economic situation, Greece cancelled all its international trains from 13 February 2011 until further notice, cutting itself off from the rest of Europe.  It seems mainland Greece is now just another 'Greek island'!  This route now takes an extra night (4 instead of 3) and involves a hotel stop in Sofia and long bus ride between Sofia and Thessaloniki.  The details shown below for this route have now been updated to recognise the new route and timings using this bus service.

Option 3, by train to Venice then cruise ferry to Greece...

This is a simpler but slightly longer version of option 1.  You take Eurostar to Paris, catch the overnight sleeper to Venice, then take a 2-night cruise ferry from Venice to Patras in Greece for the train to Athens.  This lets you see Venice on the way, and it's a simpler journey to book.  Ferries from Venice to Greece sail either daily or several times each week, depending on the season.  Train times, fares & information for this route are shown below.

Route map...

Map showing train & ferry routes from London & Paris to Athens & Greece...

 London-Athens by train & ferry via Italy 

  Taking the ferry to Greece...

Don't fly to Greece, cruise there!  Take the train to Italy, then sail by cruise ferry from Italy to Greece across the sunny Adriatic, perhaps the nicest part of the trip.

   

This is the most wonderful way to reach Greece, in just 48 hours or so from London.  Travel from London to Milan in one day by Eurostar and high-speed TGV through the French and Italian Alps.  Next day, travel all along Italy's Adriatic coast to Bari, and now for the best bit, board a comfortable modern ferry for an overnight cruise across the Adriatic from Italy to Greece, waking up next morning to see the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca passing slowly to starboard in the bright Mediterranean sun...

Train & ferry times London ► Greece

  • Day 1, morningTravel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 09:12 Mondays-Fridays, 09:31 Saturdays or 09:23 Sundays, arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:47.   Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon (2 stops on RER line D).
  • Day 1, afternoon:  Travel from Paris to Milan by high-speed Paris-Italy TGV, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:41 and arriving at Milan Porto Garibaldi at 21:45.  It's a relaxing and comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cénis tunnel through the Alps.  The TGV has 1st and 2nd class seats plus a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & tray-meals.

  • Spend the night in a hotel in MilanHotels in Milan.

  • Day 2:  Travel from Milan to Bari by air-conditioned Eurostar City 'Frecciabianca' train leaving Milan Centrale at 07:35 and arriving Bari at 15:12.  There is a refreshment trolley, or feel free to bring your own food & wine.  The train follows the Adriatic coast for much of the way, past small towns and seaside resorts.  In Bari, you can walk (25 minutes) or take a taxi to the ferry terminal, which is next to Bari's attractive old town.

  • Day 2:  Sail from Bari to Patras in Greece on the Superfast Ferries / Blue Star Ferries ferry leaving Bari daily except Sundays at 20:00 and arriving Patras at 12:30 the next day (day 3) (On Sundays the ship sails at 12:00, too early to make connections from Bologna or anywhere else).  You can book a 'deck place' (a good and cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag) or a reclining seat or a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins with private shower & toilet.  The ship is modern and comfortable, with good restaurants, bars and sun decks.  You can check sailing times & dates at either the Seat61 Ferry Shop or www.superfast.com.  Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.  In Patras, the ferry arrives in the town centre just five minutes walk from the railway station, which is just outside the ferry dock and along the harbour-front road to the right.

  • Day 3:  Travel from Patras to Athens.  You used to make this journey by narrow gauge train, a wonderfully scenic although not very fast ride.  The Greek railways are supposedly building a brand-new standard-gauge rail line from Athens to Patras, but it's not yet complete (given the state of Greece's national finances, it may take some years yet).  Until July 2010 you could still take the little narrow gauge train from Patras as far as Kiato (near Korinthos) and change onto the new standard gauge line the rest of the way to Athens.  However, since July 2010 the narrow gauge line has been closed completely for rebuilding, so until the new line opens the best option is to use the ferry company's own connecting bus from Patras direct to Athens.   You can buy tickets for this bus on board the ferry, in fact that's the best place to buy it.  The bus leaves soon after the ferry arrives in Patras and takes 3½-4 hours so should get you to Athens by 17:00.  It arrives at the Superfast ferries office in Athens at 30, Amalias, GR-105 58.  Alternatively, Greek Railways are currently operating a regular railway-replacement bus service from Patras to Kiato, connecting with their standard gauge trains onwards to Athens & Piraeus, fares 15 euros, see here for information.  I'll update this as soon as I know that the new line from Patras to Athens has opened for business.

Train & ferry times Greece ► London

  • Day 1:  Travel from Athens to Patras.   You used to make this journey by narrow gauge train, a wonderfully scenic although not very fast ride.  The Greek railways are building a faster standard-gauge line from Athens to Patras, and until summer 2010 you could take the new train from Athens as far as Kiato (near Corinthos) and change onto the little narrow gauge train the rest of the way to Patras.  However, the narrow gauge line to Patras closed completely for rebuilding in July 2010, so until the new fast line opens you can either take Superfast Ferries' own connecting transfer bus from Athens to Patras, or take a train from Athens to Kiato then the Greek railways rail-replacement bus from Kiato to Patras.   The Superfast Ferries transfer bus leaves Athens at 08:45 from the Superfast ferries office in Athens at 30, Amalias, GR-105 58,  journey time 3½-4 hours.  This bus is timed for the earlier Ancona ferry, so you'll have quite a long wait until the Bari ferry departs.  Alternatively, you can take the 10:06 train from Athens main railway station to Kiato (arriving 11:27), from where Greek Railways operate a regular railway-replacement bus service from Kiato to Patras departing Kiato at 12:37 and arriving Patras at 14:44.  The fare is 5 euros for the train plus 10 euros for the bus, see here for more information.  Remember to allow for a 2-hour ferry check-in.  I'll update this as soon as I know that the new line from Patras to Athens has opened for business.

  • Day 1:  Sail from Patras to Bari with Superfast Ferries leaving from Patras daily at 18:00 and arriving in Bari at 08:30 the next day (day 2).  Walk (25 minutes) or take a taxi to the station.  You can check sailing times and fares at either the Seat61 Ferry Shop or www.superfast.com.

  • Day 2:  Travel from Bari to Milan by air-conditioned Eurostar City 'Frecciabianca' train leaving Bari at 11:43 and arriving in Milan Centrale at 19:25.  There is a refreshment trolley, or feel free to bring your own food and wine.

  • Spend the night in a hotel in Milan, a beautiful city that's well worth an extra day for a stopover.  Hotels in Milan.

  • Day 3 morning:  Travel from Milan to Paris by high-speed Italy-Paris TGV, leaving Milan Porto Garibaldi station at 06:07 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:23.  There is a bar car serving drinks, snacks and light meals.  If you'd prefer a leisurely breakfast and later departure from Milan, there's also a TGV leaving Milan Porto Garibaldi at 11:10 on Mondays-Fridays or 10:12 Saturdays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 19:07 on Mondays-Fridays, 17:19 on Saturdays & Sundays.

  • Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord (2 stops on RER line D). 

