Zurich to Athens by train
Travel from Zurich (Switzerland) to Athens (Greece) by train (1617km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
To travel by train from Zurich in Switzerland to Athens in Greece, the main route leads either via Italy and by ferry to Greece. Or via Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria by train. Please read the following information and blog posts.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1Zurich (Switzerland) - Milan (Italy) - Ancona (Italy) - Patras (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
- 2Zurich (Switzerland) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Thessaloniki (Greece) - Athens (Greece)
1617 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 Zurich 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 - Zurich / Bern - Athens / Basel - Thessaloniki / Bern - Thessaloniki / Zurich - Thessaloniki / Lucerne - Athens / Lucerne - Thessaloniki / Geneva - Athens / Geneva - Thessaloniki1 Zurich (Switzerland) - 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 Zurich (Switzerland) to Milan (Italy)
Travel from Zurich to Milan by train. The direct EuroCity train has a journey time of 3:15 hours. The ticket price starts at 29 EUR in 2nd class and 49 EUR in 1st class. There are at least 10 direct train connections daily.
The departure station is "Zürich HB". The arrival station is "Milano Centrale".
Where to buy a ticket from Zurich to Milan?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
EuroCity (IT) (EC) / EuroCity (EC)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Milan - Zurich
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 Zurich (Switzerland) - 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 Zurich (Switzerland) to Budapest (Hungary)
There is a direct Railjet train from Zurich to Budapest every day, as well as a direct Nightjet night train.
How much does a train ticket cost from Zurich to Budapest?
The train ticket on the Railjet day train costs from 44 euros. On the night train, a ticket in a seat car costs from 29 euros, in a couchette car from 49 euros and in a sleeper car from 69 euros. The earlier you book, the greater your chance of getting a savings price.
How long does it take to travel from Zurich to Budapest by train?
The train journey takes 10 hours.
What is the schedule of the day train connection in the Railjet from Zurich to Budapest?
The departure of the Railjet RJX165 in Zurich is at 10:40h. Arrival in Budapest at 21:19h.
What is the schedule (departure/arrival) for the Nightjet night train from Zurich to Budapest?
The departure of the Nightjet EN40467 is at Zurich HB at 21:40h. Arrival in Budapest at 09:24h.
What experience have we had with the Zurich to Budapest train connection?
Book early to buy saver fare tickets. Our recommendation is the Nightjet night train: You save money on a hotel and the trip is very comfortable and inexpensive.
Where to buy a ticket from Zurich to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ) / ÖBB Nightjet (NJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 40467 Zurich - Budapest / EN 40462 Budapest - Zurich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Zurich
2b 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
2c 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
2d 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
2e 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 Zurich 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.
