No international trains departing from Greece. — latimes.com

Traveling by train from Greece to locations abroad is no longer possible since TrainOSE, the long-distance railway network, discontinued international service on February 13, 2011. But there are buses that fill the gap.

Travelers in Greece who wish to avoid ferries and planes can still use long-distance buses run by domestic (KTEL) and foreign bus networks, as well as private tour companies. Below are a few known options.

*Article last updated on May 8, 2014. One revision pending, with Bulgarian Railways (not Greece’s TrainOSE) restoring service between Thessaloniki and Sofia.

Schedules subject to change and you are encouraged to confirm with links provided, as I cannot update this article on a daily or weekly basis.

Author’s note

Dates, times and prices are subject to change seasonally — even weekly and monthly — and I only speak four languages and cannot verify all of these routes first hand. Readers can share their experience or leave info and links in any language, growing this page as a resource for other travelers.

Note that no information on international buses from Greece had been compiled in English before this article, and a number of travel forums, commercial websites and Wiki entries have reused information without permission or attribution, so you are not getting confirmation from different sources.

*This post was inspired by a question by Stephen on “KTEL buses in Greece,” which is where you should look if seeking long-distance buses traveling between cities in Greece.

Visas and permits

Be sure you have the proper visa or residence permit (or bebaiosi) before crossing the border to another country. Passports will be checked, and authorities will have no hesitation in kicking you off the bus if you do not have the proper identification and travel documents.

Plane or bus?

Depending on your destination and how far in advance you book tickets, Aegean Airlines may offer flights at prices comparable to bus fares. Take into consideration the time and cost needed to travel to the airport, check in, board, disembark and pick up your luggage, then transport yourself to town.

What’s best for you comes down to personal preference in comparing cost vs. convenience.

Tirana buses — http://www.tirana-airport-transfer.com

Buses

Buses range from modern and comfortable to bumpy and basic, and bus terminals/stations may be anything from a dirt field, local cafe to modern facility. It’s all part of the travel experience.

Translations to English are provided if the link does not offer a version — or failed to work with an online translator — and it was a language I could understand or partially transliterate.

Albania

• Athens (Athine) to Tirana
Departing daily at 8:00 and 9:00.
Cost: 30 euros, one way; 50 euros round trip
Bus Station: not listed
Albania Interlines: Plateia Ag. Dionysou 1, Piraeus, (210) 461-7001, albania.interlines@hotmail.com or Facebook page
or
Departing twice daily (no schedule listed)
Cost: 35 euros, one way
Bus station: Former OSE Peleponnisou train station in Piraeus
Alba Trans: Diligianni 30 in Piraeus, (210) 822-4144 or (210) 520-0070, info@albatrans.com.al, Facebook page, Twitter or albatrans.com.al
or
Departing daily at 18:00?
Cost: not given
Bus station: Former OSE Peleponnisou train station in Piraeus
Joy Travel: athensinfo@joytravel.al or info@joytravel.al, (210) 5157 664, Facebook page or joytravel.al

Departing daily at 20:00 (Athens not listed as a destination as of June 30, 2013)
Cost: 35 euros, one way
Drita Travel, infodrita@yahoo.com or eurodrita@yahoo.com, Facebook page, dritaonline.com (booking system with no destinations in Greece) dritatravel.com (listed on FB as its website, but blank)

• Irakleio, Crete to Tirana
Departing daily except Thursday from Irakleio, departing daily except Monday from Tirana.
Cost: 57 euros, one way (does not include cost of ferry from Piraeus/Irakleio, but Alba Trans customers get 35% discount)
Bus pickup: Irakleio port
Luggage: Two pieces without weight restriction
KTEL Heraklio-Lassithi (via Alba Trans): www.ktelherlas.gr and Cretan Transportation Services ctgr.gr

• Lamia to Tirana
Departing daily at 19:00
Cost: not listed
Bus Station: Tafgetou Street, Lamia, (22310) 22677
KTEL Fthiotidos: www.ktelfthiotidos.gr

