KTEL Buses In Greece

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Information for the KTEL bus network in Greece is notoriously difficult to come by. Even in Greek! This is the most complete guide to KTEL buses in Greece available today.

The modern KTEL Ioanninon bus station building in Ioannina, northwestern Greece

The Greek Bus Network

If you're planning a trip to Greece and wondering how to get around without a car, the KTEL bus network deserves a lot more attention than it usually gets. It's cheap, it's widespread, and on many routes you'll find yourself on a modern air-conditioned coach travelling through landscapes that tour vans don't reach.

The problem is, information is super-hard to come by as there are over 60 different companies. Even Greeks struggle to find information! As a result, I spent quite a lot of time gathering together everything I could about the KTEL bus companies in Greece, and presenting it here in one place.

This guide covers everything you need to know: how the system works, the major intercity routes, island networks, which companies accept online booking, and what to expect when you turn up at a KTEL station for the first time. I've also included a complete regional directory of all 62 official KTEL cooperatives, with contact information verified directly from each company's website.

Quick facts: Greece has 62 independent KTEL bus cooperatives. There is no single national booking website. Fares are government-regulated and very cheap — most intercity journeys cost €5–25. Buses are the main form of public transport between Greek cities.

How the KTEL System Works

The most important thing to understand about KTEL buses in Greece is that there is no central national system. No single website where you can plan a cross-country journey, no unified timetable, no one phone number to call.

KTEL stands for Κοινό Ταμείο Εισπράξεων Λεωφορείων — roughly “Common Fund of Bus Receipts” — and it refers to a system of 62 regional bus cooperatives, each covering a specific Greek prefecture or group of prefectures. The federation that binds them together is called POAYS, but it's largely administrative. In practice, the Thessaloniki KTEL and the Ioannina KTEL operate completely independently: different websites, different ticketing systems, different phone numbers.

For travelers, this means a bit of upfront research. To get from Athens to Meteora, for example, you'd take a KTEL Trikala bus to Kalambaka — there's a direct daily service (Mon–Sat) that picks up near Kato Patisia Metro, or you can catch a regular Trikala bus from Liosion terminal and change there. To continue to Thessaloniki, you'd look at KTEL Thessaloniki. Once you know which company covers which territory, it becomes straightforward.

A striking KTEL Santorinis Neoplan coach wrapped in a vibrant bougainvillea flower livery, advertising 'The Greek' daily service to Fira.

Two types of KTEL

There's an important distinction between two kinds of KTEL service:

  • Intercity (υπεραστικό) KTEL — these are the long-distance coaches connecting cities and towns, usually operating from a dedicated terminal (σταθμός). This is what most travelers use.
  • Urban (αστικό) KTEL — local city bus services, which in most smaller cities are a separate company from the intercity KTEL. This guide focuses on intercity services.

Tickets and booking

The majority of KTEL companies still sell tickets at the counter only. You turn up, you buy a ticket, you get on the bus. For busy routes or holiday weekends, this means arriving early to guarantee a seat. A growing number of companies — over half at the time of writing — now offer online booking, and I've noted which ones in the directory below.

Fares are set by the government and are very reasonable. Athens to Thessaloniki (about 5.5 hours) costs around €45 full price (€43 with an e-ticket). Athens to Patras (2.5 hours) is around €20. Island routes are typically €2–5 for the whole island.

Tickets are non-refundable on most lines, though some companies allow date changes. Always keep your ticket — drivers check them on board.

Tourists queue at the KTEL Rodou (Rhodes) bus company ticket office to purchase tickets.

Intercity Travel: The Mainland Network

The intercity KTEL network is at its most impressive on the Greek mainland, where it connects virtually every town of any size. Long-distance routes are comfortable, punctual, and — compared to alternatives — very good value.

The major terminals in Athens

Athens currently has two intercity KTEL terminals, and which one you use depends entirely on where you're going:

  • Terminal A (Kifissos), at 100 Kifissou Ave, handles buses to the Peloponnese, western Greece, Epirus, the Ionian islands (via ferry connections at Patras or Igoumenitsa), and — importantly — the direct Athens–Thessaloniki service operated by KTEL Thessaloniki. Bus 051 connects it to Omonia Square.
  • Terminal B (Liosion), at 260 Liossion St, handles buses to central Greece and Thessaly (including Volos, Larissa, Trikala/Meteora, and Katerini). Bus 024 connects it to Omonia Square.
  • Pedion Areos (Victoria), on Mavrommateon St near Victoria Metro (Line 1), is a central Athens pickup point for several northern routes including the popular Athens–Thessaloniki service. Buses departing here also stop at Kifissos before heading north. This is far more convenient if you're staying in central Athens.

