KTEL Buses In Greece

By Dave Briggs · Published 2026-02-24 · Last updated 2026-09-07

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Information for the KTEL bus network in Greece is notoriously difficult to come by. Even in Greek! This is the most complete guide to KTEL buses in Greece available today.

Looking for a specific bus? Type where you are and where you want to go, and the box below shows the KTEL routes that run between them, with links to the current timetables.

The Greek Bus Network

If you're planning a trip to Greece and wondering how to get around without a car, the KTEL bus network deserves a lot more attention than it usually gets. It's cheap, it's widespread, and on many routes you'll find yourself on a modern air-conditioned coach travelling through landscapes that tour vans don't reach.

The problem is, information is super-hard to come by as there are over 60 different companies. Even Greeks struggle to find information! As a result, I spent quite a lot of time gathering together everything I could about the KTEL bus companies in Greece, and presenting it here in one place.

This guide covers everything you need to know: how the system works, the major intercity routes, island networks, which companies accept online booking, and what to expect when you turn up at a KTEL station for the first time. I've also included a complete regional directory of all 62 official KTEL cooperatives, with contact information verified directly from each company's website.

How the KTEL System Works

The most important thing to understand about KTEL buses in Greece is that there is no central national system. No single website where you can plan a cross-country journey, no unified timetable, no one phone number to call.

KTEL stands for Κοινό Ταμείο Εισπράξεων Λεωφορείων — roughly "Common Fund of Bus Receipts" — and it refers to a system of 62 regional bus cooperatives, each covering a specific Greek prefecture or group of prefectures. The federation that binds them together is called POAYS, but it's largely administrative. In practice, the Thessaloniki KTEL and the Ioannina KTEL operate completely independently: different websites, different ticketing systems, different phone numbers.

For travelers, this means a bit of upfront research. To get from Athens to Meteora, for example, you'd take a KTEL Trikala bus to Kalambaka — there's a direct daily service (Mon–Sat) that picks up near Kato Patisia Metro, or you can catch a regular Trikala bus from Liosion terminal and change there. To continue to Thessaloniki, you'd look at KTEL Thessaloniki. Once you know which company covers which territory, it becomes straightforward.

Two types of KTEL

There's an important distinction between two kinds of KTEL service:

• Intercity (υπεραστικό) KTEL — these are the long-distance coaches connecting cities and towns, usually operating from a dedicated terminal (σταθμός). This is what most travelers use.
• Urban (αστικό) KTEL — local city bus services, which in most smaller cities are a separate company from the intercity KTEL. This guide focuses on intercity services.

Tickets and booking

The majority of KTEL companies still sell tickets at the counter only. You turn up, you buy a ticket, you get on the bus. For busy routes or holiday weekends, this means arriving early to guarantee a seat. A growing number of companies — over half at the time of writing — now offer online booking, and I've noted which ones in the directory below.

Fares are set by the government and are very reasonable. Athens to Thessaloniki (about 5.5 hours) costs around €45 full price (€43 with an e-ticket). Athens to Patras (2.5 hours) is around €20. Island routes are typically €2–5 for the whole island.

Tickets are non-refundable on most lines, though some companies allow date changes. Always keep your ticket — drivers check them on board.

Intercity Travel: The Mainland Network

The intercity KTEL network is at its most impressive on the Greek mainland, where it connects virtually every town of any size. Long-distance routes are comfortable, punctual, and — compared to alternatives — very good value.

The major terminals in Athens

Athens currently has two intercity KTEL terminals, and which one you use depends entirely on where you're going:

• Terminal A (Kifissos), at 100 Kifissou Ave, handles buses to the Peloponnese, western Greece, Epirus, the Ionian islands (via ferry connections at Patras or Igoumenitsa), and — importantly — the direct Athens–Thessaloniki service operated by KTEL Thessaloniki. Bus 051 connects it to Omonia Square.
• Terminal B (Liosion), at 260 Liossion St, handles buses to central Greece and Thessaly (including Volos, Larissa, Trikala/Meteora, and Katerini). Bus 024 connects it to Omonia Square.
• Pedion Areos (Victoria), on Mavrommateon St near Victoria Metro (Line 1), is a central Athens pickup point for several northern routes including the popular Athens–Thessaloniki service. Buses departing here also stop at Kifissos before heading north. This is far more convenient if you're staying in central Athens.

The split between Kifissos and Liosion causes genuine confusion — if you go to the wrong one, you've wasted a trip. The general rule: Peloponnese, western Greece, Thessaloniki, and all of Macedonia/Thrace = Kifissos; central Greece and Thessaly = Liosion. But always double-check which terminal your route uses. The Victoria/Pedion Areos stop is a convenient central-Athens alternative for the Thessaloniki service.

Key long-distance routes

These are the routes most travelers use, with approximate journey times and fares:

Note that many long-distance routes are operated jointly by two or more KTEL companies, with shared departure points and combined timetables.

Buying tickets

For most mainland routes, especially peak season travel, I'd recommend buying your ticket at the terminal the day before, or first thing on the day of travel. The popular Athens–Thessaloniki and Athens–Patras routes fill up fast on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Where online booking exists, use it — it guarantees your seat and saves queuing.

Island Buses: A Different Story

Island KTEL buses are a different experience from the mainland network, and they're worth understanding separately.

On most Greek islands, the KTEL operates a handful of routes radiating out from the port or main town to the rest of the island. These aren't long-distance coaches — they're often minibuses or small coaches running a circuit of beaches and villages. Fares are typically €2–5 for the whole island, and timetables are designed around ferry arrivals rather than commuter schedules.

