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Unlike other Western countries, the bus is used a lot more than train for public transport in Greece. Virtually all cities, towns and villages are served by bus services. The railway is not so developed, so you can only get by train between cities and larger towns.
The bus network is very well developed and fares are not expensive at all. Smaller villages have only one or two buses per day that link them to a bigger city around, so plan your trip carefully to avoid long waiting times.
Even if the railway is not so developed, Greece has started to expand it. Some sections have been already modernized, with travel times significantly reduced. Check your route and compare duration and cost between bus and train, then choose the best option.
Ferries are an important means of transport, since Greece has so many islands. Regular and reliable ferry services run for every island of some importance. This is true from spring to autumn. Winter brings less ferry journeys, since there are no more tourists and weather can be difficult. Ferries are operated by a large number of private companies, so there is no single reliable source of information regarding schedules and fares. Most of the companies have websites listing their services, so you should search a little bit.
It is usually not necessary to book tickets in advance, since ferries run frequently in summer. You just get to the port, buy the tickets and wait in line for boarding. Fares vary a lot, depending on the distance you travel. Tickets for passengers are usually not very expensive, while tickets for cars will get some money out of your pockets. If you travel during high season, especially during weekends, it is recommended that you book or buy the tickets in advance. This may help you to skip queues and will guarantee your place in the ferry, no matter how long the queues are.
Ferries that travel for long distances may also have cabins or rooms for you to sleep. This is true for going from Athens to Crete for example, where the trip duration is around eight hours. You can sleep on the deck, but you can have more comfort paying for a room and getting fresh to your destination in the morning.
Traveling by plane withing Greece is also popular, since the country has a large surface. The plane is used mostly to get from the continent to the holiday destinations on the islands. Many islands have their own airport, so it is very convenient to fly directly to your destination and book a car or a scooter there.
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