The split between Kifissos and Liosion causes genuine confusion — if you go to the wrong one, you've wasted a trip. The general rule: Peloponnese, western Greece, Thessaloniki, and all of Macedonia/Thrace = Kifissos; central Greece and Thessaly = Liosion. But always double-check which terminal your route uses. The Victoria/Pedion Areos stop is a convenient central-Athens alternative for the Thessaloniki service.

2026 update: Both Kifissos and Liosion are due to be replaced by a single new Central Bus Terminal in the Eleonas district, located next to Eleonas Metro station (Line 3). The €100 million facility will cover 66,400m² and handle up to 15 million passengers per year. Construction began in 2024 with an operational target of 2026 — check current status before travelling, as the changeover may affect departure points.

Key long-distance routes

These are the routes most travelers use, with approximate journey times and fares:

Route Duration Approx. Fare KTEL Company
Athens – Thessaloniki ~5.5 hrs €45 KTEL Thessaloniki
Athens – Patras ~2.5 hrs €20 KTEL Achaia
Athens – Ioannina ~5.5–6 hrs €37 KTEL Ioannina
Athens – Volos ~4 hrs €29 KTEL Magnesia
Athens – Larissa ~3.5 hrs €35 KTEL Larissa
Athens – Kalamata ~3 hrs €24 KTEL Messinia
Athens – Nafplio ~2.5 hrs €14 KTEL Argolida
Athens – Kalambaka (Meteora) ~5 hrs €32 KTEL Trikala
Thessaloniki – Kavala ~2 hrs €14 KTEL Kavala
Thessaloniki – Alexandroupoli ~3.5 hrs €27 KTEL Evros

Note that many long-distance routes are operated jointly by two or more KTEL companies, with shared departure points and combined timetables.

Buying tickets

For most mainland routes, especially peak season travel, I'd recommend buying your ticket at the terminal the day before, or first thing on the day of travel. The popular Athens–Thessaloniki and Athens–Patras routes fill up fast on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Where online booking exists, use it — it guarantees your seat and saves queuing.

Island Buses: A Different Story

Island KTEL buses are a different experience from the mainland network, and they're worth understanding separately.

The KTEL bus transfer station in Naxos town (Chora)

On most Greek islands, the KTEL operates a handful of routes radiating out from the port or main town to the rest of the island. These aren't long-distance coaches — they're often minibuses or small coaches running a circuit of beaches and villages. Fares are typically €2–5 for the whole island, and timetables are designed around ferry arrivals rather than commuter schedules.

The island KTEL is often the cheapest way to reach a beach or village, but frequency can be low — sometimes just two or three buses per day outside July and August. Before relying on the bus to get somewhere, check whether there's a return service at a useful time. I've been caught out by this more than once.

Not every island is a KTEL member

The 62 official KTEL cooperatives cover most of Greece, but a number of smaller islands are served by non-official operators — municipal bus services or private companies that use the KTEL name locally but aren't part of the POAYS federation. These include islands like Skiathos, Skopelos, Folegandros, Sifnos, Amorgos, Milos, and Patmos. I've included these in a separate section at the bottom of the directory.

n information board for the Symi Bus Local Line showing the route between Gialos harbour, the Village (Chorio), and Pedi beach

Summer vs. winter service

Island bus services shrink dramatically outside the tourist season. Some routes that run six times a day in August run twice a day in October, and some beach routes stop entirely between October and May. Always check current timetables on the KTEL website (where one exists) or call ahead.

KTEL & Ferries: The Perfect Travel Combination

One of the best travel combinations in Greece is KTEL bus plus ferry. The two networks fit together naturally, and using them in sequence opens up journeys that would be awkward or expensive by plane.

