Getting Around Greece Doesn't Have to be an Odyssey
Getting there in style.
When looking to get around Greece, there are many options available, from planes, buses, trains, taxis, car rentals, ferries or boats of all sizes or even bicycles. Depending on your destination and the length of your journey, there will be an option for you.
If you feel comfortable driving in a foreign country, then renting a car will allow you to travel at your leisure and stopping at the sites you want to see can be very beneficial. Then take it on a ferry to the islands where you can continue to travel at your leisure.
Athens Train Station
Another option to get to some of the islands is by plane, but the best and most popular method is by the numerous ferries and boats available. There are small boats to large boats for hire and, of course, larger ferries. The ferries run multiple times during the day to each of the most popular Cyclades islands, such as Mykonos, Santorini, Milos, Paros and more.
Ferry tickets should be bought at least 24 hours before departure and a week or more during peak holidays. Going to the Greek islands, you will probably depart from Piraeus, Lavrio or Rafina, the three ports in Athens. Rafina and Lavrio are smaller ports and are preferred by some travellers over the larger busiest port Piraeus. Once on the islands, you can get around by car, bus or taxi.
Greece has a large network of bus routes to take you the last mile.
Certainly one of the best ways to get around is using the public bus. Buses cover the majority of routes and will have the best coverage of the islands. There is a train system, but it is older and not a preferred method as the networks are limited.