![]() The Parthenon in Athens, without flying... You really can get there in comfort without having to fly! |
London to Greece in 48 hours...
No airports, no flights, just civilised trains and a cosy en suite cabin on a comfortable ferry. Take Eurostar to Paris and a high-speed TGV through the Alps to Italy, then an overnight cruise ferry across the Adriatic to Greece. Sailing across blue seas under even bluer skies past Ithaca & Kefalonia is perhaps the nicest way to reach Greece, far more rewarding than 3 hours strapped to a plane seat, and it's practical & affordable too. Or you can make an exciting and adventurous overland journey all the way to Greece by train via Paris, Munich, Belgrade & Thessaloniki. On this page you'll find a step-by-step guide to booking & making a memorable journey from London or Paris to Greece, with schedules, fares & how to buy tickets.
COVID-19 update: Eurostar is running a much-reduced service. Beyond Paris, train service is much closer to normal. See COVID-19 travel information.
Train times, fares & tickets...
London to Greece
by train - options explained
London to Athens by train & ferry via Bari
London to Athens by train via Belgrade
London to Athens by train & ferry
via Venice
London to Thessaloniki & Larissa
London to Rhodes & other Greek islands
Trains from
Athens to other European cities
Trains to Athens from other
European cities
How to buy Greek train
tickets online from 9!
Other travel information...
Starting from other UK towns & cities
Hotels & accommodation in Greece
Luggage
Taking bikes
Taking a dog
General information on train travel Europe
Travel insurance, Curve card & VPN
Useful
country information
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Trains within Greece: |
OSE (Organismos Sidirodromon Ellados): www.trainose.gr (previously www.ose.gr) see guide to using it. Map of Greek train routes Athens-Istanbul by train All-Europe online train times |
Greek island ferries: |
See www.ferriesingreece.com or www.ferries.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 |
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Railpasses: |
Beginner's guide to European railpasses Buy a rail pass online |
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Time zone: |
GMT+2 (GMT+3 last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October). |
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Dialling code: |
+30 |
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Currency: |
£1 = approx 1.11 euros Check current exchange rates |
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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. |
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Page last updated: |
2 February 2021. Train times valid 13 Dec 2020 to 11 Dec 2021. |
London to Greece,
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 Eurostar & TGV train to Italy then cruise ferry to Greece...
This is the route I'd recommend, it's 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 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, Zagreb & Belgrade to Thessaloniki, Larissa & Athens. The complete journey from London to Athens takes 3 nights, with a safe & comfortable sleeping-car or couchette car available for both overnight sections and 24h stopover in Belgrade. It's an exciting & adventurous journey with some wonderful scenery on the way. Feel free to stop off if you like, too.
Update: In 2020 the Belgrade-Greece train was only due to run in summer, from 13 June to 20 September 2020, and it may not run at all in 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic. If & when it's not running, you'll have to re-route the much longer way round via Sofia, or use one of the train & ferry options instead. Train times, fares & information for this option are shown below.
Option 3, by train to Venice then cruise ferry to Greece...
This is a simpler but slightly longer version of option 1, which lets you see Venice on the way. You take Eurostar to Paris, TGV to Milan or Turin and onward Italian Frecciabianca train to Venice. Ferries used to sail from Venice itself, but Minoan Lines now go from Trieste, so you hop on the hourly Venice-Trieste regional train. A Minoan Lines cruise ferry sails several times a week from Trieste to Patras in Greece for a bus to Athens. Train times, fares & information for this route are shown below.
Interactive map: Click a route for times, fares & how to buy tickets...
London
to Athens
via Bari
![]() 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. |
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A train to Italy & cruise to Greece...
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...
London ► Athens
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Day 1, morning: Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 09:22 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:47. Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon, just 2 stops on RER line D.
Tip: Take an earlier Eurostar & have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon.
Day 1, afternoon: Travel from Paris to Milan by high-speed Paris-Italy TGV, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:43 and arriving at Milan Porta Garibaldi at 21:50.
It's a relaxing and comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cιnis tunnel through the Alps. The TGV has 1st and 2nd class seats and a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & tray-meals. What's the journey like? See the Paris-Milan TGV video guide!
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Stay overnight in Milan. The AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350m from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews. Next morning, it's a 25 minute walk or 5-minute 6 taxi ride between Milan Porta Garibaldi & Milan Centrale.
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Day 2: Travel from Milan to Bari by air-conditioned Frecciabianca train leaving Milan Centrale at 07:35 and arriving Bari Centrale at 15:27.
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 (1.9km, 25 minutes, see map) or take a taxi to the ferry terminal, which is next to Bari's attractive old town.
You may find a reduced service operating in early 2021, for example the normal fast service replaced by an Intercity train leaving Milan Centrale at 07:05 arriving Bari Central 17:05. Check for your date of travel online.
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Day 2: Sail from Bari to Patras in Greece on the Superfast Ferries - Blue Star Ferries ferry leaving Bari daily except Sundays at 19:30 and arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (day 3). On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.
You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com. You can book a deck place (a good & 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. 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 at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare 1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around 7, journey time 15-20 minutes.
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Day 3: Travel from Patras to Athens by bus/train combo...
OSE (Greek Railways) buses run from outside Patras railway station to Kiato station near Corinthos every hour or two, journey time 90 minutes. At Kiato you board a modern air-conditioned regional train to Athens, journey time 78 minutes, arriving at the mainline Athens Larissa Station. No reservation is necessary, just buy a bus/train combo ticket to Athens at Patras station ticket office for around 18 (tickets for the bus-train combo are sold at Patras railway station, not the bus station!).
For example, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, total bus/train journey time to Athens 3h02. You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times in English using the journey planner at www.trainose.gr.
Alternatively, there are hourly buses from Patras bus station to Athens KTEL Kifissos bus station, fare 21, but this means 3-4 hours on a bus.