A few particularly useful combinations:

  • Athens → Patras (KTEL Achaia) → Italy or Corfu by ferry. The bus from Athens' Kifissos terminal takes about 2.5 hours to Patras, where you can connect directly to ANEK, Grimaldi, Minoan or Superfast ferries heading to Ancona, Bari, Venice or Corfu.
  • Athens → Igoumenitsa (KTEL Thesprotia) → Corfu by ferry. Igoumenitsa is the main port for car ferries to Corfu (40 minutes). The KTEL runs from both Athens and Thessaloniki.
  • Athens → Kavala (KTEL Kavala) → Thassos by ferry. Kavala has frequent ferries to Thassos island (65 minutes). The bus from Athens takes around 7 hours.
  • Piraeus bus connections → ferry to islands. Bus X96 from Athens airport goes to Piraeus port, where you can connect to ferries across the Aegean. KTEL Attica also runs to Rafina port (for ferries to northern Cyclades and Evia) and Lavrio (for Kea, Kythnos and southern Cyclades).
  • Kefalonia / Zakynthos / Lefkada. These Ionian islands have their own KTEL networks that connect with the mainland via ferry. KTEL buses run through to Athens and Thessaloniki with the ferry leg included in the journey.

For comprehensive ferry timetables and booking from these ports, Greek Ferry Travel covers all the major routes.

Complete KTEL Directory by Region

All contact information below is verified directly from each KTEL's official website. The directory covers all 62 official KTEL cooperatives (members of the POAYS federation). Click “Show routes” in the routes column to see stops for each line.

Attica

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Attica Athens +30 210 880 8000 Website Yes No
KTEL Aegina Aegina Town +30 22970 22412 No website No No
KTEL Salamis Salamina +30 210 467 1333 Website Yes No

Central Macedonia

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Thessaloniki Thessaloniki +30 2310 500111 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Chalkidiki Nea Moudania +30 2310 316555 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Kilkis Kilkis +30 23410 22311 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Pella Edessa +30 23810 22800 Website No Yes
KTEL Pieria Katerini +30 23510 23313 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Serres Serres +30 23210 22822 Website No Yes
KTEL Imathia Veria +30 23310 22342 Website Yes Yes

Eastern Macedonia & Thrace

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Drama Drama +30 25210 32421 Website No Yes
KTEL Kavala Kavala +30 2510 222294 Website No Yes
KTEL Xanthi Xanthi +30 25410 27200 Website No Yes
KTEL Rodopi (Komotini) Komotini +30 25310 22912 Website No Yes
KTEL Evros (Alexandroupoli) Alexandroupoli +30 25510 26479 Website Yes Yes

Western Macedonia

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Florina Florina +30 2385 022430 Website Yes No
KTEL Kozani Kozani +30 2461 034454 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Kastoria Kastoria +30 24670 83455 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Grevena Grevena +30 24620 22242 Website Yes Yes

Epirus

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Ioannina Ioannina +30 2651 083071 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Arta Arta +30 2681 027348 Website No Yes
KTEL Thesprotia Igoumenitsa +30 26650 22309 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Preveza Preveza +30 26820 22213 Website Yes Yes

Thessaly

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Larissa Larissa +30 2410 567613 Website No Yes
KTEL Karditsa Karditsa +30 2441 021411 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Trikala Trikala +30 24310 73130 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Magnesia (Volos) Volos +30 24210 33254 Website Yes Yes

Central Greece

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Evia Chalkida +30 22210 20400 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Fthiotis (Lamia) Lamia +30 22310 51345 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Viotia (Livadia) Livadia +30 22610 28336 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Thiva (Thebes) Thiva +30 22620 27511 Website No Yes
KTEL Fokis (Delphi/Amfissa) Amfissa +30 22650 29900 Website No Yes
KTEL Evritania (Karpenisi) Karpenisi +30 22370 80013 Website Yes Yes

Western Greece

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Aitoloakarnania Agrinio +30 2641 054444 Website No Yes
KTEL Achaia Patras +30 2610 623886 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Ileias (Elis) Pyrgos +30 26210 20600 Website Yes Yes

Peloponnese

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Argolida Nafplio +30 27520 27423 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Arkadia Tripoli +30 2710 222560 Website No Yes
KTEL Korinthia Corinth +30 27410 75410 Website No Yes
KTEL Lakonia Sparta +30 27310 26441 Website No Yes
KTEL Messinia Kalamata +30 2721 028581 Website Yes Yes

Ionian Islands

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Corfu (Kerkyra) Corfu Town +30 26610 28900 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Kefalonia Argostoli +30 2671 022281 Website Yes No
KTEL Lefkada Lefkada Town +30 26450 26086 Website No No
KTEL Zakynthos Zakynthos Town +30 26950 22255 Website Yes No

Crete

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi (Eastern Crete) Heraklion +30 2810 246530 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Chania-Rethymno (Western Crete) Chania +30 28210 93052 Website Yes Yes

North Aegean

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Lesvos Mytilini +30 22510 28873 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Chios Chios Town +30 22710 27507 Website Yes No
KTEL Samos Samos (Vathy) +30 22730 27262 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Lemnos Myrina +30 22540 22464 No website No No

