Train, Ferry and Bus from London to Athens
Overview
Route: London to Athens via Paris, Bologna, Bari and Patras
Journey time: Around 2 days
Return journey: Athens to London via Patras, Bari, Bologna and Paris
Detailed itinerary
Option 1: via Paris, Bologna, Bari and Patras |
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Sample itinerary: Take the 1404 service from St Pancras to Paris, cross the city to Gare de Bercy and take the 1852 sleeper train, which arrives in Bologna at 0558. You've then got time to get an early breakfast before catching the 0930 service to Bari, which arrives at 1640, giving you plenty of time to get a bit to eat en route to the 2000 ferry to Patras. Superfast's bus connection to Athens departs shortly after your arrival at the port of Patras, and will have you in Athens a few hours later.
Price: Booking an InterRail pass is recommended.
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| Leg 1: | London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. Don't forget check-in time for Eurostar is at least 30 mins before departure. |
Frequency of service: About 15 trains a day
Operator:
Eurostar Journey time: From 2 hrs 15 mins
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| Transfer |
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Long hopTransfer time: Allow 50 mins.
Book a hotel near Gare de Bercy
Book a hotel near Gare du Nord
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| Leg 2: | Paris to Bologna (sleeper) Train departs Paris Gare de Bercy daily at 1852, arriving in Bologna Centrale at 0558. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
EuroNight Journey time: 11 hours 8 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Bologna Centrale |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a stopover hotel near Bologna Centrale
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| Leg 3: | Bologna to Bari First train departs Bologna at 0059, with further services at 0130, 0142, 0239, 0930, 0950, 1150, 1159, 1230, 1330, 1350, 1430, 1550, 1650, 1750, 2323 and 2357. |
Frequency of service: Up to 17 trains a day.
Operator:
Trenitalia Journey time: from 5 hours 45 minutes
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| Transfer | It's less than a half-hour's walk from the station to the port, but taxis are plentiful. Alternatively, bus number 20 runs from Piazza Moro (outside the train station) to the port (Stazione Maritima). |
Long hopTransfer time: Allow 45 minutes
Book a stopover hotel in Bari
Book a stopover hotel in Bari
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| Leg 4: | Bari to Patras (ferry) Ferries depart daily Monday - Saturday at 2000, and at 1200 on Sundays. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
Superfast Ferries Journey time: from 15 1/2 hours
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| Transfer | It's an easy transfer from ferry to bus, or bus to ferry at Patras port. Both are run by Superfast Ferries and if in doubt, you can ask a member of staff. |
Short hopTransfer time: Allow 30 minutes
Book a stopover hotel in Patras
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| Leg 5: | Patras to Athens (bus) Services are timed to coincide with the arrival of the ferry, so that you can transfer smoothly and continue your journey onward to Athens. |
Frequency of service: Daily (after each ferry arrival)
Operator:
Superfast Ferries Journey time: The company do not specify, the distance is around 220km (140 miles).
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| Destination | καλωσορίζω στην Αθήνα (kalo̱sorízo̱ sti̱n Athí̱na) |
Book a stopover hotel in Athens
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Option 2: via Paris, Munich, Bucharest and Thessaloníki |
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Sample itinerary: Take the 1025 Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, which gives you plenty of time to transfer to Gare de l'Est for the 1524 to Munich, getting you to the Bavarian capital at 2138. You've got time to grab a late dinner or a quick drink before catching the 2340 sleeper service on to Bucharest, where it arrives almost a full 24 hours later, at 0035 (Romania is an hour ahead of Germany). You then have 12 hours to wait (or sleep) before catching the 1224 train on to Thessaloníki, where you'll arrive at 0540 the next day. You can then grab an early breakfast and catch the onward 0713 service, arriving in Athens at 1140.
Price: Booking an InterRail pass is recommended.
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| Leg 1: | London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. Don't forget check-in time for Eurostar is at least 30 mins before departure. |
Frequency of service: About 15 trains a day
Operator:
Eurostar Journey time: From 2 hrs 15 mins
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| Transfer | A short 10-minute walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est. Exit Gare du Nord, turn left then at the main intersection turn right (slightly downhill) along Rue du Fauberg Saint-Denis for about 400m then left along Rue de Chabrol to Gare de L'Est. Alternatively it is one stop on the metro line - from the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Gare de L'Est (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans'). |
Short hopTransfer time: Allow 25 minutes
Book a hotel near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est
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| Leg 2: | Paris Est to Munich Departs Paris Est daily at 1524, arriving in Münich at 2138. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
TGV Journey time: 6 hours 14 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform within Munich Hauptbahnhof |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a hotel near Munich (München) Hauptbahnhof
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| Leg 3: | Munich to Bucharest (Bucuresti Nord) (overnight) Train departs Munich daily at 2340, arriving at Bucharest almost 24 hours (and a change of time zone) later, at 0035. |
Frequency of service: daily
Operator:
Euronight Journey time: 23 hours 55 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Bucuresti Nord Station. Alternatively it's just a short walk to catch a bus from outside the station (or vice-versa). |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a hotel near Bucuresti Nord
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| Leg 4: | Bucharest (Bucuresti Nord) to Thessaloníki Train departs daily at 1224, arriving the next morning at 0540. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator: n/a
Journey time: 17 hours 16 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Thessaloníkí station |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a stopover hotel in Thessaloníkí
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| Leg 5: | Thessaloníki to Athens (Larissa Station) First train departs daily at 0713, with subsequent trains at 1013, 1140, 1242, 1454, 1633, 1759, 1850, 2259, 2333 and 0141. |
Frequency of service: Up to 11 trains a day
Operator:
Trainose S.A. Journey time: from 4 hours 27 minutes
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| Destination | καλωσορίζω στην Αθήνα (kalo̱sorízo̱ sti̱n Athí̱na) |
Book a stopover hotel near Athens Larissa station
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Your route to Athens
The lines on the map are for illustrative purposes only - they don't show the exact route taken by the train.
