KTEL, the long-distance bus network of Greece, is a vital part of traveling within the country since the terrain limits destinations reachable by train. With the rising price of fuel, even car travel can be cost prohibitive.

As the official KTEL Web site no longer provides free schedules and now charges money to use their phone service in Greek (no English), below are some links to local KTEL Web sites containing schedules and ticket fares (subject to change). In addition, English speakers can get printed schedules at EOT offices (Tourist Information Offices) or inquire at hotel reception, and Greek speakers can call local KTEL phone numbers (in Greek) to avoid paying a fee.

* Bus tickets to islands include a ferry ticket (i.e. Zakynthos, Kefallonia).
* Be aware that many cities have two or more bus terminals.
* Summer schedules typically run from April-October and winter from November-March, although the Ministry can announce differently at any time.
* Most people show up early to get a seat and do not reserve one (in Greek), although it is free.

KTEL Athens

Terminal ‘A’ (Kifissou Street)
Departs to Alexandroupoulis, Argos, Arta, Astakos, Corfu (Kerkyra), Corinthos, Epidavros, Florina, Githio, Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, Ithaki, Kalamata, Kalavryta, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallonia, Lefkada, Loutraki, Messolongi, Monemvassia, Nafpaktos, Nafplio/Mycenae, Neapolis, Olympia, Parga, Patra, Pylos, Pyrgos, Preveza, Sparti, Thessalonki, Tripoli, Veria, Xanthi, Xilokastro, Zakynthos

Terminal ‘B’ (Liosson Street)
Departs to Agios Konstantinos, Aidipsos (Evia), Amfissa, Delphi, Distomo, Galaxidi, Halkida, Kamena Vourla, Karditsa, Karpenissi, Katerini/Litochoro, Kimi (Paralia)/Skyros, Lamia, Larissa, Livadia, Thiva, Trikala/Meteora (Kalambaka), Volos/Pylio

KTEL Attikis - Travel within Athens (ktelattikis.gr)

Ag. Andreas, Ag. Apostoli, Ag. Dimitrios, Agia Marina, Ag. Nikolaos, Ag. Theodori, Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos), Alepoxori, Anavyssos, Anatoli, Ancona, Avlaki, Dilesi, Erythres, Grammatiko, Halkoutsi, Kakia Thalassa, Kalamos, Kalenzi, Kalyvia, Kamariza, Kapandriti, Keratea, Koropi, Kouvara, Lagonissi, Lavrio, Legraina, Lykouriza, Marathona, Markati, Markopoulo, Mati, Megara, Mazi, Nea Makri, Oropos, Paiania, Pallini, Paralia Fokaias, Pikermi, Plaka, Polydendri, Porto Germeno, Porto Rafti, Psatha, Rafina, Saronida, Schinia, Sikamino, Souli, Sounio, Thymari, Varnava, Vilia, Vlastos, Vravrona, Zouberi

KTEL Argolis (ktel-argolis.gr)

Argos, Epidavros, Galatsas, N. Kios, Kranidi, Nafplio, Tolo

KTEL Chios (Summer schedule and Winter schedule)

Ag. Fotini, Ag. Galas, Ag. Georgios, Amades, Armolia, Didima, Elata, Emporios, Flatsia, Giari Beach, Kalamoti, Kalimasia, Kampia, Kardamyla, Kataraktis, Kini, Komi, Lagada, Limenas Lithi, Meston, Mesta, Mirmigki, Nagos, Nenita, Olympi, Pagida, Pantoukios, Paparia, Patrika, Pirama, Pyrgi, Pytios, Sykiada, Tholopotami, Vessa, Viki, Volissos, Vouno

KTEL Crete (bus-service-crete-ktel.com and ktel-heraklio-lassithi.gr)

Aetania, Ag. Galini, Ag. Nikolaos, Ag. Pelagia, Ag. Varvara, Anogia, Archanes, Arkalohori, Asimi, Assites, Astiraki, Dafnes, Elounda, Fodele, Gonies, Hania, Harakas, Heronissos, Ierapetra, Irakleio, Kastelli, Kroussona, Lassithi, Ledas, Malia, Matala, Megali Vrissi, Mires, Peza, Phaestos, Pr. Ilias, Prinias, Pyrgos, Rethymno, Rodia, Sikologos, Sisi, Sitia, Tibaki, Tilissos Kalessa, Venerato, Vianno

