Patras

Patras (Modern Greek: Πάτρα, Greek pronunciation: [ˈpatra], Classical Greek and Katharevousa: Πάτραι (pl.)) is the third largest city of Greece, after Athens and Thessaloniki. It is the capital of the Prefecture of Achaea on the Peloponnese and the western gateway into the country, thanks to numerous ferry connections with Italy.

By plane
For regular flights, Patras is served by Athens International Airport, 250 km to the east.

By boat
Patras is linked by ferry to the Italian ports of (south to north) Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Venice, with numerous sailings daily year-round. Service to Trieste has been discontinued.

For the ferry frοm Ancona to Patras you will, e.g., pay for a single person about €40 winter/€100 summer. Local ferry services offer daily sailings from Patras to the Ionian Islands. Corfu is served by the international ferries on their way to and from Italy.

By car
Patras, located in the northeastern corner of the Peloponnese is connected to Athens by road via Corinth on the 8a National Road (corresponding to the E65 and E94 European Routes. To the south, Patras is connected by road to Amalias, Pyrgos and Olympia and further to Kalamata. The construction of a new bridge linking Rion (on the Peloponnese) to Antirrion (on the Central Greek mainland) has been in operation since 2004 and carries the E55 European route, linking Patras with points in Central Greece and Epirus (and onward to Albania) including the port of Igoumenitsa.

By train
A new railway Athens Airport - Patras line is under construction and operational until Aigio. From Athens you can take the suburban railway to Kiato and change there for the rail replacement bus to Patras. The trip is comfortable and fast, with the advantage that you don't need to go to the Intercity Bus Station in Athens which is located far from the city center and is not connected with the metro network.

By bus
Near to the port and main train station at the corner of Zaimi Str. and Othonos Amalias Str. lies the known as KTEL. KTEL buses connect Athens and other towns in Achaea with Patras.

Get around
The moovit app has accurate information and itineraries regarding urban (and some suburban) transport in Patras.

By bus
There is a city bus service in Patras consisting of 10 different lines connecting most of the city and also offering connections to places outside of Patras such as the Rio Hospital, the University of Patras, the Rio Docks (useful as many intercity buses from Athens stop there) and several villages. Tickets are available at many shops and kiosks throughout the city. There are also ticket offices of the bus company in the city center and at various other points such as the hospital and the university. Tickets for trips inside the city (Zone A) cost 1.20€, with trips outside the city costing 1.60€. Tickets purchased inside the bus cost 2.00€ and payment can be made by both cash and card. Most lines offer good service and you will most times find a seat. Lines 2 and 6 serving the two universities can get very crowded at times where classes are taking place. Generally prefer the Ktel or train wherever services are available and not the city bus because they are slow and expensive.

By rail
There is a suburban railway service connecting various places in the wider Patras region, with the 32.9km long line stretching from Agios Vasileios to Kato Achaia. It operates on the metric-gauge tracks of the now closed (since 2011) Peloponnese Railway which had been operating since the late 1800s. There is a train every one hour, with timetables available on the Hellenic Train website. The Agios Vasileios and Aktaion stations are served by bus, changing at Kastellokampos and the route Kaminia-Kato Achaia is served by bus, changing at Kaminia. There is also a bus shuttle that connects the railway to the University of Patras and the Rio Hospital at Kastellokampos station. There is almost no wait for these shuttle buses as itineraries are made so that the arrival of the train and bus coincide. Trains have air conditioning and offer a much more comfortable and faster trip than buses. Ticket prices range from 1.40-3.00€ depending on the number of zones you cross. Tickets can be purchased at the Kato Achaia, Agios Andreas, Patra and Rio stations as well as some other shops near the train stops.

By taxi
Taxis can be found in many cabstands around the city. The taxis are of maroon colour and the costs of moving start from €3.70 for urban routes and reaches €8 - 15 around for Rio, Ag. Vasilios, Vrachneika etc. If you call radiotaxi there is a €2 surcharge. For Taxi Express Patras 2610 450000 .

See


Notable sights include:





Do
The wide array of special events, exhibits, festivals, and various ongoing presentations, continue to delight large numbers of travelers annually, all of which have been designed to show the city of Patras at its best. For those who have never experienced the city, it is one of the best examples of a true Greek city. In addition to its tourist industry, Patras relies heavily on agriculture, its prolific wine country, and its busy shipping industry. However, it is also renowned for its colorful Carnival Season and how it has preserved the performances of ancient Greek theatre, held every year in February–March. Being the city's flagship during the last 170 years, it is without any doubt the greatest local celebration and has long been widely acknowledged in Greece and abroad.

Rooting in ancient Greece, Patras' carnival (as every other Greek carnival) is connected to the worship of Dionysus, god of wine and celebration. The carnival events, starting on 17 January every year and lasting until Ash Monday, are either programmed by the Municipal Committee of Carnival Events, or planned by the citizens and supported by the spontaneity, the inspiration and the creative ability of the inhabitants of Patras themselves. Patras' carnival draws its invigorating energy from the great numbers of participants (more than 30,000), which makes it the most famous in Greece.

Additionally, Patras hosts the Panachaiki soccer team which hosts games at the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, so natives as well as visitors can stop by and catch a game. If you're interested in going for a stroll along the water, one can venture over to the Molos port walk where there are benches to sit and enjoy the scenery and a cafe at the end of the port where you can sit and wait for your boat enjoying the water.

Buy
The city of Patras has a lot of vintage shops, most in the town hall. They are a litle bit more on the "expensive but good quality" side. You can find all the brands; Patras' biggest mall is Notos Galleries.

Drink
Patras is well known for the wines produced by the Achaia Clauss wine factory and especially for a variety called Mavrodafni. Visitors should also taste the local liqueur called Tentoura which is usually served as a digestive.

Some of the best places to get a drink, especially in the warm summer months is on the beach road in Rio. This strip of land is lined with bars and cafeterias catering to mostly Greeks. The clubs can get pretty packed, and usually European style music is played rather than Greek. Enjoy the views of the ocean and the Rio-Antirrio Bridge which is magnificently lit up on the weekends.

The city can provide a big variety of coffee shops, especially in Agiou Nikolaou Str. (Saint Nikolaos Str.), Radinou Str., Marine (area called "Pelekaneika" in Iroon Politechniou Str.), Plateia Vasileiou Georgiou (King Georgios Square), Gerokostopoulou Str., Ipsila Alonia Square (Plateia Ypsilon Alonion), "Veso Mare" in Akti Dimeon Blvd, Koukouli area near Technological Institute of Patras etc.

Nightlife

 * Distinto at Rio.
 * Radinou Street is a tiny alley that houses some small café and pubs, it's empty during the day but gets packed during the night. There's no much difference between the one pub from the other, the loud beat will hit you anyway as they come from every small spot, just stand between two pub and you will here in stereo a mix of two different tracks
 * Radinou Street is a tiny alley that houses some small café and pubs, it's empty during the day but gets packed during the night. There's no much difference between the one pub from the other, the loud beat will hit you anyway as they come from every small spot, just stand between two pub and you will here in stereo a mix of two different tracks