Cyclades

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Mykonos Mykonos Town +30 2289026797 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Naxos Naxos Town +30 22850 22291 Website Yes No
KTEL Paros Parikia +30 22840 21395 Website Yes No
KTEL Santorini Fira +30 22860 25404 Website Yes No
KTEL Tinos Tinos Town +30 22830 22440 Website No No
KTEL Syros Ermoupoli +30 22810 82575 Website No Yes
KTEL Andros Andros (Chora) +30 22820 22316 Website Yes No
KTEL Ios Ios (Chora) +30 22860 92015 Website Yes No

Dodecanese

KTEL Terminal Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
KTEL Rhodes Rhodes +30 22410 27706 Website Yes Yes
KTEL Kos Kos Town +30 22420 22292 Website Yes No
KTEL Karpathos Pigadia +30 22450 22338 No website No No

Independent Island Bus Operators (Non-KTEL)

The following islands are served by bus operators that use the KTEL name locally but are not members of the official POAYS federation. They provide the main public bus service on their island.

Island Operator Phone Website English? Booking? Routes
Amorgos Amorgos Bus Company (KTEL Amorgos) +30 2285073003 Website Yes Yes
Folegandros Folegandros Buses +30 6956090195 Website Yes Yes
Kalymnos Kalymnos Municipal Bus Service +30 22430 51760 No website No No
Kythnos KTEL Kythnos +30 22810 32250 No website No No
Milos Milos Buses (KTEL Milos) +30 6984512204 Website Yes No
Patmos Patmos Bus See website Website Yes No
Samothraki Samothraki Municipal Buses +30 690 918 0320 Website No No
Serifos Serifos Travel Bus +30 6932344142 Website Yes No
Sifnos KTEL Sifnos +30 22840 31977 No website No No
Skiathos Skiathos Transports +30 2427022497 Website Yes Yes
Skopelos Skopelos Transports +30 2424309005 Website Yes No

Online Booking: Which KTELs Let You Buy Tickets in Advance

Of the 62 official KTEL companies, 45 currently offer online ticket booking. The rest are ticket-counter or phone only. Where online booking is available, it's always worth using — it guarantees your seat and saves queuing at busy stations.

KTEL Region Book Online English?
KTEL Achaia Western Greece Book here Yes
KTEL Aitoloakarnania Western Greece Book here No
KTEL Argolida Peloponnese Book here Yes
KTEL Arkadia Peloponnese Book here No
KTEL Arta Epirus Book here No
KTEL Chalkidiki Central Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Chania-Rethymno (Western Crete) Crete Book here Yes
KTEL Corfu (Kerkyra) Ionian Islands Book here Yes
KTEL Drama Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Book here No
KTEL Evia Central Greece Book here Yes
KTEL Evritania (Karpenisi) Central Greece Book here Yes
KTEL Evros (Alexandroupoli) Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Book here Yes
KTEL Fokis (Delphi/Amfissa) Central Greece Book here No
KTEL Fthiotis (Lamia) Central Greece Book here Yes
KTEL Grevena Western Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi (Eastern Crete) Crete Book here Yes
KTEL Ileias (Elis) Western Greece Book here Yes
KTEL Imathia Central Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Ioannina Epirus Book here Yes
KTEL Karditsa Thessaly Book here Yes
KTEL Kastoria Western Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Kavala Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Book here No
KTEL Kilkis Central Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Korinthia Peloponnese Book here No
KTEL Kozani Western Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Lakonia Peloponnese Book here No
KTEL Larissa Thessaly Book here No
KTEL Lesvos North Aegean Book here Yes
KTEL Magnesia (Volos) Thessaly Book here Yes
KTEL Messinia Peloponnese Book here Yes
KTEL Mykonos South Aegean Book here Yes
KTEL Pella Central Macedonia Book here No
KTEL Pieria Central Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Preveza Epirus Book here Yes
KTEL Rhodes South Aegean Book here Yes
KTEL Rodopi (Komotini) Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Book here No
KTEL Samos North Aegean Book here Yes
KTEL Serres Central Macedonia Book here No
KTEL Syros South Aegean Book here No
KTEL Thesprotia Epirus Book here Yes
KTEL Thessaloniki Central Macedonia Book here Yes
KTEL Thiva (Thebes) Central Greece Book here No
KTEL Trikala Thessaly Book here Yes
KTEL Viotia (Livadia) Central Greece Book here Yes
KTEL Xanthi Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Book here No

Practical Tips for KTEL Travel

A few things worth knowing before your first KTEL journey:

Finding the terminal

In smaller Greek towns, the KTEL station is often tucked away and not well signposted in English. Google Maps usually finds it — search for “ΚΤΕΛ [city name]” rather than “bus station”. The addresses in the directory below are verified from the companies' own websites.

