Hi Passport girl, I’m in Greece …loving it and using buses around the PELOPPONESE. 4 buses in one day from Monamvasia to NAFPLION and 5 days later 3 buses from NAFPLION to Ermioni to catch the ferry to Hydra where I am now. The drivers are very helpful as are the ticket sellers at the bus station. I was at that big Athens Ktel station for my first bus to Sparta (Sparti) 3 weeks down and 3 weeks to go.
Thanks! Good information. Also liked your tour of the neighborhood (Koukaki). Perhaps our paths will cross on Veikou, or Drakou, or Dimitrakopolou. I'm working a lot and don't get out as much as. you.
@@agirlandherpassport my dads village is called Vlahopoulo, it’s a very small village . It doesn’t have much to see at all. I recommend if you are able to go, voithokilia beach, Pilos, Finikounta, Methoni, Koroni and Gytheio. Peloponnese is amazing. Enjoy
Thanks for a great video. Hoping to use the bus system to explore the Peloponnese yet sounds like a rental car might be easier. Looking forward to your next video. Fun and safe travels 🚌🚌🚌🚎
“κάτω από το αυλάκι” to Πελοπόννησο. So glad you ventured down to Southern Greece to Messinia. Hope you cross over to Sparti. Laconia and visit Mystra, and Monemvasia. If the buses still use the old road through Mount Taigetos, that will be a real scary ride, but oh so scenic. So much to see down in this part of Greece, but unfortunately out of the way and poorly interconnected. Nice to see your videos, thank you. Wish I was there.
So I'm currently binge watching your Peloponnese adventure. You know how much I would have loved to have been on that bus with you going to my favourite little corner of Greece. I first went to that bus station in 1990 and experienced my frst hole in the floor loo!
It's been a few years since I took busses but it basically works like this. Greece has 51 perfectures (in English, they are called regional units now or similar ). Each one of those has its own bus company that operates local (within the perfecture) and intercity lines, mostly to the two centers. So if you want to visit any city/town/village within a perfecture you get a bus to its capital and then another bus to your destination. What might be a little harder is moving between perfectures. It's not necessarily true that there's a bus between Kalamata and Sparti for example. I believe in recent years there's cooperation between these companies and they have added routes between nearby cities but don't quote me on that.
As you can see this would be very confusing for a non Greek though. Most of use don’t know Greece well enough to navigate that. Plus most don’t say where to they connect nor can you buy tickets online for each place. So trying to plan your trip in advance is hard.
7:10 till late 80's it was about 5 to 5.5 hours (Peloponnese is quite mountainous). Around that period they started making bit by bit all those tunnels you saw along the way and subsequently the duration gradually (very gradually) dropped. I wouldn't say the bus station is pretty far from town but just at the outskirts of it and in walkable distance from the "center". Yes you heard that right, traditionally the center considered to be the northern part of the city around square of 23rd of March and the people from other parts of Messinia who were coming to the capital to run their errands they could find everything they needed there. Are you staying at horizon blu?
@@agirlandherpassport well, there always was a kind of sense that there are 2 cities. The beach and the other one. Good choice (of course again the big life and stuff).
Hi and I am excite to see your trip to Peloponnese! I am planning to go there, too! Some notes on the restroom situation. I live in New York City, Manhattan, and public restrooms in the parks are horrible. It is better at central bus stations. Some people nowadays, esp. after COVID, do not need a toilet at all and there are lots of these individuals in New York, Los Angelos, San Diego, San Fransisco etc so I do not we are above Greece with this. Otherwise, the trip looks easy and now I am not intimidated to use KTEL. Thank you!
Eeee yay!!! Finally! I’m not sure if it’s your first time in Kalamata but I do remember suggesting it a while ago when you asked for suggestions of places to visit and I’m so happy you’re making a video about it. My dream place to live.
the most developing area in Greece with an airport. 2 hours from Athens, in the coming years it will be among the top tourist destinations along with Nafplion - Nafpaktos
Hope you had a good time in Kalamata. Hopefully you get the chance to go to go south into the Mani or a bit further west to Costa Navarrino (expensive) or My Yia Ya'as home town of Filiatra (not expensive). There you can see a Mini Eiffel Tower. You can take a bus from Kalamata to Kardymili and Stoupa and walk to a bunch of cool things to do. Caves and old towns, good food and nice sandy beach in Stoupa. Worth a weekend. Stay in Kardymili then you don't have to rent a car.
