last edited Dec 11, 2019
Getting to the Peloponnese
Location Map of Peloponnese
Peloponnese
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By land
By road
Motorways (toll roads) and expressways cross the Peloponnese, making it easy and quick to reach the region from Athens via Corinth, or from the north of the country via the bridge (Rio-Antirrio) on the outskirts of Patras.
By train
Train access to the peninsula is limited to an arrival at Corinth. The line that once continued to Patras from Athens is now discontinued.
By sea
Ferries
From/to Italy:
With Igoumenitsa (northwest coast of Greece), Patras is the gateway for ferries arriving from Italy. This is where most motorised tourists from Western Europe disembark, preferring to take the ferry from Italy rather than cross the Balkans. The port of Patras is connected to Ancona (with Anek/Superfast + Minoan), Bari (Anek/Superfast), Brindisi (Grimaldi), Trieste (Minoan), and Venice (Anek/Superfast).
From/to the islands:
The Peloponnese has three small ports with regular ferry connections to the islands. Hermione and Porto Heli serve the Saronic Islands (Hydra, Poros, and Spetses). Meanwhile, the small town of Kyllini on the west coast offers connections to the Ionian Islands.
Cargo
Cruises
Sailboats
By air
While the region has several airports and airfields, the relative proximity of Athens (and even the popular island of Zakynthos in the nearby Ionian Islands) means their activity is very limited. Only the airport at Kalamata attracts some traffic (236,000 passengers in 2014) with its seasonal flights, particularly from the UK and occasionally from Paris. Additionally, the small airport of Patras/Araxos serves as a hub for Tuifly and a few other carriers for summer flights to the region, especially from Germany. In short, for many, air access to the Peloponnese goes through Athens first.