Travelling through Greece - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

Greece has a fairly developed transport infrastructure. There are many airports in the country, most of which are international. Domestic airlines connect the capital with major tourist cities and islands. Sea communication is also well-developed. Some believe that water transport in Greece is excellent. A huge number of ferries and ships run from the islands to the mainland around the clock. Together with ships, small boats and large cruise liners carry passengers. The largest and most significant port is in Athens; it is called Piraeus. Despite such a developed water communication, many archipelagoes are still not connected with each other, so tourists have to plan transfers.

Public transport in the country is of high quality. The fare is quite affordable. Buses run not only inside the cities, but also connect all the regions of the mainland. There are buses every day from 5am to 12am. Night routes also run in the big cities and along the most significant roads. Inside the city, it is also possible to move around on trams and trolleybuses. Since 2000, there is a subway in Athens. Underground lines still don’t cover all parts of the capital of Greece. However, the subway is used by local residents and is popular among tourists. There are a lot of taxi services. Unlike European countries, the price of a ride is not too high. The cost of landing is 1 euro;1 km of the way will cost you from 10 to 50 cents, depending on the date, the time of day, and the city. Greece has a well-developed railway network. The express train is very popular. You will find comfort and service in the first class. Second-class cars often don’t have air conditioning and can be quite dirty. It is also possible to travel in a sleeping car.

Roads in major cities of Greece are average. At the same time, the quality of pavement is constantly improving. Many of the routes marked on the map as ground, have long been covered with a solid layer of asphalt. However, the statistics of road accidents is quite deplorable. The most common cause of catastrophes is overtaking, although in cities and the speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour is accepted. Motorcycles and mopeds are used too. At the same time, the behavior of drivers of two-wheeled vehicles is still less aggressive than in the countries of Asia. On some islands, for example, Kos or Fesalia, there are quite a few cyclists. It is worth noting that car drivers are respectful of them. A bicycle is not the best way to travel along the mainland Greece, as the terrain is very hilly. There are practically no dedicated bicycle lanes in the country.

There are 5 large international airports in the country. About 22 of them have the national status. They also have a right to welcome international flights, but the capacity of their terminals is not too large. Another 25 airports in the country are designed for domestic flights; in particular, for flights from the mainland to the island of Greece. All international airports welcome about 85% of the total number of visitors to the country. They are located close to the major cities of Greece, which can be reached either by public transport, by taxi or transfer. While waiting for the flight or arriving at the airport, passengers can use ATMs or local and international bank offices at the terminal exit. There are various restaurants and cafes, as well as medical aid and baby care rooms in the airport area. Passengers can look into the picturesque souvenir shops and expensive branded boutiques. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The largest airport in Greece is the air harbor of Athens, which is located near the capital. The airport annually serves not less than 15 million passengers. There are two terminals -  eastern and western. There are duty-free shops, as well as comfortable and colorful restaurants with local and European cuisine. The next largest airport is Macedonia, which is located in Thessaloniki. This air harbor welcomes about four million passengers a year. To the date, there is only one terminal. However, the growing tourist activity pushes the airport reconstruction and the construction of a second terminal. It should be noted that the railway lines are laid to this airport, so you can get to it not only by taxi or by bus, but by train too.

Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is located near Heraklion, which is the capital of Crete. There are restaurants and cafes, ATMs and currency exchange offices, as well as car rental agencies and duty-free shops. Its traffic is about one and a half million a year. Diagoras in Rhodes is also a pretty busy international airport. It was opened in 1977; it has significantly changed during the time. Passengers will be met by comfortable waiting rooms, VIP lounges, various shops, boutiques and souvenir stalls, as well as offices of international banks and car rental agencies.

Greece is a well-developed tourist country. That is why travelers will have no problems while moving across the country. There is a large variety of public transport, and a fare is quite affordable. The most popular way of traveling inside the city and between regions is the bus. Departing from Athens, you can reach the most distant region of the mainland Greece. It is worth noting that you can take a bus even to the islands of Corfu, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos. The cost of such tickets includes ferrying. Buses of KTEL transport company are the most popular among tourists. Vehicles are comfortable and safe. The transport is constantly checked by the mechanics.

The busiest and most basic routes are air-conditioned. However, in remote regions, the bus service operates old vehicles. Buses from villages outside the resort areas run daily. The most remote settlements are serviced only 1-2 times a week. The cost of a bus ticket is about 4 euros per 100 kilometers. It is worth noting that most of the Greek cities are quite small, and they can be easily walked. Therefore, it makes sense to spend money on buses only for traveling between cities or for moving within such large cities as Athens, Patra, Thessaloniki or Kalamata. The railway is an alternative to buses. However, it is worth noting that the railroad doesn’t go through all regions of mainland Greece. Before Olympic Games, the country has repaired the roads and slightly expanded the route. Trains in Greece are represented by two classes. The difference between the first and second class that connect towns, is quite insufficient. Travelers don’t have to wait for the special comfort.

The sea transport is very popular in the country. In some cases, this is the only way to get to the islands. As a rule, ferries, ships, liners, and boats run from April to October. The cost of the ferry depends on the class of the vessel and the distance. It is worth noting that high-speed ferry tickets are at least 20% more expensive. You can also travel by air to save time or to go for a long distance. In this case, it should be noted that the smallest Greek islands have no runway. There are significant discounts for two-way tickets. Some airlines provide a number of discounts on age categories.

If you want to control your journey by yourself, you can rent a car or a motorcycle. Roads in major cities are quite nice, but in the suburbs, the prime coat predominates. With a rented car, you can also travel by ferry. The cost of paying for such a transportation is extremely high; it’s at least 80 euros. Carrying a motorcycle will cost as much as a passenger ticket. It is also possible to rent a bicycle. However, not everyone will be able to move around a city, as the relief of Greece is very hilly. Moreover, there are no dedicated bike lanes. Although, car drivers are quite respectful of the two-wheeled members of the road traffic.