Paris is one of the main air transportation hubs in Europe. It’s a gateway into the continent and many choose it as a base for exploring the continent. Of course you can spend your entire vacation here but if your plans also include getting to Athens, you’ve put together a list of possible ways to travel between the two capitals.
Quick summary
If your vacation time is limited or you just don’t like to spend a lot of time getting from one place to another, choosing the plane is the best option. However, if you don’t mind a bit of adventure and time is something you don’t lack, you can choose one of the longer routes between the two cities and can even take a ferry from Italy to Greece.
You’ll probably notice that we don’t talk about driving between the two cities. The reason is very simple: the distance to cover is very long and unless you plan to drive around Europe for several weeks, it’s not exactly a choice of transportation to consider.
Flights from Athens (airport code: ATH) to Paris
Paris is one of Europe’s air transportation hubs and is served by three airports. And that makes for a lot of choices when it comes to flights and airlines. The Balkans (Greece included) aren’t exactly known for being served by many low-cost carriers. Plus, the distance to cover between Paris and Athens isn’t exactly short either.
The airlines connecting the two capitals are: EasyJet , Air France , Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air. Single flights from Athens to Paris Orly start at €75 on easyJet in 2012 (regardless of when you travel).
>>read more about EasyJet Flight Deals
Trains from Athens to Paris
Update:
Unfortunately, due to the economic crisis in Greece, the Greek government implemented major rail cuts, including stopping all the international trains to/from Greece. If you travel from Western Europe , the closest you can get by train to Greece is Bucharest (Romania). From here you can take a bus to Thessaloniki . The journey takes about 12 hours and prices start around €16 one way. From Bucharest, you can travel to Budapest and onwards to Vienna and then further to Paris. The route is long, though.
Whether you like to see the scenery pass by you or you are one of the collateral victims of a volcano’s nasty behavior, the idea of traveling by train from Athens to Paris (and vice-versa) is not a bad one…but you need quite a bit of patience.
The shortest route takes about 18 hours and 30 minutes (according to DB BAHN ) and you’ll be making stops in Milan, Napoli and Battipaglia.
Ferries from Athens to Paris
It’s probably not an option that will spring into anyone’s mind when you think of the two capitals’ locations, but, it is possible to get from Athens to Paris (and return) by ferry…actually by train (or plane), ferry and bus.
Step 1 Paris to Venice (Italy) by train or plane
If you choose the train, the shortest route between Paris and Venice takes 13 hours without any stops.
If, however, you choose the plane, a one way ticket between the two cities starts at €60 and is offered by Ryanair . Other airlines serving the route include: easyJet, Air France and Alitalia .
Step 2 Venice to Patras (Greece) by ferry
Patras (Patra) is connected to two Italian ports: Ancona and Venice. The journey is very long (32 hours) and the tickets are always booked in advance.
It is possible to book the ferry tickets online here .
Step 3 Patras to Athens by bus
There are departures every half an hour between the two cities. In Athens the terminal is called KTEL Peloponnisou. The journey takes about 3 hours and the one way ticket costs €12. There are both express buses and regular buses (the only difference is that the express buses stop in Athens and Patras only).
Buses from Athens to Paris
The distance to cover is long and you should plan this journey step by step. First, catch a bus from Athens to Thessaloniki and then catch another bus to Bucharest (Romania). From here you can either take a direct bus all the way to Paris, or choose to stop along the way. You can , for example, travel from Bucharest to Vienna by bus , visit Austria’s capital for a day or two, and then continue to Paris.
Note: the article was first published in April 2010 and updated (and republished) in January 2012.
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