How to get to Greece by train. How to get to Greece

From Moscow (Domodedovo) to Athens - five flights a week, to Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Heraklion - four flights a week, one flight a week to about. Kos. this company also operates seasonal flights to Crete from Moscow.

From the island of Cyprus

There is a regular flight from Limassol to Lavrion (40 km from Athens).
You can also use the cruises offered by Salamis Lines or car ferries from Athens to Larnaca (they have several cabins for passengers), but the cost of such a trip is much higher than the cost of air travel.

From Turkey

There is a regular connection between the Turkish resort towns and the islands of Greece (Marmaris - Rhodes, Bodrum - Rhodes, Fethiye Rhodes, Kusadasi - Samos, Chios - Cesme, Lesbos - Ayvalik). The cost of tickets is relatively high, which can be explained solely by the tourist orientation of these lines. Ticket Marmaris - Rhodes costs from $ 40 one way, Cesme - Chios from $ 35. Small discounts are available for roundtrip tickets.

According to agreements between Greece and in each direction, two voyages are carried out - on a Greek and Turkish vessel, respectively. However, tickets in each of the countries are sold, as a rule, only for their own ships. For example, on the island of Lesvos, tickets for the morning, Greek ferry to Turkey are sold, but it is not possible to buy tickets for a Turkish ship leaving in the afternoon.

From Israel

The situation with ferries is constantly changing. In 2010, the service was restored again, however, we are talking about cruise ships following the route Athens - Limassol - Haifa / Ashdod - Port Said (Egypt) - Limassol. Cyprus-based company Salamis Lines began selling tickets for these cruises, including those who travel between Israel and Greece one way. The cost of sailing is quite high - 250 euros one way, which is one and a half times more expensive than a flight between the two countries. Tickets are sold by Cypriot companies Salamis Lines, Varianos Travel and Israel's Rosenfeld Shipping.

By bus and car

Distance from Athens by road: Moscow - 3180 km, Sofia - 820 km, Bucharest - 1220 km, Tirana - 815 km, Istanbul - 1135 km, Skopje - 710 km.

Arda Tur buses depart daily from Sofia to Thessaloniki: at 10.00, 12.30, 17.00, 23.30 (the schedule is subject to change and must be clarified in advance!). The journey takes about 6 hours.

You can get there by plane, ferry, car or bus. Read about the possibility of getting from Russia to Greece by train below the link. So, you can get to Greece:

By plane

From Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, you can get to Thessaloniki, Crete (Heraklion), Rhodes and Kos both by direct flight and by flight with transfers.

Direct flights to Greece performed by the following companies:

  • (from Moscow to Athens);
  • Aegean Airlines (from Moscow to Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Crete and Kos);
  • UTair (from Moscow to Thessaloniki);
  • GTK "Russia" (from St. Petersburg to Crete);
  • Flight (from Voronezh to Athens and to Crete).

Charter flights from various cities of Russia in the period from April to October are carried out to Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Heraklion, Kos, Kalamata, Corfu, Chania. In summer, the frequency of charter flights increases.

Fly to Athens and the Greek Islands european low-cost airlines, flights of which can be connected with flights from Russia :

Read also:

To Athens

Direct flights from Moscow to Athens

  • - makes a daily flight from Sheremetyevo;
  • Aegean Airlines - 5 flights a week from Domodedovo;

Connected flights to Athens operated by the following airlines:

  • Air Serbia (via Belgrade) from Moscow;
  • AirBaltic (via Riga) from Moscow and St. Petersburg;
  • Pegasus Airlines (via Istanbul, Sabiha Gokcen).

From Voronezh to Athens

  • Flight - 1 flight per week during summer.

To Thessaloniki

From Moscow to Thessaloniki

  • Aegean Airlines operates 4 flights a week from Domodedovo;
  • UTair - from the end of March to the end of October there are 2 flights per week from Vnukovo.

From April to October there are charter flights (the number of charters increases in the summer season).