KTEL Evia (eviapress.gr)

Aidipsos, Aliveri, Amarinthos, Athens, Halkida, Istiaia, Karistos, Kymi, Limni, Mantoudi, Prokopi, Psachna, Rovies

KTEL Halkidiki (English or Greek)

Ag. Mama, Dionysiou, Flogita, Gerakini, Hanioti, Ierisos, Kalamitsi, Kalikratia, Kalyves, Kassandra, Kriopygi, Marmara, Moundania, Mt. Athos, Olynthos, Ouranoupoli, Paliouri, Pefkoxori, Plagia, Polygyros, Potidea, Sikia, Simantra, Skioni, Sozopoli, Thessaloniki, Toroni

KTEL Kefallonia (kefallonia.net.gr)

Ag. Efimia, Argostoli, Athens, Divarata, Fiskardo, Irinna, Ithaca, Katelio, Kylini, Lixouri, Myrtos, Patra, Poro, Sami, Skala, St. Gerasimo, Xi

KTEL Kozani (ktelkozanis.gr - Greek only)

Ag. Dimitrios, Aiani, Anthotopo, Athens, Chromio, Ektakto, Eratyra, Florina, Gallatini, Grevena, Ioannina, Kastoria, Larissa, Lefkara, Livera, Mathitiko, Metamorfosi, Neapoli, Pontokomi, Ptolemaida, Rymnio, Serbia, Siatista, Sidera, Sparto, Thessaloniki, Tsotyli, Velvendo, Veria, Volos, Xteni

KTEL Samos (samos-online.com)

Ag. Konstantinou, Airport, Ambelos, Arvanites, Avlakia, Drakei, Hora, Ireon, Kallithea, Karlovasi, Kastania, Kokkari, Kondeika, Koumeika, Lekka, Lemonakia Beach, Marathokampos, Mavratzei, Mytilini, Ormos, Pagondas, Platanos, Potokaki, Pyrgos, Pythagorio, Samos Town, Spatharei, Tsamadou Beach, Tsambou Beach, Votsalakia, Vourliotes, Ydrousa

KTEL Santorini (ktel-santorini.gr)

Airport, Akrotiri, Athinios Port, Baxedes, Fira, Imerovigli, Kamari, Monolithos, Oia, Perissa, Vlihada

KTEL Syros (syros.com.gr)

Ano Mana, Ano Syros, Azolimnos, Bissa, Chroussa, Danakos, Finikas, Galissas, Hermoupoli, Kini, Megas Gyalos, Pagos, Parakopi, Poseidonia, Vari

KTEL Thessaloniki (ktel-thes.gr)

Apollonia, Asprovalta, Athens, Ioannina, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kozani, Larissa, Olympiada, Ptolemaida, Stavros, Volos, Vrasna

KTEL Volos (ktelvolou.gr - Greek only)

Almyros, Athens, Ioannina, Kozani, Lamia, Larissa, Patra, Pylio, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Velestino

KTEL Zakynthos (ktel-zakynthos.gr - Greek only)

Agalas, Ag. Leon, Alykes, Argasi, Ekso Xora, Galaro, Gerakaria, Kalamaki, Kambi, Katastari, Keri, Korithi, Kypseli, Laganas, Lithakia, Maxairado, Nerotsoulithres, Tragaki, Tsivili, Vasilikos, Volima, Zakynthos Town

* More Web sites will be added if they come available. Valid additions and corrections are welcome, as always.

Related posts

“KTEL Web site“
“The first time I drove in Athens“

* Hat tip to Graf for his input on KTEL Crete.

Back in April, the official KTEL Web site pulled all schedules and information about its vital long-distance bus network in Greece from public view. It wasn’t covered in English-language media, but what I understand from Greek media is a private company was using KTEL’s free information to make money by starting a pay-for-info call service.

Instead of starting a free service to put this company out of business — which should have been done years ago to prevent this kind of violation to begin with — KTEL countered by also starting a pay-for-info call service. With most residents addicted to their cars, not to mention damage to the environment, traffic getting worse and trains being limited in destinations, it seems wrong to create obstacles and make people pay money for information that should be free to the public.

