Getting Around Greece: Transport Guide for Travellers

Getting around Greece is easiest with a mix of airport transfers, public transport in cities, inter-city ferries/buses, and occasional taxis or rentals. Major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki have good metro and bus networks, while islands rely more on buses, taxis, and scooters. Book ferries early in summer and consider an eSIM from Hello to use navigation and ride-hailing apps without hunting for Wi‑Fi.

For most travellers, a typical pattern is: prebook an airport transfer or use the metro into Athens, rely on metro/buses plus some taxis in the city, then take ferries or intercity buses to other regions. Renting a car is great in mainland areas like the Peloponnese but less necessary in compact islands.

Greece welcomed over 32 million international visitors in 2023, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority, and transport infrastructure is geared towards tourism—but services can be crowded in July–August. Budget around €1.20–€1.50 for city bus tickets (2025 prices), €9–€12 for airport–city metro tickets, and €30–€80 for intercity bus or ferry journeys depending on distance and season.

Hello’s app can smooth the whole experience: Hello eSIM keeps your phone online across Greece, while built‑in expense tracking and splitting help you manage shared taxi rides, fuel, and ferry tickets with friends.

Airport transfers in Greece range from cheap metro and buses to convenient taxis, with typical costs from €5–€50 depending on distance and comfort level. Most major airports offer a straightforward choice between public transport and fixed‑rate cabs, plus prebooked shuttles for peace of mind.

Athens International Airport (ATH) is the main gateway. You have four main options (2025 prices):

Option	One-way price (adult)	Time to Syntagma	Notes
Metro Line 3	€9 (return €16)	40–45 min	Runs ~06:30–23:30
Express bus (X95, etc.)	€5.50	45–70 min	24/7 service
Taxi (official yellow)	€40 day / €55 night	35–50 min	Flat airport rate
Prebooked shuttle/private	~€45–€60 (car)	35–50 min	Door-to-door

You can buy metro tickets at machines in the arrivals hall; validate before boarding. Express airport buses run to central hubs like Syntagma and Piraeus—buy tickets at kiosks or on board.

In Thessaloniki, the airport bus (Line 01X/01N) costs about €2–€3 and takes 35–45 minutes to the centre, while taxis are usually €20–€30. On islands like Santorini and Mykonos, there are seasonal airport buses (€2–€4) but many travellers rely on hotel transfers or taxis (€20–€40).

If you’re landing late at night or with lots of luggage, prebooking a shuttle can be worth the extra cost. Use Hello eSIM for Greece so you can coordinate pickups on WhatsApp and navigate to your accommodation even if your driver drops you nearby rather than at the exact door.

Public transport in Greece is affordable and generally reliable in big cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, with integrated tickets covering metro, buses, and trams. Expect to pay around €1.20–€1.50 for 90‑minute rides and more for airport connections and express services.

Athens public transport basics (2025):

• Single 90‑minute ticket: €1.20–€1.40 (covers metro, bus, trolley, tram; excludes airport)
• 24‑hour ticket: ~€4.10
• 5‑day ticket: ~€8.20
• Airport metro ticket: €9 one‑way

You’ll mostly use the blue Ath.ena paper tickets or reloadable cards. Tap in at metro gates; on buses and trams, validate at the onboard machines. Athens has three metro lines, a coastal tram to the Riviera, and an extensive bus network, with real‑time info in the official OASA Telematics app.

Thessaloniki currently relies on buses (the metro is gradually rolling out), with single tickets around €0.90–€1.30 depending on zones. On many islands, public buses are the backbone of transport, especially in summer. For example:

• Santorini: Fira is the hub; rides to Oia or Perissa are ~€2–€2.50
• Naxos / Paros: Summer buses link main beaches and villages for €1.80–€3 per trip

Always carry small change for bus tickets, and in high season, arrive at stops early—buses can be full and you might have to wait for the next one. Use Hello’s budget tracking to log transit costs by city so you can see whether a multi‑day pass is better value than single fares.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely used in Greece’s major cities, with regulated fares and app‑based services that make it easier to avoid misunderstandings. Expect to pay €4–€8 for short urban rides and €10–€20 across central Athens, depending on traffic and time of day.

In Athens, taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap by Western European standards. There’s a minimum fare (around €4 in 2025) and a starting fee, plus per‑kilometre and per‑minute rates. Official taxis are yellow, with meters and receipts; always check the meter is on. Night surcharges and baggage fees may apply.

As of 2025, Uber in Athens typically operates as Uber Taxi (matching you with licensed taxis rather than private cars). Local apps like Beat (often the most popular among residents) and other regional services operate in a similar way. On islands, there may be fewer app options, so old‑school phone bookings through your hotel or walking to the taxi rank is common.

Ride‑hailing and navigation apps need reliable mobile data. Using Hello eSIM for Greece (/esim/greece) means your phone is online as soon as you land, so you can request rides, share your live location, and translate conversations with drivers without hunting down airport Wi‑Fi.

Tipping isn’t mandatory but rounding up small fares to the nearest euro is appreciated. For group trips, Hello’s expense splitting lets you log each taxi or ride-hail fare and divide the total between friends automatically, even if you’re paying in euros and settling up later in another currency.

For inter-city travel in Greece, you’ll usually choose between KTEL buses on the mainland, ferries for island hopping, and limited but scenic intercity trains. Buses and ferries cover far more routes than trains, and booking early in summer is essential for popular crossings.

1. Intercity buses (KTEL) Regional KTEL companies connect Athens and Thessaloniki with most mainland cities and some ports. Examples (one‑way, 2025):

• Athens–Nafplio: €13–€15, ~2.5 hours
• Athens–Delphi: €15–€20, ~3 hours
• Athens–Patras: €20–€25, ~3 hours

Buses are usually comfortable, with air‑conditioning and luggage storage. Tickets can often be bought online or at stations on the day, but weekends and holidays get busy.

2. Trains (Hellenic Train) The main line is Athens–Thessaloniki, taking about 4–4.5 hours and costing roughly €25–€45 depending on class and advance booking. According to Hellenic Train, over 4 million passengers used this corridor in 2023. There are also services to Larissa, Kalambaka (for Meteora), and other cities, though some routes involve bus replacements.

3. Ferries and island hopping Greece has one of the world’s largest passenger ferry networks. According to the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Greek ferries transport more than 40 million passengers annually. Sample 2025 economy fares:

• Piraeus–Santorini: €40–€80 (5–8 hours; conventional vs. high‑speed)
• Piraeus–Mykonos: €35–€70 (2.5–5 hours)
• Heraklion–Santorini: €30–€60 (2–3 hours)

High‑speed catamarans are faster but can be choppy and more expensive. Always check which port you depart from (Piraeus, Rafina, or Lavrion near Athens) and arrive at least 45–60 minutes before departure. Use Hello to store ferry PDFs and track ticket costs in multiple currencies if you’re combining Greece with nearby countries.

Renting a car in Greece gives you flexibility to explore villages, beaches and archaeological sites that buses may barely reach, but you’ll need to understand licence rules, road etiquette and parking. Expect daily rental rates from €25–€60 outside peak season, rising in July–August.

Licences & IDP:

• EU/EEA licences are accepted without issue.
• Travellers from many non‑EU countries (including the US, UK, Australia and Canada) are often fine with their national licence, but some rental companies still request an International Driving Permit (IDP). To avoid problems, bring an IDP if your licence isn’t in Latin script or you’re booking smaller local agencies.

Costs & insurance (2025):

• Small car, shoulder season: €25–€40/day
• July–August or popular islands (Santorini, Mykonos): €50–€90/day
• Fuel: ~€1.90–€2.10 per litre for petrol

Always opt for at least basic collision damage waiver and photograph the car at pickup and drop‑off. Use Hello’s AI receipt scanning to store fuel and toll receipts, and categorize them by trip or region.

Driving conditions:

• Motorways (e.g., Athens–Patras, Athens–Thessaloniki) are generally good but involve tolls (€2–€4 per plaza).
• Rural roads can be narrow, winding and poorly lit; avoid long night drives.
• On islands, watch for scooters, ATVs and tour buses on tight bends.

In cities, parking can be tricky. Look for blue‑zoned paid parking and avoid yellow lines. On busy islands, park slightly outside old towns and walk in. Use offline maps (downloaded over Hello eSIM before you set off) so navigation keeps working even if coverage drops in the mountains.

Most travellers get around Greece using a mix of public transport in the cities, ferries or intercity buses between regions, and occasional taxis or rental cars for harder-to-reach spots. With a bit of planning and mobile data for apps and maps, it’s straightforward even on a first visit.

Is public transport in Greece easy to use for tourists? Yes. In Athens, signs and announcements are largely in Greek and English, and ticket machines have English interfaces. Island bus networks are simpler but clear; timetables are usually posted at central stops and often on local websites.

What’s the cheapest way to get from Athens Airport to the city? The express airport bus (like X95 to Syntagma) at €5.50 (2025) is usually the cheapest, especially late at night when the metro stops. The metro at €9 is faster and still good value if your hotel is near a Line 3 station.

Do I need to book ferries in advance? From June to September, especially for popular routes like Piraeus–Santorini or Mykonos, it’s wise to book at least a few days ahead. Outside peak season or on less‑visited routes, day‑of tickets are often fine.

Is Uber available in Greece? In Athens, Uber typically works via licensed taxis (Uber Taxi), and there are local apps offering similar services. On islands, availability may be limited; taxis, buses, and hotel transfers are more common.

How can I keep transport costs under control? Use 24‑hour or 5‑day city transit passes where available, compare ferry vs. flight prices for long distances, and track every ride, ticket and fuel stop in the Hello app. The budget overview and expense splitting make it easy to see where your money is going and settle costs fairly with friends.