Greece Itinerary - The Best of Greece by Rail

The city of Patras is known as Greece’s Gate to the West and is the perfect place to start your rail adventure. With a history spanning four millennia, Patras is rich in monuments from Ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine times. Most notable are Patras Castle towering over the city, and the ancient Roman Odeon which now hosts concerts in summer.

More recently built highlights include the Saint Andrew of Patras Basilica, located on the city’s seafront. While overlooking the Gulf of Patras, look to your right to see the 1.8 mile (3 kilometers) long Rio-Antirrio bridge that connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the Greek mainland.

Take a train to the city of Corinth, at the very edge of the Peloponnessus region. The narrow Corinth Canal cuts through the land here, creating a gateway to nearby Athens. Before traveling on to Greece's capital, make sure to visit the Acrocorinth citadel. It overlooks the ruins of Ancient Corinth and is one of the most impressive sights in all of Greece.

From Corinth, you can take a day trip to the city of Argos. An overwhelming number of historical monuments await you in the ancient town, and the rare collection in the Archeaological Museum is definitely worth a visit. Close to Argos you’ll find the ruins of Mycenae, a city shrouded in Greek mythology and the staging area for the legendary war on Troy.

Athens is known as the cradle of Western civilization. It’s a lively and mesmerizing city, with remnants of a glorious past around every corner. Standing high and mighty in the center of the city is the Parthenon temple, built on top of the Athenian Acropolis in 447 BC. Take a full day to explore the temple and the Acropolis museum on the southeastern slope.

Other important monuments for your Athens itinerary include the well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus and the ruins of the colossal Temple of Olympian Zeus. Walk across the Kerameikos to see ancient graves and sculptures, then watch the sunset over Athens from Areopagus hill.

Travel from Athens to Kalambaka and swap the big city for a peaceful mountain area. Here you’ll find the immensely impressive Meteora: six monasteries, built centuries ago on top of sandstone rock pillars. Climb the staircases to any one of these monasteries for an amazing view of the area.

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece, and considered to be its cultural capital. Two of the city’s most important sights are the enormous Church of Saint Demetrius and the White Tower, a former Ottoman prison turned into a museum.

Go to the Museum of Byzantine Culture to learn about the Byzantine Empire, and afterwards relax on Thessaloniki’s pleasant seafront. For a special addition to your Greece itinerary, take a daytrip to Mount Olympus - the mythical home of the Olympian gods.