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

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

How to get from Piraeus Port to Patras

The Question:

hello i am trying to find out how to get from piraeus to patra, i arrive in piraeus at 6 am on a sunday and i have to get to patra the quickest way.
I hope you can help,
thank you ..Dilly


The Answer:

Hello Dilly!
You can reach Patra by train or bus. If you wish to travel by train, then the train station of Piraeus (OSE station) is quite near the exit of the port of Piraeus and you can go on foot. From there you will arrive in approximately 3,5 hours in Patra right in the city center and by its port. If you wish to travel by bus, which is a little bit faster, then you need to reach the Kifissos Suburban bus station (KTEL). The station is quite away from the port and the transportation there is a little bit tricky. You can take the metro (green line) from Piraeus station and take off at Omonia. From you will have to take bus line no.051 and take off at the last station which is at the Kifissos Bus Station. The bus route from Athens to Patra lasts 2.5 hours if you take the express bus. If you do not wish to take all these public means of transport, then I would recommend a taxi to the bus station. It won't take you, depending on the traffic, take you more than 20 minutes to reach the bus station and it will cost you maximum 8 euros.
Hope this helps!

-Stavros