Getting around Greece is generally straightforward and improving year by year. The ferry network remains the backbone of island travel, trains have seen significant upgrades on major routes, and domestic flights connect most destinations quickly and affordably. Buses cover the mainland efficiently, and cities like Athens now have excellent metro systems.

Your transportation choices depend entirely on where you’re going. Island-hopping? Ferries are essential. Mainland cities? Trains and buses work brilliantly. Short distances on islands? Rent a scooter or just walk. Planning your trip means understanding which transport method makes sense for each leg of your journey.

>>Before you dive into specifics, make sure to check out our tips for having a great first trip to Greece .

Getting Around Greece by Plane

Domestic flights are fast, efficient, and in many cases cheaper than ferries when you factor in time saved. Most major islands have airports receiving domestic flights year-round, and low-cost carriers serve Greece extensively from April to October.

Athens is the main hub, but Thessaloniki, Heraklion (Crete), and Rhodes also function as regional hubs with inter-island connections that skip Athens entirely. Flight times within Greece rarely exceed an hour—Athens to Santorini is 40-50 minutes, Athens to Crete about 50 minutes.

Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, and Olympic Air dominate domestic routes, with Ryanair operating limited domestic flights primarily in summer. Book 2-3 months ahead for summer travel to get the best prices, typically €40-100 one-way.

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Getting Around Greece by Ferry

Ferries are fundamental to Greek island travel. For some islands, they’re the only option. For others, they compete with flights but offer a more relaxed, scenic, and often cheaper experience.

Greece has extensive ferry connections from Athens (Piraeus and Rafina ports) to the islands, as well as inter-island routes. Both fast ferries (catamarans) and slow ferries (conventional car ferries) operate, with the fast ones costing 30-50% more but cutting travel time in half.

Frequency varies by season—summer sees multiple daily departures on popular routes like Athens-Santorini or Athens-Mykonos, while winter services drop to 2-4 times weekly on some routes. No island completely “closes” in winter, but schedules thin out significantly.

Peak travel season hits mid-August around the Festival of the Assumption of Virgin Mary (August 15, a major Greek Orthodox holiday), when ferries book out weeks in advance. Book early for summer travel, especially if you have specific dates or want cabins on overnight ferries.

Ferry tickets are now mostly digital — book online through our affiliate , and receive e-tickets via email. At smaller island ports, you can still buy tickets from agencies at the dock, but availability isn’t guaranteed in high season.

>> Read more about Ferries in Greece

Getting Around Greece by Train

Train travel in Greece has improved dramatically over the past decade, though the network remains limited compared to Western European countries. The infrastructure connecting Athens, Thessaloniki, and major mainland cities is modern and reliable, but reaching smaller towns or rural areas often requires buses.

The Athens-Thessaloniki route is the flagship—modern trains, comfortable seating, air conditioning, WiFi, and journey times around 4-4.5 hours. It’s genuinely pleasant and competitive with driving when you factor in fuel costs and tolls.

Other useful routes include Athens to Meteora, which delivers you directly to one of Greece’s most spectacular destinations. Scenic tourist trains like the Pelion train (nicknamed “Moutzouris” due to the smoke it creates) around Volos, and the Rack Railway “Odontotos” from Diakopto to Kalavryta offer unique experiences.

>> Read more about Train travel in Greece

Getting Around Greece by Metro and Urban Transport

Athens has an excellent urban transport network—three metro lines, tram, buses, and trolleybuses covering the entire city and suburbs. The metro runs daily from 5:30am to midnight (Lines 2 and 3 operate until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays).

A 90-minute ticket costs €1.20 and works across all transport modes—metro, bus, tram, trolley. As of January 2025, you can tap contactless bank cards (physical or digital via Apple Pay/Google Pay) directly at validators with a daily cap of €4.10. Airport metro tickets cost €9, airport express bus €5.50. A 3-day tourist ticket costs €20 and includes unlimited travel plus one round-trip to/from the airport.

The Athens metro is clean, safe, air-conditioned, and genuinely efficient. It’s the best way to navigate the city, especially in summer when surface traffic is chaos.

Thessaloniki now joins Athens with metro service as of late 2024. The new system is ultra-modern, fully automated, and already making a significant difference in the city’s notorious traffic congestion. The full route takes 17 minutes end-to-end, with trains carrying up to 450 passengers. A Kalamaria extension with 5 additional stations is expected in 2025.

Getting Around Greece by Bus

The KTEL bus network is Greece’s unsung hero—efficient, inexpensive, reliable, and covering virtually every corner of the country. Buses connect major cities, reach remote villages, serve airports, and link ferry ports to town centers.

Long-distance intercity buses (also called KTEL buses after the regional companies that operate them) are modern, air-conditioned coaches with comfortable seats. Athens to Thessaloniki costs around €32-40 one-way and takes 5-6 hours with rest stops. Athens to Delphi is roughly €18, Athens to Patras €20-25.

On islands, local bus networks connect main towns to beaches, villages, and archaeological sites. Frequencies vary wildly—Crete’s buses run frequently on major routes, while smaller islands might have 2-3 buses daily. Schedules reduce significantly in winter.