  • Day 3 afternoon:  Travel from Paris to London by Eurostar.  If you took the 06:07 TGV from Milan, you can leave Paris Gare du Nord at 15:13, arriving London St Pancras at 16:39.  If you took the 10:12 weekend TGV from Milan, you'll need the 19:13 Eurostar from Paris Nord, arriving London 20:36.  If you took the later 11:10 Mondays-Fridays TGV from Milan, you'll need the 21:13 Eurostar from Paris Nord, arriving London 22:36.

From London to Paris by Eurostar - see the Eurostar page for photos & information...

From Paris to Milan by French TGV...

TGV from Milan to Paris  

Paris-Milan TGV, waiting to leave Paris Gare de Lyon...

 

Scenery in the Alpine foothills as you cross France...

TGV 1st class   TGV 2nd class

First class seats on the Paris-Milan TGV...

 

Second class on the TGV...

 
Go to the TGV bar car for a coffee or glass of wine...   Crossing the Alps via Chambéry and Modane...

From Milan to Bari by Eurostar City 'Frecciabianca' train...

Eurostar City 'Frecciabianca' trains are fully air-conditioned with 1st & 2nd class.  They have a refreshment trolley, but feel free to take your own refreshments and maybe bottle of wine along.

Eurostar City train from Bologna to Bari, seen at Bologna.   Eurostar City 1st class seats   Eurostar City 2nd class seats
From Milan to Bari you travel by Eurostar City train, along the Adriatic coast...   This is 1st class, less crowded and more spacious.   ...and this is 2nd class.

From Bari to Patras by Superfast Lines / Blue Star Ferries cruise ferry...

Several ferry companies sail from Bari or Brindisi in Italy to Patras in Greece.  Probably the best one is the joint Superfast / Blue Star Ferries service as this uses modern ships, sails daily, and can easily be booked online.  If you book a 'deck place' you can use your own sleeping bag and set up camp in a covered area on deck near the stern.  For a few more pounds you can book a reclining seat.  Or you can book a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins.  Most cabins have private shower and toilet.  The ferry crossing is the best part of the journey, over deep blue waters and past many islands.

Blue Star Ferries from Bari to Patras in Greece   At sea crossing by ferry from Italy to Greece

The best ferry service from Bari to Patras is jointly run by Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries.  This is the Blue Star 1 at Patras.

  On deck next morning!
A 2 or 4 berth cabin on the Italy-Greece ferry  

A 2- or 4-berth cabin, with private toilet and shower.

 

Relaxing on deck...

  Taking the ferry from Italy to Greece.  Wonderful!
Steady as she goes...   At sea, passing Cephalonia and Ithaca

How much does it cost?

 1. London to Paris

 by Eurostar: 

From £39 one-way or £69 return 2nd class.   Child, youth & senior fares

From £107 one-way or £189 return 1st class.

 

 2. Paris to Milan

 by daytime TGV

 (Turin to Paris is a similar price)

2nd class

1st class

 Cheap one-way fares: From £23 From £33
 Cheap return fares: From £46 From £66
 Full-price one-way fare: £101 £120
 Full-price child fare: £46 £60
 Railpass fare: £14 £23
 Domestic animals: £33 £33

Cheap fares = 'Prems' or 'Leisure' fares = Book ahead, price varies, limited places at each price, no refunds, no changes.

Full-price fare = Refundable and flexible.  There are no senior or youth reductions.

Child fare = Child 4-11 years (use an adult special fare if cheaper). Children under 4 free.

Railpass fare:  What you pay if you have railpasses (Eurail, Interrail, etc) covering both Italy & France.

Fares may vary:  On certain dates, 10-20% higher fares are charged.

Check actual prices for your date of travel at www.raileurope.co.uk.

 3. Milan to Bari

 by Eurostar City train

 Booked online at www.trenitalia.com:

 2nd class 'Mini' discounted fare: From 35 euro (£31) one-way or 70 euro (£62) return.

 2nd class 'Base' full-price fare:  85 euro (£75) one-way or 170 euro (£148) return.

 1st class 'Mini' discounted fare: From 45 euro (£42) one-way or 90 euro (£84) return.

 1st class 'Base' full-price fare:  115 euro (£101) one-way or 230 euro (£202) return.

 Booked online or by phone with UK-based www.raileurope.co.uk:

 £78 one-way or £156 return 2nd class, no discounts.

 £105 one-way or £211 return 1st class, no discounts.

  
 4. Bari to Patras

 by Superfast Ferries /

 Blue Star Ferries:

 Booked online at www.superfast.com:

 Fares vary by season and accommodation - here's some examples:

 With a basic deck place:  56 euros (£49) one-way, 95 euros (£83) return;

 With reclining seat:  78 euros (£68) one-way, 129 euros (£112) return;

 With berth in cabin: From 118 euros (£103) one-way, 190 euros (£165) return

  
 5. Patras to Athens by bus  The connecting bus fare costs 20 euros per person.  Buy your bus ticket on board the ferry or at Superfast ferries office in Athens.

How to buy tickets online...

You can book the journey from London to Greece online, which is the easiest and cheapest way to do it.  Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.  It involves 3 websites, so do a dummy run on all three sites to check prices and availability before booking for real.  It's really not rocket science, but make sure you get your departure dates right for each leg of the journey outward and back.  It can help to jot down the date and departure time for each separate train and ship booking before you start (the how to plan an itinerary & budget page may help).

  • Train reservations open 90 days before departure, you can't book before reservations open.

  • Step 1:  First book your Paris-Milan TGV ticket (one-way or return) at either www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.  Which should you use?  Well, www.raileurope.co.uk is in English, for UK residents with tickets sent to any UK address and backed by a UK call centre, 0844 848 5 848.  It's now easier to use and more reliable than tgv-europe.com.  www.tgv-europe.com is for anyone from any country, it comes in several languages, tickets can be sent to any address in Europe including the UK, it has same fares as Rail Europe but in euros.  Tgv-europe.com is quirky, so see this advice before using it.  There are more detailed booking instructions in the London-Milan section of the Italy page.

  • Step 2:  Still on www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com, click 'continue shopping' and book the Eurostar from London to Paris and back.  Use the Eurostar times on this page as a guide, but feel free to choose an earlier Eurostar from London, or a later Eurostar returning from Paris, if these have cheaper seats available or if you'd like to stop off in Paris.

  • Step 3, book the Milan to Bari train.  The easiest way is to stay with www.raileurope.co.uk, click 'continue shopping' and book it there.  However, you can save money by booking direct with Italian Railways at www.trenitalia.com, as this offers discounted advance-purchase 'Mini' fares as well as the full-price 'Base' fare.  You pay by credit card and simply quote your reservation reference to the conductor on the train.  Before using www.trenitalia.com, see the advice on using it.

  • Finally, step 4:  Buy the Bari-Patras ferry ticket online either at the Seat61 Ferry Shop or at www.superfast.com, selecting the type of accommodation you want - either a deck place, a reclining seat, or various types of cabin berth.  Both the Seat61 Ferry Shop and www.superfast.com offer ticketless booking, which makes it easy.  You simply book online and quote your booking reference at the ferry check-in at the port.  Reservations open up to 12 months before departure.

  • Buy your Patras-Athens bus ticket when you're on board the ferry, from the information desk.

  • Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)

How to buy tickets by phone...

  • All the trains between London and Bari can be booked through any UK European rail agency, such as www.raileurope.co.uk on 0844 848 5 848 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-18:00 Saturday) or www.internationalrail.com  (call 08700 84 14 14) or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 51240Click here for a list of agencies.

  • You can book Superfast Ferries from Italy to Greece with their UK agents, Viamare Travel, on 020 8343 5810.

  • Buy your Patras-Athens bus ticket when you're on board the ferry, from the information desk.

Tailor-made train travel + hotel arrangements...

If you want a compete tailor-made trip from the UK to Greece with all your rail travel and ferries expertly booked for you and good quality hotels arranged, UK residents can call www.railbookers.com on 020 3327 0761.  US residents call (646) 770 2894, Canadian residents (416) 800 0732 (please quote seat61) and Australian residents see www.railbookers.com.au and call 02 8096 0550.  Just tell them what you want, and they'll advise you on the best trains, ferry routes & hotels and sort it all out for you, hassle-free.  They get very positive reviews and take good care of their guests.

Traveller's report...

Traveller Nick Stone returned to London from Athens this way:  "We travelled from Athens to London.  The ferry ride was relaxing and we enjoyed beers and a lovely à la carte meal for 34 euros including drinks.  We were both impressed with quality of the meal and service.  We arrived 2 hours late in Bari, but made the 11:03 train to Bologna with 5 minutes to spare, and celebrated by having the set 26 euros menu lunch on the train and a bottle of wine.  Spent a 5 hours in Bologna which a great place for a short break before taking the sleeper overnight to Paris and the Eurostar home.  It was great trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it."

UK to Greece using a railpass...

Using a railpass for this journey will cost you more than buying the cheapest point-to-point tickets as explained above.  It also means you can't go online and book everything yourself, quickly and simply, but will need to buy a pass and make reservations through an agency, who will almost certainly charge you booking fees.  However, an InterRail pass (assuming  you are a European resident) would give you more flexibility and allow you to make side trips on the way to explore the countries you pass through.

See the InterRail page for pass information and prices, and buy your pass online at www.raileurope.co.uk.

On top of the pass cost, add at least £69 return for the Eurostar, then there is a pass price for the Paris-Milan TGV train, around £10 each way.

InterRail global passes give free travel on Superfast Ferries (Ancona or Bari to Corfu and Patras), Blue Ferries (Ancona & Bari to Corfu & Igoumenitsa) and Minoan Lines (Venice or Ancona to Corfu & Patras).  The InterRail gets you a 'deck place', and you will need to pay port taxes (about 6 Euros for departures from Bari), plus a supplement if you want a reclining seat or cabin berth.  Depending on the shipping operator, a reclining seat will cost £6-£12 each way, a berth in a 4-berth cabin about £19-25 each way.  You rail agency MAY be able to help you book a place on the ship in advance, but otherwise either book it when you arrive in Bari or Brindisi, or try contacting the ferry operator - for example via www.superfast.com.  The ships rarely sail completely full, and getting a place on your chosen sailing is not normally too much of a problem, even in the summer.

Alternative journeys via Brindisi or Ancona...

Superfast Ferries from Bari is recommended rather than ferries Brindisi for several reasons.  Superfast Ferries and their partners Blue Star Ferries use modern ships and sail daily to a convenient schedule with good connections possible from Paris, London, and most Italian cities.  Superfast Ferries sail from a terminal next to Bari's pleasant old town, and you can walk there from the station.  In Brindisi, most ships now use a new terminal a couple of miles out of town, reached by taxi or courtesy minibus from the shipping company offices in town.  Since 2004, there are few scheduled sailings from Brindisi, most go from Bari.

  • If you prefer travelling via Brindisi, the 07:35 train from Milan continues to Brindisi, where it arrives at 16:11.  Most ships serving Brindisi now use a modern terminal a couple of miles out of town, reached by taxi or courtesy minibus from the shipping company offices in town.

  • Endeavor Lines (www.endeavor-lines.com) sail regularly from Brindisi to Patras, though dates & times vary.

  • Superfast Ferries have an (almost) daily ship from Ancona to Patras, which is also free for InterRail passholders, see www.superfast.com for sailing dates & times.  Train times from London to Ancona are shown on the London to Italy page.

Information on Patras-Athens trains...

Narrow gauge trains used to run between Patras & Athens Peloponnese station, a very scenic though not very fast ride.  The first stage of a new fast standard-gauge line has opened between Kiato (near Korinthos) and Athens main station, and until July 2010 you could still travel by narrow-gauge train from Patras to Kiato, changing onto a standard gauge train for the remainder of the journey to Athens.  Now the narrow gauge line has closed completely for rebuilding to standard gauge.  Greek railways are providing uses between Patras & Kiato.  One option is to use the ferry company's own bus transfer between Patras & Athens.  The other option is to use the Greek railways bus/train connecting service from Patras to Kiato to Athens.

To find Patras-Athens or Athens-Patras train+bus times, go to www.trainose.gr, click the UK flag top right for English, then click 'Journeys', then look for the 'ROUTES - Suburban and National Network Services' box and click it.  This brings up a journey planner.  Typing 'Ath...' allows you to select 'Athina'.  Typing 'Pat...' allows you to select 'Patra'.  In the results, the Kiato-Patras 'trains' are now in fact buses.

Traveller Guy Aston reports:  "The Patras-Kiato narrow gauge railway is now very much closed, the tracks having been ripped up over lengthy sections, but OSE are running replacement buses between Patras & Kiato as shown in the OSE timetable (where they appear as trains!).  In August they were also running some non-stop buses which weren't in the official timetable. The Patras-Kiato buses take about 2 hours, and connect with the hourly Kiato-Piraeus standard gauge train service, which takes another 90 minutes to Athens. A Patras-Kiato ticket costs €10 including a seat reservation on the bus, Kiato-Athens/Piraeus costs €5 (second class only). The Patras booking office sold me the two tickets stapled together for €15, so I didn't have to risk missing the connection in Kiato with queuing at the ticket office there.  Coming back, however, the Piraeus booking office could only do a ticket to Kiato.  This bus-train combination seems ideal if you're heading for Piraeus and the islands, since it takes you directly to the port in Piraeus without having to change in Athens. The trains are reasonably comfortable air-conditioned diesel multiple units.  One thing you might also want to mention is the possibility of breaking the Patras-Kiato timetabled bus journey halfway at Diakopto, and taking a trip on the spectacular narrow-gauge rack railway up the gorge to Kalyvryta (4 trains a day: 70 minutes for 15 miles!).

 London to Athens by train all the way...

DEPRESSING NEWS FOR 2011 & 2012

Greece has cancelled all international trains connecting it with the rest of Europe...

Greece has cut itself off from the rest of Europe.  With their economic situation dire, their government has implemented massive rail cuts.  This includes the cancelling from 13 February 2011 until further notice of all international trains between Greece and Sofia, Belgrade, Bucharest & Istanbul.  Greece is now cut off from the rest of Europe, except by ferry from Italy.  So much for Greece being part of Europe, let alone in the EU!  It has become an island!  So I currently recommend taking the train to Italy then the ferry to Greece, see the section above.

However, it's still possible to take a train all the way from London or Paris to Sofia in Bulgaria, stay overnight, then take a long bus ride across the border to Thessaloniki in Greece for an onward train to Athens.  This option is shown below.

 

London to Greece overland, by train and the odd bus...

This is an overland adventure through the Balkans, via Paris, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Sofia...  Once past Budapest, don't expect western standards such as air-conditioning on the trains, and bring you own supplies of food, water, wine or beer.  But if you book a sleeper you'll have a safe and comfortable journey, rediscovering some of the mystery, intrigue and romance of long-distance sleeping-car travel across Europe.  You'll also see some great Balkan scenery with your feet up and a beer or glass of red in your hand.  Sadly, the withdrawal of all international trains to and from Greece means that the trains end in Sofia, and you'll now need a bus for the Sofia to Thessaloniki section, picking up a train again from Thessaloniki to Athens.

London ► Greece

  • Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 16:01 (15:31 at weekends), arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 19:17 (18:47 at weekends).  It's then a 10 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.  By all means take an earlier Eurostar if you'd like to spend some time in Paris, or if it has cheaper seats available.

  • Day 1, travel from Paris to Munich overnight on the excellent City Night Line sleeper train 'Cassiopeia', leaving Paris Gare de l'Est daily at 20:05 (20:20 at weekends) arriving in Munich at 07:10 next morning.  It has a modern sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, either standard with washbasin or deluxe with shower), 4 & 6-berth couchettes & ordinary seats, see the photos & information below.  More pictures & information about this City Night Line train.

  • Day 2, travel from Munich to Budapest by air-conditioned Austrian 'RailJet' train with bistro car, leaving Munich Hauptbahnhof at 09:27 and arriving in Budapest Keleti at 16:49.  Treat yourself to lunch in the bistro!  More pictures & information about this RailJet train.  Have dinner in Budapest..

  • Alternatively, you can travel from London to Budapest via Brussels & Cologne, see the London to Hungary page.

  • Day 2, travel from Budapest to Sofia by direct sleeping-car, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:20 and arriving in Sofia at 17:47 next day (day 3 from London).  This train travels via Belgrade (arriving 06:06, departing 07:50).  Just one older Bulgarian sleeping-car runs direct from Budapest to Sofia, with 1, 2 & 3-berth compartments with washbasin, please see the photos & read the update information below about this sleeping-car.  There is no restaurant car, so take you own food, water and beer or wine, and enjoy the scenic ride.

  • Day 3, stay overnight in Sofia.  Find hotels.

  • Day 4, travel by bus from Sofia to Thessaloniki.  A bus leaves Sofia bus station daily except Tuesdays at 10:00, arriving Thessaloniki railway station at 16:00.  The bus is operated by OSE (Greek Railways) in partnership with a Bulgarian bus company.  The bus is sadly required because of the withdrawal of all international trains to and from Greece in February 2011.  There are in fact other bus companies running several daily buses on this route, but times are not known.  Feedback would be appreciated if you use a bus on this route!

  • Day 4 or 5, take a train from Thessaloniki to Larissa & Athens.  Trains run regularly throughout the day, journey time 5½ hours, and it's a very scenic ride.  There's an air-conditioned InterCity train at 18:04 arriving Larissa at 19:26 and Athens at 23:24.

Can I stop off on the way?

Of course!  Each train is ticketed separately, so feel free to book each leg of the journey on whatever dates you like, spending time in Paris, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade or Sofia on the way.  It makes little or no difference to the cost.  If you plan to stop off, you can arrange all your reservations in advance from the UK, or you can buy tickets as you go, it's up to you. 

Greece ► London

  • Day 1: Travel from Athens or Larissa to Thessaloniki by train.  There are a whole range of departures to choose from, journey time 5½ hours, and it's a very scenic ride.  For example, there's an air-conditioned InterCity train leaving Athens daily at 14:18 or Larissa at 18:24 arriving Thessaloniki at 19:46, but there are also earlier or later trains.

  • Day 2:  Travel from Thessaloniki to Sofia by bus, leaving Thessaloniki railway station at 08:00 daily except Tuesdays and arriving Sofia bus station at 14:00 the same day.  The bus is operated by OSE (Greek Railways) in partnership with a Bulgarian bus company.  The bus is sadly required because of the withdrawal of all international trains to and from Greece in February 2011.   There are in fact other bus companies running several daily buses on this route, but times are not known.  Feedback would be appreciated if you use a bus on this route!

  • Stay overnight in Sofia.

  • Day 3:  Travel from Sofia to Budapest by direct Bulgarian sleeping-car, leaving Sofia every day at 11:55 and arriving at Budapest Keleti at 06:04 the next day (day 4).  The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3-berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  There is no restaurant car, so take you own food, water and beer or wine.  In the sleeping-car, it's a safe, pleasant and scenic journey, going via Belgrade in Serbia (arriving 19:47, departing 22:10).  Spend the morning in Budapest.

  •   Please see the photos & read the update information below about this sleeping-car.
  • Day 4, travel from Budapest to Munich by air-conditioned Austrian 'RailJet' train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 13:10 and arriving in Munich at 20:34.  The train has a bistro car & bar.  More pictures & information about this RailJet train.

  • Day 4, travel from Munich to Paris on the excellent City Night Line sleeper train 'Cassiopeia', leaving Munich daily at 22:47 and arriving at Paris Gare de l'Est 09:24 next morning (day 5).  The train has ordinary seats, couchettes (4 & 6-bunk) and a sleeping-car (1, 2 or 3-bed rooms, either deluxe with shower or standard with washbasin).  More pictures & information about this City Night Line sleeper trainTravel tip:  This train runs combined with the Munich-Amsterdam sleeper for part of its journey, and is usually shown on the departure boards at Munich as going to 'Amsterdam'.  In Paris, walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord.

  • Day 5, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Nord at 11:13 and arriving London St Pancras at 12:30.

  • Alternatively, you can travel between Budapest & London via Cologne & Brussels, see the London to Hungary page.

Introducing the City Night Line sleeper train from Paris to Munich ...

The Paris-Munich overnight train is one of the German Railway's excellent City Night Line sleeper trains.  Called the 'Cassiopeia', it has a modern 'Comfortline' sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3-berth deluxe rooms with private shower and toilet and 1, 2 & 3-berth standard rooms with washbasin), modern air-conditioned couchettes (choose between a berth in a 4- or 6-berth compartment), and ordinary seats (not recommended).  In the sleeping-car, there is a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in standard sleepers, and all rooms have power-points for laptop computers.  The sleeping-car fare includes a light breakfast. More pictures & information about this train.  

Travel tip:  For a good meal in a classic Parisian brasserie before boarding the sleeper train in Paris, catch the earlier 14:04 Eurostar & try the Brasserie Terminus Nord directly across the road from the Gare du Nord.  For a cooked breakfast in Munich (or evening meal before boarding the Paris-bound sleeper on your return) try the Mongdratzerl restaurant, located in the hauptbahnhof itself.
Sleeping-car compartment (1 2 or 3 berths)   4-berth couchette compartment on Paris-Munich overnight train   6-berth couchette compartment on Paris-Munich overnight train  

The sleeping-car on the Paris-Munich overnight train boarding at the Gare de l'Est

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper: The most comfortable & civilised option, with proper beds & washbasin.

