You can travel from Athens to Patras by bus, train, rental car, taxis and even bicycle! This guide covers traveling from Athens Airport and city center to Patras in Greece.
Looking how to get from Athens Airport to Patras in Greece? This travel guide describes how to get to Patras from Athens Airport by car, bus, train and even bicycle!
How to get from Athens Airport to Patras in Greece
I was recently asked how to get from Athens Airport to Patras by a reader. After answering them, I thought it would be a nice Greece travel article to add here.
This should be useful for anyone that is due to land in Athens, and then needs to take a cruise or ferry from Patras Port.
Basically, there are several ways of getting from the Athens Airport to Patras in Greece. You can drive, get a combination of buses, taxis and the suburban railway, or even cycle!
Athens Airport to Patras by car
Possibly the most straightforward way to get from the Athens Airport to Patras in Greece, is to rent a car.
As the new highway connecting Athens and Patras has now been completed, the trip from the Athens Airport to Patras should take you about two and a half hours. Just be prepared to pay quite a few tolls – just over 14 euro.
If you decide to hire a car to drive from Athens to Patras, keep in mind any one-way fees involved. Still, if you are two people or more, it will work out a lot cheaper than taking a taxi!
Note: If you are driving to Patras Port, keep in mind there are two different areas from where ferries depart to the Ionian islands and to Italy. Find out more here: Patras Port.
Athens to Patras by Taxi
I briefly looked into traveling to Patras from Athens by taxi. To be honest, I found the prices horrifying! Still, if you don't mind paying the high price, there's no denying that it is the most convenient, no-hassle way of travel from Athens to Patras Greece.
You can even pre-book a taxi, meaning that a driver will pick you up directly from the airport when you land. I recommend Welcome Pickups.
Athens to Patras Bus Services
Is there a bus from Athens Airport to Patras?
Yes there is a bus to Patras from Athens Airport. Kind of. It does involve changing though along the way.
Taking one of the bus services between Athens and Patras is normally the cheapest way for solo travelers to make the trip from Athens.
The total journey takes around 3 hours in duration to reach the destination.
To get a bus from Athens Airport to Patras, you will need to get to the Kifisos bus station first. There are two ways to do that:
Option 1 – You can take bus X93 right outside the Airport terminal. Allow plenty of time to get to Kifisos bus station, as it can take over an hour and a half or even more during rush hour. Tickets cost 6 euro – you can buy them at a kiosk just outside the bus and then validate them once on the bus.
Option 2 – You can pre-book a taxi to meet you at the airport and take you to the bus station using Welcome Taxis.
Athens to Patras Bus from Kifisos Station
Once you have arrived to Kifisos Central Bus Station, you will need to find the bus going to Patras. Now when it comes to buses (and not only), Greece is a very unique country, as each area in Greece roughly has its own bus company.
Those bus companies are commonly referred to as KTEL, but are all run individually.
Use KTEL Achaias to Patras from Athens
In order to get to Patras, you will need to look for KTEL Achaias, Patras being the capital of the prefecture of Achaia. There are buses every half an hour or so, so even if you don't have a ticket you should be ok.
You can use this link to check the bus timetable – Bus Timetable, or book a ticket in advance. Return tickets are discounted, but only if you book them in person.
The bus will drop you off quite centrally in Patras, but depending on where you are staying in Patras you might need to take a short taxi ride.
Note that if you are returning to Athens from Patras, you can get off the KTEL bus at Elaionas metro station and use the metro to go downtown.
Train from Athens to Patras
If you are a fan of trains, you can use a combination of the new and shiny suburban railway and a bus. You will need to take the suburban railway from the airport to “Kato Aharnai” station, and then switch to another train that will bring you to the town of Kiato.
In Kiato, you will need to hop on a bus to eventually get to Patras. While there are fewer trains per day than KTEL buses, this route is more scenic, and you will avoid traffic in Athens.
If this is your chosen means of transport, bear in mind that the train company goes on strike now and then.
If you are planning very much ahead, you will be glad to know that the train is scheduled to go all the way to Patras as of 2022!
Cycling from Athens Airport to Patras
Yes, you can even cycle to Patras from Athens Airport. It will take a couple of days though.
The best way, is to leave Athens Airport and head to the centre of Athens. Just set you Google map on your phone to avoid tollways and a route will present itself. There may be a bit of dual carriageway riding at the beginning.
From here, it might be good to stay overnight in the centre of Athens. After a little sightseeing in Athens, you could then follow the old highway 1 toward Patras. This take you along the coast, and once out of Athens itself, is quite a pleasant route.
You can read more about part of this cycling route from Athens to Patras here – Cycling Athens to Messolonghi.
Things to do in Patras
If you're looking what to do in Patras when you arrive, I've got a great article for you. I'd certainly recommend checking out some street art and the museum in Patras. Take a look at the full article here – Things to do in Patras.
FAQ About Getting from Athens to Patras
Some of the most commonly asked questions about getting to Patras from Athens include:
How do I get from Athens to Patras?
The simplest public transport option is to take the bus. Other ways to travel to Patras from Athens include by car, taxi, and train.
Is Patras worth visiting?
Patras is a pleasant city with many historic and tourist spots. Public transport is not needed often since most of the town can be found near downtown which is all walkable.
How do you get to Patras Greece?
Patras has a very large ferry port, meaning you can get there from some of the Ionian islands by ferry. Land transport options include driving by car, taking the bus, train, and even cycling!
How far is Patras from Athens?
The distance between Athens and Patras and Patras by the shortest route by road is 210.7 km. It would take approximately 2.5 hours to drive.
Is Patras Greece safe?
Patras is a very safe city for tourists to visit. As with any major city, exercise awareness in crowded spaces, and avoid becoming a target for pickpockets or bag snatching.
– Dave BriggsDave is a travel writer who lives in Athens Greece, and write travel guides and itineraries like this Athens to Patras guide to help visitors get around and enjoy the country more easily. Follow Dave on social media for travel inspiration from Greece and beyond:
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