The Greek rail network provides a patchy service by European standards, although the service is OK on the Peloponnese peninsula and between Athens and Thessaloniki with international connections to Macedonia (FYROM)*, Bulgaria and Turkey. There are no rail services on the islands.
During the busier summer months it is worth booking your ticket several days in advance and asking for a free seat reservation, as the train can get really crowded during busy periods. Unfortunately this isn't possible if you catch a train after arriving straight off the ferry at Patras.
If you purchase your ticket on-board the train you'll have to pay a whopping 50% surcharge.
Return tickets are 20% cheaper than two one-way fares and you are eligible for a 30% discount if you're buying tickets for a group of six or more.
Athens has two main stations which are connected by a run-down metal bridge. Lárissis station has trains to northern Greece as well as international services to Macedonia (FYROM)*, Bulgaria and Turkey. OSE bus services to Albania also depart from here. Peloponísou station has trains to the Peloponnese including Patras for ferries to Corfu and Italy.
Both Eurail and InterRail passes are valid in Greece. Both passes entitle the holder to free travel on HML and Adriatica ferry lines.
The Eurail Greece Pass is a flexi pass that gives you three or 10 days unlimited train travel in Greece within a one month period.
This pass also includes ferry boat transport between Italy and Greece on Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries from Ancona and Bari in Italy and Igoumenitsa and Patras in Greece.
| Adult 1st Class |
Youth 2nd Class |
|
|---|---|---|
3 travel days in one month |
USD $135 |
USD $121 |
4 travel days in one month |
USD $179 |
USD $160 |
5 travel days in one month |
USD $208 |
USD $185 |
6 travel days in one month |
USD $250 |
USD $224 |
7 travel days in one month |
USD $293 |
USD $261 |
8 travel days in one month |
USD $336 |
USD $299 |
9 travel days in one month |
USD $379 |
USD $336 |
10 travel days in one month |
USD $422 |
USD $376 |
Please not that Eurail passes cannot be sold to European residents. If you live in Europe you should order the following InterRail One Country pass.
European residents are eligible to buy the Greece InterRail One Country pass, which is a flexi pass that gives you three to eight days of unlimited train travel in Greece within a one month period.
| Adult 1st Class |
Adult 2nd Class |
Youth 2nd Class |
|
|---|---|---|---|
3 travel days in one month |
£87 |
£65 |
£42 |
4 travel days in one month |
£112 |
£83 |
£54 |
6 travel days in one month |
£150 |
£111 |
£72 |
8 travel days in one month |
£175 |
£130 |
£84 |
Please note that InterRail passes can only be sold to European residents. You should order the Eurail Greece Pass if you live outside Europe.
The Greece Plus InterRail One Country pass is similar to the InterRail Greece pass, except that it also includes ferry transport between Italy and Greece on ferries operated by Attica Ferries.
| Adult 1st Class |
Adult 2nd Class |
Youth 2nd Class |
|
|---|---|---|---|
3 travel days in one month |
£137 |
£102 |
£67 |
4 travel days in one month |
£175 |
£130 |
£84 |
6 travel days in one month |
£238 |
£176 |
£115 |
8 travel days in one month |
£288 |
£213 |
£139 |
Please note that InterRail passes can only be sold to European residents. You should order the Eurail Greece Pass if you live outside Europe.
* Macedonia (FYROM) refers to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and shouldn't be confused with the Greek province of the same name.