@@agirlandherpassport Also, in my recommendation for Kardymili and Stoupa I forgot to mention that there is a high rate of English speakers there. Most everyone speaks English and you will have no trouble communicating.
Great video! I know many travelers are intimidated by trying to figure out the buses, this is going to help out a LOT of people. Did you come down for the TBEX conference? If you come to the Mani in the area of Kardamyli/Stoupa let me know and I’ll buy you a glass of wine. 🍷 Enjoy your trip!
I would sleep in the center as the area where the bus station is isn't very great. You can take a taxi to the bus station. Here are some suggestions, agirlandherpassport.com/where-to-stay-in-athens/
I want to come back to Greece next March/April and rent a car for a month to explore the entire Peloponnese area. And then come back in June for the islands lol
The worst thing about using KTEL busses in Greece is that quite a few of the station staff (predominantly female) are abrupt and rude. If it were possible to buy the bus tickets from a vending machine and not deal with the staff that would be great. I buy my ferry tickets online in Greece for that reason also, to avoid dealing with the ticket sellers. The price is the same.
See! That's what I was talking about. None of those yellow cabs in this video are real taxis. One guy charged me 15 euro to the port and another charged 25, one week apart, no meters. Most other countries have cracked down on illegal taxi business. The buses are great tho.
They are real taxis though. You have to insist on the meter if they don’t turn it on. My yellow taxi dropped me off there. All taxis in Athens are yellow.
![Athens AIRPORT : How to get to your hotel ? [Comparing Metro, Bus, Taxi, Uber]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YpOv3_6uEX0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Athens AIRPORT : How to get to your hotel ? [Comparing Metro, Bus, Taxi, Uber]](/img/tr.png)
Need to know how to get to the Athens city center from the airport? Check this video out! ua-cam.com/video/ea7afB3_S1o/v-deo.html
Hi Passport girl, I’m in Greece …loving it and using buses around the PELOPPONESE. 4 buses in one day from Monamvasia to NAFPLION and 5 days later 3 buses from NAFPLION to Ermioni to catch the ferry to Hydra where I am now.
The drivers are very helpful as are the ticket sellers at the bus station. I was at that big Athens Ktel station for my first bus to Sparta (Sparti)
3 weeks down and 3 weeks to go.
That is great to hear. I know it can be done. It’s just hard to plan.
Thanks Gary I was hoping to use the buses to explore the Peloponnese in late September. Sounds like it is doable?
I think as long as you’re flexible you will be fine especially at that time of year.
The beach in Stoupa is sandy and they are improving it
In the near future the Athens bus stations will be transfered to Eleonas and it will be connected with metro
That will be a great improvement!
Oh wow I can’t wait for that!!!
Thanks! Good information. Also liked your tour of the neighborhood (Koukaki). Perhaps our paths will cross on Veikou, or Drakou, or Dimitrakopolou. I'm working a lot and don't get out as much as. you.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you liked it. Please say hello if you see me. Thank you for the Super Thanks!
My dad is from a village close to Kalamata! Kalamata is so beautiful. Enjoy! The beach is very nice…
What village? It’s been great so far.
@@agirlandherpassport my dads village is called Vlahopoulo, it’s a very small village . It doesn’t have much to see at all. I recommend if you are able to go, voithokilia beach, Pilos, Finikounta, Methoni, Koroni and Gytheio. Peloponnese is amazing. Enjoy
Thank you! Not all of those on this trip but in the future!
Thank you. Looking forward to the Peloponnese videos. Always wanted to visit and explore….maybe one day.
You’re welcome. One will be out soon!
Hello i'am enjoying you videos , keep it up
Thank you!
Thanks for a great video. Hoping to use the bus system to explore the Peloponnese yet sounds like a rental car might be easier. Looking forward to your next video. Fun and safe travels 🚌🚌🚌🚎
If you want lots of flexibility, I recommend the car rental.
Thank you for the information
Glad to see you're in Kalamata. This is still on my "to go to" list. I've heard excellent things about the area. Are you going to Napflion too? Enjoy!
I’m so glad I have finally made it. I have been to Nafplio already. 😊
“κάτω από το αυλάκι” to Πελοπόννησο. So glad you ventured down to Southern Greece to Messinia. Hope you cross over to Sparti. Laconia and visit Mystra, and Monemvasia. If the buses still use the old road through Mount Taigetos, that will be a real scary ride, but oh so scenic. So much to see down in this part of Greece, but unfortunately out of the way and poorly interconnected. Nice to see your videos, thank you. Wish I was there.