All this is a great shame. Patras station now has no trains, but only a few years ago, you'd travelled from Patras to Athens by delightful narrow gauge train, a wonderfully scenic ride. Until July 2010 you could still take this narrow gauge train as far as Kiato (near Korinthos) and change onto the newly-built standard gauge line the rest of the way to Athens. However, since July 2010 the narrow gauge line has been closed completely for rebuilding, with the aim of creating a new standard-gauge rail line all the way from Patras to Athens, but work was stopped due to the state of Greece's national finances. Until the new line opens you'll have to use a bus, or at least the Greek railways bus/train combo.
Athens ► London
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Day 1: Travel from Athens to Patras by train/bus combo...
There are departures every hour or two from Athens main Larissa railway station, you can easily check Athens to Patra train/bus times using the journey planner in English at www.trainose.gr.
For example, an air-conditioned train leaves from Athens main Larissa railway station at 10:36 arriving at Kiato at 11:55, connecting into a Greek Railways (OSE) bus departing Kiato at 12:05 and arriving Patras at 13:35.
You've time for lunch and a look around Patras. There's a later 12:36 train from Athens arriving Kiato at 13:55, connecting with the 14:05 bus arriving Patras at 15:35, but this leaves little room for delay.
Buy a train/bus combo ticket for 18 at the station in Athens. Alternatively, hourly direct buses run from Athens KTEL Kifissos bus station to Patras, fare around 21, but this means 3 or 4 hours in a bus.
You used to make this journey by delightful narrow gauge train, a wonderfully scenic though not superfast 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 now you must either take a direct bus from Athens or a train from Athens to Kiato then the Greek railways rail-replacement bus from Kiato to Patras.
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On arrival in Patras, take bus number 18 (leaving every hour at xx:30, fare 1.20) or taxi (around 7) to Patras's new South ferry terminal a few km outside Patras town centre. Remember to allow for a 2-hour ferry check-in.
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Day 1: Sail from Patras to Bari with Superfast Ferries leaving from Patras daily at 18:00 and arriving in Bari at 09:30 the next day (day 2).
You can check sailing times & fares at the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com. In Bari, Walk (1.9km, 25 minutes, see map) or take a taxi to Bari Centrale station.
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Day 2: Travel from Bari to Milan by air-conditioned Frecciargento train leaving Bari Centrale at 11:30 and arriving in Milan Centrale at 18:50.
There is a refreshment trolley, or feel free to bring your own food and wine. You may prefer a safer connection, especially on a few dates when the ferry is due in a bit later, at 10:00 or 10:30, if so there's another direct Frecciabianca leaving Bari Centrale at 13:30 and arriving Milan Centrale at 21:25.
You may find a reduced service operating in early 2021, for example the normal fast service replaced by an Intercity train leaving Bari Centrale at 11:55 arriving Milan Centrale 21:40. Check for your date of travel online.
Stay overnight in Milan, a beautiful city that's well worth an extra day for a stopover. The AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350ms from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews.
Day 3 morning: Travel from Milan to Paris by high-speed Paris-Italy TGV, leaving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 06:00 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:14. There is a bar car serving drinks, snacks and light meals. If you'd prefer a more leisurely breakfast and later departure from Milan, there's another TGV leaving Milan Porta Garibaldi daily at 08:42, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:12. What's the journey like? See the Paris-Milan TGV video guide.
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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 06:00 TGV from Milan, you can leave Paris Gare du Nord at 15:13 arriving London St Pancras at 16:39. If you chose the later 08:44 TGV from Milan, you'll need the 18:13 Eurostar from Paris Nord (19:13 on Saturdays), arriving London St Pancras at 19:39 (20:46 on Saturdays).
How much does it cost?
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London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Paris to Milan by TGV starts at 29 each way in 2nd class or 44 in 1st class.
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Milan to Bari by Frecciabianca train starts at 29.90 each way in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class.
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Bari to Patras by ferry varies by season and seat/berth/cabin type, but might cost 63 with a basic deck place, 76 with a reclining seat, 127 with a bed in an inside 4-berth en suite cabin, 179 in a 3-bed outside en suite cabin. Other cabin types & suites also available.
Round trip fares are cheaper than two one-ways. Youth fares for anyone under 26 are up to 20% cheaper than this. Senior fares for anyone over 60 are up to 10% cheaper than this.
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Patras to Athens by bus costs around 20.60 each way.
How to buy tickets...
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The best way to book a journey from the UK to Greece is online, following the step-by-step instructions below. It involves two websites, so do a test run on both sites to check prices & availability before booking for real.
Tip 1: Make sure you get your dates right for each stage of the journey by jotting down the date & departure time for each individual train & ferry beforehand, see the how to plan an itinerary & budget page.
Tip 2: You can book hotels in Milan or in Greece risk-free before booking your trains if you use www.booking.com with free cancellation.
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Step 1, book the ferry from Bari to Patras at www.directferries.co.uk or www.superfast.com.
You select the type of accommodation you want, either a deck place, reclining seat or various types of cabin berth. It's ticketless, you simply pay online and quote your booking reference at check-in. Booking for the ferry opens up to 12 months in advance.
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Step 2, book the trains from London to Bari at www.raileurope.com.
www.raileurope.com connects to the British, French & Italian train booking systems so you can buy all your tickets together in one place, easily in plain English, in , £ or $, with print-your-own or show-on-smartphone tickets. There's a small booking fee.
Booking for Eurostar opens up to 180 days ahead, booking for the TGV & Italian trains opens up to 120 days ahead. British domestic trains usually only open around 90 days ahead. I strongly recommend waiting until at least the Paris-Milan TGV is open for sale, if not the Milan-Bari train too, so you can confirm times for your specific date before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.
I suggest booking in stages like this, first doing a dry run to check times & prices. Read the detailed booking tips here.