Connected flights to Thessaloniki:

  • Air Serbia (via Belgrade) from Moscow.
  • EasyJet (flights from London (Gatwick) to Athens, Kalamata, Kos, Heraklion, Mykonos, Santorini, Chania with a Moscow-London flight);
  • Wizz Air (flights from Budapest to Corfu, Zakynthos, Rhodes, Heraklion, Thessaloniki with a Moscow-Budapest flight).

From Moscow to Rhodes

  • Aegean Airlines - 4 flights a week from Domodedovo;

From April to October there are charter flights (the number of charters increases in the summer season).

From Moscow to Kos

  • Aegean Airlines - 1 flight per week;

From April to October there are charter flights (the number of charters increases in the summer season).

From Moscow to Crete (Heraklion)

  • Aegean Airlines - 4 flights a week from Domodedovo, also seasonal flights;

From April to October there are charter flights (the number of charters increases in the summer season).

From St. Petersburg to Crete

  • GTK Rossiya - 6 flights a week to Heraklion in the summer;

From April to October there are charter flights (the number of charters increases in the summer season).

From Voronezh to Crete

  • Flight - 1 flight per week during the summer to Heraklion.

From other cities of Russia

Charter flights to Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Heraklion, Kos, Kalamata, Corfu, Chania are carried out from various cities of Russia from April to October. In summer, the frequency of charter flights increases.

European low-cost airlines fly to Thessaloniki and the Greek islands, flights of which can be connected with flights from Russia:

  • EasyJet (flights from London (Gatwick) to Athens, Kalamata, Kos, Heraklion, Mykonos, Santorini, Chania with a Moscow-London flight);
  • Wizz Air (flights from Budapest to Corfu, Zakynthos, Rhodes, Heraklion, Thessaloniki with a Moscow-Budapest flight).

On a ferryboat

Get to Greece by ferry can:

From Italy

Ferry services from Italy to Greece operate on the following routes:

  • from Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi - to Corfu, to Patras and Igoumenitsa;
  • from Ravenna and Trieste - to Patras and Igoumenitsa.

The exact timetable and fares can be found on the Viamare ferry aggregator website - www.viamare.com.

From Cyprus

There is a regular ferry service from Limassol to Lavrion (40 km from Athens).

You can also use the cruises offered by Salamis Lines or car ferries from Athens to Larnaca (they have several cabins for passengers), but the cost of such a trip is much higher than the cost of air travel.

From Turkey

There is a regular connection between the Turkish resort towns and the islands of Greece:

  • Marmaris - Rhodes (40USD one way),
  • Bodrum - Rhodes,
  • Fethiye - Rhodes,
  • Cesme - Chios (35USD one way),
  • Kusadasi - Samos,
  • Ayvalik - Lesvos.

According to agreements between Greece and Turkey, 2 voyages are carried out in each direction - respectively, on a Greek and Turkish ship. For example, on the island of Lesvos, tickets for the morning Greek ferry to Turkey are sold, but it is not possible to buy tickets for a Turkish ship leaving in the afternoon. The cost of tickets is relatively high, which is explained solely by the tourist orientation of these lines. Small discounts are available when buying tickets in both directions.

From Israel

The situation with ferries to Israel is constantly changing. In 2010, the service was again restored, however, we are talking about cruise ships following the route Athens - Limassol - Haifa / Ashdod - Port Said (Egypt) - Limassol. Cyprus-based company Salamis Lines began selling tickets for these cruises, including those who travel between Israel and Greece one way. The cost of the voyage is quite high - 250 euros one way, which is 1.5 times more expensive than a flight between these countries. Tickets are sold by Cypriot companies Salamis Lines, Varianos Travel and Israel's Rosenfeld Shipping.

By car

How many kilometers from Moscow to Athens? Below are some guidelines for distances from Athens by road:

  • from Moscow - 3180 km,
  • from Sofia - 820 km,
  • from Bucharest - 1220 km,
  • from Istanbul - 1135 km.

