The three of us are planning to travel by boat from Athens to Italy (Ancona) this summer. Any tips would be appreciated. Is it best to take a bus or a train to Patras? Should we try to reserve early? I can't find a rate for the bus, is there an estimate? For the boat to Ancona, how far in advance should be book? Is the outside cabin worth the extra money?
Thank you,
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
From Athens to Patras, train does not go all the way. There is a bus/train combination that is designed to work for ferry travelers, or you could look for a direct bus. You don't need to reserve these. Reserving ahead for the ferry mostly depends on how limited/picky you are about the cabin selection. You can also see their high, medium, and low "season" dates on Superfast's web site. When sleeping on an overnight ferry, I've been happy with the cheaper inside cabins, and used the public areas when I wasn't ready to sleep. But this ferry takes about 24 hours, so a nicer cabin would be useful.
It can also be cheap to fly from Athens to Rome or other Italian cities; see www.skyscanner.com.
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
I agree with Laura, it might be more economical ( & faster) to fly from Athens to Italy.
When I traveled to Greece a few years ago, I'd consider taking the ferry to Italy but decided to fly instead.