Taters, that all depends. Taking a “boat” from Rome to Athens means that:

You will need to take a train from Rome to a port city on Italy’s east coast from where you can catch a ferry to Greece: Brindisi or Bari are closest to Greece, but also Ancona or Venice. From Bari/Brindisi/Ancona/Venice, you will take a ferry to a city on Greece’s west coast. Corfu and Igoumenitsa are closest to Italy, but you can also take a ferry to Patras which is closer to Athens. From Corfu/Igoumentisa you can take a bus to Athens (Corfu is an island, but buses leave the island for Athens, via a short ferry crossing to the mainland); from Patras you can take a bus or train to Athens.

If you deliberately want to skip all the highly worthwhile places in Italy and Greece that lie between Rome and Athens, such as Campania and Puglia regions in Italy, and the Ionian Islands and Epirus region in Greece (you’re skipping over some very nice areas), then just fly. This has been discussed to great lengths. Do a search here at Eurotrip, and read what’s been said in past Rome-Athens threads. Also, if you want the best advice from us, then we’ll need to know how much total time you have, and what your overall itinerary looks like.

Personally I’m not big on skipping over areas by plane (though I’ve been known to do it), cuz you miss opportunties to experience another side of travel.

I’ve taken the ferry from Bari to Patras (though it usually stops in Corfu to pick up folks) a couple of times and really enjoy it. Catch the ferry at night, camp out on deck with everyone else – it’s cheaper and more fun than staying inside. Someone usuallyy breaks out some food to share, wine gets passed around, someone usually has a guitar – it turns into a good party. Next morning you wake up, you’ll see the coast, dolphins will jumping around the ferry and you get into Patras in the morning and you’‘re refreshed and good to go. If you take a plane you’ll get there faster, but will miss out on an experience

Depending on when you’re going it’s usually a good idea to book in advance…no one wants to spend more time in Bari than they have to

If, after reading Luv and Finnegan, you still can’t decide, then decide based on cost. If you can find a cheap flight, fly. Try www.whichbudget.com to see which low cost airlines fly which routes. Check various departure points in Italy and perhaps alternate destinations in Greece — like skip Athens and actually visit Greece. If you can’t find a cheap flight or you have a railpass that provides “free” (you’ll have to pay a high season surcharge in the summer) ferry passage then take the train and ferry.

I also need to get from Rome to Athens. Which mode of transport will be the cheapest? Train, ferry or plane? I’m on a budget so every bit helps.

It depends on what’s available for the exact day and time you want to go. The tips are all in this post, plus there’s help on the “cheap flights” forum. Train, without the ferry connection is a very grueling 21 hours, so I wouldn’t consider that an option. Flight will probably work out cheapest unless you’re using a railpass that covers both Italy and Greece.

What is the cheapest way to get from Athens to Cologne? The flights are expensive.

I’m looking into doing the opposite…Patras to Bari and I’m wondering what the total time would be to make it to Italy? (by ferry)

Ferry is overnight — about 14 hours.

If you took a ferry most are leaving from the east coast of Italy and take quite a few hours to get to Corfu or other islands on that side of greece in the Ionian. From there you’d still have to get to athens by bus or plane, it’s probably cheaper to fly right to athens from Rome it’s only a couple of hours. The island I go to is called Ikaria and it’s in the north east aegean. I usually take the new ferry there from Piraeus and get there in about 4.5 hours which is great compared to the 10 hours the other ferrys usually take.

ya im in sort of the same situation…im trying to get from capri, italy to corfu, greece and then from patras, greece to venice, italy…fly? ferry? ughhh its all so stressful!!!!

I am also looking to travel from Rome to Corfu. Are you guys suggesting taking the Ferry. Would this be covered in the Eurorail and how long is the ferry ride?

Hi, I’m new here, and I searched for the answer to my question but couldn’t find anything. Anyway:

My girlfriend and I are planning on taking the ferry from Bari to Patras or somewhere else, but we’re (obviously) on a budget. If we just get the cheap deck passage ticket, what are the sleeping arrangements? Does everyone just crash on the floor, or what? How does that work?

Also, are those ferry lines more like cruise ships? Or might we have to worry if one of us has a tendency to get sea-sick?

Thank you!

Hello, I’m planning to go From Rome to Athens! I enjoy using local means of transport so that I can get into the culture of things and the ferry seems great for this! I’m planning to travel budget so I was wondering if the trains from Rome to Brindisi, and from Patras to Athens are expensive? Is it safe to sleep on the deck with my valuables? (I’m worried about my camera.) I’m planning to go on this journey the 20th August. How long in advance should I book a ferry during this time and which company did you use? Thanks