Barcelona to Athens by train
Travel from Barcelona (Spain) to Athens (Greece) by train (1878km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
To travel by train from Barcelona in Spain to Athens in Greece, the main route leads via France and Italy. Please read the following information and blog posts.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1Barcelona (Spain) - Marseille (France) - Milan (Italy) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
- 2Barcelona (Spain) - Civitavecchia (Italy) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
1878 km
How to use the following information: we show you the best routes and where to buy tickets. On longer routes you may need more than one ticket. Book your tickets step by step as explained. If you have questions about the route from Barcelona to Athens, please ask in our forum. Of course, sometimes there are as well other travel routes possible.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections : popular connections travelled by other users
Athens - Barcelona / Barcelona - Thessaloniki / Madrid - Athens / Madrid - Thessaloniki / Seville - Athens / Seville - Thessaloniki / Alicante - Athens / Santiago de Compostela - Athens / Lloret de Mar - Athens / Marbella - Athens1 Barcelona (Spain) - Marseille (France) - Milan (Italy) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
1a Travelling from Barcelona (Spain) to Marseille (France)
Travel from Barcelona to Marseille by direct AVE high-speed-train. The journey time is 4:20 hours. The train ticket fares start from 39 EUR.
The departure time in Barcelona is 16:30. The arrival time in Marseille is 20:50.
The railway stations are called "Barcelona Sants" and "Marseille St Charles".
There are as well other train connections available using Intercity and regional trains in Spain and in France. Also a scenic detour via Latour de Carol is possible including the "Petit Train Jaune".
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Barcelona to Marseille?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Transport Express Régional (TER) / Intercités (IC) / AVE Elipsos Spain - France (AVE Elipsos)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Marseille - Barcelona
1b Travelling from Marseille (France) to Milan (Italy)
Travel from Marseille to Milan by direct Thello train. The journey time is 7:20 hours. The train ticket fares start from 30 EUR.
The departure time in Marseille is 11:30. The arrival time in Milan is 18:50.
The railway stations are called "Marseille St Charles" and "Milano Centrale".
There are as well other train connections available using local trains in France and Intercity trains in Italy.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Marseille to Milan?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Transport Express Régional (TER) / InterCity (IC) / Eurocity Thello (THELLO)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Milan - Marseille
1c Travelling from Milan (Italy) to Ancona (Italy)
Travel from Milan to Ancona by direct train. The journey time is between 3:30 and 6 hours and depends on the train connection you choose. The train ticket fares start from 16 EUR. There are frequent train connections available, at least every hour.
You can choose between high-speed-trains (Frecciarossa and Frecciabianca) and slower trains like InterCity and Regionale Veloce trains. The train tickets for the slower train connections are usually cheaper.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Milan to Ancona?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
InterCity (IC) / Frecciabianca (FB) / Frecciarossa (FR AV) / Regionale (R) / InterCity Bus Italien (ICB I)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Ancona - Milan
1d Travelling from Ancona (Italy) to Patras (Greece)
Travel from Ancona to Patras by ferry. The journey time is 23 hours. The ticket price starts at 70 EUR. The ferry companies Superfast Ferries, ANEK Lines and Grimaldi Lines serve this route.
You will find these service categories on board of the ferry:
- seats: standard inclinable seats which are the cheapest travel option
- shared cabins with beds: you share the cabin and the shower and toilet with other travellers.
- private cabins: from standard to luxury cabins with private bed, shower and toilet. This is the best option if you want privacy, travel with your family or friends.
The check-in time is two hours prior to departure.
How you get in Ancona from the train station to the ferry port:
It is a distance of 2 kilometres from Ancona railway station to the port. You can either walk which will take about 30 minutes. Or you travel by bus line number 12 or 20. Frequent departures are available. The bus journey time is 10 minutes. You will arrive at the „Ancona Ferries Terminal“, the departure place of all ferry companies. The bus ticket price is 1.50 EUR. Show your boarding pass (if you have it already) and you may travel for free.
How you get in Patras from the ferry port to the train station:
You will arrive at the „New Port“ of Patras, which is 2 kilometres in the south of the railway station. Either walk within 30 minutes along the promenade or use the bus line number 18 to get to the railway station. It is a journey time of 10 minutes with hourly departures. The bus ticket price is 1,20 EUR. From Patras continue your journey by OSE train to Athens and other destinations in Greece.
