London to Athens by train
Travel from London (United Kingdom) to Athens (Greece) by train (2391km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
To travel by train from London in the United Kingdom to Athens in Greece, several travel routes are possible.
One for example is from the United Kingdom via France to Italy. Then from Italy by ferry to Greece.
Another one from the United Kingdom via France, Germany, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria to Greece.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
- 2London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Munich (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Thessaloniki (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
2391 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 London 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 - London / London - Thessaloniki / Manchester - Athens / Manchester - Thebes / Liverpool - Athens / Liverpool - Thessaloniki / Edinburgh - Thessaloniki / Newcastle upon Tyne - Athens / Birmingham - Igoumenitsa / London - Larissa1 London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
1a Travelling from London (United Kingdom) to Paris (France)
The Eurostar train from London to Paris is the fastest train connection with a travel time of 2.5 hours. You can buy cheap train tickets from 50 euros. There are up to 18 train connections daily. You can find the exact timetable and ticket prices for the Eurostar high-speed-train by clicking on the booking links.
If you want to travel cheaper, you can travel by bus. The journey time takes considerably longer with about nine hours. But the tickets are much cheaper and start at 14 EUR. Companies like Flixbus offer several bus connections daily - also as a overnight trip. You can get the bus tickets via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from London to Paris?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Eurostar (EST)
ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful.
Dover - Calais
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Paris - London
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
1b Travelling from Paris (France) to Ancona (Italy)
To travel from France to Italy, you have on the main travel routes direct trains from Paris and Marseille to Milan. From Milan you have good train connections to all over Italy.
We recommend the night train from Paris to Milan and Venice. It saves you travel time and it is comfortable.
To find the exact train-schedules and ticket fares, use our booking links. As earlier you book, as cheaper the tickets are.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Ancona?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
TGV France - Italy (TGV) / Eurocity Thello (THELLO)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
TH 221 Paris - Venice
train company:
SNCF Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français / THELLO Thello
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Ancona - Paris / Paris - Rome / Paris - Venice / Paris - Milan / Paris - Palermo / Lyon - Rome / Lyon - Milan / Marseille - Milan / Marseille - Rome / Bordeaux - Rome / Nice - Turin
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
1c 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
1d 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 London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Munich (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Thessaloniki (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from London (United Kingdom) to Paris (France)
The Eurostar train from London to Paris is the fastest train connection with a travel time of 2.5 hours. You can buy cheap train tickets from 50 euros. There are up to 18 train connections daily. You can find the exact timetable and ticket prices for the Eurostar high-speed-train by clicking on the booking links.
If you want to travel cheaper, you can travel by bus. The journey time takes considerably longer with about nine hours. But the tickets are much cheaper and start at 14 EUR. Companies like Flixbus offer several bus connections daily - also as a overnight trip. You can get the bus tickets via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from London to Paris?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Eurostar (EST)
ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful.
Dover - Calais
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Paris - London
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2b Travelling from Paris (France) to Munich (Germany)
Travel from Paris to Munich by ICE and TGV INOUI high-speed-trains. The ticket price starts at 39 EUR. The journey times is six hours. There are at least five train connections per day with only one change of trains.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Munich?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE) / ICE Alleo Germany - France (ICE Alleo) / TGV Alleo France - Germany (TGV Alleo)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Munich - Paris
2c Travelling from Munich (Germany) to Budapest (Hungary)
To travel from Munich to Budapest by train use one of the direct Railjet trains. Train tickets are available as "Sparpreis Europa" (saver price) from 39 EUR. The journey times is seven hours. The Railjet trains offer at least five direct connections per day.
There is a night train available as well offering tickets from 29 EUR. The journey time of the night train is 9:30 hours.
Find ticket prices and schedules via our booking links. The ticket price depends on your travel date.
Where to buy a ticket from Munich to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 463 Munich - Budapest / EN 462 Budapest - Munich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Munich
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2d Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Belgrade (Serbia)
Travel from Hungary to Serbia by direct train on the route from Budapest to Belgrade.
There are saver fare tickets available from 15 EUR.
2021: the direct route Budapest to Novi Sad and on to Belgrade is under construction. The best option is to travel by train from Budapest to Zagreb and from Zagreb to Belgrade if you want to avoid changes and buses.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your train tickets via the given booking websites.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Belgrade?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
EuroCity (EC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
G 341 Budapest - Belgrade
train company:
MÁV Magyar Államvasutak - MÁV START
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Belgrade - Budapest / Budapest - Novi Sad
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2e Travelling from Belgrade (Serbia) to Sofia (Bulgaria)
Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train connection. In off-season (October to May) you have to change trains in Nis and Dimitrovgrad. Sometimes an overnight train is offered as well.
The journey time from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train is 11:30 hours. Train tickets are available from 21 EUR in 2nd class. Buy your ticket locally at the railway station. The departure time in Belgrade (Topcider) is 09:15. The arrival time in Sofia is 20:45.
If no direct train is available, you have to travel in several steps:
1. Belgrade to Nis. It might be the case that you have to stay overnight in Nis.
2. Nis to Dimitrovgrad.
3. Dimitrovgrad to Sofia.
Find the exact schedules via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Belgrade to Sofia?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Sofia - Belgrade
2f Travelling from Sofia (Bulgaria) to Thessaloniki (Greece)
Travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki by direct day train. The journey time is 8:30 hours. Buy your train ticket for 35 BGN (18 EUR) at the train station in Sofia.
The departure time in Sofia is 15:00. The arrival time in Thessaloniki is 23:30. There are always seats available therefore it is no problem to buy the ticket at the day of departure.
Note (2022/2023): currently the train traffic is interrupted and you have to travel by bus. The bus ticket price is 15-20 EUR. Buy it via the given links or on union-ivkoni.com
No discount with Interrail/Eurail.
Where to buy a ticket from Sofia to Thessaloniki?
Buy the train ticket at a railway station. Note: in some countries you have to pay a service fee at the ticket counter. The ticket can be purchased at a station in the country of departure, also sometimes in other countries.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Thessaloniki - Sofia
2g Travelling from Thessaloniki (Greece) to Athens (Greece)
To travel by train from Thessaloniki to Athens, use one of the direct IC connections for day travel. There are usually five connections per day with a journey time of four hours.
The ticket price for a one-way journey starts from EUR 35 in second class.
There is one overnight train available with a journey time of about seven hours. Ticket prices start from EUR 20.
Find the train-schedules and ticket fares via our booking links.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Inter City (IC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
T 600 Athens - Alexandroupoli / T 601 Alexandroupoli - Athens
train company:
OSE TRAINOSE
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Athens - Thessaloniki
Need a cheap place to sleep? We recommend booking.com
Find a cheap flight! Compare prices on Kiwi.com
Do you have questions about the connection between London 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.
