Greece - Korina Miller [602]
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Most intending drivers these days drive to an Italian port and take a ferry to Greece. The most convenient port is Venice, with Ancona a close second. The route through Croatia, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia takes, on average, 2½ days from Venice to Athens, whereas a high-speed ferry from Venice to Patra can be completed in around 26 hours. From Patra to Athens is a further 3½ hours’ driving.
TRAIN
Reaching Greece by train does take some effort. You cannot buy a single ticket from Western Europe to Greece; instead you’ll need multiple tickets to cover the journey. Travel agents can do this for you, or look online at www.raileurope.com.
Greece is part of the Eurail network. Eurail passes can only be bought by residents of non-European countries and are supposed to be purchased before arriving in Europe. They can, however, be bought in Europe as long as your passport proves that you’ve been here for less than six months. In London, head for the Rail Europe Travel Centre ( 08705 848 848; 179 Piccadilly). Check the Eurail website (www.eurail.com) for full details of passes and prices.
If you are starting your European travels in Greece, you can buy your Eurail pass from the OSE office at Karolou 1-3 in Athens, and at the stations in Patra and Thessaloniki.
Greece is also part of the Inter-Rail Pass system, available to those who have resided in Europe for six months or more. See the Inter-Rail website (www.interrailnet.com) for details.
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SEA
Albania
Corfu-based Petrakis Lines ( 26610 38690; www.ionian-cruises.com) has daily hydrofoils to the Albanian port of Saranda (25 minutes).
Cyprus & Israel
Passenger services from Greece to Cyprus and Israel have been suspended indefinitely. Salamis Lines (www.viamare.com/Salamis) still operates the route, but carries only vehicles and freight.
Italy
There are ferries to Greece from the Italian ports of Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice.
The ferries can get very crowded in summer. If you want to take a vehicle across it’s wise to make a reservation beforehand. In the UK, reservations can be made on almost all of these ferries through Viamare Travel Ltd ( 020-7431 4560; www.viamare.com).
You’ll find all the latest information about ferry routes, schedules and services online at www.greekferries.gr. Main ferry companies serving Italy include Agoudimos Lines, ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Minoan Lines, Superfast Ferries and Ventouris Ferries. For contact details in Greece and websites, Island Hopping.
The following ferry services are for high season (July and August), and prices are for one-way deck class. On these services, deck class means exactly that. If you want a reclining, aircraft-type seat, you’ll be up for another 10% to 15% on top of the listed fares. All companies offer discounts for return travel. Prices are about 30% less in the low season.
ANCONA
In summer there are at least three daily sailings between Ancona and Patra with Superfast Ferries, Minoan Lines and ANEK (€53 to €78, 20 hours). There’s also a weekly ferry between Ancona and Corfu (€73, 15 hours).
All ferry operators in Ancona have booths at the stazione marittima (ferry terminal) off Piazza Candy, where you can pick up timetables and price lists and make bookings. You can also buy tickets through Morandi & Co ( 071-20 20 33; Via XXIX Settembre 2/0) or at ANEK Lines ( 071-207 23 46; Via XXIX Settembre 2/0). Superfast Ferries accepts Eurail passes.
BARI
Superfast Ferries ( 080-52 11 416; Corso de Tullio 6) has daily sailings to Patra (€53, 14½ hours) via Corfu (€30, eight hours) and Kefallonia (€45, 14 hours). Eurail passes are accepted.
Ventouris Ferries ( 080-52 17 609; www.ventouris.gr; Stazione Marittima) has daily boats to Corfu (€53, 10 hours) and Igoumenitsa (€53, 11½ hours).
BRINDISI