 

4-berth couchettes:  Ideal for families, much more space per person than 6-berth couchettes.

 

6-berth couchettes:  A very economical option, far better than a seat for just a few euros more...

 

"Night train to Munich":  The 'Comfortline' sleeping-car of the Paris to Munich sleeper train boarding at Paris Gare de l'Est...

More pictures & information about this train...

Introducing the Munich - Budapest RailJet...

RailJet is Austria's brand-new high-speed train, linking Munich, Vienna & Budapest, now also linking Zurich, Innsbruck & Vienna.  Designed to run at up to 230km/h (143 mph) on sections of upgraded track, it currently reaches 200km/h on part of the route, but in other parts snakes around beautiful scenery at a more sedate pace.  Look out for great views of Salzburg citadel & castle on the right as you cross the river Salzach approaching Salzburg.  RailJet has three classes, Economy (2nd class), First (1st class), and Premium (25 euro supplement over normal first class, snacks and drinks included).  It has a bistro car providing drinks, snacks and hot dishes, which are served on proper china at your seat in first and premium classes.  TV screens in each car tell you the train's speed & location, with a list of next station stops and times.  A great way to travel.  More pictures & information about this RailJet train.

The morning RailJet train has arrived in Vienna.   Premium class seats on the Munich-Vienna RailJet train   Economy class seats on the Munich-Vienna RailJet train
"The RailJet has landed..."  The morning RailJet train from Munich has arrived in Budapest Keleti spot on time...   Premium class costs 25 euro more than normal 1st class...   Economy class on RailJet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows.  Some seats are arranged around tables, some are unidirectional.

By Bulgarian sleeping-car from Budapest to Sofia, either a 'new' second-hand German sleeper...

In December 2010 the Bulgarians started using 'new' (meaning second-hand German) sleeping-cars on the Budapest-Sofia service, replacing most of the old communist-era sleepers.  The 'new' cars have old but classy 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and are the same as the ex-German sleepers used by the Romanians on their Budapest-Bucharest & Bucharest-Istanbul trains.  Take your own provisions and maybe a bottle of wine (or two) and enjoy a very scenic train ride across Hungary, Serbia & Bulgaria in the privacy of a private sleeper compartment.  However, read the next paragraph, because it seems that these 'new' sleepers have had problems and have been replaced again by the old-style 1960s sleeping-cars...

Bulgarian sleeping-car.  This is in fact the Istanbul to Sofia sleeper at Istanbul Sirkeci.      Sleeper compartment   Sleeper compartment in daytime mode with beds folded away

Above:  The Bulgarians now have second-hand German sleepers, a little dated but actually quite classy.  Panorama photo inside a sleeper compartment when in German use.  Photo courtesy of Malte Fuhrmann.

A sleeper, set up here as a 1-berth, the same room can be used as 2 or 3-berth.

 

The same sleeper, in evening mode with beds folded away, sofa folded out.

...or an older 1960s sleeping-car.

Important update:  Reports from travellers in late 2010 and early 2011 confirmed that the 'new' ex-German railways sleeping-cars were at long last being used on this route, but later reports in summer/autumn 2011 have confirmed that the old 1960s communist-era sleepers are back again on some or all departures on this route, see the photos below.  I believe this is still the case in 2012.  It's not clear what's happened to the second-hand German ones.  If you use this train, please let me know.  It's also been reported that this direct sleeping car from Budapest to Sofia sometimes misses its connection in Belgrade, so instead of being attached to the morning train to Sofia arriving in the evening, it goes into the sidings at Belgrade giving you some time to explore the city, then it gets attached to the overnight train to Sofia, arriving in the morning some 13 hours late.  Just be aware that these sorts of things can happen on this route, take plenty of provisions, take it easy and enjoy the adventure of train travel by sleeping-car through the Balkans!  Once again, if you use this train, please let me know how you get on.

A Bulgarian sleeping-car, as used from Vienna to Sofia   Sleeper corridor, Bulgarian sleeping-car.   3-bed sleeper compartment, Bulgarian sleeping-car.

Above:  A Bulgarian sleeping-car of the old communist-era sort.

 

The sleeper corridor...

Photo courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

 

3-bed compartment.

Photo courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler

... by bus Sofia-Thessaloniki, then by Greek InterCity train from Thessaloniki to Athens ...

The White Tower in Thessaloniki (Salonika)   2nd class seats on an InterCity train from Thessaloniki (Salonika) to Athens   Great scenery from the train:  In the mountains between Athens and Larissa

Above:  The White Tower, one of Thessaloniki's best-known landmarks.

 

Above:  The journey from Thessaloniki to Athens by modern air-conditioned Greek InterCity train.  These trains link Thessaloniki (Salonika) to Athens in as little as 4½ hours, with superb scenery through the mountains between Larissa & Athens.  But hurry, as in a few years time a new 125mph section of line will by-pass these scenic mountain sections, cutting the Athens-Salonika journey time to little over 3 hours...

More mountain scenery, and the Gorgopotamos Viaduct...   Thessaloniki to Athens InterCity train at Athens   The main Larissa railway station in Athens
This is the famous Gorgopotamos viaduct in the mountains between Larissa & Athens, one of those blown up by the British S.O.E. during world war 2.   After a great journey, the Greek InterCity train arrives in Athens...   Journey's end:  The main (Larissa) station in Athens, over 2,000 miles from London St Pancras...

How much does it cost?

Each train is ticketed separately, so just add up the price for each leg of the journey...

 1. London to Paris

 by Eurostar

From £39 one-way or £69 return 2nd class.   Child, youth & senior fares

From £107 one-way or £189 return 1st class.

 
 2. Paris to Munich

 by sleeper train, per person

In a

seat

In a couchette In the sleeping-car (standard room) Deluxe sleeper with shower
6-bunk  4-bunk  3-bed  2-bed  1-bed  2-bed 1-bed
 Savings fare, one way from: €43 (£38) 59 (£51) €69 (£60) €79 (£69) €99 (£86) €139 (£122) €129 (£113) €169 (£148)
 Savings fare, return from: €86 (£76) 118 (£102) €138 (£120) €158 (£138) €198 (£172) €278 (£244) €258 (£226) €338 (£296)
 Full price one-way: 124 £129 169 euros (£147) £148 £166 £203 £215 £259
 Child under 15* with own berth: £55 £62 ? £71 £80 £98 £106 £124
 Child under 6* without own berth: Child under 6* sharing berth travels free...

* If you have children aged 4- 5 or 12-14, please read this note before booking the City Night Line sleeper train.

Savings fare = cheap fare, price varies, book in advance, limited availability, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

Full price = fully flexible, refundable, buy any time.

Youth fares: 25% off full price (not Savings fares) using www.raileurope.co.uk if you're under 26, but Savings fares usually cheaper!

Senior fares: 20% off full price (not Savings fares) using www.raileurope.co.uk if you're over 60, but Savings fares usually cheaper!

