Transportation in Greece
Domestic Ferry Connections
The beauty of the Greek islands, with the gorgeous beaches, the sun and the crystal-clear waters, is accessible to anyone who chooses Greece as a vacation spot. This is due to the strong network of coastal transport and communications, serviced by modern vessels of all categories, and going to all destinations.
The luxurious and speedy vessels of the Greek coastal shipping industry, complement and add to the charm of the Greek multitude of islands, as numerous and regular connections shorten the distances between the center and the isle. Under these conditions, the Greek isles become the neighborhoods and suburbs of one large city.
Vessels of every type, passenger ships, ferries, hydrofoils and catamaran craft cross the sea highways, in all the seas of the country, able to carry 100,000 passengers and 20,000 private vehicles every day. These vessels are distributed in such a manner that they connect the Central harbours of Attica, Piraeus and Rafina with the islands, and every island to the other. In addition, other harbours of Attica and continental Greece are connected by ship with the islands.
Moreover, the remaining harbours of Attica and the other harbours of mainland Greece such as Patras, Kyllini, Thessaloniki, Igoumenitsa, Alexandroupolis, Kavala, Volos, etc. have a coastal connection to the island region.
Most domestic routes take place every day and throughout the year. Some depart in the afternoon for all-night travel, and some leave in the morning to return on the same day via the same or other ports.
The vessels belonging to members of the Union of Coastal Passenger Ships Owners and the Union of Domestic Ferries, some newly built and some recently renovated, fulfill all the requirements set forth by international agreements, community regulations and national legislation with respect to matters of fire safety, safe navigation, comfort and the protection of marine environment etc.
With regards to the accommodation of the passenger of such vessels, the common goal of Greek ship owners is to ensure the vacationing of the passengers, from their entry to the ships carrying them to the island they have chosen as their vacation spot, to their return by ship at the end of this vacation.
All passenger ships, depending on the routes they do, have First and Economy classes, bar, restaurant and other services that vary depending on the type of vessel and the duration of the trip.
The Greek state, in accordance to international agreements and contemporary social imperatives, has established legislative amendments regarding the transport of handicapped persons on Greek coastal passenger ships, in accordance with particular specifications. Modifications are already under way in the ships, depending on their routes, aiming to make them more accessible to such persons, practically in the entire Greek coastal transport. The servicing of sea passenger between the Dodekanese, the Cyclades, and the islands of the Eastern Aegean is concluded with the free and subsidised itineraries of local routes, for which the Ministry of the Aegean is responsible.
In this manner, whoever wants to get acquainted with Greece, from one corner to another, can put to use the options offered by the Greek maritime transport and communications.
Greece air connections
Nowadays there are 44 airports operating in Greece which fall into three categories:
-State International Airports
-State Domestic Airports
-Municipal Airports
International connections
The 15 State International Airports accommodate airplanes of scheduled and non- scheduled airlines (especially during the summer) as well as charter flights, and handle approximately 82% of the tourists who arrive annually in our country.
Domestic Connections
Apart from the 15 State International Airports, which cater for domestic flights as well, there are also 25 State Domestic Airports all over the country handling domestic flights.
Domestic flights are conducted by Olympic Airlines , Aegean Airlines and Sky Express. During the summer months, due to the increased passenger traffic, the above-mentioned companies carry out extra flights to the existing destinations while they also include in their programmed flights direct connections between popular tourist destinations. For this reason, it would be wise to obtain information either from the air companies or your tour operator before booking.
Greece road network
Greece 's road network covers 117,000 kilometres in total (mainland and islands) and can be divided into the following categories:
Motorways
National roads and highways
Main road network (road connections between prefectures)
Asphalted roads
Main dirt roads (connecting communities)
Other dirt roads (forest roads, rough roads, secondary connections)
The main road axes are listed below, followed by the European road number in brackets:
Athens- Thessaloniki (E 75 )
Athens- Corinth (E 94 )
Corinth- Patras (E 65 )
Corinth-Tripoli- Kalamata (E 65 )
Patras-Pyrgos-Oly mpia (E 55 )
Thessaloniki-Kavala- Alexandroupoli (E 90 )
Igoumenitsa-Alexandroupoli (Egnatia Odos Motorway)
Chania-Agios Nikolaos ( Crete E 75)
The capitals of most prefectures are connected to each other by a dense network of bus services . The intercity coach service (KTEL) operates vehicles that meet all modern technical specifications for the safe and pleasant transport of passengers. Click here for more detailed information on bus connections, itineraries and fares, as well as on the exact departure and arrival points ( www.ktel.org )
Greece Taxis
Greek taxis are very cheap by European standards. All licensed taxis are equipped with metres (the fare is charged per km) and display a card detailing the latest valid tariffs and surcharges. In certain tourist areas, you may be asked to pay a predetermined (standard) amount for a ride to a specific destination; thus, before boarding a taxi make sure to seek information from another source on the exact fare for the journey. Before using a taxi, you should also be aware of the following:
*Charge per km
For taxis throughout the country : € 0.32 (Tariff 1) and € 0.60 (Tariff 2). Also € 1 for initial charge (flagdown rate).