The island KTEL is often the cheapest way to reach a beach or village, but frequency can be low — sometimes just two or three buses per day outside July and August. Before relying on the bus to get somewhere, check whether there's a return service at a useful time. I've been caught out by this more than once.

Not every island is a KTEL member

The 62 official KTEL cooperatives cover most of Greece, but a number of smaller islands are served by non-official operators — municipal bus services or private companies that use the KTEL name locally but aren't part of the POAYS federation. These include islands like Skiathos, Skopelos, Folegandros, Sifnos, Amorgos, Milos, and Patmos. I've included these in a separate section at the bottom of the directory.

Summer vs. winter service

Island bus services shrink dramatically outside the tourist season. Some routes that run six times a day in August run twice a day in October, and some beach routes stop entirely between October and May. Always check current timetables on the KTEL website (where one exists) or call ahead.

KTEL & Ferries: The Perfect Travel Combination

One of the best travel combinations in Greece is KTEL bus plus ferry. The two networks fit together naturally, and using them in sequence opens up journeys that would be awkward or expensive by plane.

A few particularly useful combinations:

• Athens → Patras (KTEL Achaia) → Italy or Corfu by ferry. The bus from Athens' Kifissos terminal takes about 2.5 hours to Patras, where you can connect directly to ANEK, Grimaldi, Minoan or Superfast ferries heading to Ancona, Bari, Venice or Corfu.
• Athens → Igoumenitsa (KTEL Thesprotia) → Corfu by ferry. Igoumenitsa is the main port for car ferries to Corfu (40 minutes). The KTEL runs from both Athens and Thessaloniki.
• Athens → Kavala (KTEL Kavala) → Thassos by ferry. Kavala has frequent ferries to Thassos island (65 minutes). The bus from Athens takes around 7 hours.
• Piraeus bus connections → ferry to islands. Bus X96 from Athens airport goes to Piraeus port, where you can connect to ferries across the Aegean. KTEL Attica also runs to Rafina port (for ferries to northern Cyclades and Evia) and Lavrio (for Kea, Kythnos and southern Cyclades).
• Kefalonia / Zakynthos / Lefkada. These Ionian islands have their own KTEL networks that connect with the mainland via ferry. KTEL buses run through to Athens and Thessaloniki with the ferry leg included in the journey.

For comprehensive ferry timetables and booking from these ports, Greek Ferry Travel covers all the major routes.

Complete KTEL Directory by Region

All contact information below is verified directly from each KTEL's official website. The directory covers all 62 official KTEL cooperatives (members of the POAYS federation).

Attica

Central Macedonia

Eastern Macedonia & Thrace

Western Macedonia

Epirus

Thessaly

Central Greece

Western Greece

Peloponnese

Ionian Islands

Crete

North Aegean

Cyclades

Dodecanese

Independent Island Bus Operators (Non-KTEL)

The following islands are served by bus operators that use the KTEL name locally but are not members of the official POAYS federation. They provide the main public bus service on their island.

Online Booking: Which KTELs Let You Buy Tickets in Advance

Of the 62 official KTEL companies, 45 currently offer online ticket booking. The rest are ticket-counter or phone only. Where online booking is available, it's always worth using — it guarantees your seat and saves queuing at busy stations.

Practical Tips for KTEL Travel

A few things worth knowing before your first KTEL journey:

Finding the terminal

In smaller Greek towns, the KTEL station is often tucked away and not well signposted in English. Google Maps usually finds it — search for "ΚΤΕΛ [city name]" rather than "bus station". The addresses in the directory below are verified from the companies' own websites.

Luggage

Large bags go in the luggage hold underneath the bus. There's no official weight limit on most intercity routes — in practice, one large suitcase is fine. Bicycles can usually be loaded for a small extra charge, but call ahead to confirm.

The language barrier

Ticket counter staff at major terminals (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion) usually speak enough English to sell you a ticket. At smaller stations, it's worth having your destination written in Greek — I've included Greek names for each KTEL in the directory. Having a translation app ready doesn't hurt.

Frequency and gaps

Many KTEL routes run only a few times a day. The Athens–Thessaloniki corridor has frequent departures, but a route like Kastoria–Athens might have two buses per day. Check the timetable before making plans that depend on a specific departure.

Air conditioning and wifi

Modern intercity coaches are fully air-conditioned. Wifi is inconsistent — some companies advertise it, fewer actually deliver reliable connectivity. Assume no wifi and download anything you need beforehand.

Booking advice

For peak travel times (August, Easter, Christmas, long weekends), book intercity tickets at least a day ahead if you can. Outside peak season, turning up and buying on the day is usually fine, except on routes that only run once or twice a day. Island buses almost never require advance booking.

Important: Even if you buy an e-ticket online, some KTEL companies still require you to collect a physical ticket from the station counter or a self-service kiosk before boarding. Check the confirmation email — if it says to exchange your voucher, arrive with time to spare.

Apps and tracking

There is no national KTEL app. A handful of individual companies have their own apps (notably KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi in Crete, and KTEL Salamis). Google Maps has partial KTEL data but it is often out of date. The most reliable source is always the individual company's website or phone number.

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Dave Briggs
Dave is a UK travel writer living in Athens since 2015. With 20 years of firsthand travel experience and over 80,000 km of bicycle touring across six continents, he's been blogging at Dave's Travel Pages since 2005. Every guide is based on places he's actually been.

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