By bus

Arda Tur buses leave daily for Thessaloniki from the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia: at 10.00, 12.30, 17.00, 23.30 (the schedule is subject to change and must be clarified in advance!). Travel time is about 6 hours.

By train

Attention, at the end of 2011, international rail links with Greece were suspended indefinitely due to debts of Greek railroad workers. In this regard, all trains that previously traveled to Greece from Bulgaria, Macedonia and Turkey (and, accordingly, in the opposite direction) were canceled.

At the moment, the Greek government plans to resume the railway connection on the Thessaloniki-Belgrade route. However, information on the timing of the resumption of traffic is contradictory. So, it was meaningfully planned to launch this train only in the summer period (from June 06 to September 28), later it was reported that it would run all year round, starting from April 25, 2014. In any case, when planning a trip to Greece, one should give preference by plane, ferry or bus.

Kefalonia is a very picturesque and largest of the Ionian Islands, located in the western part of Greece and adjacent to the small, but world-famous island of Ithaca, the birthplace of the mythological Odyssey.

However, today there is a version of historians that the great Homer "settled" Odysseus not at Ithaca, but was referring to the island of Kefalonia. This fact alone could be attractive for many from a tourist point of view. But, besides this, Kefalonia is famous for its amazingly beautiful nature even by Greek standards and rich historical heritage, since the Venetian Republic, under whose rule it was for almost two centuries, left a noticeable mark in the architecture of the island's cities. All this has made Kefalonia one of the most popular destinations in the Ionian Islands, and every year more and more people flock here to relax or just visit with an excursion from the capital of Greece or from neighboring islands. And there is something to see here!

How to get to Kefalonia island

The fastest

Plane is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Kefalonia. The island has a small international airport with one runway (indicated by the EFL code on aviation boards and in ticket search engines), which receives regular Olympic Air flights from Athens all year round, as well as seasonal (in spring-summer) flights of many European airlines and charters of tour operators. In the “high” tourist season, you can fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg to the island of Kefalonia with a transfer at one or another European airport, or buy a direct ticket to Athens, and then transfer to an Olympic Air flight.

Travel time, for example, from the Greek capital Athens by Olympic Air to the island is 1 hour, a significant part of which is taken by takeoff and landing in Kefalonia. Ticket prices vary greatly depending on the season and day of the week, as well as various holidays. On average, you should be guided by 100-150 euros for a ticket to Kefalonia from Athens (round trip). The earlier you book your tickets, the lower, as usual, the prices.

Alternative

However, the main means of transportation in the Greek waters of the Mediterranean Sea are ferries. They connect Kefalonia with mainland Greece and other islands.

There is also a way to fly to the capital of Greece, and then get to the island by two types of transport - by bus, which will take you to the port (Kyllini or Patras), and then by ferry (travel is included in the bus ticket price).

This method is quite long and much less convenient than the previous one (air), and is more suitable for experienced independent travelers without children and luggage. It is as follows: from Athens airport, take the X93 bus to the KTEL Kifisu bus station (this is the final stop), and buy a bus ticket to Kefalonia at the office of the transport company. Arriving at the port of Kyllini, the bus enters the ferry and passengers get off and sit down. Approximate travel time to the island of Kefalonia is 7-8 hours, and most of them are taken by bus from Athens to the port of Kyllini (~ 320 kilometers).

You can also take a ferry to Kefalonia:

From the island of Zakynthos;

From the island of Corfu;

From the island of Lefkada and some other small islands. There is also a ferry service between Kefalonia and the Italian city of Brindisi in the Apulia region (from where it is very close to the city of Bari, where the great Christian shrine is located - the temple and the relics of St.

Ferries mainly operate only on seasonal (summer) flights, so the schedule should be checked immediately before your trip. For example, here is the site of one of the many marine companies Kefalonian Lines, whose ferries operate on kefalonia - Kyllini port (on the mainland) and Kefalonia - Zakynthos, and where the relatively fresh flight schedule for 2019 is indicated.