 3. Munich to Budapest

 by RailJet

 Economy class fares start at 39 euro (£34) one-way, 78 euro (£68) return

 First class fares start at 69 euro (£60) one-way, 138 euro (£120) return

 
 4. Budapest to Sofia

Approx £101 each way in 3-bed sleeper, £113 each way in 2-bed sleeper (all per person)

 
 5. Sofia to Thessaloniki by bus

Not known, but likely to be around 25 euros (£22) each way.

How to buy tickets, the easy way...

Click the button (or click here) and a booking form will appear which lists all the specific trains you need to book.  Fill in the form & email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  European Rail will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost, which you can then accept or decline.  If you accept, you can give them your credit card details over the phone and they will send you the tickets.  European Rail is an experienced agency whose staff are used to making more exotic bookings like this.  They are equipped with the German Railways reservation & ticketing system, so have access to all the cheap fares for travel via Germany & Austria.  They charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.

  

 

How to buy tickets online (almost) using www.raileurope.co.uk...

You can book from London as far as Budapest online, although Budapest-Sofia needs to be booked by phone.  You may of course prefer to book all your tickets together by phone, but at least you can go online and see what fares area available for your dates of travel for the London-Budapest part of the journey!

  • Step 1, go to www.raileurope.co.uk , and book the overnight sleeper from Paris to Munich.  Tickets can be sent to any UK address or can be collected at the station.  Only UK credit cards are accepted.  It's best to book the Paris-Munich sleeper train first and double-check arrival an departure times before booking the Eurostar connection, in case times vary from the ones shown above.

  • Step 2, after booking the Paris-Munich sleeper train, add it to your basket & click 'continue shopping'.  Now book the Eurostar from London to Paris and back.  Use the recommended Eurostar times above as a guide, but by all means book an earlier Eurostar outward or a later Eurostar on the way back if these have cheaper seats available or if you'd like to stop off in Paris.

  • Step 3, now go to the German Railways website www.bahn.de, use the journey planner to bring up the connecting Munich-Budapest train shown in the train times above, and buy the ticket.  It will show if any cheap special fares are available.  Tickets can be sent to any address, or in some cases printed out yourself.  Note that you can also buy tickets for this train using www.raileurope.co.uk, but only full-price fares are shown, no special cheap fares, that's why www.bahn.de is better.

  • Unfortunately, you can't book the Budapest-Sofia train online, this must be booked by phone, call Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66 (lines open 09:00-17:00 Mon-Fri).

  • Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)

  • Bus tickets from Sofia to Thessaloniki can be bought at Sofia's main bus station desk 3, open 08:00-18:00 Monday-Friday, 08:00-16:00 weekends.  They cannot be booked online.  Bus tickets from Thessaloniki to Sofia can be booked at Thessaloniki station special international OSE bus booking window, open 06:00-24:00 daily except Tues & Sat when it opens 06:00-14:00.

  • Buy train tickets from Thessaloniki to Athens when you reach Thessaloniki, at the station.  This section cannot be booked online or by UK agencies.

How to buy tickets online (almost) using www.bahn.de & www.eurostar.com...

Sometimes www.raileurope.co.uk has the cheapest fares for the Paris-Munich sleeper, sometimes www.bahn.de is cheaper, so it's worth checking both sites.  If you book the Paris-Munich sleeper using www.bahn.de you'll need to book the Eurostar separately at www.eurostar.com, so do a 'dry run' first on both sites to check prices and availability before booking for real.

  • Step 1, go to www.bahn.de, the German Railways website, and book from Paris to Munich and back on the direct overnight sleeper train.  Availability of cheap 'savings' fares and fully-flexible fares will be shown, for each type of seat, couchette & sleeper.  You pay by credit card and print out your own tickets in .pdf format.  Easy!  Note that the prices shown on www.bahn.de are in euro, and are the total cost for all passengers selected, not per person.  Always book the sleeper first and check its actual arrival & departure before booking the Eurostar connection, as times occasionally vary.  I recommend registering when it asks you before completing the purchase, so you can easily make the next booking.

  • Step 2, still on www.bahn.de, now use the journey planner to bring up the connecting Munich-Budapest train shown in the train times above, and buy the ticket.  It will show if any cheap special fares are available.  Tickets can be sent to any address, or in some cases printed out yourself.

  • Step 3, go to www.eurostar.com to book your connecting Eurostar tickets between London and Paris.  Used the Eurostar times above as a guide, but by all means book an earlier Eurostar outwards, or a later Eurostar on the way back, if this has cheaper seats available of if you'd like to stop off in Paris for a while.  Eurostar tickets can be sent to any UK address, self-printed, or picked up at the station.

  • Unfortunately, you can't book the Budapest-Sofia train online so this must be booked by phone, call Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66.  Lines are open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturdays & Sundays, no booking fee, 2% credit card charge, but no charge for debit cards.

  • Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)

  • Bus tickets from Sofia to Thessaloniki can be bought at Sofia's main bus station desk 3, open 08:00-18:00 Monday-Friday, 08:00-16:00 weekends.  They cannot be booked online.  Bus tickets from Thessaloniki to Sofia can be booked at Thessaloniki station special international OSE bus booking window, open 06:00-24:00 daily except Tues & Sat when it opens 06:00-14:00.

  • Buy train tickets from Thessaloniki to Athens when you reach Thessaloniki, at the station.  This section cannot be booked online or by UK agencies.

How to buy tickets by phone...

You may prefer to book the whole journey by phone, at least as far as Sofia.  The best agencies to call for this trip are either Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66 (lines open 09:00-20:00 Mon-Fri, 09:00-13:00 Sat & Sun, no booking fee, 2% credit card charge, no charge for debit cards), or www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083 (lines open 08:30-18:00 Mon-Fri, 09:00-13:00 Saturdays, £35 booking fee but often more expert at complex journeys such as this).

Bus tickets from Sofia to Thessaloniki can't be bought outside Bulgaria, so just buy this at Sofia's main bus station desk 3, open 08:00-18:00 Monday-Friday, 08:00-16:00 weekends.  They cannot be booked online.  Bus tickets from Thessaloniki to Sofia can be booked at Thessaloniki station special international OSE bus booking window, open 06:00-24:00 daily except Tues & Sat when it opens 06:00-14:00.  Then buy train tickets from Thessaloniki to Athens at the station when you reach Thessaloniki, as this section cannot be booked by UK agencies.

 London-Athens by train & ferry via Venice

  A Minoan Lines ship passing St Marks Square, Venice, en route to Greece...

The civilised way to reach Greece...  A Minoan Lines cruise ferry sails past the gondolas in St Mark's Square in Venice, heading for Greece.  You can buy Italy-Greece ferry ticket online at the Seat61 Ferry ShopPhoto courtesy of Andy Brabin of www.railbookers.com

   

Taking a ferry to Greece from Venice rather than Bari means the London-Athens journey will take 3 nights rather than 2, but the simplicity of taking Eurostar to Paris, an overnight sleeper to Venice, then a direct cruise ferry along the Adriatic to Greece makes it a wonderful and leisurely option.  With a free day in Venice (stop off for longer if you like), a two-night Adriatic cruise on a modern ferry with cruise ship facilities, less train travel necessary through Italy and a simpler booking process involving just two websites not three, it's an alternative that's well worth considering.  You could do the journey over a weekend!