A white Scania coach (fleet number 137, named 'Dimitrios') parked outside the KTEL Herakliou-Lasithiou bus station in Heraklion, Crete.

Luggage

Large bags go in the luggage hold underneath the bus. There's no official weight limit on most intercity routes — in practice, one large suitcase is fine. Bicycles can usually be loaded for a small extra charge, but call ahead to confirm.

The language barrier

Ticket counter staff at major terminals (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion) usually speak enough English to sell you a ticket. At smaller stations, it's worth having your destination written in Greek — I've included Greek names for each KTEL in the directory. Having a translation app ready doesn't hurt.

Frequency and gaps

Many KTEL routes run only a few times a day. The Athens–Thessaloniki corridor has frequent departures, but a route like Kastoria–Athens might have two buses per day. Check the timetable before making plans that depend on a specific departure.

Air conditioning and wifi

Modern intercity coaches are fully air-conditioned. Wifi is inconsistent — some companies advertise it, fewer actually deliver reliable connectivity. Assume no wifi and download anything you need beforehand.

Booking advice

For peak travel times (August, Easter, Christmas, long weekends), book intercity tickets at least a day ahead if you can. Outside peak season, turning up and buying on the day is usually fine, except on routes that only run once or twice a day. Island buses almost never require advance booking.

holding two KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou bus tickets for the Chania to Chania Airport route

Important: Even if you buy an e-ticket online, some KTEL companies still require you to collect a physical ticket from the station counter or a self-service kiosk before boarding. Check the confirmation email — if it says to exchange your voucher, arrive with time to spare.

Apps and tracking

There is no national KTEL app. A handful of individual companies have their own apps (notably KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi in Crete, and KTEL Salamis). Google Maps has partial KTEL data but it is often out of date. The most reliable source is always the individual company's website or phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a single website to book KTEL buses across Greece?
No. There are 62 independent KTEL companies, each with its own booking system. ktelbus.com is the federation website and lists all companies, but booking must be done through each company's own site. Over half now offer online booking; the rest are ticket-counter only.
How do I get from Athens to Thessaloniki by bus?
KTEL Thessaloniki operates a direct service from Terminal A (Kifissos) in Athens to Thessaloniki Macedonia Bus Station (Monastiriou). You can also board at the more central Pedion Areos stop near Victoria Metro. Buses run roughly every 3 hours throughout the day. Journey time is around 5 hours 45 minutes, fare €45 (or €43 via their e-ticket with a 5% discount). You can book tickets directly at ktelthes.gr. No transfers needed — it's a single operator, single ticket, direct route.
Can I book KTEL bus tickets online?
Some companies have online booking — see the booking table in this guide. Where online booking exists, it's the easiest option. Where it doesn't, you buy your ticket at the terminal counter, sometimes at a kiosk on the day.
Are KTEL buses reliable?
Generally yes, especially on main intercity routes. Delays are uncommon. Island buses are less predictable — timetables sometimes change seasonally without much notice online. Always have a fallback if you're catching a ferry.
Do island KTELs run year-round?
Most run year-round but with reduced frequency outside July–August. Some beach routes are summer-only. Check directly with the relevant KTEL before travelling October–May.
What is the cheapest way to travel between Greek cities?
KTEL bus is almost always the cheapest option for intercity travel. Trains (OSE/Hellenic Train) are comparable on the few routes they cover (Athens–Thessaloniki being the main one), but the rail network is limited. Domestic flights are usually 3–5x the cost of the bus.
Can I take a bus from Athens to the Peloponnese?
Yes. Multiple KTEL companies serve the Peloponnese from Terminal A (Kifissos) in Athens. KTEL Argolida covers Nafplio and Epidaurus, KTEL Arkadia covers Tripoli, KTEL Messinia covers Kalamata, and KTEL Lakonia covers Sparta.
Do KTEL buses go to the ferries?
KTEL buses serve the main ferry ports: Patras, Igoumenitsa, Kavala, and Piraeus-area (via Attica KTEL to Rafina and Lavrio). Some Ionian island KTEL routes are through-tickets that include the ferry leg to the mainland.

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