Further, many travelers and residents will have a difficult time since these services are only offered in Greek. As tourism is Greece’s primary source of income, the timing couldn’t be worse as it happened just before Easter when many Greeks abroad came home and now it’s high season.

Fortunately, some municipalities and independent Web sites have put up schedules to fill the void. In the next post, links will be provided for anyone in need of schedules and information in English for KTEL long distance buses operating in different areas of Greece.

Related posts

“KTEL Buses of Greece“

* Hat tip to Costantinos, whose KTEL post reminded me I never wrote up an article.

In Greece and many countries in the world, August is a dead month.

There are no job fairs, no abundance of flats for rent and no students starting a new semester of school. In the USA, these things are typically in full swing with the expectation of Fall — companies want new workers settled into new positions by September, property renovations are complete for new tenants and many kids start school by mid-August to allow a month’s break in winter.

In Athens and Thessaloniki, residents slowly take their exodus to islands and villages, and big streets like Vas. Sofias are nearly empty by the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15.

What’s hot

For me, the best thing is that everything I mentioned in “Give me a break!” comes close to a screeching silence.

The dogs have gone to bark in the village, kids scream in someone else’s yard, the man next door is farting in his stone house on Crete, and there’s only one or two karpouzia trucks and paliatzi scavengers every few days. (You didn’t think they’d go away completely, did you?)

Add to that ample parking, less garbage on the street and less grids catching fire to thwart our DSL, and it’s nearly a decent neighborhood!

What’s not

Of course the cons to an exodus are obvious — it’s slim pickings.

For those taking public transportation, buses and trolleys are on a skeletal schedule, which means it’s just as crowded and odorous.

The big stores are open with dour looking employees to tolerate you. But the good manabis is closed, our favorite guys at the laiki are missing, the periptero is closed and the second rate bakeries we’ve been ignoring year round get our patronage for a few days until they also abandon ship.

Then there’s the matter of take away for my fiancé. He came home the other night at 22:00 wanting food and found the souvlaki, pizza, Mexican and Chinese places all closed. This impacts me because he cannot cook, so that meant yours truly had to sweat it out in our lovely 35°C kitchen. Well, at least he does the dishes.

Now it’s a countdown. Two days until the souvlaki guys come back, three days until the manabis returns and seven days until we say adios to August!

Related posts

“Roasting season is upon us“
“The nightbird“
“The new paliatzi on the block“

Those who have attempted race cycling in Greece or just taken a short ride to work know that this country can be a bit bike unfriendly, even though the weather is perfect for such sport.

Cycling, in general, is a solution to big city ills like congestion and pollution in European countries — Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and the UK, to name a few — and a practical and social infrastructure exists to support and encourage it. When Lance Armstrong garnered seven consecutive Tour de France wins, its popularity in many countries exploded.

Greece is another story. Bikes are only allowed on public transport during non-commute hours (a few months ago, not at all), there are no racks on buses, rules that protect riders are ignored, and the rare bike lane abruptly ends or is often occupied by parked cars.

A woman I know was inspired to start race cycling. When you consider the sport is dominated by men, a good bike and its necessary gear are overpriced in Greece compared to other countries and legitimate coaches are hard to find, this was no small or inexpensive feat. None of her female friends wanted to join, and the men she knew were far more conditioned, so she went solo.

Training four days a week, she endured Athenian traffic, roads with no bike lanes, pollution, lots of close calls with drivers claiming ignorance, packs of unleashed dogs chasing her down the street, and the constant harassment of men of all ages winding down the car window to yell vulgar things, throw garbage and grab her a$$. But she had a goal and stuck to it.

So what changed her mind after a year? On an afternoon ride, some guys were following and taunting her with insults that she ignored. Her ability to block them out and continue only made them more angry, so they threw water in her face. Again she shook it off and continued. Then they took the car and bumped her bike, causing her to tumble head first into a ditch and break her arm with the bike laying on top of her. After laying unconscious for some minutes, she woke up, called someone to pick her up and vowed to never cycle again.

Is this a story about why it’s dangerous for women to cycle? Absolutely not. Men endure similar treatment.

