Italy to Greece Route
Italy and Greece are 200 km apart at their closest point — the Strait of Otranto between Puglia and Corfu. But getting from one to the other is not as simple as it looks. There are ferries, flights, and an overland route through the Balkans, each with different costs, times, and trade-offs. This guide covers all three and helps you choose.
Option 1: The Ferry (Bari to Patras)
The classic route. You take a ferry from Bari (or Brindisi) in southern Italy to Patras in Greece, then a bus or train to Athens. It's the slowest option but the most atmospheric — you sleep on the ferry and wake up in Greece.
The Route
Bari to Patras: 16-18 hours, overnight. Ferries run 3-7 times per week depending on the season (daily in July-August, 3x/week in shoulder season, reduced in winter).
Operators: Anek Lines, Superfast Ferries, and Ventouris Ferries. Book on ferryhopper.com or direct on the operator's website.
Cost: Deck ticket (no cabin, you sleep on a reclining seat or the deck) €50-80. Cabin (private 2-4 berth with bathroom) €100-180 per person. Car: €80-150 extra.
From Patras to Athens: The ferry arrives in Patras at 6-8 AM. Take the KTEL bus to Athens (€20, 3 hours, runs every 30 minutes from the port) or the train (€18, 3.5 hours, less frequent). The bus is better — it's faster, more frequent, and drops you at the Kifissos bus station in central Athens.
Getting to Bari
Bari is in Puglia, southern Italy. You can reach it by:
- Train from Rome: Frecciarossa to Bari Centrale, 4 hours, €40-65. Book on trenitalia.com.
- Train from Naples: 3 hours, €25-40.
- Flight: Ryanair and Wizz Air fly to Bari from Rome, Milan, and Venice (€20-50).
- Car: Drive from Rome (4.5 hours on the A14, toll €25). You can bring the car on the ferry.
Spend a day in Bari before the ferry — the old town is a maze of white lanes, and the food is the best in southern Italy. Eat orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta with tomato sauce, €8) at any trattoria in the old town. Visit the Basilica of St. Nicholas (free, the original Santa Claus is buried here — his bones were stolen from Turkey and brought to Bari in 1087).
The Ferry Experience
The ferry is not a cruise. It's a cargo and passenger ship — big, functional, and not luxurious. The deck ticket means you sleep on a reclining seat in a lounge, or on the deck if the weather is good. The cabin is basic but clean — two or four bunks, a small bathroom, and a porthole. Bring snacks — the ferry food is expensive and bad (€15 for a bad buffet dinner). Bring a sleeping bag if you have a deck ticket — the lounges are air-conditioned and cold.
The ferry passes the Albanian coast at midnight and enters Greek waters at dawn. If you're awake at 6 AM, go to the deck — the approach to Patras is beautiful, the town appearing behind the blue water of the Gulf.
Alternative: Brindisi to Igoumenitsa
Brindisi (1 hour south of Bari by train) also has ferries to Greece — to Igoumenitsa (not Patras). Igoumenitsa is closer to the Greek mainland (2.5 hours to Athens by bus, €15). The ferry is 10-12 hours. Same operators, similar prices. If you're coming from the south of Italy, Brindisi is more convenient. If you're coming from Rome or Naples, Bari is better.
Option 2: Direct Flight
The fastest option. Multiple airlines fly direct from Italy to Greece:
| Route | Airline | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome to Athens | Aegean, ITA | 2h | €50-120 |
| Milan to Athens | Aegean, Ryanair | 2.5h | €40-100 |
| Venice to Athens | Aegean | 2h | €50-130 |
| Bari to Athens | Ryanair (seasonal) | 1.5h | €30-80 |
| Naples to Athens | EasyJet (seasonal) | 2h | €40-90 |
Book 2-4 weeks ahead for the best prices. Aegean is the best airline in Greece — full service, 23kg baggage included, and a meal on short flights. Ryanair and EasyJet are cheaper but charge for bags (€25-40 for a carry-on).
