TRANSPORT
BOAT
can stick to some of the fl at-
ter coastal routes. Bike lanes
are rare to nonexistent and
helmets are not compulsory.
The island of Kos is about the
most bicycle-friendly place in
Greece, as is anywhere fl at,
such as the plains of Thessaly
or Thrace. See p 54 for more
details on cycling in Greece.» (^) You can hire bicycles in
most tourist places, but they
are not as widely available as
cars and motorcycles. Prices
range from €5 to €12 per
day, depending on the type
and age of the bike.
» (^) Bicycles are carried free on
ferries. You can buy decent
mountain or touring bikes in
Greece’s major towns, though
you may have a problem
fi nding a ready buyer if you
wish to sell it on. Bike prices
are much the same as across
the rest of Europe, anywhere
from €300 to €2000.
Boat
Greece has an extensive
network of ferries which are
the only means of reach-
ing many of the islands.
Schedules are often subject
to delays due to weather
and industrial action and
prices fl uctuate regularly. In
summer, ferries are regular
between all but the most
out-of-the-way destinations
however services seriously
slow down in winter and, in
some cases, stop completely.
See Island Hopping (p 31 ) for
more details on planning and
buying tickets. For details on
prices and schedules, see
the relevant destinations
throughout this guide.
Domestic Ferry
Operators
Ferry companies often have
local offi ces on many of the
islands; see the relevant des-
tination chapter for details of
these as well as small, local
ferries and caïques.
Aegean Flying Dolphins
(%210 422 1766) Hydrofoils
linking Samos with Kos and
islands in between.
Aegean Speed Lines
(%210 969 0950; http://www.
aegeanspeedlines.gr) Super-
speedy boats between
Athens and the Cyclades.
Agoudimos Lines (% 210
414 1300; http://www.agoudimos
-lines.com) Ferries connecting
the Cyclades and mainland.
Also travels to Italy via Corfu.
Aigaion Pelagos (www.anek.
gr) A subsidiary of ANEK
Lines.
Alpha Ferries (%210 428
4001/02; http://www.alphaferries.
gr) Traditional ferries from
Athens to the Cyclades.
ANE Kalymnou (% 22430
29384) Kalymnos-based
hydrofoils and old-style ferry
linking some of the Dodeca-
nese and the Cyclades.
ANEK Lines (%210 419
7420; http://www.anek.gr)) Cretan-
based long-haul ferries.
ANES (%210 422 5625; http://www.
anes.gr) Symi-based old-
style ferries servicing the
Dodecanese.
Anna Express (% 22470
41215; http://www.annaexpress-lipsi.
services.officelive.com) Small,
fast ferry connecting north-
ern Dodecanese.
Blue Star Ferries (% 210
891 9800; http://www.bluestarferries.
com) Long-haul high-speed
ferries and Sea Jet catama-
rans between the mainland
and the Cyclades.
Cyclades Fast Ferries
(%210 418 2005; http://www.fast
ferries.com.gr) Comfortable
ferries to the most popular
Cyclades.
Dodekanisos Seaways
(%22410 70590; http://www.12ne.gr))
Runs luxurious catamarans
in the Dodecanese.
Euroseas (%210 413 2188;
http://www.ferries.gr/euroseas)) Link-
ing the Saronics with serv-
ices to the mainland.
Evoikos Lines (%210 413
4483; http://www.ferriesglyfa.gr))
Comfortable short-haul
ferry services between
Glyfa on the mainland and
Agiokambos in northern
Evia.
GA Ferries (%210 419 9100;
http://www.gaferries.gr)) Old-style,
long-haul ferries serving a
huge number of islands.
Hellenic Seaways (% 210
419 9000; http://www.hellenic
seaways.gr) Conventional
long-haul ferries and cata-
marans from the mainland
INTERNATIONAL BUS ROUTES
DESTINATION DEPARTURE POINT ARRIVAL POINT DURATION FREQUENCY
Albania Athens Tirana overnight 1 daily
Albania Thessaloniki Korça (Korytsa) 6hr 3 daily
Bulgaria Athens Sofi a 15hr 6 weekly
Bulgaria Thessaloniki Sofi a 7½hr 4 daily
Bulgaria Alexandroupoli Plovidv 6hr 2 weekly
Bulgaria Alexandroupoli Sofi a 7hr 2 weekly
Turkey Athens İstanbul 22hr 6 weekly
Turkey Thessaloniki İstanbul 7hr 6 weekly
Turkey Alexandroupoli İstanbul 13hr 6 weekly