Buy tickets at KTEL bus stations (cash or card), from ticket offices near bus stops, or increasingly from drivers (cash only, exact change helps). Some major routes now allow online booking through regional KTEL websites, which is smart for summer travel when buses fill up.

Buses are your best option for short mainland distances—more frequent than trains, drop you closer to destinations, and cheap. For routes under 2-3 hours, buses beat both driving (no parking hassle, no fuel costs) and trains (more departure times, better coverage).

>> Read more about Bus Travel in Greece

Getting Around Greece by Car

Renting a car gives you freedom to explore at your own pace, reach remote beaches, stop at roadside tavernas, and follow your own schedule. It’s particularly useful on large islands like Crete, Rhodes, or Corfu, and essential for exploring mainland regions like the Peloponnese or Epirus.

That said, Greek driving takes some adjustment. Drivers can be aggressive, traffic rules are… flexibly interpreted, and Athens traffic is genuinely stressful. Outside cities, roads range from modern highways to narrow mountain routes with hairpin turns and minimal guardrails.

Practical considerations:

Rental prices start around €20-30 per day for economy cars if booked in advance, more in summer or on popular islands. International chains (Hertz, Avis, Budget) operate at airports and cities, while local companies often offer better rates but variable service quality. Always photograph the car before accepting it and document any existing damage.

You’ll need a valid driver’s license—EU licenses work directly, non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their regular license. Minimum age is typically 21-23 depending on the company, with young driver surcharges common under 25.

Greek highways charge tolls — Athens to Thessaloniki costs around €20-25 in tolls alone. Fuel is expensive compared to North America but similar to Western Europe. Most gas stations accept cards, though having cash helps at rural stations.
Parking in Athens, Thessaloniki, and island towns ranges from difficult to impossible in summer. Many old town centers are pedestrianized, and available parking fills quickly. Hotels outside city centers often provide free parking, which factors into accommodation choices.

On islands, scooters and ATVs are popular alternatives to cars. They’re cheaper (€15-30 per day), easier to park, fun to ride, and perfect for exploring winding coastal roads. However, you need appropriate licenses (motorcycle license for engines over 50cc in theory, though enforcement varies), and accidents are common—roads can be poorly maintained, gravel appears unexpectedly, and tourists unfamiliar with two-wheelers take risks.

Always wear helmets (legally required, often ignored), avoid riding in intense heat without breaks, and get proper insurance. Rental companies sometimes pressure you to skip insurance or provide minimal coverage—don’t. Medical costs from scooter accidents can be substantial.

Getting Around Greece by Taxi and Ride-Sharing

Greek taxis are relatively affordable by European standards and useful for short trips, late nights, or when you have luggage. Athens and major cities have metered taxis—make sure the driver starts the meter (it should start at €1.29 base fare). Athens airport to city center has a flat rate: €40 during day (5am-midnight), €55 at night. Thessaloniki airport to city center: €25 day, €35 night.

Uber operates in Greece but only as Uber Taxi—it connects you with licensed taxis rather than private drivers. It’s useful for transparency on pricing and paying by card even if the driver’s machine doesn’t work. The app Beat (formerly Taxibeat) is more popular in Greece and works similarly.

On islands, taxis can be scarce, especially at ferry arrival times when everyone needs one. Some islands have taxi stands at ports and main squares where you queue. Prices are fixed for common routes (posted at taxi stands), and you can often share taxis to popular destinations, splitting the fare.

Night surcharges, luggage fees, and port/airport pickup fees are standard and legitimate—don’t be surprised by slightly higher than expected fares.

Practical Transportation Tips

Book ferries and flights early for summer. Popular routes and convenient times sell out weeks or months ahead. Even buses on major routes can fill up on holiday weekends.

Allow buffer time for connections. Greek transport runs pretty reliably, but delays happen—ferries cancel for weather, flights delay, buses hit traffic. If you’re connecting from a ferry to a flight the same day, leave at least 3-4 hours cushion.

Transport strikes occur. Ferry workers, train staff, and public transport unions periodically strike, usually announced a few days ahead. Check news before travel days, especially if you have tight connections.

Validate tickets. Buses, metros, and trams require you to validate tickets at machines when boarding. Inspectors do check, and fines are steep—€60 or more typically.

Children travel free or cheap. Most transport offers free travel for children under 6 and reduced fares for ages 6-18. Bring ID if asked to prove age.

Digital tickets are standard. Ferries, flights, and trains issue e-tickets—save them on your phone or print them. Some older ferry companies still use paper tickets sold at port agencies.

Luggage limits vary. Ferries are generous (you can bring basically anything), flights follow typical airline rules, buses allow reasonable luggage but no huge suitcases or surfboards without checking first. If traveling with bikes, surfboards, or bulky equipment, verify policies ahead.

Accessibility is improving but is inconsistent. Athens metro has elevators at most stations, newer ferries have wheelchair access, and buses in major cities accommodate disabilities. Older ferries, island buses, and small-town infrastructure lag behind. If you need assistance, contact transport companies ahead to confirm facilities.