First book from London to Paris and add to your basket. If returning, you should book London to Paris as a round trip, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. All the other trains are one-way ticketed where a round trip is simply two one ways, so it doesn't matter, and it can be easier to book one way at a time.
Then book Paris to Milan and add to basket. Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris southbound, 90 minutes northbound (as you have to include the 30 minute Eurostar check-in when going northbound). In fact, when heading south all the way to Greece I'd play safe and allow perhaps 2 hours between trains - time for lunch in Paris! By default, the system allows as little as 42 minutes between trains, which is why it's best to book the Eurostar & TGV separately. If you find it easier, you could book from London to Milan in one go, but first clicking More options and entering Paris as a via station, with a stopover duration of at least 60 minutes.
Then book Milan to Bari for the following day, add to basket and check out.
Now book from Milan to Bari for the following day, add this to your basket and check out, paying for all your tickets as one transaction.
You'll get print-at-home or show-on-smartphone tickets for the Eurostar & the TGV, the Milan-Bari train is ticketless, you simply quote your booking reference on board.
Tip: After booking you can use the Manage booking feature at www.eurostar.com to select an exact Eurostar seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a Eurostar seat.
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Another way to buy train tickets...
Alternatively, you can buy tickets direct from the relevant train operator, which is more work using multiple websites, but there's no booking fee. Book your London-Paris train at www.eurostar.com, then book the Paris-Milan TGV at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf. Both sites issue print-at-home tickets. You can then book the Milan to Bari train at the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com, this requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks, see this advice on how to use it. Look for a cheap Economy or Super-Economy fare to Bari. Trenitalia is ticketless, you pay online and quote your reservation reference to the conductor on the train.
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Step 3, buy your Patras-Athens bus ticket at Patras bus station when you get there, this is no problem.
How to buy tickets by phone...
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It's best to book online, to avoid phone booking fees, and it allows you to see for yourself which departures have the cheapest prices. However, all the trains between London and Bari can be booked through any UK European rail agency, such as International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Mondays-Fridays. Click here for a list of agencies.
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You can book Superfast Ferries from Italy to Greece with their UK agents, Viamare Travel, on 020 8343 5810.
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Buy your Patras-Athens bus ticket at Patras bus station.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Paris by Eurostar...
Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in (10-minutes for business premier) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Paris Gare du Nord station guide. How to cross Paris by metro or taxi.
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A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras. More about Eurostar. |
1st class: Standard Premier or Business Premier. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
Lunch in Paris at the Train Bleu restaurant?
The trains to Italy leave from the magnificent Gare de Lyon in central Paris. Why not have lunch (or at least a drink in the bar) at the fabulous Train Bleu Restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon (pictured above right) before catching the train to Turin or Milan? Paris Gare de Lyon station guide.
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2. Paris to Milan by TGV...
SNCF (French Railways) operates three daily 186 mph TGV trains from Paris to Milan. Previously operated by Artesia, a consortium of Trenitalia & SNCF, they are now operated entirely by SNCF, officially via a new Italian subsidiary, Societΰ Viaggiatori Italia. On leaving Paris they sprint over the high-speed line at up to 186 mph (300 km/h) as far as Lyon St Exupιry, but they then slow right down to meander through the scenic Alpine foothills on conventional lines via Chambιry, crossing into Italy at Modane and heading through Turin to Milan. These TGVs have 1st & 2nd class seats and are fully air-conditioned, with new interiors designed by Christian Lacroix. There are power sockets for laptops and mobiles at every seat and there are baby-changing facilities and designated spaces for passengers in wheelchairs. There's a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & light meals, or feel free to bring your own food & wine along for the journey. In first class you can order a 3-course meal with wine, served at your seat. You can now buy Paris metro tickets from the bar car, too. 1st class TGV passengers can use the Grand Voyageurs 1st class lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon. Incidentally, SNCF's experienced in-house designer still hasn't forgiven Christian Lacroix for breaking the unwritten rule and using warm colours in 2nd class, cooler colours in 1st class, so see what you think!
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The afternoon TGV to Milan at Paris Gare de Lyon. There's no check-in, just be on board at departure time... |
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The cafe-bar, serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, hot & cold snacks & microwaved hot dishes. Larger photo. |
The cheese platter bought from the cafe-bar as the mountains swept by... |
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2nd class with a mix or unidirectional seats & tables for 4. Seats are 2+2 across car width. 360 degree photo. |
1st class with a mix of unidirectional seats, solo seats, tables for 2 & for 4. Seats 2+1 across car width. 360 degree photo. |
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The TGV leaves Paris behind & speeds across rural France at up to 186 mph, past fields, woods, pretty villages... |
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...it calls at Lyon St Exupery then slows right down through the Alpine foothills. |
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The TGV crosses the Alps via Chambιry and Modane, passing through the 13.6 km (8.5 mile) long Frιjus Rail Tunnel, also known less accurately as the Mont Cιnis tunnel. The tunnel transit takes just 7 minutes, during which the train enters Italy. Opened in 1871, this the oldest of the large tunnels through the Alps, and was the longest tunnel in the world from 1871 until 1882 when the Gotthard tunnel opened on the Zurich-Milan route. |
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More mountains... |
Now we're in Italy, leaving the Alps behind... |
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Scenery between Oulx and Turin... Photos courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com. |
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Arrival at Milan's modern Porta Garibaldi station, a 10-minute 6 taxi ride or 25 minute walk from Milan's main Centrale station. |
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3. Milan to Bari by Frecciabianca...
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A Frecciabianca train at Milan Centrale... Frecciabiancas link Milan with Ancona, Bari & Brindisi... |
2nd class seat, most with a power socket for laptops or mobiles. There's a small bar and a refreshment trolley. Larger photo. |
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1st class, more spacious. All seats have power sockets and there's a complimentary coffee from the trolley. Larger photo. |
A Frecciabianca at Milan. A strange train - two modern power cars sandwich former intercity carriages. Some Frecciabiancas are now hauled by conventional locomotives. |
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Bari Centrale. The ferry terminal is 25 minutes walk away, through the old town. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com. |
4. 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.
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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! |
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2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower. |
Relaxing on deck... |
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At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca. This is what travel to Greece should be like! |
5. Transfer from Patras to Athens by bus/train combo...
Every hour, a bus run by TrainOSE links Patras station with Kiato, from where an air-conditioned electric train speeds you along the Aegean to Athens. Look out for the Corinth Canal as the train passes from the Peloponnese peninsula to the rest of Greece, blink and you'll miss it...
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The TrainOSE bus from Patras to Kiato... |
The train from Kiato to Athens... |
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Crossing the Corinth Canal... |
Arrival at Athens station... |
Traveller's reports...
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 ΰ la carte meal for 34 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 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."
Alternative ferries from Brindisi or Ancona...
Superfast Ferries from Bari is recommended rather than ferries from 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.
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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.
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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. In Ancona, it's a short taxi ride or 30-minute 2.3km walk from Ancona station to the port.
Custom-made travel arrangements with trains, ferries & hotels all booked for you...
If you want someone to sort out your whole trip to Greece with all your rail & ferry travel expertly booked for you and good quality hotels arranged, call Railbookers. Tell them what you want, and they'll sort it all out for you, hassle-free. They get very positive reviews and take good care of their guests.
UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
see
website.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
see website.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
see website.
New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
London
to Athens via Belgrade
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR 2021...
The normal, traditional, direct route from London & Paris to Athens heads straight from Belgrade to Greece using the Belgrade-Thessaloniki Hellas Express overnight train. From 2018 onwards, this train was reduced to running only in summer from mid-June to mid-September, and cancelled the rest of the year. So at other times of year, if you still want to go all the way overland by train then you'll need to head further east from Belgrade to Sofia, then use the Sofia to Thessaloniki train which is still running all year round - which adds significant time & distance. In fact, it's not yet confirmed that the Belgrade-Thessaloniki will run at all in pandemic-hit 2021.
London to Greece via Belgrade & Sofia: Much longer route, runs all year round...
London ► Greece
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Step 1, travel from London to Sofia as shown on the London to Sofia page. There are various options typically taking 2 nights.
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Stay overnight in Sofia.
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Step 2, travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki and onwards to Athens as shown on the Trains from Sofia page.
Greece ► London
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Step 1, travel from Athens to Thessaloniki and Thessaloniki to Sofia as shown on the Trains from Athens page.
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Stay overnight in Sofia.
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Step 2, travel from Sofia to London as shown on the London to Sofia page. There are various options typically taking 2 nights.
London to Greece via Belgrade-Thessaloniki: Direct route, June to September only...
This is an overland adventure through the Balkans! The fastest & simplest route is explained below, taking you through Paris, Zurich, Zagreb & Belgrade. Other routes are possible, so if you'd prefer the route via Brussels or Vienna, see the London to Belgrade page then take the summer-only Belgrade to Thessaloniki train. If you'd like to go via Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest & Sofia, see the London to Sofia page then take the daily Sofia to Thessaloniki train.
Whichever route you choose, once past Belgrade, don't expect western standards such as air-conditioning on the trains, and bring you own supplies of food, water, wine or beer. But it's a safe and comfortable journey, rediscovering some of the mystery, intrigue and romance of long-distance train 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. The route via Zurich, Zagreb & Belgrade is the fastest overland option, London to Thessaloniki in Greece overland by train in 2 nights, 3 days. It involves comfortable high-quality air-conditioned trains all the way to Belgrade, but a more basic overnight train between Belgrade and Thessaloniki with 6-berth couchettes but no private sleepers, but it's comfortable enough!
London ► Greece (June-September only)
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Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 09:22 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:47.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon, it's just 2 stops on RER line D.
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Day 1, travel from Paris to Zurich by 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:22 arriving Zurich HB at 18:26. On Mondays-Fridays a change of train is needed in Basel, at weekends it's direct.
On certain dates you may find the 14:22 Paris-Zurich train isn't running. On those dates, leave London on the 07:55 Eurostar and take the 12:22 TGV-Lyria from Paris to Zurich, arriving 16:26. See the London to Switzerland page for more details.
In Zurich, there's time for dinner while waiting for the sleeper, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal inside Zurich HB, see other restaurant suggestions.
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Day 1, travel from Zurich to Zagreb overnight by Croatian sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:40 and arriving in Zagreb at 10:43 next morning (day 2). Until 10 July 2021 this train is diverted via Maribor to avoid repair work in the Karawanks Tunnel and arrives Zagreb 11:27.
The train has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended). Watch the Croatian sleeper video.
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Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train.
Until 10 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 13:04 arriving Novi Beograd 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25.
From 11 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 11:04 arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats (no 1st class). There's no catering, so bring along a picnic and maybe some beer or wine.
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Stay overnight in Belgrade. As you now need to change stations in Belgrade, a same day connection is too tight so an overnight stop in necessary in this direction. Belgrade is worth a stopover in any case, with day 3 at leisure to explore Belgrade. I recommend the Hotel Moskva, opened in 1906. Anyone who is anyone who has visited Belgrade has stayed here, from British author Graham Green to Ethiopian emperor Haile Salassie. It served as Gestapo Headquarters in 1941-44, although fortunately no trace of these former occupants remains. It's right in the centre of Belgrade at the end of the pedestrianised main street that leads to Belgrade fortress. It was only 10 minutes walk (admittedly uphill) from Belgrade's old station, but now a taxi ride from Belgrade Centar station or Topcider. The hotel has immaculate rooms, friendly staff and a good cooked breakfast.