• Thessaloniki (Selanik) to Tirana
Departing daily at 21:00
Cost: not listed
Bus Station: KTEL Macedonia, Platform 20
Alba Trans: info@albatrans.com.al, (2310) 595431, Facebook page, Twitter or albatrans.com.al
or
Departing daily (no schedule given)
Cost: 25 euros, one way
Bus Station: KTEL Macedonia
Euro Interlines – Komatas Tours: Diligianni 19 in Metaxourgio, (210) 523-4594, eurointerlines2@hotmail.com, Facebook page or eurointerlines.com

Departing daily at 19:00 (no longer listed as destination)
Cost: 25 euros, one way
Drita Travel, infodrita@yahoo.com or eurodrita@yahoo.com, Facebook page or dritaonline.com (booking system with no destinations in Greece)

virtualtourist.com

Bulgaria

• Irakleio, Crete to Sofia
Departing every Thursday from Irakleio, departing every Saturday from Sofia.
Cost: 56 euros, one way
KTEL Heraklio-Lassithi: www.ktelherlas.gr

• Komotini to Sofia
Departing daily at 7:00
Cost: not listed
Bus Station: G. Mameli 4, Komotini, (25310) 23176
KTEL Rodopis: www.ktelrodopis.gr schedule

• Thessaloniki (Solun) and Serres to Sofia
Departing daily from Thessaloniki at 8:00, from Serres at 9:15 and arriving in Sofia at 14:30
Cost: not listed
Station: TrainOSE Thessaloniki terminal
KARAT-S in cooperation with TrainOSE: +30 (2310) 599100 in Thessaloniki and (23210) 59112 in Serres, eurolines.bg and trainose.gr
*Information from a fellow traveler, Niclas, and Naftemporiki
or
Departing every Friday at 13:30
Cost: not listed
Station: KTEL Macedonia bus terminal. Use local bus #72. It’s a 10-15 min ride to/from town.
KTEL Macedonia: ktelmacedonia.gr, +30 (2310) 595491
*This information came direct from KTEL Macedonia via email/phone, not the website
or
Departs daily at 1:30 and 15:30. Trip is 5 hours (day) to 6.5 hours (overnight).
Cost: 25 euros, one way; 45 euros, return trip
Station: KTEL Macedonia bus terminal. Use local bus #72. It’s a 10-15 min ride to/from town.
Union-Ivkoni, www.union-ivkoni.com
or
Departing daily at 8:00
Cost: 25 euros, one way; 40 euros, return trip. Discounts for students, retired persons and children.
Station: TrainOSE Thessaloniki terminal
MTT: mttsofia.com in cooperation with Simeonidis *MTT also travels to other destinations in Greece, such as Agrinio, Amfissa, Arta, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kalambaka, Karditsa, Katerini, Lamia, Larisa, Nafpaktos, Patra, Serres, Trikala, Volos.
or
Departing daily at 21:30
Cost: 25 euros, one way, 40 euros, round trip. Discounts for students and children.
Station: TrainOSE Thessaloniki terminal
Crazy Holidays as of July 1 & LG Travel in cooperation with MTT Sofia: Thessaloniki inquiries (2310) 258 000

*Bulgarian state railways said on January 1, 2014 that it would resume the Sofia-Thessaloniki link in cooperation with Greece but gave no date. In April, they announced it would restart May 10.

•  Other destinations from Greece to Sofia
The Central Bus Station of Sofia says buses depart daily to Athens (Atina) on its website at www.centralnaavtogara.bg, which has an English version. Language options and International destinations can be accessed in right upper corner for:

Agrinio, Amfissa, Arta, Corinth/Korinthos, Drama, Igoumenitsa, Kalamata, Kalambaka, Karditsa, Katerini, Kavala, Kylini, Lamia, Larissa, Megalopoli, Messini, Metsovo, Nafpaktos, Neapoli, Patra, Piraeus, Pyrgos, Serres, Tripoli, Trikala, Veria and Volos.

