Patras Transportation

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We tried two ferry companies, both using Patras/Ancona. Superfast was way above the other one by comparison, even though we were given an upgrade on our return trip. (Both companies seem to be now joined together as one, but still using their old name.
The food on Superfast was so much better, the menu had many more items, and the upscale restaurant in Superfast had more items, but a bit less pricey. The waiters and people who worked on Superfast had a totally different attitude, friendly, cheerful and funny. The air conditioning in Superfast in the cabins was better. Both companies had the upscale restaurant too cool.
If you have a choice I would recommend Superfast.

There are many daily buses to/from Athens (Terminal A of Athens, Kifissou St) that go through Corinthos (nice view of the channel while crossing it) that take about 3 hours. 12,90 euros.
The buses leave Patras from the Local Bus Station, by the harbour, almost in front of the train station.

Since August 2004, a bridge connects Patras, with the mainland. The bridge crosses the Gulf of Corinth between Rio, near Patras, and Antirio, on the opposite shore. The bridge was named after Charilaos Trikoupis, a prime minister who first suggested the idea of linking the Peloponnese with mainland Greece by a bridge in this strait.
The bridge is 2,880 m long and 28 m wide. There are two vehicle lanes per direction, an emergency lane and a pedestrian walkway.
The bridge is widely considered to be an engineering masterpiece. For those interested in its construction, there are fascinating pictures on the following link: http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0001110

Toll Rates
There are different rates for simple crossing, 10 crossing cards, round trip cards and e-passes. As toll rates may vary along time, check them at
http://www.gefyra.gr/en/index.php

This is really a getting "from" tip as what I was doing was getting the train to Athens.

Outside the dock there is a taxi rank where the guys are hustling for business and especially looking for an Athens fare which is handy if you have luggage. The other alternatives to get to Athens are by bus or train, both of which are relatively cheap and frequent. The bus strangely enough is actually the faster of the two methods as well as being slightly cheaper but having spent a liesurely four days travelling I wasn't in any rush and having started by train it was my intention to continue.

The train trip to Athens takes about 3 hours with the local train meeting the suburban system at Corinthos and cost, on my visit, a total of 12.40 euro. I think the bus is just over 2 hours and slightly cheaper.

There’s no way to get lost here because you always know where the sea is :) There are two main parts in the city, Ano (upper) and Kato (lower) town linked with steps. Ano Poli (around the castle) used to be the Old Town while Kato Pali is the part of the city that was built after the 19th century near the port.

You can easily walk around at the main squares (Vas Georgiou and Vas Olgas), going up to the Castle and check the Old Town and come back again and walk towards Agios Andreas cathedral. You wont need any taxi or local bus (pic) but if you want to do some side short trips (like for Achaia Clauss winery) you will need a car.

There is a ferry from Patras in Greece to Bari in Italy. The company that runs it is called Superfast Ferries. It leaves nightly at 1800 arriving in Bari at 0830 the next morning. The adult price for deck space is 50euro. There are reduced fares of 40 euro if you are a student - or look like one ;)

You do not need to catch any train!

All the ferry companies which serve the line Patras-Italy and vice versa, provide for their passengers bus service (of course, NOT free of charge!).Once on board, you should ask at the reception about the bus service to Athens, to put your name on the list and pay the fare (around 15 euros).I travel to Corfu frequently and I always use the bus service, provided by MINOAN LINES or ANEK.

If, for any reason, your ferry company does not provide said service, do not panic: once you desembark from the ferry, you go out of the port area, you cross the port avenue, and at the opposite side, there is the "Patras KTEL Station".KTEL is a magical Greek word, very useful and means "interurban buses" that connect all the Greek cities (Athens included).There are interurban buses evey half an hour to Athens from Patras, so you should not have to worry about!

Taking the train, although feasible, is a "sad story"!Prefer the bus: is quicker and more reliable!

Enjoy your trip to Greece!

Patras is Greece's third largest city and the capital of the prefecture of Achaea. It is located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens.

Airport Araxos is located 45 km SW Patras.
Train 5 times a day from Athens, 13 Euro, 4 hours in a way.
Bus 2 times an hour, 12 Euro, 3 hours in a way.
Port Patras from all over the world.