In Patras you have a second port: the North Port which serves ferry routes to the Ionian Sea. Take bus line 18 or walk from the railway station within 10 minutes.
Where to buy a ticket from Ancona to Patras?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Patras - Ancona
1e Travelling from Patras (Greece) to Athens (Greece)
Travel from Patras to Athens by train. Between Patras and Kiato a bus of Greek railways replaces the train. In Kiato you change from bus to train and continue your journey to Athens. The total journey time is three hours. The ticket fare for the full trip from Patras to Athens is 17 EUR.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Athens - Patras
2 Barcelona (Spain) - Civitavecchia (Italy) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from Barcelona (Spain) to Civitavecchia (Italy)
Travel from Barcelona to Civitavecchia by ferry. The journey time is 20 hours. The ferry ticket fares start from 40 EUR.
The ferry offers standard seats and private cabins in different comfort classes. Also a restaurant is available.
To get to the ferry terminal of the company Grimaldi, take the subway line L3 to the station "Drassanes". Then either walk directly to the ferry terminal which is about 20 minutes and easy to do. Or walk to the bus stop "Portal de la Pau". Take the bus to the "Moll de Costa / Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona". This bus only runs for the ferry departure and arrival times.
You have to be at the ferry terminal 1:30 hours before the ferry departure.
At Civitavecchia have a walk of 15 minutes to the railway station. There are trains running every 20 minutes from Civitavecchia to Rome. The journey time is one hour. The train tickets fare is 4,60 EUR.
Find the exact ferry schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Barcelona to Civitavecchia?
The following links could be interesting for you.
ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful.
Civitavecchia - Barcelona / Barcelona - Civitavecchia
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Civitavecchia - Barcelona
2b Travelling from Civitavecchia (Italy) to Ancona (Italy)
Travel from Civitavecchia to Ancona by train. The journey time is 5:30 hours. The train ticket fare starts from 21 EUR. Usually you have to change the train in Rome main railway station.
Find the exact train schedules and book your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Civitavecchia to Ancona?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
InterCity (IC) / Frecciabianca (FB) / Regionale (R)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Ancona - Civitavecchia
2c Travelling from Ancona (Italy) to Patras (Greece)
Travel from Ancona to Patras by ferry. The journey time is 23 hours. The ticket price starts at 70 EUR. The ferry companies Superfast Ferries, ANEK Lines and Grimaldi Lines serve this route.
You will find these service categories on board of the ferry:
- seats: standard inclinable seats which are the cheapest travel option
- shared cabins with beds: you share the cabin and the shower and toilet with other travellers.
- private cabins: from standard to luxury cabins with private bed, shower and toilet. This is the best option if you want privacy, travel with your family or friends.
The check-in time is two hours prior to departure.
How you get in Ancona from the train station to the ferry port:
It is a distance of 2 kilometres from Ancona railway station to the port. You can either walk which will take about 30 minutes. Or you travel by bus line number 12 or 20. Frequent departures are available. The bus journey time is 10 minutes. You will arrive at the „Ancona Ferries Terminal“, the departure place of all ferry companies. The bus ticket price is 1.50 EUR. Show your boarding pass (if you have it already) and you may travel for free.
How you get in Patras from the ferry port to the train station:
You will arrive at the „New Port“ of Patras, which is 2 kilometres in the south of the railway station. Either walk within 30 minutes along the promenade or use the bus line number 18 to get to the railway station. It is a journey time of 10 minutes with hourly departures. The bus ticket price is 1,20 EUR. From Patras continue your journey by OSE train to Athens and other destinations in Greece.
In Patras you have a second port: the North Port which serves ferry routes to the Ionian Sea. Take bus line 18 or walk from the railway station within 10 minutes.
Where to buy a ticket from Ancona to Patras?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Patras - Ancona
2d Travelling from Patras (Greece) to Athens (Greece)
Travel from Patras to Athens by train. Between Patras and Kiato a bus of Greek railways replaces the train. In Kiato you change from bus to train and continue your journey to Athens. The total journey time is three hours. The ticket fare for the full trip from Patras to Athens is 17 EUR.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Athens - Patras
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Do you have questions about the connection between Barcelona and Athens? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.
Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.