My fiance is on a cycling team in Athens, races competitively at various locations around Greece from March to October, has an Australian coach and trains five days a week. We purchased and shipped his brand name carbon frame from California because it was literally half the price in comparison to anywhere in Greece.

He takes one water bottle for rehydrating and one for squirting dogs in the face when they chase him, keeps one ear iPod-free to hear danger approaching and rides with friends when/if their customized training programs somewhat mesh in regards to target heart rate, training length and type.

At races arranged in cooperation with the municipality’s mayor in exchange for money from the cycling federation, police escorts ditch them to get coffee, cars don’t obey roadblocks and graze riders, spectators pelt them with coins and food, and there are often no doctors or safety personnel for the duration of the race. After the race, which can be as much as 200 km, there is no water. So why do they do it? Beautiful weather, challenge, companionship and it’s great exercise! This is as good as it gets.

Today, like every day of every year, my fiance was out training and had a close call with a driver who didn’t see him. But this time was different because she actually hit him.

It wasn’t as bad as it could have been because he was able to react quickly and avoid a full-on collision that would have put him in the hospital and caused considerable damage to his bike. He only needed a few stitches, suffered a few bruises, and his bike mechanic was able to align both of his 600-euro rims after one hour’s work.

Ironically, today is the name day of Christoforos, the patron saint of driving. Let’s make the roads safer for everyone and drive safely.

Interested in cycling in Greece?

I can recommend the following:

www.cyclist.gr - A shop with reasonable (almost cheap) prices, run by nice guys
www.pepa.gr - Men’s club divided into categories, organizing annual races
www.poli-podilato.gr - Cycling site in Greek providing general information
www.cyclist-friends.gr (In English) - For English-speaking friends in Greece or visitors to Greece with a bike

Finding a coach is a uniquely personal choice depending on goals and rapport. Current cycling information for women is an area I need to research since I no longer cycle in Greece for personal reasons.

For related stories, see “Athens” or “Sports.”

A long time ago, in a country far, far away, I used to think that going to the City (San Francisco) was a big pain in the a$$ because of parking, crowds and the general loosening of good manners. Dozens of cities in international countries worldwide have forced me to conclude that I was VERY naive back then.

New York’s Manhattan is one of those maddening cities where taxis whoosh and weave like schools of fish, doors are opened and slammed on your face, and pedestrians hesitate for the predictable speeder to pass, then make a mad dash on the first hint of green.

If you’ve ever walked in Times Square, you know it’s worse. Flashing billboards, blaring music, millions of colors, a thousand voices with a thousand different accents, spontaneous rappers, hip hop dancers, street vendors, commuters exiting the subway and racks of designer samples coming from all directions — it’s sensory overload. It’s just a matter of time before a straggler wanders into the street. Do they get hit? Rarely. Usually, just some ill words, muttered apologies, flipping of birds and an occasional fist slammed on the hood of a car. New Yorkers, after all, are not shy about expressing themselves.

Worse than New York is Athens. I’ve been cursed at for using the defined lines of a crosswalk, hit by motorcycles twice while walking on the sidewalk — the driver yelling at me for doing so, then breaking my brand new Nokia — and rolled off a car hood after being hit by a taxi when I had a green light, which (of course) was also my fault. Ironically, it’s sometimes easier to walk in the street when parked cars, baby strollers, old ladies, dog poo and nomadic vendors make it impossible to use the sidewalk.

At the other end of the spectrum is Stockholm, where pedestrians actually DO have the right of way, whether the light is green or red. As proof, my friend Charles waited until the light turned red, saw a van barrelling down the street and intentionally stepped in front of it while I cursed and closed my eyes. Fully prepared to dial emergency services, the van screeched to a stop, the driver was calm and smiling, and Charles was alive and laughing. By Athenian standards, it was a miracle.

When I visit San Francisco, I now think how relaxing it is. It makes one rethink the Missing Persons song “Nobody Walks in L.A.”

* This entry was inspired by, “The near death of an iPodrestrian” at Mel’s Diner.

Related posts

“The first time I drove in Athens“
“Taking personal responsibility“
“Tickets and fines in Greece“
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Photo courtesy of Brian Page from www.gladlylearn.com