Driven by investment immigration to Greece, traveling to Greece has gradually become a trend. Whether you are visiting for immigration purposes or simply for tourism, this Greek travel guide will be your helpful companion.
Ferries and Hydrofoils
Ferry schedules are updated weekly and can be obtained from ferry offices, tourist bureaus, or posted at port police stations. They indicate departure times, routes, and ferry names. Many ferry companies offer multiple routes, providing a convenient way to travel between islands. Tickets are quite affordable; however, schedules are not fixed, and travel speeds are slow.
Ferry departure times may not only be earlier than scheduled without notice but are also prone to delays of 3 hours or more. If you want to find a comfortable seat on board, it is recommended to arrive at the pier 1—2 hours before departure and bring your own toilet paper, drinking water, and food.
On short-distance voyages, cabin seats fill up quickly, so it is best to bring a hat to avoid the harsh sun if you are forced to stay on deck. For long-distance voyages, it is best to bring a sleeping bag or pay a higher price for a cabin with partitions.
Hydrofoils are twice as fast as ferries, but they are also twice as expensive. The "Flying Dolphin" company operates hydrofoils with frequent schedules between various islands. If you have a sufficient budget and want to save time on transportation, "Flying Dolphin" is a good choice.
A reminder: on a hydrofoil, it is best to sit in an air-conditioned cabin and avoid moving around, as it is easy to get seasick. Bringing some motion sickness medication is a safer option.
Travel times from Athens: Paros 5—6 hours, Mykonos 6—7 hours, Crete 10—14 hours, Naxos 6—7 hours, Santorini 10—12 hours. From Crete to Santorini is about 4 hours, Crete to Mykonos about 8 hours, Crete to Paros about 6 hours, and Mykonos to Naxos about 2 hours.
Buses
Although Greece's public buses (KTEL) are slow, the bus routes are very dense and affordable.
Buses traveling between major cities are of newer models, while those operating in mountainous areas or northern Greece are not as satisfactory.
In smaller towns, bus stops are often located in front of cafes or bakeries, where you can ask for schedules. Don't forget to confirm with the driver that it is the bus you intend to take before boarding, and ask the driver to remind you before reaching your stop.
KTEL buses are usually green, though orange ones can occasionally be seen, and buses between major cities are blue. For long-distance travel, you must purchase tickets and reserve seats at the ticket booth in advance; otherwise, you may have to stand for the entire journey. For short-distance city buses, you can purchase tickets from the conductor after boarding.
Before deciding to take a bus to travel between locations, it is best to confirm the departure time in advance. The schedules posted on bus station bulletin boards are often outdated, so it is safer to ask. Additionally, bus frequency is often low on weekends, and buses usually do not run on national holidays. Since Greek buses often depart early, it is recommended to arrive at the station ten minutes before the scheduled departure. In larger cities, KTEL may have more than one departure station; be sure to confirm which station your bus departs from before traveling.
Long-distance bus schedules can be obtained at tourist service centers and stations. The weekly English newspaper, Athens News, publishes Athens bus schedules; keeping a copy with you will be very helpful.
Aviation
Olympic Airways operates many domestic flights in Greece, and flight schedules can be obtained at local offices.
In recent years, the service quality of Olympic Airways has gradually improved. For $60—90 USD, you can reach any island in Greece. Even in the off-season, there are several flights per week to more remote islands, while popular destinations like Crete have several flights per day.
If you do not want to spend 20 hours on a ferry to islands far from Athens, flying is a good choice. Remember to confirm your seat one week in advance.
Trains
Although trains are much cheaper than buses, they have far fewer departures and travel slowly. Tickets for trains between major cities are slightly more expensive and less frequent, but the carriages are new and air-conditioned, making them well worth the price in terms of time saved and service quality.
Additionally, the Eurail Pass can be used in Greece.
To check train schedules and ticket prices, you can call 145 or 147 while in Greece.
Since food on trains is expensive, remember to prepare drinking water and food before boarding. Please be very careful with your personal belongings when taking the train.
Suggested Itinerary for Cross-Border Train Travel in Europe
Itinerary planning is very important for travelers choosing train travel, as this plan determines which country visas to apply for and which type of train ticket is most suitable. The design of the itinerary depends entirely on the length of your vacation and the theme of your trip.
If you plan to stay for two weeks, buying a popular regional rail pass to visit 2 or 3 countries is the most relaxed approach; if you have a vacation of more than a month and don't mind a whirlwind tour, then take a multi-country rail pass to travel through France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. No matter what you decide, remember to choose adjacent countries to avoid wasting time crossing borders.
When considering the countries to visit, you must also pay attention to the first and last stops, as this relates to purchasing flight tickets. Each airline has different entry and exit points in Europe, so an airline with many destinations is naturally the better choice.
If your itinerary includes the United Kingdom, it is recommended that you make London your first stop. Because the UK is an island nation, if it is not your first or last stop, you will need to cross the channel at least twice. Furthermore, the UK is not a country covered by the Eurail Pass, which will unnecessarily increase your transportation budget.
It is best to plan your travel route in a straight line or a circle, trying to avoid repeating routes to reduce wasted time and money. Finally, a reminder: do not make your itinerary too tight, as you will inevitably encounter some unforeseen situations during the trip, and changing your itinerary according to local conditions is unavoidable. Therefore, the itinerary needs to be flexible and not restricted by a rigid schedule.
Car Rental
Cheaper car rental chains include Just, InterRent, and Retca. In addition to Athens, branches of these chains can be found in major cities, Crete, and important smaller islands. More well-known car rental service centers such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar, and Budget offer better service quality, but the prices are relatively higher. Hertz and InterRent rent to people over 21, while other rental agencies only rent cars to those over 23. Foreign travelers need to present an international driver's license to rent a car.