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Day 3, travel from Belgrade to Thessaloniki by overnight train, leaving Belgrade Topcider station at 18:35 and arriving Thessaloniki at 10:33 next morning (day 4 from London). Reinstated as daily all year round in 2014 but reduced to summer-only in 2018, the train has a seats car and a Macedonian couchette car with 6-berth compartments. There's no catering car so bring a picnic and some beer or a bottle of red! Expect an arrival an hour or so late.
IMPORTANT: This train is now summer-only, at all other times of year it is CANCELLED: It is due to run from 13 June to 20 September 2021.
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Day 4, travel from Thessaloniki to Athens by comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train. Trains run regularly throughout the day, journey time now only 4h09 (one train taking just 3h57) after significant speed-up in May 2019. It's a very scenic ride indeed, past Mount Olympus and briefly along the Aegean, then through the mountains south of Larissa, see the photos below. For example, the 12:15 InterCity train from Thessaloniki will get you to Athens at 16:24. That gives time for any delay to the train from Belgrade. By all means take a later train and have a wander round Thessaloniki!
Greece ► London (June-September only)
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Day 1, travel from Athens or Larissa to Thessaloniki by train. There are a range of trains every day, journey time just 4h20 after a significant speed-up in May 2019. It's a very scenic ride, through the mountains south of Larissa and past Mt Olympus and along the Aegean south of Thessaloniki, see the photos below. To make a same-day connection in Thessaloniki I'd take InterCity train IC52 leaving Athens main station at 09:22, arriving Thessaloniki at 13:45 as this gives plenty of time.
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Day 1, travel from Thessaloniki to Belgrade by overnight train leaving Thessaloniki 18:51 and arriving Belgrade Topcider station at 08:14 next morning. Reinstated as daily all year round in 2014, it was reduced to summer-only in 2018. This train has a Macedonian couchette car with 6-berth compartments and a Greek seats car. There's no catering car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine! Expect an arrival an hour or two late.
IMPORTANT: This train is now summer-only, at all other times of year it is CANCELLED: It is due to run from 12 June to 19 September 2021.
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Stay overnight in Belgrade. Belgrade is worth a stopover in any case, with day 3 at leisure to explore Belgrade. I recommend the Hotel Moskva, opened in 1906. Anyone who is anyone who has visited Belgrade has stayed here, from British author Graham Green to Ethiopian emperor Haile Salassie. It served as Gestapo Headquarters in 1941-44, although fortunately no trace of these former occupants remains. It's right in the centre of Belgrade at the end of the pedestrianised main street that leads to Belgrade fortress. It was only 10 minutes walk (admittedly uphill) from Belgrade's old station, but now a taxi ride from Belgrade Centar station or Topcider. The hotel has immaculate rooms, friendly staff and a good cooked breakfast.
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Day 3, travel from Belgrade to Zagreb on the daily train.
Until 10 July 2021, it leaves Belgrade Centar station at 07:00 & Novi Beograd at 07:14 arriving Zagreb at 15:13.
From 11 July 2021, it leaves Belgrade Centar station at 10:05 & Novi Beograd at 10:19 arriving Zagreb at 18:13.
This train has two air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats. There's no 1st class. There's no catering, so bring along a picnic and maybe some beer or wine.
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Day 3, travel from Zagreb to Zurich by Croatian sleeper train, leaving Zagreb at 18:38 and arriving Zurich HB at 09:20 next morning.
Important: Until 10 July 2021 this train is diverted via Maribor to avoid the work in the Karawanks Tunnel, leaving Zagreb earlier, at 17:36.
The train has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended). Watch the Croatian sleeper video.
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Day 4, travel from Zurich to Paris by 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 11:34 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:38.
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Day 4, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:13, arriving London St Pancras at 18:32.
How much does it cost?
Each train is ticketed separately, so add up the price for each leg of the journey.
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1. London to Paris by Eurostar... |
From £52 one-way, £78 return 2nd class. From £115 one-way, £199 return 1st class. Child fares |
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2. Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria... |
From 29 each way in 2nd class From 79 each way in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, cheap in advance, expensive on the day |
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3. Zurich to Zagreb by sleeper train... |
In a seat: |
In a couchette |
In the sleeping-car |
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6-berth |
4-berth |
3-berth |
2-berth |
single |
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Saver fare one-way, from: |
29 |
49 |
59 |
69 |
79 |
139 |
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Saver fare return, from: |
58 |
98 |
118 |
138 |
158 |
278 |
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Saver fare = Advance-purchase fare, price varies, no refunds, no changes to travel plans. Berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed. The other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers. For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette & so on. |
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4. Zagreb to Belgrade by day train... |
Bought in the UK: £44 each way. Bought locally at the station: About 35 each way. |
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5. Belgrade to Thessaloniki by overnight train... |
34 bought at the station + 8 couchette supplement. If you buy through a western ticketing agency, reckon on 75 including couchette. |
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6. Thessaloniki to Athens by train |
45 in 2nd class or 55 1st class even bought on the day. |
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How to buy tickets...
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The first part of the journey can be booked online, although the rest will either need to be booked by phone or bought at the station as you go:
(1) Book the London-Paris & Paris-Zurich tickets at www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print them out or can show them on your smartphone.
(2) The Zurich-Zagreb sleeper train can be also booked online at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in , £ or £, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in , no booking fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
(3) The Belgrade-Thessaloniki overnight train cannot be booked online, so either buy it by phone with one of these agencies, or arrange it via Mr Popovic in Belgrade. Or just buy at the station in Belgrade on the day - there are always plenty of places available even in the couchette car.
(4) Buy Greek domestic train tickets from Thessaloniki to Athens online at www.trainose.gr as explained here with print-at-home tickets, or at the station on the day, it currently makes no difference to the price.
How to buy tickets by phone...
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If you'd prefer to book all your train tickets together by phone, just call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, small booking fee.
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Alternatively, you can call Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings).
