How to Book Train Travel From Athens to Patras

As Greece's "Gateway to the West," Patras boasts everything a major metropolitan city should have and then some. Located on the Gulf of Patras and just across the pond from Italy, Patras represents the perfect fusion of ancient charm and contemporary comfort. Whether it is a trip to the city's celebrated archaeological museum or the ultramodern Rio-Antirio Bridge, visitors will relish their time spent in Patras. Read on to learn how to book train travel from Athens to Patras.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Passport
• Computer with Internet access

Book Train Travel From Athens to Patras

1. Use the RailEurope Web site to book either point-to-point tickets or Rail Passes from Athens to Patras. See the Resources section below for a link. You can also contact them by calling [phone].

2. Check the schedule. The International Train Planner is one of the best-kept secrets of the Web in that it offers up-to-the-second train schedule information from/to virtually every location in Europe.
   See the Resources section below for a link.

3. Know your destination. The RailEurope Web site features an interactive map that allows users a virtual aerial view of the country they are visiting and the train routes available.

4. Make a convenient itinerary. Trains from Athens to Patras leave multiple times each day and allow visitors extreme flexibility in their travel plans.

5. Direct any questions to the travel specialists at RailEurope. They can be reached via the online message system on the Web site.

6. Enjoy discounts for children and seniors over 60. Tickets from Athens to Patras are moderately priced.

Get Some Tips for Your Trip

7. Get to Patras from Athens in a hurry. Approximately 130 miles away, the Athens train station provides regular expedient trips to Patras.

8. Save some money and opt for the slow train. Although the trip from Athens to Patras takes much longer on this train (more than 4 hours), the ticket price is nearly equivalent to that of a cappuccino and croissant.

9. Take a cab. Patras is largely urban and boasts lots of private cars for hire. Visitors to the city can almost always find a taxi to get from place to place.

10. Save some money and book a Eurail Greece Pass, which allows for three days of unlimited first-class train travel in Greece.

Tips & Warnings

• Find group discounts quickly when you book online.
• Don't rely on the Patras bus system, which is notoriously off-schedule. City buses are convenient for relaxed explorations but not so much for those who have a strict itinerary to keep.