Important: To see all the current ferry flights in Greece, it is convenient to use the search site Ferries.gr. The fact is that the schedule and routes of different ferry companies are constantly changing, so it is not possible to track all changes within the framework of this article.

As an excursion trip, it is most convenient to sail to Kefalonia from Zakynthos or Corfu to explore the island in a few days. In this case, the road will not be very tiring. It is also worth keeping in mind the low-cost flights between the Greek islands by local airlines.

To travel around Kefalonia, as well as almost everywhere in Greece, it is most convenient to rent a car. The fact is that ferries are not only the main means of communication between the island and the mainland, but also the main transport between the settlements of the island. There is a bus service in Kefalonia, but buses run infrequently.

Car rental in Greece

You can choose a car in advance for your trip to Kefalonia here

(instant comparison of offers, prices and conditions of the world's leading car rental companies, online booking confirmation and flexible conditions, discounts, there are super offers)

There are 4 large ports on the island: in Sami, in Poros, in Argostoli (capital of the island) and Fiskardo.

There will be a separate article about the architecture and preserved artifacts in Kefalonia, but for now I will list the best natural attractions of this island, namely - beaches... They occupy the top lines of all ratings compiled by tourists.

Here are the top ten beaches of the island and the nearest settlements of the island:

Myrtos beach

Petani Beach (Liksur)

Kaminia Beach (Skala)

Antisamos Beach (Sami)

Makris Gialos beach (Lassi)

Emblisi Beach (Fiskardo)

Skala beach (Skala)

Lourdas beach (Lourdata)

Ames beach (Svoronata)

Katelios beach

Kefalonia photos

Kefalonia beaches, including the most famous and popular Myrtos Beach

Fiskardo, Kefalonia

"The Venetian Trail?"

Assos is one of the most beautiful towns on the island

Greece is a country where sights with a long history, such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, Areopagus, are combined with picturesque islands, luxurious beaches and spa hotels. Add in the excellent Mediterranean cuisine, the romance of the narrow cobbled streets and you have the perfect holiday destination, a paradise that really has it all! Is it possible to relax in Greece and at the same time save a little? You will find the answer in this article.

Planning a vacation

The tourist season in Greece usually starts at the end of April and ends at the end of October. The high season is between July and August. During these two months, many hotels are packed, and it is almost impossible to rent a free room, the beaches are overcrowded, and prices in local taverns and other places of recreation are significantly increasing. If you want to get to know Greece "tete-a-tete", avoiding the ubiquitous crowds of tourists, we recommend visiting this country in September or the first half of October. At this time, the main flow of tourists is leaving, hotels are empty, and prices are getting lower. At the same time, the sea, as before, pampers with its warmth, and local shops offer many products with discounts. Another option for the budget traveler is May - early June. The sea at this time, of course, is a little cool, and you will hardly be able to soak up the beach. However, if the purpose of your trip is acquaintance with the sights, then this period is the best fit.

Choosing tickets

The best option to get to Greece for most travelers, of course, is by air. Direct air communication exists between many "millionaires" of our country and the Greek Athens, Thessaloniki, as well as the popular islands. The cost of the air ticket depends on which carrier company you prefer. The average cost of a flight with Aeroflot is about 20,000 rubles. The local air carrier Aegean Airlines offers to fly for 22,000 - 25,000 rubles. On average, you will have to spend about four hours in flight. If you want to see the islands of Rhodes or Crete, then charter flights will come to your rescue, the main advantage of which is a direct flight and relative economy. However, if you are planning your trip in winter or in the off-season, then you cannot do without a change - you will be offered a route through Athens or Thessaloniki.