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No western European ticketing agency or national train operator can book domestic trains within Greece, so buy your Greek train tickets from Thessaloniki to Athens at the station when you reach Thessaloniki, or online (with cheap advance-purchase prices) at online at www.trainose.gr as explained here.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Paris by Eurostar...
Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in (10-minutes for business premier) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Paris Gare du Nord station guide. How to cross Paris by metro or taxi.
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A Eurostar e320 train at St Pancras. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria...
All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below. TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes: Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare). There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks. There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes. Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways. More information about TGV-Lyria.
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TGV-Lyria TGV Duplex train at Paris Gare de Lyon. More information about TGV-Lyria |
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Cafe-bar on upper deck car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes... |
2nd class seats on the upper deck. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360Ί photo. |
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1st class on the upper deck, with a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360Ί photo. |
A TGV-Lyria for Geneva, boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon. You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck. |
3. Zurich to Zagreb by sleeper train... Watch the video
This modern sleeper train is a pleasure to travel on, whether in the privacy of your own sleeper or in economical couchettes. There's time for dinner in Zurich before boarding at a local restaurant, try the Brasserie Federal inside Zurich HB.
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Croatian sleeping-car: The modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Zurich to Zagreb has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, with toilets at the end of the corridor. Above left, the sleeper arrived at Zagreb. |
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The couchette car has modern air-conditioned 6-berth and 4-berth compartments. Above right, the westbound train is seen boarding at Zagreb. See panorama photo. |
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![]() Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava... |
4. Zagreb to Belgrade by train...
This is a comfortable air-conditioned Serbian train, with modern 2nd class seats - there's no 1st class. There's also no restaurant car, so take a picnic and some beer or wine with you. Below right, the Belgrade to Zagreb train about to leave Belgrade. Below left, 2nd class seats.
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5. Belgrade to Thessaloniki by overnight couchette train...
East of Belgrade, you leave modern fripperies such as air-conditioning behind... The Belgrade-Thessaloniki night train has a Macedonian couchette car, though no sleeper. But it's comfortable enough, and seldom full, see the photos below, courtesy of traveller Tom Whitehead. Clean sheets, pillow and blanket are provided. You'll probably find fellow travellers from Germany, the Netherlands, Australia or Britain on board. See larger couchette photo.
6. Thessaloniki to Athens by InterCity train...
Modern air-conditioned InterCity trains link Thessaloniki (Salonika) with 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. The most scenic section through the mountains with the famous Gorgopotamos viaduct has now been by-passed by a new tunnel.
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A Thessaloniki to Athens InterCity train. The carriages are modern and air-conditioned. The photo above right shows the new colour scheme introduced when the service was speeded up in July 2019. Photos courtesy of Rosie Maguire. Larger seats photo. |
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Soon after leaving Thessaloniki, the train runs along the Aegean coast and past Mount Olympus (seen above, from the train), mythical home to the Greek gods... |
Between Larissa & Athens the train snakes through mountains, over the Gorgopotamos viaduct, blown up by the British S.O.E. in WW2. This section is by-passed as from May 2019. |
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View of the Parnassus mountains from the train. Courtesy of Laurent Faurite. |
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Emerging from the mountains, the train descends a spectacular escarpment (above left), with the Greek plain laid out hundreds of feet below. This section is by-passed as from May 2019. |
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The train has comfortable 1st & 2nd class seats (2nd class above left) and a cafe car. A free meal is served if you have a 1st class ticket. Interior photos courtesy of Dave Roberts. Finally, you arrive at Athens' main (Larissa) station, over 2,000 miles from London St Pancras... |
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Watch the video: London as far as Belgrade by train...
The video shows what the train ride from London as far as Belgrade is like. There's a slight variation, the video shows a journey by TGV from the Gare de Lyon to Zurich, then Croatian sleeping-car to Zagreb, instead of a TGV from Paris Est to Munich, then Croatian sleeping-car to Zagreb, but the sleeping-car is the same and you see the same wonderful scenery between Ljubljana & Zagreb.
London to Athens
by via Venice
![]() The civilised way to reach Greece... A cruise ferry to Greece sails right past the gondolas in St Mark's Square in Venice. You can buy Italy-Greece ferry ticket online at the Direct Ferries website. Photo courtesy of Andy Brabin of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
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Cruise from Venice to Greece...
Taking a ferry to Greece from Venice rather than Bari means the London-Athens journey will take 3 nights rather than 2, but taking a cruise ferry all along the Adriatic is a wonderful and leisurely option. With some time in Venice (stop off for longer if you like), an Adriatic cruise on a modern ferry with cruise ship facilities, less train travel necessary through Italy, it's an alternative that's well worth considering. You could do the journey over a weekend!
London ► Greece
Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 09:22, 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. Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?
Day 1, travel from Paris to Milan by high-speed TGV, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:43 arriving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 21:50.
It's a relaxing and comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cιnis tunnel through the Alps. The TGV has 1st & 2nd class seats and a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & tray-meals. See the Paris-Milan TGV video guide.
Stay overnight in Milan. The AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350m from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Venice by Frecciabianca or Frecciarossa train in just 2h35. These run every hour, so book any one you like. Spend some time in Venice if you like.
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Stay overnight in Venice if necessary. Whether you need to stay overnight depends on the ferry sailing times. Remember there's a 2-hour minimum check-in for the ferry, and also check carefully where the ferry sails from - central Venice or an area on the mainland called Fusina, near Venice Mestre which might take time to reach. Do not plan any tight connections.
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Day 2 or 3, sail from Venice to Patras in Greece by ferry.
Minoan Lines (www.minoan.gr) operate excellent passenger-orientated cruise ferries on this route. They switched their terminal to Trieste, but now once more sail from Venice. Ships sail twice a week typically taking a night and a morning, the easiest way to check sailing dates & prices is to use the Direct ferries booking form below or visit the Minoan Lines website. Check carefully which port the ferry actually sails from, Venice itself or the mainland around Mestre.
