Greece boasts an excellent long-distance bus service; however, there is no central website in English. Consequently, discovering routes and times may prove to be challenging. Here’s some assistance in navigating the bus system in Greece.

KTEL Buses

KTEL represents the Greek inter-city bus system. Most KTEL buses resemble modern tour buses, offering comfortable seating and adequate luggage space beneath the bus and in overhead racks. It’s important to note that seats are assigned, so make sure to match your ticket number with your seat number.

Typically, there is someone at KTEL bus ticket offices who speaks English along with other languages, making communication easier for travelers.

Many visitors utilize buses originating from Athens; KTEL operates two terminals that serve different destinations, located some distance apart. It’s essential to verify which terminal you should use for your specific journey.

KTEL Athens number: (011-30) 210 5129432

Terminal A: Leoforos Kifisou 100
Athina, Greece
+30 801 114 4000

Terminal B: Kotsika 2
Athina, Greece
+30 21 0880 8000

Things to Know About Greek Buses

Some bus routes may be direct; however, others may include extra stops or even require changing buses, which can be complicated, especially with luggage and the anxiety of knowing when to disembark. A posted schedule is typically available at the bus stations. If a particular bus seems to take longer to reach its destination compared to others heading to the same place, it’s a good indication that there could be additional stops or a bus change involved for that specific departure.

While you should inform the driver of your destination, they may not remember to notify you at the critical moment. Therefore, engaging in conversation with fellow passengers can be beneficial. If language barriers arise, pointing to yourself while saying the name of your destination might earn you a helpful nudge if you’re about to miss your stop.

Official KTEL Websites

1. Each area’s bus operator functions as a separate company. These websites may not always be available, and sometimes, only Greek language pages are accessible. Utilizing tools for automated webpage translation can be beneficial if you encounter a Greek-only website. Although the translations may not be perfect, they can often provide sufficient understanding for planning your trip.
2. Volos (Greek)
3. Thessaloniki – Available in English – This site also provides a helpful page listing additional KTEL bus companies, including routes to Turkey.
4. Additional KTEL phone numbers.
5. Athens-Thessaloniki Timetable available in Greek. Athens sample timetables from the Ilisou/Liossion Street Terminal B and the Kifisou Terminal A Main Terminal, through Athens Guide.org. Please note that these schedules may not be current, particularly regarding prices, but they can still assist in identifying probable travel options before your trip.
6. Pelion Region Bus Schedules.
7. Larisa-Trikala-Ioannina-Patras-Kozani-Lamia Timetable – available in Greek but provides scheduling details.

How to Read a Greek Bus Schedule

Even if the website is available in English, bus schedules commonly feature Greek names for days. At the bus station, it is almost certain to be in Greek. Here’s some guidance:

ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ – Deftera – Monday
ΤΡΙΤΗ – Triti – Tuesday
ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ – Tetarti – Wednesday
ΠΕΜΠΤΗ – Pempti – Thursday
ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ – Paraskevi – Friday
ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ – Sabato – Saturday
ΚΥρΙΑΚΗ – Kyriaki – Sunday

Understanding the Greek days of the week is crucial, as Greeks consider Sunday (Kyriaki) to be the first day of the week. Thus, “Triti” refers to Tuesday, not the third day of the week.

What Day is it? Um, What Month Is It?

While it isn’t influenced by how much raki, ouzo, or Mythos you consumed, keep in mind that Greece uses the format of day first, then month—which is the opposite of the U.S. standard.

Although it’s uncommon to confuse “18” or “23” with a month instead of a day, be cautious in the summer months, as June (06), July (07), and August (08) can create misunderstanding. When booking that ferry for August 7th, remember to specify 07/08, not 08/07.

What do you mean the 15th is a Tuesday?

If you’re glancing at a calendar encountered in a Greek bus station or hotel, keep in mind that Greek calendars initiate with Sunday. This is a crucial distinction travelers often overlook.

Moreover, Greek bus and other schedules utilize a 24-hour format. Here’s how to interpret the system:

Reading 24-Hour Timetables & Schedules in Greece

Midnight/12:00 am = 00:00
1 am = 01:00
2 am = 02:00
3 am = 03:00
4 am = 04:00
5 am = 05:00
6 am = 06:00
7 am = 07:00
8 am = 08:00
9 am = 09:00
10 am = 10:00
11 am = 11:00
Noon/12:00 pm = 12:00
1 pm = 13:00
2 pm = 14:00
3 pm = 15:00
4 pm = 16:00
5 pm = 17:00
6 pm = 18:00
7 pm = 19:00
8 pm = 20:00
9 pm = 21:00
10 pm = 22:00
11 pm = 23:00

PM means AM and MM means PM

Another point of potential confusion arises even though the 24-hour time system mitigates this issue. In Greek, “morning” is not abbreviated as AM (ante-meridian), but instead as PM (Pro Mesimbrias). Conversely, afternoon and evening hours are represented as MM (Meta Mesimbrias). Therefore, there is no use of AM in Greece.

In spoken language, however, hours are expressed in a typical manner. For example, someone might say they will meet you at 7 in the evening, rather than referring to “19:00 hours.”

The code for Athens International Airport is ATH.