Italy to Greece

[laurenc418]

Hi,
My friend and I are planning on traveling for Italy to Greece. We really only want to see Athens and Delphi for a couple of days and then spend the rest of our time on an Island or two. I had been looking in to taking a ferry from either Ancona or Brindisi, and going into either Patras port or Igoumenitsa port. I'm just not sure how far either of those ports are from Athens. Also I was slightly confused about how to get TO Athens from either port. I'd be very grateful to anyone who can shed some light on the bus/ferry system of Greece.

Thank you!
Lauren

[madamtrashheap]

I've made some notes about travelling from Italy to Greece in your other Post, lauren, but to be more in depth:

Note that you can also take ferries to Greece (Patras) from Bari, so you don't have to travel further south to Brindisi if not required. Travel from either Patras or Igoumenitsa ports will involve bus or train rides. The bus from Patras (get the express one if possible) will take around 3hrs and train will take about 3hr45mins (depending if work on the line is completed or is replacement busses are still operating one section) You'll need to change trains in Kiato.

From Igoumenitsa the bus is around 6hr30-7hrs and AFAIK there are no trains between Igoumenitsa and Athens.

The great thing is that from either port, you will cross over the Corinth Canal, and if there's a boat going through then that's a bonus. Some parts of the journey are good scenery-wise, but you'll need to allocate the better part of a day from arrival in port to arrival in Athens.

Depending on your final destination in Italy after your tour (see other Post) I'd be inclined to look for flights to Athens to save time.