Syros to Piraeus, Piraeus to Patras and Patras to Venice!

The Question:

Gday! StavrosWe are going to be staying on Syros Island for a couple of weeks and then need to get to Venice to catch a Costa Cruise on the 23rd May 09. Flights from Athens to Venice are complicated We thought we would try the Ferry from Syros to Piraeus (or Corinth)?? then catch a train ride through to Patra where we can catch an overnight ferry to Venice. We are not sure if the journey can be completed in one day? as the ferry to venice leaves Patra at mid night?? Can you advise us with our best options? Do you know if the Cruise liners leave Venice from the same port as the Minoan ferry?Regards Sheila


The Answer:

Hey Sheila!
Well, I think you can make it in one day if you start early and with a good planning!
Syros-Piraeus lasts 2,5 to 4 hours depending on the ferry type you will choose. The timetable is not available, as the companies publish it around March. One good site to check it out then is www.fantasticgreece.com.
Then at Piraeus you will have to take the train. There is proastiakos train line until Kiato and then OSE train until Patra. I know 2 routes for Piraeus-Parta: one at 11.44 and one other at 18:44. You can find more departing hours by calling their call centre on 1110. The personnel is quite helpful! Ah and the port from Proastiakos train platforms is close enough so you will have to calculate in advance 30 minutes to get there.
If you want to catch the midnight ferry to Venice you should plan to arrive at Patras the latest 22.45 as you need to get from the train station to the port. The distance is not far away, don't worry about it. The trip with the train from Piraeus to Patras takes 3.30-4 hours.
I am not sure about the port at Venice..why don't you check their official site at http://www.costacruise.com ? I am sure you will find a great deal of useful tips!
Hope I have helped!
-Stavros

Seaplane flights Corfu and Levkas

The Question:

What is the schedule for seaplane flights between Corfu and Levkas from May to October 2009?


The Answer:

Hello!

Since it is quite early, the schedule has not been published yet.

You can check out the below link, so that not to miss it when it will be online.

http://www.airsealines.com/index.cfm

Hope I helped!

-Stavros

From Kiato to Aigio do I change train platforms?

The Question:

Do I have to change platforms (or stations) when I get to Kiato to take the train from Kiato to Aigio?? Is the train from Kiato to Aigio only OSE or is there Intercity as well??? From past experience I know OSE are not reliable time wise. Is the train leaving Piraeus at 20.44 intercity? If yes, why do I change at Kiato and not go through to Aigio??

Helen


The Aswer:

Hi again Helen!

Well, the part Piraeus-Kiato is by the train of proastiakos and everything is ok. With the intercity proastiakos train departing on 20.44 from Piraeus you will arrive on 21.27 at Kiato. From there you just change platform (one level down at the same station) and continue with OSE train departing 21.37 towards Patras. For the time being this line is not direct, it has to stop by various villages, even if the name is intercity.
But.. I just found out by calling 1110 that the last part after Kiato is out of order - and will be this way until 19/12/08! The latest update is that the route after Kiato is being served by a bus waiting at Kiato to get all the passengers coming from Piraeus/Athens until Diakofto. From Diakofto the bus will leave you at the train station. As soon as you get on that train Aigio is 3 stops away. In less than 10 min you will be there.
If you think this is much of a trouble, why don't you try to get the KTEL bus departing from Athens Kifissos Central Bus Station and arriving at Aigio in 2 hours and 15 minutes? I know that the bus ticket is more expensive (total cost one way around 12E) but you will enjoy the confort! Find out more on +30 210 5147310.

Have fun at beautiful Aigio! Don't miss Akoli Beach ;)

-Stavros

From Piraeus to Aigio by train

The Question:

how to get from Piraeus to Aigio by train?


The Answer:

Hello hello!

Well it is quite easy. There is a train of Proastiakos network departing from Piraeus with final destination "Kiato". The trip from Piraeus to Kiato is about 40 minutes and you can see online the timetable. At Kiato you need to change train. There is connecting line of OSE train railways that goes from Kiato until Aigio. The trains you should catch are those that depart from Piraeus on 7:44, 11:44, 18:44, 20:44. This last one is intercity, so you will arrive faster, comparing to the others. By catching one of those trains departing from Piraeus you will have connection at Kiato as soon as you get there, so you don't have to wait at all. You simply change to train heading towards Patras and in 1 hour and 35 min you will have to get off at your stop at Aigio!
One last advice: I suggest you to call their service call centre as well (just dial 1110 and press 2 for english), as until 25/11 some itinaries have been cancelled. Just check to be sure!

Hope I helped!

-Stavros

Is there a Direct Bus line Thessaloniki-Patras?

The Question:

is there direct bus thessaloniki-patra and what time???



The Answer:

Hello!
Unfortunatelly there is not a direct line but the connection is really simple.
From Thessaloniki you will have to travel to Athens and from there to change bus to Patras. Busses are really frequent (every 1 - 1,5 hour) starting from 7 am and ending on 24 pm. You can find the timetable for the first part Thessaloniki - Athens at Ktel Thessalonikis official website Price is 35 E per person one way and the trip lasts 6 hours.
As soon as you get to Athens you will have to change bus to Kifissos Bus Station. Busses to Patras depart every 30-60 minutes from the gate under the region name Ahaia (N. Αχαιας). You will be in Patras 3 hours later. For more information about Athens-Patras you can call the station at +302105136185.
Hope I have helped!

-Stavros