No reverse schedules are available, but buses usually arrive at and depart from KTEL stations or somewhere nearby in the city of destination. Inquire at the bus terminal or have your hotel/hostel call and ask for timetables and ticket prices.

Croatia

According to official website for Dubrovnik buses, there are no long-distance/international buses to/from Greece; and I could not find any bus companies departing from Greece to Croatia.

It’s also cheaper to fly, in comparison to using and transferring between buses and trains in different countries.

Czech Republic

• Athens to Brno and Prague
Departing every Thursday at 7:00
Cost: 90 euros, one way; 160 euros, return trip
Bus stop: Lagoumitzi 65, Neos Kosmos
Korona Travel: koronatravel.gr (may also be arranged via simeonidistours.gr)

• Thessaloniki to Brno and Prague
Departing every Thursday at 14:30
Cost: 80 euros, one way; 150 euros, return trip
Bus stop: 26th Oktovriou 14, Thessaloniki
Korona Travel: koronatravel.gr (may also be arranged via simeonidistours.gr)

FYROM/Macedonia

• Thessaloniki to Skopje
Departing daily at 17:30
Cost: 20 euros, one way; 25 euros, round trip
Bus stop: 26th Oktovriou 14, Thessaloniki
Simeonidis Tours: simeonidistours.gr

• Thessaloniki to Skopje
Departing daily at 6:00
Cost:  1280 denar or approx 21 euros, one way; 1650 denar or 27 euros, round trip
Bus stop: not listed
Skopje Bus Station: sas.com.mk; Thessaloniki inquiries (2310) 540 970

Germany

• Thessaloniki to Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and other cities
Departing every Wednesday at 13:00
Cost: 100-120 euros, one way; 185-210 euros, round trip. Price depends on length of journey. Discounts for children.
Bus stop: Halkokondyli 39, Thessaloniki
Portokalidis Tours: “Touring” central office, (2310) 567 330 or (2310) 262 163, portok@otenet.gr and portokalidistours.gr

Hungary

• Athens to Budapest
Departing every Tuesday and Saturday at 8:00 and every Thursday at 13:00
Cost: 80 euros, one way; 150 euros, return trip
Bus Stop: Lenorman 8, Athens
FP Travel:  fptravel.gr *Route also stops and picks up or drops off passengers in Lamia, Larissa, Katerini and Thessaloniki on the same days
or
Departing every Saturday at 7:00
Cost: 80 euros, one way; 150 euros, return trip. Discount for children.
Bus stop: Kondriktonos 10, Athens
Siamos Tours: siamostours.gr
or
Departing every Thursday at 7:00
Cost: 90 euros, one way; 160 euros, round trip
Bus stop: Lagoumitzi 65, Neos Kosmos
Korona Travel: koronatravel.gr

• Thessaloniki to Budapest
Departing every Thursday at 14:30
Cost: 80 euros, one way; 150 euros, return trip
Bus stop: 26th Oktobriou 14
Korona Travel: koronatravel.gr
or
Departing every Saturday at 14:30
Cost: 80 euros, one way; 150 euros, return trip. Discount for children.
Bus stop: Courthouse (Dikastiria)
Siamos Tours: siamostours.gr

Italy

• Thessaloniki to Bologna or Ancona
Departing every Wednesday at 13:00
Cost: 65 euros, one way; 130 euros, round trip. Discounts for children.
Bus stop: Halkokondyli 39, Thessaloniki
Portokalidis Tours: “Touring” central office, (2310) 567 330 or (2310) 262 163, portok@otenet.gr and portokalidistours.gr

Poland

• Athens to Krakow
Departing every Thursday at 8:00
Cost: 105 euros, one way; 175 euros, return trip
Bus Stop: Kondriktonos 10, Athens
Siamos Tours: siamostours.gr *Route also travels through Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia

• Athens to Warsaw
Departing every Sunday at 23:00
Cost: 110 euros, one way; 190 euros, return trip
Bus Stop: Old OSE train station Peleponnisou, but can vary by company. Click ‘Timetable’ after selecting your schedule
Voyager Booking Agent (Uses multiple companies), www.voyager.pl
The Voyager website also has routes from Katerini, Lamia, Larissa and Thessaloniki to more than 70 cities in Poland.