Anek Lines (www.anek.gr) also have sailings from Venice to Patras, but they use a freight-orientated Ro-Pax ferry and now sail from a terminal inconveniently located in Fusina, an industrial area 20km from Venice.
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Day 4, travel from Patras to Athens by bus/train combo.
OSE (Greek Railways) buses run from outside Patras railway station to Kiato station near Corinthos every hour or two, journey time 90 minutes. At Kiato you board a modern air-conditioned regional train to Athens, journey time 78 minutes, arriving at the mainline Athens Larissa Station. No reservation is necessary, just buy a bus/train combo ticket to Athens at Patras station ticket office for around 18 (tickets for the bus-train combo are sold at Patras railway station, not the bus station!). Total bus/train journey time to Athens is 3h02. You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times in English using the journey planner at www.trainose.gr.
Alternatively, there are hourly buses from Patras bus station to Athens KTEL Kifissos bus station, fare 21, but this means 3-4 hours on a bus.
All this is a great shame. Patras station now has no trains, but only a few years ago, you'd travelled from Patras to Athens by delightful narrow gauge train, a wonderfully scenic ride. Until July 2010 you could still take this narrow gauge train as far as Kiato (near Korinthos) and change onto the newly-built standard gauge line the rest of the way to Athens. However, since July 2010 the narrow gauge line has been closed completely for rebuilding, with the aim of creating a new standard-gauge rail line all the way from Patras to Athens, but work was stopped due to the state of Greece's national finances. Until the new line opens you'll have to use a bus, or at least the Greek railways bus/train combo.
Greece ► London
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Step 1, travel from Athens to Patras by train/bus combo...
There are departures every hour or two from Athens main Larissa railway station, you can easily check Athens to Patra train/bus times using the journey planner in English at www.trainose.gr. Buy a train/bus combo ticket for 18 at the station in Athens. Remember to allow for a 2-hour ferry check-in.
Alternatively, hourly direct buses run from Athens KTEL Kifissos bus station to Patras, fare around 21, but this means 3 or 4 hours in a bus.
You used to make this journey by delightful narrow gauge train, a wonderfully scenic though not superfast 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 now you must either take a direct bus from Athens or a train from Athens to Kiato then the Greek railways rail-replacement bus from Kiato to Patras.
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Step 2, sail from Patras to Venice by ferry.
Minoan Lines sails from Patras to Venice using excellent passenger-orientated cruise ferries. They typically sail from Patras at 19:00 twice a week, arriving Venice at 22:00 next day, an overnight stop in Venice then being necessary. But times and days vary so check online using the Direct ferries booking form below or at www.minoan.gr.
Anek Lines (www.anek.gr) also have sailings from Patras to Venice, but they use a freight-orientated Ro-Pax ferry and now arrive at a terminal inconveniently located in Fusina, an industrial area 20km from Venice.
The easiest way to check sailing dates and prices for both operators is to use the Direct ferries booking form below, or you can go to the Anek Lines or Minoan Lines websites.
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Step 3, spend a morning (or longer) in Venice then travel from Venice to Milan. Frecciabianca trains link Venice and Milan every hour taking 2h35, reservation required.
Stay overnight in Milan. The AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350m from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews.
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Step 4, travel from Milan to Paris by high-speed TGV, leaving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 08:42 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:12.
There is a cafι-bar serving drinks, snacks & light meals, it's a scenic journey through the Alps via the Mont Cιnis tunnel, Modane & Chambιry. What's the journey like? See the Paris-Milan TGV video guide. Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord, 2 stops on RER line D.
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Step 5, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar. On Mondays-Friday & Sunday, leave Paris Gare du Nord at 18:13 arriving London St Pancras at 19:39. On Saturdays leave Paris Gare du Nord at 19:13, arriving London St Pancras at 20:46.
How much does it cost?
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London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Paris to Milan by TGV train starts at 29 each way in 2nd class, 44 in 1st class. Book early for the cheapest fares.
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Milan to Venice starts at 19.90 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class. Book early for the cheapest fares.
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Venice to Patras by Minoan Lines ferry varies by departure date, but a typical low-season sailing might cost 70 with a reclining seat, 116 with a bed in a 4-berth cabin, 150 with a bed in a 2-bed cabin (all per person).
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Patras to Athens by bus/train combo costs around 18, bought locally.
How to buy tickets...
The easiest & cheapest way to book this journey is online, just follow these step-by-step instructions. This journey involves three websites, so do a dummy run on each site 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 booking before you start, the how to plan an itinerary & budget page may help.
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Step 1, book the Venice-Patras ferry. You can check sailing dates & book both the Trieste-Patras & Venice-Patras ferry companies in one go using the Direct Ferries website.
Remember to select '18+' for adults and change With vehicle to No vehicle. The price you initially see is for a deck place, you can add a cabin in the next stage. You will be emailed a confirmation which you present at check-in to exchange for your boarding pass.
Alternatively, you can book at the operator's own website, either www.minoan.gr or www.anek.gr. You can book individual beds in shared cabins if you book directly with the operator, much cheaper than sole occupancy and the one thing Direct Ferries can't do. To buy tickets by phone, contact their UK agents, Viamare Travel, on 020 8343 5810.
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Step 2, book the trains from London to Milan at www.raileurope.com. If you want to have lunch in Paris, click More options and enter Paris as a stopover station with a suitable duration. Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, when going to Greece I'd allow 2 hours or so in case of delay. See more detailed instructions on the London to Italy page.
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Step 3, now add the train from Milan to Venice also at www.raileurope.com.
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Buy your bus/train combo ticket from Patras to Athens at Patras railway station, this is no problem.
London
to Salonika & Larissa
The overland route from London to Athens passes through Salonika (Thessaloniki in Greek) and Larissa, see the London to Athens section above.
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...