For rural taxis throughout the country : € 0.28 per km if the passenger is to return to the point of hire (Return trip Tariff 1) and € 0.56 per km in case he does not return to the point of hire (Single trip Tariff 2)
*Other surcharges:
Waiting time per hour: € 7.90
Passengers' luggage: € 0.30 for every piece of luggage weighing over 10 kg
*Late night surcharge: € 0.60 Tariff 2, applying from 24:0005: 00 hrs
*Surcharges from airport, ferry, railway or intercity coach terminals
From railway, port and intercity coach terminals: € 0.80
From/to “ Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport 3 euro, “ Macedonia ” Thessaloniki Airport : € 2.50 and other airports 2 euro.
Radio taxi extra charge: € 1.50 (simple call), € 2.50 (appointed time & place).
*Minimum charge: € 2.50 for Athens and Piraeus, € 2.70 for the rest of the country.
*Taxi driver's obligations:
He should carry passenger's luggage from the pavement to the vehicle and vice versa.
He is not entitled to deny you a ride and cannot pick up extra passengers without your permission. Passenger may request a waiting time up to 15 minutes, or more if there is a serious reason. Upon passenger's request, the driver is obliged to issue an invoice stating the route and metred fare paid.
Public transport in Athens-Attica
Athens is located in the Prefecture of Attica and sprawls across the plain of Attica hemmed in by mountains ( i.e. Mt Aigaleo, Mt Parnitha, Mt Penteli and Mt Hymettos). The Greek capital, together with its suburbs and the neighboring city of Piraeus, forms an integrated residential complex (the capital's main urban planning complex) numbering about 3.5 million inhabitants. The entire prefecture has witnessed the development of state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure catering to residents and visitors in a fast and reliable way.
Buses-trolleybuses: For information on city bus and electric trolleybus itineraries , as well as on timetables and tickets click here.
Metro: The Athens metro consists of three lines - Line 1 (the old Athens-Piraeus electric rail service known as ISAP), Line 2 (underground) and Line 3 ( underground) - covering a considerable part of the Attica region. New extensions reaching other parts of the city are expected in the future. Analytical route maps are displayed in every metro station. For more information visit Attiko Metro and I.S.A.P.
Tram: The tram network connects the centre of Athens ( Syntagma Square ) to the southern (coastal) suburbs. Boasting state-of-the-art technology and modern vehicle design, it serves the following routes:
- Athens-Glyfada, running through Nea Smyrni, Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Helliniko.
- Athens-Peace & Friendship Stadium (Neo Faliro), running through Nea Smyrni and Paleo Faliro and from there branching out along the coastal avenue, and
- Glyfada-Peace & Friendship Stadium via the coastal avenue and the Faliriko Delta.
The Suburban Railway (Proastiakos): It accommodates travel to/from Athens and the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport (with seven stops along the line), Athens and Corinth (84 km west of Athens - with seven stops along the line) and Corinth and the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport (with eleven stops along the line). Upon completion it will connect Piraeus and its port to Athens, the airport and other large urban centres in neighbouring prefectures (Thiva, Chalkida, Loutraki).
Taxis: All taxis are yellow and equipped with a metre displaying the fare. The driver is obliged to activate the meter upon hire. From 05:00-24:00hrs Tariff 1 applies, while from 24:00-05: 00 hrs Tariff 2 comes into effect.
Attiki Odos Motorway The Attiki Odos is a cutting-edge motorway in Europe linking the town of Elefsina (located in western Attica) to the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens International Airport (Spata, eastern Attica). Part of the Athens peripheral ring road, it circumvents Athens and offers 27 main and secondary interchanges for entrance and exit into /from the capital. To enter the motorway tolls are paid, the fare depending on vehicle category based on height and number of axes.
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