Getting to Greece by train is rather difficult. Direct rail links between Moscow and Athens were discontinued many years ago. If you are afraid to fly, the bus is most likely an alternative to the plane. Flights are offered mainly to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. On the way, you will have to change trains, and not even one. For example, in Minsk, and then in the city of Katowice - in the south of Poland. There are also other flights: with a transfer in Brest, Prague, Vilnius or Sofia. The average fare is about 10,000 rubles, and you will have to spend about three days on the road. Such a trip can be economical only financially, but not in time.

If you are planning to visit the islands of the Aegean Sea, you should also check the prices for ferries. As a rule, it is cheaper to get to the desired island by arriving in Athens and transferring to the ship there. This recommendation will be especially relevant for those who decide to visit not the popular islands of Rhodes or Crete, but small ones, for example, Milos or Santorini. The cost of tickets for the same route may differ significantly, as it depends on many factors: the carrier company, the speed of the vessel you have chosen, and the type of cabin. You can find out the exact cost and book a ticket on one of the specialized sites. You can easily find them on the Internet.

Tricks of economical rest

In general, low prices are one of the indisputable advantages of a vacation in Greece. And what a pleasure that costs can be reduced even more. Here are the tricks that seasoned travelers share with you:


  • it is best to book a hotel room in advance. This will save money, especially if you do it during seasonal discounts, for example, in May or October;
  • there are enough all-inclusive hotels in Greece. But if you prefer to eat on your own, the cheapest option is to dine at local taverns. Here you will be offered homemade food at affordable prices;
  • most travel agencies offer discounts and promotions on excursions. Buying them as a “set”, you can get one excursion as a gift;
  • do not hesitate to bargain with local taxi drivers if you decide to use their services instead of public transport. They love to overcharge tourists.
  • You won't be able to save much on car rental in Greece. Choose a small economical car, because the prices for gasoline "bite" here. Oh, and don't forget your international driving license.

As you can see, there are many ways to save money on holidays in Greece. Armed with our tips, you can enjoy your holiday here!

Greece is where Western civilization began. Much has changed here since antiquity - the golden times have passed, but we still have the opportunity to see with our own eyes the traces of the former greatness of Ancient Greece.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of ancient Greek heroes, climb Mount Olympus and feel like a representative of the pantheon of ancient Greek gods, visit the "center of the world" and visit the famous monasteries on the rocks - the Tour Club "Transition" has prepared for you a fascinating journey through bright and amazing Greece.
Our tour to Greece is suitable for everyone, as it does not require special physical training, but you will not have to sit in one place: in 10 days of the hike we will have time to visit historical monuments, which are abundant in Greece, climb a mountain almost 3 km high, swim in sea \u200b\u200band sunbathe. Overnight stays are held in campsites in very picturesque places: imagine how nice it is to wake up on a warm morning in a tent on the seashore or start the day by contemplating the surrounding mountains.

How to get to Greece from Moscow

The hike begins with a general gathering and acquaintance in Athens, where you have to get there on your own. The most convenient way to do this is to go to the Greek capital by direct flight from Moscow.
There are several flights to Athens from Moscow every day, and if you wish, you can easily find the most comfortable and inexpensive option. The duration of the flight is about 4 hours.

Helpful information

Visa. To visit Greece, Russian citizens need a valid Schengen visa. Residents of Moscow can get it using the services of the Greece Visa Application Center, located at the address: Nikitsky Boulevard, 17. A Greek visa is not considered difficult to obtain, with correct submission of documents, visa refusals are extremely rare.

Money. Greece is part of the Eurozone and uses the Euro as its currency. Money must be exchanged back in Russia in order to present it at customs if necessary. Also, in any Greek bank, you can easily exchange dollars for euros.

Weather. The climate in Greece is Mediterranean, and the number of sunny days here exceeds 300. Most tourists come to Greece for holidays from May to September. The velvet season, when the heat is no longer so exhausting and the water in the sea is at a pleasant temperature, begins at the end of summer.
Our trip takes place in mid-late August - this period of time is quite comfortable in temperature for being in the mountains and climbing to the peaks, and the water in the sea is well warmed up for swimming.