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Travel by train from London to Bari or Brindisi. For train times, fares & how to book, see the Italy page.
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Superfast Ferries sail from Bari to Corfu every second day from early June until early September, sailing from Bari at 19:30 and arriving Corfu at 05:00 next morning. Use the Direct Ferries website or the operator's own website www.superfast.com to check sailing dates, times, fares and to book online.
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If you have a global Interrail pass, this includes a deck place on the Superfast ferry, although port tax (about 6) and a cabin berth or reclining seat are extra.
By train & ferry via Venice or Trieste...
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You might prefer to catch the ferry from Venice or Trieste, see the London to Athens section above. The Minoan Lines & Anek Lines ferries from Venice or Trieste to Patras usually also call at Corfu.
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.
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Travel from London to Brindisi by train, using Eurostar to Paris and TGV to Milan, overnight stop, then take a Frecciabianca train 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 outside of the city.
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European Seaways and Red Star Line each sail from Brindisi to Sami, the main town on Kefalonia (Cephalonia) once a week throughout the Summer. The crossing takes 14h, usually overnight with a range of comfortable cabins available. Check sailing dates & times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website.
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There are also ferries year-round between Patras and Kefalonia, see www.ferriesingreece.com or www.ferries.gr.
London
to Heraklion & Crete
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Ships of rival ferry operators Minoan Lines and Anek Lines in Heraklion harbour. Photo courtesy of Walter Smith. |
To reach Crete, you first travel to Athens, then use one of the overnight ferries from Piraeus (the port of Athens) to Crete.
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Step 1, travel from London to Athens by train & ferry as shown in the London to Athens section above.
A metro links Athens & Piraeus frequently through the day, taking just 25 minutes or so.
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Step 2, ferries sail overnight from Piraeus to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, every day.
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 36 one-way, 65 return, or with the cheapest bed in a 4-berth cabin 59 one way, 106 return. You can book both Anek and Minoan ferries at the Direct Ferries website, or at the operators' own websites www.anek.gr & www.minoan.gr.
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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.
London
to other Greek islands
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Anek ferry at Samos. Courtesy of Sue Smith. |
Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini...
Ferries to Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and most Aegean islands leave from Piraeus, the port of Athens.
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Step 1, travel from London to Athens, see the London to Athens section above.
A metro links Athens & Piraeus frequently through the day, taking just 25 minutes or so.
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Step 2, various ferry companies sail from Piraeus to Rhodes, usually overnight. You can check them all at www.ferriesingreece.com. Ferry operators include www.bluestarferries.com (Blue Star Ferries), www.lane.gr (Lane Ferries), www.ferries.gr/gaferries/ (GA Ferries), www.helios.gr/dane/ (Dane Sea Lines).
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The best way to find which ferry company sails to which Greek island (and to find timetables) is to use either www.ferriesingreece.com or www.ferries.gr (click domestic).
How to book Greek trains
online
How to buy Greek train tickets online: Athens to Thessaloniki or Kalambaka...
Greek Railways (OSE) offer online booking for their domestic trains at www.trainose.gr, in English. This is the only way to book Greek domestic trains, the Greek Railways ticketing system isn't connected to anyone or anything outside Greece, so European train ticketing agencies such as Rail Europe can only issue expensive international-tariff unreserved tickets - which is pointless, as all mainline Greek trains require reservation. You should therefore always buy Greek domestic tickets online at www.trainose.gr as explained here, with the necessary reservation automatically included or simply buy tickets at the station when you get to Greece. Here's how to buy online:
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Go to www.trainose.gr. Click the UK flag top right for English.
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Use the journey planner to find trains. In the results, 'seats' means the number of seats available, 'Full cost' is the price in euros.
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A means 1st class, B means 2nd class.
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Select a journey and click Seat selection and passengers.
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When you select seats, carriages beginning with A are first class (for example, A1), those beginning with B are second class (for example B2, B3). Select a seat in the class you want!
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Now click Terms of Service top right, tick the box accept these and click Payment top right.
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The arrow at the top of the carriages above the train number shows the direction of travel, useful if you want a forward-facing seat.
European Rail Timetable & maps

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The
European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European
Timetable)
has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus
currency & climate information. It is essential
for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for
armchair travellers. Published since 1873, it had just
celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided
to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but
the dedicated
ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the
famous European Rail
Timetable in March 2014. You can buy it online with worldwide shipping
at
either
www.stanfords.co.uk or
www.europeanrailtimetable.eu.
More information
on what the European Rail Timetable contains.
A Traveller's Railway Map of Europe covers the whole of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south. On the back are detailed maps of Switzerland, Benelux & Germany, plus city plans showing stations in major cities. Scenic & high-speed routes highlighted. Buy it online for £14.50 + postage worldwide (UK addresses £2.80) at www.stanfords.co.uk/Continents/Europe-A-Travellers-Railway-Map_9789077899090.htm or (in the Netherlands) for 13 + 5.50 postage from www.treinreiswinkel.nl.
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
Hotels in Athens & Greece
Other hotel sites worth trying...
www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & VPN
Always take out travel insurance...
Never travel without travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer. It should also cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself. However, don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here. Here are some suggested insurers, Seat61 gets a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback is always welcome.
In
the UK, reliable insurers include
Columbus Direct.
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If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.
You
can use
www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across
major insurance companies.
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If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the
EU, try
Columbus Direct's other websites.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
Get a Curve card to save on foreign transaction fees...
Banks often give a poor exchange rate, then charge a currency conversion fee as well. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this. The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards. And you can get a Curve card for free.
How it works: 1. Download the app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I use a Curve Blue card myself - I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.
Get a VPN for safe browsing. VPNs & why you need one explained...
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi. In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.










































































