If you're planning to travel to Greece from anywhere in the world, there are several transportation options available, depending on your location, preferences, and budget. Here are all the main ways to travel to Greece:
Air Travel (Flights)
- International Flights: Most travelers arrive in Greece by air, with flights connecting from major cities across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The primary international airports in Greece are:
- Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos): The largest and busiest airport, serving as the main hub for flights to and from all continents.
- Thessaloniki Airport (Macedonia): Serving northern Greece, with many European and regional connections.
- Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport (Crete): Popular for flights from European cities, especially during the tourist season.
- Other smaller airports serve the islands (e.g., Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu), with direct flights from European destinations.
- Direct Long-Haul Flights: Non-stop flights to Greece from North America, the Middle East, and other regions are common, especially during peak tourist seasons.
- Connecting Flights: For more distant locations (e.g., South America, Asia-Pacific), you might need to take a connecting flight through major European hubs like Frankfurt, Paris, London, or Istanbul.
Land Travel (By Car, Bus, or Train)
- Driving: If you're traveling from neighboring countries in Europe, you can drive to Greece:
- From Northern Europe: Via highways passing through the Balkans (e.g., Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia) or Italy (with ferry crossing).
- From Eastern Europe: Highways run through Turkey or Bulgaria.
- From Western Europe: Drive through Italy and take a ferry from Ancona, Bari, or Venice to ports like Patras or Igoumenitsa.
- Bus: International bus services, including companies like Flixbus, offer connections from most major European cities to Greek destinations such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras.
- Regular buses run from Balkan countries (Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Turkey) to Greece.
- Train: Greece is connected to its neighbors (Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia) via international rail services, though rail links to other European countries are limited compared to buses and cars. For instance:
- Train from Turkey: Regular train services run from Istanbul to Thessaloniki.
- Train from Bulgaria: You can travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki or Athens via regional trains.
Sea Travel (Ferries and Cruises)
- International Ferries:
- From Italy: Regular ferries from Italian ports like Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, and Venice operate to western Greek ports, including Patras, Igoumenitsa, and Corfu.
- From Turkey: Ferries connect the Turkish coast (e.g., from Bodrum, Marmaris, or Çeşme) to Greek islands like Rhodes, Kos, and Chios.
- Cruises:
- Greece is a popular destination for Mediterranean cruises. Many major cruise lines offer itineraries that include stops at Greek islands (e.g., Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu) and mainland ports (e.g., Athens, Thessaloniki).
