Getting Around Greece

Although it is only about the size of England or the US state of Alabama, Greece's island groups and mountainous mainland can make travel within the country more complex than you might expect. Most travelers will fly into Athens, Greece's largest city and the best jumping-off point to other parts of the country.

For travelers looking to visit the Greek Islands, ferry connections are a great option. The most famous islands, such as Santorini and Mykonos, are connected to each other and to Athens by ferry, although routes and schedules vary seasonally and can be weather-dependent. For certain travelers, chartering a sailboat or motor yacht is also a great way to island-hop.

Driving is a good option on the Greek mainland, where main toll highways provide efficient access to destinations such as Thessaloniki or the Peloponnese, although it is important to exercise caution as local drivers can be aggressive. On the islands, however, roads can be extremely narrow, winding, and congested. Private transfers are a better way to move between on-island destinations for most travelers.

For travelers short on time, domestic flights allow for quick hops between the mainland and the islands in Greece. If traveling between islands, however, most flights require a connection in Athens, so depending on the route this option may not necessarily be a time-saving alternative to the ferry.