Greece by Train: Book Your Greek Rail Holiday
Greece, with its ancient archaeological sites, mountainous mainland, and dozens of stunning islands, is a great destination for a rail & sail holiday.
You can easily reach Greece by train, and if you want to explore the Cyclades, Dodecanese, or any other Greek islands, you can continue by ferry from Piraeus or other ports.
For many, a rail trip in Greece offers the chance to visit lively, history-rich cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki, with their bustling cafés and tavernas.
Yet Greece offers far more than just Athens and other major cities.
You can explore the Peloponnese, with ancient sites such as Olympia and Mycenae, the Theatre of Epidaurus, and picturesque towns like Monemvasia and Nafplio, or head to the wild mountains of Epirus.
Of course, there are also the islands, all within a short ferry crossing or a comfortable overnight ferry from the mainland, such as Crete, Corfu, Santorini, Rhodes, and Naxos.
And even though a lot of people choose to fly to Greece, the country is an even better rail holiday destination.
A rail holiday to Greece is possible from almost any starting point in Europe. You can reach Greece surprisingly easy by train to Italy and ferry across the Adriatic Sea. For a more adventurous journey, you can travel to Greece via the Balkans, stopping off at some excellent places along the way before reaching Athens.
No matter whether your interest in Greece lies in its beaches, natural beauty, history, unique culture, cuisine, or friendly people, the train is by far the best way to see and experience it all.
Greek rail holiday packages
DiscoverByRail works in partnership with the specialist rail travel company Byway to provide a selection of rail holidays to Greece, starting from your chosen railway station. Each package includes all train and ferry travel, accommodation, and full support throughout your trip.
As one of the UK’s most established and trusted rail travel specialists, Byway offers a broad range of attractive train holiday packages, all supported by comprehensive consumer protection.
You can explore all available rail holidays by scrolling through the selection above, entering your preferred destination, or narrowing the results using filters such as duration, price, and other criteria.
If you use the discount code DiscoverByRail75, you will receive £75 off any rail holiday booked through Byway.
Customise your rail holiday
Byway’s rail holiday packages can be customised to match your personal preferences.
Of course, you can book a Byway rail holiday package as it is, but if you would like to make a few changes to your Greek itinerary, such as adding a destination or adjusting the length of your stay, this is always possible.
Whether you would like to replace Paros with a stay on the island of Hydra, or simply want to extend your time in Athens, it can all be arranged.
Simply get in touch with Byway by email, telephone, or WhatsApp, and their travel agents will be happy to help design your ideal train holiday and answer any questions you may have.
Byway takes care of every aspect of your holiday, from booking train and ferry tickets to arranging hotel accommodation, allowing you to relax and enjoy the journey without worry.
If a ferry or train is delayed or cancelled, potentially affecting your travel plans, a dedicated out-of-hours emergency line is available to provide advice and assist with rebooking. This service is included in the cost of your rail holiday package.
Combine Greece with other destinations!
Your rail holiday to Greece begins with a train from your local railway station in the UK (or from any other European city of your choice), giving you full flexibility to design your itinerary in a way that suits your personal wishes.
The overland journey to Greece by train and/or ferry is relatively long, so it is entirely up to you whether you prefer to reach your Greek destination as quickly as possible or take the opportunity to visit additional places along the way.
For travellers departing from the UK, the most direct overland route to Greece usually involves taking the Eurostar into France, followed by a train journey to Italy. From Italian ports such as Venice or Bari, you can then take a ferry to Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece. This route gives you plenty of opportunities for stopovers along the way, if you wish.
For example, you could make stops in cities such as Paris, Turin, Florence, and Rome before continuing on to Bari to catch your ferry to Greece. You could even ask Byway to route your itinerary via Switzerland if you would like to include a short Alpine detour as part of your trip.
Alternatively, you could travel to Greece by train via the Balkans. However, this route has the minor drawback that rail services between Greece and its northern neighbours, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, are currently suspended, meaning a short bus or car transfer would be needed if you want to travel this way.
In any case, there are endless possibilities when it comes to creating the perfect rail holiday itinerary, as there are numerous train and ferry connections available both within Greece and on the journey to the country.
Byway can arrange any route you choose, giving you the freedom to tailor not only the Greek part of your trip but also the journey to and from your destination.
Customised rail holiday packages
If you are considering a rail holiday in Greece or simply want more information before making a booking, you are welcome to get in touch with Byway at any time.
You can contact Byway through the contact form on their website, or by telephone on +44 1692 660805 if you are based in the UK or Europe, or +1 608 305 8106 if you are calling from the US.
Make sure you mention that you found them through DiscoverByRail. By quoting the discount code DiscoverByRail75 you will receive £75 off any rail holiday you book through Byway.
Organise and book a rail holiday yourself
Byway is an excellent choice if you would rather book your Greek rail holiday as a complete package, with all tickets, accommodation, and support included. This option it well suited to travellers who enjoy rail journeys but prefer not to handle every detail of the planning themselves.
However, if you prefer to plan and book your rail holiday independently but find it challenging to build an itinerary or figure out where to book all the necessary train tickets, then you may want to explore DiscoverByRail’s travel architect service.