Paris to Athens by train
Travel from Paris (France) to Athens (Greece) by train (2096km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
The train connection Paris (France) - Athens (Greece) goes via Italy. From Italy travel by ferry to Greece. Please read the following information and our travel reports.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1Paris (France) - Milan (Italy) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
- 2Paris (France) - Venice (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
2096 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 Paris 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 - Paris / Paris - Thessaloniki / Bordeaux - Athens / Bordeaux - Thessaloniki / Marseille - Athens / Marseille - Thessaloniki / Lyon - Athens / Lyon - Thessaloniki / Toulouse - Athens / Montpellier - Athens1 Paris (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 Paris (France) to Milan (Italy)
Travel from Paris to Milan by TGV/Inoui high-speed-train. The journey time is 7 hours. The ticket fare starts from 29 EUR. There are up to four direct train connections daily.
A comfortable travel option is the direct overnight train "Thello". The cheapest tickets are available for 29 EUR. The departure time in Paris is 19:15. The arrival time in Milan is 06:00. This train offers four service-classes:
- couchette-compartment for 6 persons.
- couchette-compartment for 4 persons.
- sleeper-cabin standard for 1 to 3 travellers: a compartment with washing basin.
- sleeper-cabin premium for 1 or 2 travellers: a compartment with private shower and WC.
The departure train station in Paris is "Paris Gare de Lyon". The arrival station in Milan is "Milano Porta Garibaldi" or "Milano Centrale".
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Milan?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
TGV France - Italy (TGV)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
TH 221 Paris - Venice / TH 220 Venice - Paris
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Milan - Paris
1b 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
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 Paris (France) - Venice (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from Paris (France) to Venice (Italy)
Travel from Paris to Venice by direct and comfortable overnight train "Thello". The journey time is 14 hours. The train ticket price starts at 29 EUR for a bed. The departure time in Paris is 19:15. The arrival time in Venice is 09:30.
If you want to travel from Paris to Venice by day train connection, you have to change trains in Milan. The journey time is 10 hours. There are four daily train connections. The ticket price from Paris to Venice by high-speed-train starts at 49 EUR.
Paris to Milan: travel by TGV INOUI OUIGO train. The journey time is seven hours.
Milan to Venice: travel by Trenitalia Frecciarossa or ITALO train. The journey time is 2:15 hours.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Venice?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Frecciabianca (FB) / Frecciarossa (FR AV) / TGV France - Italy (TGV)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
TH 221 Paris - Venice / TH 220 Venice - Paris
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Venice - Paris
2b Travelling from Venice (Italy) to Patras (Greece)
Travel from Venice to Patras by ferry. The journey time is 32 hours and the ticket price starts at 90 EUR. The ferry company Superfast Ferries / ANEK Lines serves this route.
You will find these service categories on board of the ferry:
- 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 Venice from the train station to the ferry terminal:
Leave the train station „Venezia Mestre“ on the back side to the South. Walk along „Via Ulloa“ for about 250 meters. At the roundabout you see right hand the bus stop „Giovannacci Ulloa“. The bus line number 16 takes you to the bus stop „Moranzani Elettronica“. The bus departure is hourly to the full hour. It is a journey time of 15 minutes. From the bus stop you have to walk 800 meters to the ferry terminal, see the sign. The bus ticket price is 1,50 EUR and available at a ticket machine or via app. New information says that the bus line 16 also stops directly in front of the ferry terminal at the bus stop „Via Aautostrade del Mare“.
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 kilometers 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 Venice to Patras?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Patras - Venice
2c 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
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 Paris 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.