• Thessaloniki to Krakow
Departing every Thursday at 14:30
Cost: 105 euros, one way; 175 euros, return trip
Bus stop: Courthouse (Dikastiria)
Siamos Tours: siamostours.gr *Route also travels through Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia
or
Departing every Saturday and Monday at 6:30
Bus Stop: KTEL Macedonia bus station, but can vary by company. Click ‘Timetable’ after selecting your schedule
Cost: 100 euros, one way; 180 euros, return trip
Voyager Booking Agent (Uses multiple companies), www.voyager.pl
The Voyager websites also has routes from Katerini, Lamia, Larissa and Athens to more than 70 cities in Poland.

Romania

• Thessaloniki to Bucharest
Departing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 14:00
Cost: 50 -60 euros, one way; 100-120 euros, return trip
Bus stop: 26th Oktovriou 14, Thessaloniki
Simeonidis Tours: simeonidistours.gr

Serbia

• Athens to Belgrade
Departing every Tuesday and Saturday at 8:00, every Thursday at 13:00
Cost: 55 euros, one way; 95 euros, round trip.
Bus Stop: Lenorman 8, Athens
FP Travel: www.fptravel.gr *Route also stops in Lamia, Velestino, Larissa, Katerini and Thessaloniki to pick up passengers and passes through FYROM and Serbia.

• Athens to Belgrade/Novi Sad
Departing every Wednesday at 13:00 and every Saturday at 7:00
Cost: 55 euros (Belgrade) and 60 euros (Novi Sad), one way; 95 euros (Belgrade) and 100 euros (Novi Sad), round trip
Bus Stop: Kondriktonos 10, Athens
Siamos Tours: siamostours.gr *Route also stops in Lamia, Larissa, Katerini and Thessaloniki to pick up passengers

• Athens/Larissa to Belgrade
Departing every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 14:00 (Athens) and 19:00 (Larissa)
Cost: 55 euros (Larissa) and 60 euros (Athens), one way; 90 euros (Larissa) and 100 euros (Athens), round trip. Discounts for children 2-12 and agents.
Bus Stop: not listed
Alamanis: alamanis.com

•  Thessaloniki to Belgrade (Beograd) and Novi Sad
Departing every Wednesday at 20:00 and Saturday at 14:00.
Cost: 45 euros to Belgrade, 50 euros to Novi Sad one way; 80 euros Belgrade, 85 euros Novi Sad, return trip
Bus stop: 26th Oktovriou 14, Thessaloniki
Simeonidis Tours: simeonidistours.gr
or
Departing every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 21:00
Cost: 45 euros, one way; 80 euros, return trip
Bus stop: not listed
Alamanis: alamanis.com

On the Belgrade bus station website, Greece or Грчка is listed, and I read Serbian well enough to understand Athens (АТИНА), Glyfada (ГЛИФАДА), Evzoni (ЕВЗОНИ), Larisa (ЛАРИСА) and Thessaloniki (СОЛУН) are possible destinations. However, I cannot read the schedule, online translators cannot be used, and I do not know how current the timetables are.

Slovakia

• Athens to Bratislava
Departing every Thursday at 14:30
Cost: 90 euros, one way; 160 euros, return trip
Bus stop: Lagoumitzi 65, Neos Kosmos
Korona Travel: koronatravel.gr

• Thessaloniki to Bratislava
Departing every Thursday at 14:30
Cost: 80 euros, one way; 150 euros, return trip
Bus stop: Bus stop: 26th Oktobriou 14, Thessaloniki
Korona Travel: koronatravel.gr

Turkey

KTEL Thessaloniki recommends this company on its website. They are not KTEL buses.

