Train Travel

Travelling from London to Greece

Trains within Greece - OSE (Organismos Sidirodromon Ellados) visit www.ose.gr (click 'EN' for English)

Travelling by ferry within Greece visit www.ferries.gr for details of routes

Travelling by ferry from Greece to Italy use either Superfast Ferries, Blue Star ferries, Minoan Lines, Hellenic Mediterranean Lines and Med Link Lines. Call Viamare Travel for details on 020 7431 4560

Time zone: GMT+2 (GMT+3 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October)

Currency: £1 = approx 1.4 Euros. $1 = 0.8 euros.

Tourist information for Greece visit www.gnto.gr

For Athens Metro visit www.ametro.gr

UK citizens do not require any visas to travel to Greece

London to Greece by train and ferry

Travel in comfort and style by train and ferry from London to mainland Greece sometimes in just 48 hours.

London to Athens

Travelling to Greece from London is either a complete train journey via Vienna and Budapest or by train to Italy and then a ferry to Greece.

London to Italy by train and then by ferry to Greece

Train all the way

The alternative is to take the train all the way from London to Athens. The whole journey will take 3 nights taking you through Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest and Thessaloniki.

Take the train to Venice and then by ship to Venice

A more direct approach, although longer, is to travel by train from Paris to Venice and then sail to Patras.

London to Athens by train & ferry via Italy

A great way to travel to Athens is by train and ferry via Italy this journey will take just over 2 days. From Bologna to Bari you will have a comfortable overnight train and lunch in the restaurant car then on to a lovely modern ferry across the Adriatic sea to Greece from Italy passing the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca.

Approximate timetable from London to Greece:

Day 1: Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London at 12:09 and arriving Paris (Gare du Nord) at 15:59. Cross by métro to the Gare de Bercy. Travel from Paris to Bologna overnight on the 'Palatino', leaving Paris (Gare de Bercy) at 19:00 and arriving in Bologna at 06:00 the next morning (day 2). The Palatino is an overnight express, with 1, 2 & 3 berth sleeping cars, 4-berth 'Comfort' couchettes and 6-berth ordinary couchettes. There is a restaurant car for dinner and breakfast.

Day 2 - AM: Bologna to Bari is a fast journey on an air conditioned Italia Eurostar leaving Bologna at 08:56 and arriving in Bari at 14:52. In the restaurant car a 3 course set meal will cost around 26Euro and half a bottle of wine about 7 Euro. The Adriatic coast will be your view for most of the train ride. A short taxi from Bari to the ferry terminal to the next part of your journey.

Day 2 - PM: Superfast ferries or Blue Star ferries leaving Bari every day at 8.00pm which will get you to Patras at early lunchtime the following day. A reclining seat or berth in a cabin, some are luxury cabins, is recommended although you can just book a place on the deck if you have your sleeping bag. Visit www.superfast.com to check sailing times and dates. Here you will pass the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca during the morning sun. The ferry arrives in Patras and then on to the train station, just 2 minutes walk away, to continue your journey.

Day 3: Leave Patras by train to Athens at 13:55 and arrive in the capital at 17:28. A great scenic journey, following the gulf of Corinth for the majority of the way. You will need to change at Korinthos onto an InterCity which travels onto the newly completed standard gauge fast line on to Athens.

From Bologna to Bari by Eurostar Italia

Travel on the Eurostar Italia from Bologna to Bari with the sea for a view most of the way. Treat yourself to 1st class - it isn't much more expensive than 2nd.

From Bari to Patras by ship

A great way to travel to Patras is by ship using Superfast Ferries or Blue Star Ferries. They use new ships, sail daily and can be booked online with ease. You can book a reclining seat, a standard berth or a luxury cabin. Alternatively you can book a deck place and use your own sleeping bag.

London to Paris by Eurostar - fares:

Special fare = Book at least 14 days in advance for couchettes, 30 days for sleepers. Limited places available at these prices, no refunds, no changes.

Normal fare = Refundable and flexible. There are no senior or youth reductions.

Child fare = Child 4-11 years with own berth. Return fare twice the one-way fare. Children under 4 free, if they share a bed with an adult.

Railpass fare: What you pay if you have railpasses (Eurail, Interrail, etc) covering both Italy & France. If your pass only covers one country, there's a higher supplement.

You can save about 6% on Paris-Italy fares by paying in euros at voyages-sncf.com, instead of paying in pounds with UK agencies or websites. Bookings open 90 days before departure. On certain dates, 10-20% higher fares may be charged.

Bologna to Bari by Eurostar Italia train:

Bari to Patras by Superfast Ferries / Blue Star Ferries:

Visit www.superfast.com to check fares and book online.

Fares vary by season and accommodation:

Basic deck place: 48 euros (£35) one-way, 83 euros (£59) return;

Reclining seat: 63 euros (£44) one-way, 126 euros (£87) return;

Berth in cabin: 100 euros (£69) one-way, 199 euros (£132) return.

Patras to Athens by train:

5.50 euros (£4) by ordinary train or 10 euros (£7) by InterCity train, one-way, 2nd class. 1st class fares are 50% more. These tickets are available at the station on arrival.

The best way to book your journey is online. You will need to book using 3 different websites so check each site has the correct information including departure dates for each leg of the journey. Write the journey down and have it in front of you when you are booking.

Visit www.voyages-sncf.com for your London to Paris and Paris to Bologna train trickets. Booking opens 90 days before departure. To get the best prices choose to pay in euros. Step 1 book the Eurostar from London to Paris and the return leg then select 'add another ticket' and book Paris to Bologna and the next journey. The tickets can be sent via post or be collected from the stations. Fares work out approximately 6% cheaper when paying by euros.