Train & ferry times London ► Greece

  • Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 15:01 (14:01 on Saturdays) and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:17 (18:47 on Saturdays).  Cross Paris by métro to the Gare de Bercy.

  • Travel from Paris to Venice overnight by 'Thello' sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare de Bercy daily at 19:45 and arriving at Venice Santa Lucia station on the banks of the Grand Canal at 09:34 next morning.  This train has 4- & 6-berth couchettes, 1, 2 & 3-berth sleepers & a restaurant car.  Illustrated guide to the Thello sleeper trains.

  • For other train options between London and Venice including scenic daytime options with an overnight stop via Milan, Zurich or Munich, see the London to Italy page.

  • Minoan Lines and Anek Lines cruise ferries sail from Venice to Patras in about 36 hours, daily at certain times of year, several times each week at off-peak times, usually leaving Venice (Maritime station, walking distance from Santa Lucia station) either at lunchtime, late afternoon or early evening.  Visit the Seat61 Ferry Shop or the Anek Lines or Minoan Lines websites for sailing dates & times and to book online.  Allow plenty of time for connections in Venice, including a possible hour or two delay for the train arriving in Venice, reaching the ferry terminal and checking in for the ferry.  Booking a 14:00 sailing should be fine, but personally I think 12:00 sailings don't leave much leeway if the train is very late.

  • There are regular trains between Patras and Athens, and it's a scenic ride.  See www.bahn.de (which may or may not have current Greek train timetable data loaded in it, but give it a go) or www.trainose.gr for train times.  Trains run every few hours, buy a ticket at the station.  You switch from a narrow-gauge train to the new fast standard-gauge line at Kiato.  Important update:  The narrow-gauge railway line from Patras to Kiato is currently closed for 9 months from August 2009 for rebuilding to standard gauge.  During this time, buses replace trains.  The ferry company's own bus from Patras to Athens is probably the best option until the line reopens in 2010, you can buy tickets for this bus on board the ferry.

Train & ferry times Greece ► London

  • Take an early afternoon train from Athens (main Larissa station) to Patras.  This involves a standard gauge train to Kiato where you change onto the scenic narrow gauge train to Patras.  Check train times and buy a ticket at the station.  Important update:  The narrow-gauge railway line from Kiato to Patras is currently closed for 9 months from August 2009 for rebuilding to standard gauge.  During this time, buses replace trains.  The ferry company bus from Athens to Patras is probably the best option until the line reopens in 2010.

  • Minoan Lines and Anek Lines sail from Patras to Venice in around 36 hours, daily in summer, several times a week in winter, usually leaving Patras late at night and arriving Venice in the morning 2 nights later.  See the Seat61 Ferry Shop or the Anek Lines or Minoan Lines websites for sailing dates and times and to book online.  On arrival, put your bags in the left luggage at the station and spend the day exploring Venice.

  • Travel from Venice to Paris by Thello sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia station at 19:57 arriving Paris 09:29 (arrives at 08:14 from 31 December to 21 January, 18 February to 4 March 2012).  Couchettes, sleepers & restaurant car available, see the London to Italy page for full details.  Cross Paris by metro to the Gare du Nord.

  • Travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 11:13 and arriving London St Pancras at 12:30.

  • For other train options between Venice and London including scenic daytime options with an overnight stop via Milan, Zurich or Munich, see the London to Italy page.

How to buy tickets...

You can book this journey from London to Greece online, which is the easiest and cheapest way to do it.  Just follow these step-by-step instructions.  This journey involves two websites, so do a dummy run on both sites to check prices and availability before booking for real.  Make sure you get your departure dates right for each leg of the journey outward and back.  It can help to jot down the date and departure time for each separate train and ship booking before you start (the how to plan an itinerary & budget page may help).

  • Step 1:  Book the Paris-Venice sleeper train online at either www.thello.com or www.trenitalia.com.  As this train is now entirely run by Trenitalia and partner Veolia, it cannot currently be booked at www.raileurope.co.uk or www.tgv-europe.com.  At www.thello.com or www.trenitalia.com you book online and simply quote your booking reference when you board the sleeper train.  Easy!

  • Step 2:  Now buy a London-Paris Eurostar ticket at www.eurostar.com.  You print your own ticket, or can collect it at London St Pancras.

  • Step 3:  You can book all the ferry companies from Venice to Patras online at the Seat61 Ferry Shop, or go to the operators' own websites, www.anek.gr or www.minoan.gr.  To buy tickets by phone, contact their UK agents, Viamare Travel, on 020 8343 5810.  Minoan Lines accept Eurail & InterRail passes (no port taxes to pay, but cabins or a reclining seat are extra).

  • The bus from Patras to Athens can be booked on board the ferry or on arrival in Patras.

 

 

 London to Salonika & Larissa

The overland route from London to Athens passes through Salonika (Thessaloniki in Greek) and Larissa.  However, it's currently blocked by the Greek government.  See the London to Athens section above for details.

Alternatively, you could travel from London to Athens by train and ferry via Italy, then take a train from Athens north to Larissa and Athens. See the London to Athens section above, then use the Greek Railways website, You can check train times for this section at www.trainose.gr for train times between Athens, Larissa and Salonika.


 

 London to Meteora (Kalambaka)

Meteora is a spectacular monastery perched on a huge rock, near the town of Kalambaka.  Kalambaka is at the end of a railway branch line from Paleofarsolas on the main Thessaloniki-Larissa-Athens rail line.  There are two direct trains from Athens to Kalambaka every day (about 4 hours 45 minutes), plus regular trains throughout the day from Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki with a change of train at Paleofarsolas.  For train times from Athens or Thessaloniki to Kalambaka, see You can check train times for this section at www.trainose.gr and use their journey planner.


 

 London to Corfu

By train & ferry via Bari or Brindisi...

  • Travel by train from London to Bari or Brindisi.  For train times, fares and how to book see the Italy page.

  • Superfast Ferries sail from Bari to Corfu every second day from early June until early September, sailing from Bari at 20:00 and arriving Corfu at 05:00 next morning.  Visit the Seat61 Ferry Shop or the operator's own website, www.superfast.com to check sailing dates, times, fares and to book online.

  • Endeavor Lines (www.endeavor-lines.com) sail from Brindisi to Corfu at 20:30 several times each week year-round, daily in July & August, arriving in Corfu town at around 08:45 next day (day 3 from London).  Visit their website to check sailing dates and times.  In the UK, this ferry can be booked online at the Seat61 Ferry Shop or by phone through Viamare Travel on 020 8343 5810.

  • If you have an InterRail pass valid for Italy and Greece, it will include a 'deck passage' on the HML or Superfast ferry, although port tax (about 6 euros) and a cabin berth or reclining seat will be extra.

By train & ferry via Venice...

You might prefer to catch the ferry from Venice.

  • Travel by train from London to Venice, using Eurostar to Paris and the direct Paris-Venice sleeper train.  For train times, fares and how to buy tickets, see the London to Italy page

  • Allow a minimum of 3 hours for any connection with a ferry in Venice, to allow for transfer times, check-in and any delay to the train.

  • Minoan Lines and Anek Lines sail from Venice to Corfu, daily at certain times of year, several times a week at off-peak times, usually leaving Venice (Maritime station, walking distance from Santa Lucia station) either at lunchtime, late afternoon or early evening.  To check  sailing dates, times, fares and for online booking, visit the Seat61 Ferry Shop or the Anek Lines or Minoan Lines websites.  From the UK, these ferries can also be booked by phone through Viamare Travel, call 020 7431 4560.

 

 London to Kefalonia (Cephalonia)

Made famous by the book and film 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', it's easy to reach Kefalonia all the way from London in less than 48 hours, without flying.

  • Travel from London to Brindisi by train, using Eurostar to Paris and TGV to Milan, overnight stop, then take a Eurostar City 'Frecciabianca' along the Adriatic coast to Brindisi.  See the London to Italy page for times, fares and how to buy tickets.  In Brindisi, use a taxi to the port a few miles away.
  • Endeavor Lines operate a service from Brindisi ferry terminal to the main town of Sami on Kefalonia (Cephalonia) several times a week throughout the Summer, typically sailing at 19:00 and arriving at 07:00 next morning.  Visit www.endeavor-lines.com for dates, times, fares & online booking, or book online at the Seat61 Ferry Shop.

  • There are also ferries year-round between Patras and Kefalonia, see www.ferries.gr.


 London to Crete (Heraklion & Chania)

  • Travel from London to Athens by train & ferry as shown in the London to Athens section above.  A frequent metro runs between Athens and Piraeus, the port of Athens, taking just 25 minutes or so.
  • Ferries sail daily from Piraeus to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, usually overnight.  ANEK Lines sail daily at 20:30 arriving at 05:30 next day, Minoan Lines sail at 21:00 arriving 05:30 next day.  Basic 'deck place' fares start at 23 euros one-way, 41 Euros return, or with the cheapest berth in a 4-berth cabin, 41 euros one way, 74 euros return.  You can book both Anek and Minoan ferries at the Seat61 Ferry Shop, or at the operators' own websites, www.anek.gr and www.minoan.gr.

  • Anek Ferries also sail direct from Piraeus to Chania in western Crete, departing Piraeus daily at 21:00 arriving Chania 05:30.  In the other direction the ferry also sails from Chania at 21:00 arriving Piraeus 05:30.  See www.anek.gr.  Arrival is at Souda ferry terminal, 5km from Chania city centre.

Pictured below:  Ships of rival ferry operators Minoan Lines and Anek Lines in Heraklion harbour.  Photo courtesy of Walter Smith.

Ferries from Piraeus to Crete, seen at Heraklion


 London to Rhodes & the Greek Islands



 

 Guidebooks

Paying for a guidebook may seem an unnecessary expense, but it's probably only a tiny fraction of what you're spending on your whole trip.  You will see so much more, and know so much more about what you're looking at, if you have a decent guidebook.  For independent travel, I recommend either the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide.  Both have plenty of background historical and cultural information, with all the practical information you need.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

Or buy direct from the Lonely Planet website, with shipping worldwide.

My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", was published in June 2008, and is available from Amazon with shipping worldwide.Lonely Planet Greece - click to buy onlineThe Man in Seat 61 book - click to buy online


 

 Thomas Cook European Timetable

Thomas Cook European Timetable -  click to buy onlineThomas Cook Rail Map of Europe - buy onlineThe Thomas Cook European timetable has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  Published since 1873, it costs £13.99.  It's essential for any serious traveller and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Still not convinced you need one?  More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.  You can buy the latest monthly edition online at www.thomascooktimetables.com with worldwide delivery or buy it in person from any UK branch of Thomas Cook (ask at the bureau de change), or from W H Smiths in Victoria or Kings Cross stations in London.  Or buy the twice-yearly independent traveller's edition with laminated cover from Amazon.co.uk:  Winter/Spring 2011/12 edition (Dec 2011 to June 2012) or (when available) Summer/Autumn 2012 edition (June to Dec 2012)

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at www.amazon.co.uk (worldwide delivery).  See an extract from the map.


 Hotels & accommodation

Find a hotel in Athens or anywhere in Greece & the Greek Ikands...

Search by hotel name  Powered by Hotelscombined.com

 

◄◄◄◄◄ Search all the major hotel

booking websites at once...

Hotel reservations? Find the right hotel first. Compare here.

www.hotelscombined.com is probably the best hotel search system I've seen, a free search tool which checks all the main hotel booking sites (Opodo, Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, AsiaRooms, Travelocity, LateRooms and others) to find the cheapest hotel rates.  Set up in 2005, it's probably the best place to start for booking any hotel online in any country, worldwide.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

  • www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

  • www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system).  It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).

Backpacker hostels...

www.hostelbookers.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about the backpacker hostels.  Hostelbookers offers online booking of dorm beds or ultra-cheap private rooms in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.


 Travel insurance, health card, SIM card

Get travel insurance, it's essential...

  Columbus direct travel insurance

Never travel without insurance from a reliable travel insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover loss of cash (up to a limit) and belongings, and cancellation. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year (I have an annual policy myself).  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, but European international rail conditions of carriage (known as the 'CIV') contain consumer protection provisions that entitle you to travel forward by the next available train if you miss a connection because of a delay to the first train, irrespective of who operates which train, and even if your ticket is in theory train-specific and non-changeable.  Feedback from using insurance for rail & ferry travel is always welcome.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

In the UK, try Columbus Direct or Go Travel Insurance, or use Confused.com to get a price comparison on a range of travel insurance providers, seeing policy features at a glance.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

   If you live in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

Get an EU health card, it's free...

If you're a UK citizen travelling in Europe, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS.  This replaced the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available from www.ehic.org.uk.  It doesn't remove the need for travel insurance, though.

Get a spare credit card, one designed for foreign travel with no currency exchange loading & low or no ATM fees...

It costs nothing to take out an extra credit card.  If you keep it in a different part of your luggage so you're not left stranded if your wallet gets stolen, this is a form of extra travel insurance in itself.  In addition, some credit cards are significantly better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.  Taking this advice can save you quite a lot on each trip compared to using your normal high-street bank credit card!  You can save money on ATM charges and exchange rates using a Caxton FX euro currency Visa Card, or indeed the multi-currency 'Global Traveller' Visa Card, find out about these cards & sign up here.

Get an international SIM card to save on mobile data and phone calls...

Mobile phones can cost a fortune to use abroad, and if you're not careful you can return home to find some huge bills waiting for you.  I've known people run up over £1,000 in data charges just by leaving their iPhone connected during a simple trip to Europe.  However, if you buy a global SIM card for your mobile phone from a company such as www.Go-Sim.com you can slash the cost by up to 85% and limit any damage to the amount you have pre-paid.  Go-Sim cuts call costs in 175 countries worldwide, and you can receive incoming calls and texts for free in 75 countries.  It's pay-as-you-go, so no nasty bills when you get home.  It also allows cheap data access for laptops & PDAs.  A Go-Sim account and any credit on it doesn't expire if it's not used between trips, unlike some others, so a Go-Sim phone number becomes your 'global phone number' for life.


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