• Athens to Istanbul/Constantinople
Departing daily except Saturday at 16:30. Trip takes 14 hours.
Cost: 60 euros, one way; 110 euros, return trip. There are discounts for students, children aged 2-12 and adults over 65.
Bus stop: Leof. Athinon 222, Athens
Crazy Holidays/Metro Turizm, Aristotelous 10, 1st floor, Thessaloniki, (2310) 237696, crazy-holidays@ips.gr
crazy-holidays.gr

•  Thessaloniki to Istanbul/Constantinople
Departing daily at 10:00 and 22:00
Cost: 45 euros, one way; 80 euros, return trip. There are discounts for students, children aged 2-12 and adults over 65.
Bus stop:  Anagnostaki 8 & Konstantinoupoleos, Thessaloniki
Crazy Holidays/Metro Turizm, Aristotelous 10, 1st floor, Thessaloniki, (2310) 237696, crazy-holidays@ips.gr
crazy-holidays.gr

And a tour company:

• Thessaloniki to Istanbul/Constantinople
Departing daily at 21:00
Cost: 35 euros, one way; 60 euros, return trip. Discounts for students w/ID and children.
Bus stop: 26th Oktobriou 14, Thessaloniki
Simeonidis Tours, simeonidistours.gr

KTEL Rodopi has two buses departing for Turkey.

• Komotini to Bursa
Departing every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:15
Cost: not listed

• Komotini to Istanbul/Constantinople
Departing daily at 1:00 and 13:15
Cost: not listed

Bus Station: G. Mameli 4, Komotini, (25310) 23176
KTEL Rodopis: www.ktelrodopis.gr

Rumors

A Greek travel directory and commercial websites claim that OSE replaced train services with buses to Istanbul, Tirana, Filipoupoli, Varna, Vernico, Tarnovo, Koritsa and Sofia. TrainOSE told me this is not true as of July 2011.

No international trains departing Greece

These train routes are no longer running:

• Athens and Thessaloniki to Constantinople/Istanbul
• Thessaloniki to Belgrade
• Thessaloniki to Bucharest
• Thessaloniki to Ormenio and Svilengrad (ended January 31, 2011)
• Thessaloniki to Skopje
• Thessaloniki to Sofia

The official statement said that service to Bulgaria, FYROM/Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey “failed to attract the number of passengers required to keep them going.” What it didn’t mention were reasons for that failure — an 80 percent increase in ticket prices and frequent delays (sabotage, accidents, vandalism), which made long-distance buses a more attractive option, 70 of 185 cars rendered useless by poor maintenance and long-term losses sustained from gross overstaffing.

Sources

— All websites linked above
— Vlad, Dragana, Anonimos, generous readers
— Balkanology, which pointed me in the right direction with helpful links, when researching Serbia and Croatia
— Communication with KTEL Macedonia, KTEL Thessaloniki, TrainOSE Web Team
“In Your Pocket: Tirana”
“Φρένο στις υπηρεσίες κατάκλισης και εστίασης της ΤΡΑΙΝΟΣΕ” — Eleftherotypia
“Το μνημόνιο κόβει και τα δρομολόγια” — Eleftherotypia
“Από σταθμάρχης… νοσοκόμος” — Elefhterotypia
“Το χάσαμε το τρένο…” — Eleftherotypia
“36 εκατ. ευρώ στην τουαλέτα” — Eleftherotypia
“Ψαλίδι σε δρομολόγια του ΟΣΕ” — Eleftherotypia
“Trains from Greece to Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey discontinued” — Twitter
“Ailing Greek rail to halt international trains” (Article removed) — AFP
“Greece’s soon-to-be-sold TrainOSE posts 187.3 million in losses” — Bloomberg

About

Kat is a well-traveled American journalist and author. To learn more, see “About Me.”

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