When to fly: If you're short on time, fly. The ferry takes 24 hours door-to-door (travel to Bari + overnight ferry + bus to Athens). The flight takes 5-6 hours door-to-door (travel to airport + flight + transport from Athens airport). The flight costs €50-120, the ferry costs €50-80 + €20 bus = €70-100. The flight is faster and often cheaper.
When to take the ferry: If you have a car, if you have time, or if you want the experience. The ferry is part of the adventure — the flight is not.
Option 3: The Balkan Overland Route
The most adventurous option. You travel from Italy, through the Balkans, to Greece — by bus and train, through countries that most tourists never visit.
The Route
Step 1: Bari to Dubrovnik. Ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik (Croatia), 8-10 hours, €50-80. Jadrolinija operates this route, 3-4 times per week in summer. Or fly from Rome to Dubrovnik (€40-70, 1 hour).
Step 2: Dubrovnik to Kotor. Bus from Dubrovnik to Kotor (Montenegro), 2 hours, €15. The bus follows the Adriatic coast — one of the most scenic bus rides in Europe. Kotor is a walled medieval town at the end of Europe's southernmost fjord.
Step 3: Kotor to Tirana. Bus from Kotor to Tirana (Albania), 4.5 hours, €20. The border crossing can take 30-60 minutes. Tirana is a chaotic, colorful capital — the bunkers from the Hoxha regime are everywhere (750,000 of them were built).
Step 4: Tirana to Athens. Bus from Tirana to Athens, 12 hours, €35. Or fly (Aegean, €60-100, 1.5 hours). The bus goes through northern Greece — mountains, lakes, and the Meteora monasteries (if you ask the driver to stop at Kalambaka, you can visit Meteora and continue to Athens the next day).
Overland Route Summary
| Leg | Transport | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bari → Dubrovnik | Ferry | 8-10h | €50-80 |
| Dubrovnik → Kotor | Bus | 2h | €15 |
| Kotor → Tirana | Bus | 4.5h | €20 |
| Tirana → Athens | Bus | 12h | €35 |
Total: 26-28 hours of travel over 3-4 days, €120-150. Add €40-60/night for accommodation in Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Tirana. Total cost: €250-350 plus accommodation. This is more expensive than flying but you see four countries and some of the most beautiful coastline in Europe.
Why do it: The Balkans are the most underrated travel destination in Europe. Dubrovnik is stunning (walk the walls, €35). Kotor is a smaller, cheaper Dubrovnik (walk the 1,350 steps to the fortress, €8). Tirana is wild and fascinating. The Albanian Alps in the north are the most beautiful mountains in Europe that nobody visits. If you have 2+ weeks, this route is better than the direct ferry or flight.
Which Option Is Best?
Fly if: You have less than 2 weeks total for Italy and Greece. You just want to get there. You're traveling in winter (ferry schedules are reduced).
Take the ferry if: You have a car. You have 2+ weeks and want the experience. You're traveling in summer (daily ferries, good weather). You want to bring more luggage than a flight allows.
Go overland if: You have 3+ weeks. You want to see the Balkans. You're an adventurous traveler who doesn't mind 12-hour bus rides. You want to see places most people don't.
Practical Tips
- Book ferries on ferryhopper.com — the best site for Mediterranean ferry booking. It shows all operators and schedules.
- Book flights on skyscanner.net — compare all airlines. Aegean is usually the best option (full service, good schedule).
- Border crossings: Italy, Greece, and Croatia are in Schengen — no border checks. Montenegro and Albania are not — passport checks at the borders. Have your passport ready.
- Currency: Italy and Greece use the euro. Croatia uses the euro (since 2023). Montenegro uses the euro (unofficially). Albania uses the lek (1 euro = 100 lek). ATMs are everywhere.
- Season: Ferries run year-round but with reduced schedules in winter (November-March). The Balkan overland route is best May-October — winter buses can be delayed by snow in the mountains.