Visit www.trenitalia.it to buy tickets for the next part of the journey from Bologna to Bari - booking opens 60 days before departure. You will need to register on the website to book online -tip: if you have trouble getting the website to accept a UK postcode: use 123456. You can use the ticketless option and quote your booking reference on board the train or pick up the self service ticket machines at Bologna.

Then book the Bari-Patras ship online at www.superfast.com, selecting the type of accommodation you want - either a deck place, a reclining seat, or various types of cabin berth. Book online and quote your booking reference at the port. Bookings can be made up to 12 months before departure. The final step is to get a train ticket at Patras station to Athens. Getting a seat isn't a problem but booking the tickets outside of Greece is not easy.

Trains between London and Bari can be booked through any UK European rail agency, such as www.simplyrail.com (call 08700 84 14 14) or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 51240.

You can book Superfast Ferries from Italy to Greece with their UK agents, Viamare Travel, on 020 7431 4560.

The train from Patras to Athens is best booked at the station in Patras.

The most cost effective way to travel to Athens is by purchasing point to point tickets. However, an InterRail pass, if you are a European resident, would enable you to make side trips on the way should you desire. You could travel using a 2 zone InterRail pass, plus the Eurostar and the supplement for the Paris to Bologna overnight train, port taxes and ferry supplements not forgetting to add extras such as superior cabin accommodation and then an InterCity supplement for the Patras to Athens train.

An InterRail pass which includes Italy and Greece gives free travel on Superfast Ferries, Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, Blue Ferries and Minoan Lines. Your ticket will allow you a deck place and a supplement for port taxes is payable. An additional supplement is required if you want to have a reclining seat or a cabin berth. Various operators charge different supplements. Sometimes you are able to book a place on the ship via the rail agency making your booking but if not book it when you arrive in Bari. Alternatively you can try contacting the ferry operator direct on www.superfast.com. Even in high summer the ships are rarely full so getting on board shouldn't be a problem.

Travelling from Bari is the easiest and uses the most modern ships. If you prefer travelling via Brindisi, the 08:56 train from Bologna 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. Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (www.hmlferry.com) normally sail from Brindisi via Corfu to Patras in Greece at around 19:30 several times a week (almost daily in Summer), arriving in Patras around 14:00 next day (day 3 from London). Med Link Lines (www.ferries.gr/medlink/) sail from Brindisi to Patras almost daily, leaving at 19:00 each day and arriving in Patras around 10:00 the next morning. Superfast Ferries have an (almost) daily ship from Ancona to Patras, which is also free for InterRail passholders - visit www.superfast.com for sailing dates and times.

From London to Athens only by train

Trains from London to Greece

Eurostar from London to Paris then travel from Paris to Vienna overnight on the 'Orient Express' - the real one! There are modernised sleeper cars with 1,2 or 3 bedrooms with washbasins, Couchettes 4 or 6 berth or reclining seats which are not recommended. There isn't a restaurant but attendants do sell snacks, tea and coffee. A light breakfast is included in the fare for sleeper passengers. If there are no tickets available for the Orient Express then you could use an alternative route of London to Vienna via Brussels and Cologne and then use the CityNightLine hotel train from Cologne to Vienna.

Travel from Vienna to Budapest on air-conditioned InterCity train 'Avala'. A restaurant car is available.

Travel from Budapest to Thessaloniki on the 'TransBalkan', Day 4 from London. The TransBalkan has ordinary seats and a Hungarian sleeping-car with 1- 2- and 3-berth rooms. It also has 6-berth couchettes in summer between 9 June and 20 September. A sleeper berth is recommended rather than a basic couchette as it will be much more comfortable for a 2 night trip. There is no restaurant car so you wil need to take food and drink with you.

The TransBalkan often arrives late, sometimes an hour or two! A modern air-conditioned InterCity train leaving Salonika at 07:22 arriving Larissa at 08:31 and Athens at 11:37. Greek InterCity trains are fast, modern and comfortable, and have a restaurant or bar car. Seat reservation is compulsory on InterCity trains, and a small supplement is payable. Alternatively, an ordinary train with seat reservation optional leaves Salonika at 08:08, arriving Larissa at 09:58 and Athens at 15:07. The train journey from Salonika to Athens is highly recommended - the train passes right by Mount Olympus and later through some fantastic scenery in the mountains south of Larissa.

Train times Greece to London:

You can travel from Athens to Thessaloniki by fast air-conditioned InterCity train - seat reservation compulsory, restaurant car available, small supplement payable - leaving Athens at 13:23 and Larissa at 16:59, arriving in Salonika at 18:17. Earlier trains from Athens are available.

Travel from Thessaloniki to Budapest by sleeping car or couchette. The 'TransBalkan' leaves Thessaloniki daily at midnight arriving in Budapest Keleti station two nights later at 10:12. A sleeping car with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms is available (recommended) and in summer 6-bunk couchettes. You will need to take food and drink with you as there is no restaurant car.

Travel from Budapest to Vienna on the EuroCity Bartok Bela, leaving Budapest Keleti station at 13:10 and arriving in Vienna at 16:06. The train from Thessaloniki to Budapest is often late and the connection can be missed but another train, the InterCity Avala, leaves Budapest at 15:50 and arriving Vienna at 18:40.

Leave Vienna on the Orient Express and arrive in Paris at 10.27 the following day. Couchettes and Sleeping cars are recommended on the Orient Express rather than the reclining seats. The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast.

Eurostar leaves Paris Nord at 11:43, arriving London Waterloo at 13:25.

**FARES**

London to Paris by Eurostar:

Paris to Vienna on the Orient Express: