Compare Ticket Costs: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class rail fares (solid lines) in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Dashed lines are buses, not covered by rail passes.
International Connections: Greece has cancelled all international train services in 2011; read more in European Rail News. The best way to reach Greece from other countries is by flying. Ferries also still connect Greece to Italy and Turkey.
Getting Around Greece: Since railway service is limited to a few main lines, a rail pass is not very useful. A rental car is handy on the mainland, outside of the big cities of Athens and Thessaloniki, but you may not be allowed to take the car onto ferries or into neighboring countries. Buses are a reasonable option in summer (confirm schedules and buy bus tickets locally as you go), but can be greatly reduced off-season. Flying to islands on Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines can save time over long ferry rides. Most ferry companies sell tickets online a few weeks ahead, or you can book at travel agencies there.
| Greece Eurail Pass Buy This Pass | ||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Adult | 1st Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month | $155 | $139 |
| 4 days in 1 month | $204 | $182 |
| 5 days in 1 month | $236 | $210 |
| 6 days in 1 month | $283 | $252 |
| 7 days in 1 month | $329 | $293 |
| 8 days in 1 month | $378 | $336 |
| 9 days in 1 month | $425 | $379 |
| 10 days in 1 month | $474 | $422 |
| Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11: half adult fare, under 4: free. Prices subject to change. | ||
| Greece-Italy Eurail Pass Buy This Pass | |||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth |
| 4 days in 2 months | $381 | $325 | $306 |
$261 | $249 |
| 5 days in 2 months | $419 | $357 | $336 | $286 | $274 |
| 6 days in 2 months | $459 | $391 | $368 | $313 | $299 |
| 7 days in 2 months | $497 | $423 | $398 | $339 | $324 |
| 8 days in 2 months | $536 | $456 | $430 | $366 | $350 |
| 9 days in 2 months | $576 | $490 | $461 | $393 | $376 |
| 10 days in 2 months | $613 | $522 | $492 | $419 | $400 |
| Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11: half adult or saver fare, under 4: free. Covers deck passage on overnight Superfast Ferries between Patras, Greece and Bari or Ancona, Italy (starts use of one travel day, cabins extra). Or 30-50% discount on Hellenic Med. Line ferry with basic cabin Patras-Corfu-Brindisi (does not use a travel day). Prices subject to change. | |||||
Since it's affordable to buy train tickets locally in both Italy and Greece, and since Greece has just a few rail lines operating, this pass is not a big seller.
| Balkan Flexipass Buy This Pass | |||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Adult | 1st Class Senior | 1st Class Youth |
| 5 days in 1 month | $252 | $202 | $152 |
| 10 days in 1 month | $440 | $353 | $264 |
| 15 days in 1 month | $529 | $425 | $318 |
| Covers trains in Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey. Senior = age 60 and over. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-12 halfadult fare. IC and ICE supplements extra. Reservations can be made locally. Read ahead — your guidebook may recommend travel by bus instead of train. Prices subject to change. | |||