Thanks! Not on this trip but hopefully in the future.
So I'm currently binge watching your Peloponnese adventure. You know how much I would have loved to have been on that bus with you going to my favourite little corner of Greece. I first went to that bus station in 1990 and experienced my frst hole in the floor loo!
I’m sure you will would have been first in line with me. Haha. Thankfully it’s not that way now.
This video was very helpful. Thanks!
Omg i love that station .
Haha. I think you’re the first person to ever say that to me.
Thanks for a great video.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for making this video travel like a locals (and not tourist trap). Absolutely love it. It would be helpful if you can includes all the prices.
You're welcome. I can't include them as each company sets their own and they all have their own website.
Nice. A video about the buses and trolley in Athens would be super helpful. Tram and Metro is easy but the buses .. oh my. Enjoy Kalamata.
The buses in Athens are easy. There is an app called OASA Telematics that has their live location and maps.
@@agirlandherpassport I didn’t know. Thank you so much
You’re welcome. The bus is a great way to get around Athens.
Hey there! Been a while happy to see you in Kalamata!
I think you have missed videos as I have made one every week.
It's been a few years since I took busses but it basically works like this. Greece has 51 perfectures (in English, they are called regional units now or similar ). Each one of those has its own bus company that operates local (within the perfecture) and intercity lines, mostly to the two centers. So if you want to visit any city/town/village within a perfecture you get a bus to its capital and then another bus to your destination. What might be a little harder is moving between perfectures. It's not necessarily true that there's a bus between Kalamata and Sparti for example. I believe in recent years there's cooperation between these companies and they have added routes between nearby cities but don't quote me on that.
As you can see this would be very confusing for a non Greek though. Most of use don’t know Greece well enough to navigate that. Plus most don’t say where to they connect nor can you buy tickets online for each place. So trying to plan your trip in advance is hard.
Do a road trip to Patras someday so we can see if its worth visiting...Happy Adventure and Travels!
I will put it on the list!
7:10 till late 80's it was about 5 to 5.5 hours (Peloponnese is quite mountainous). Around that period they started making bit by bit all those tunnels you saw along the way and subsequently the duration gradually (very gradually) dropped. I wouldn't say the bus station is pretty far from town but just at the outskirts of it and in walkable distance from the "center". Yes you heard that right, traditionally the center considered to be the northern part of the city around square of 23rd of March and the people from other parts of Messinia who were coming to the capital to run their errands they could find everything they needed there. Are you staying at horizon blu?
It’s so much better now. The road is really smooth and looks easy to drive. It is far when you are staying by the beach. Yes I am!
@@agirlandherpassport well, there always was a kind of sense that there are 2 cities. The beach and the other one. Good choice (of course again the big life and stuff).
I can see that for sure! I really choose it because it’s near my conference but it’s an amazing hotel!
Hi and I am excite to see your trip to Peloponnese! I am planning to go there, too! Some notes on the restroom situation. I live in New York City, Manhattan, and public restrooms in the parks are horrible. It is better at central bus stations. Some people nowadays, esp. after COVID, do not need a toilet at all and there are lots of these individuals in New York, Los Angelos, San Diego, San Fransisco etc so I do not we are above Greece with this. Otherwise, the trip looks easy and now I am not intimidated to use KTEL. Thank you!
Thanks! Of course there are bad toilets everywhere but it was more the style of toilet that is hard for me.
thanks for the video. Did you photo your hotel too, where and if you liked it?
You’re welcome. It’s coming in next weeks video. 😊
Eeee yay!!! Finally! I’m not sure if it’s your first time in Kalamata but I do remember suggesting it a while ago when you asked for suggestions of places to visit and I’m so happy you’re making a video about it. My dream place to live.
It is my first time here. I am making a video.
the most developing area in Greece with an airport. 2 hours from Athens, in the coming years it will be among the top tourist destinations along with Nafplion - Nafpaktos
With the improved road, I absolutely agree!
Hope you had a good time in Kalamata. Hopefully you get the chance to go to go south into the Mani or a bit further west to Costa Navarrino (expensive) or My Yia Ya'as home town of Filiatra (not expensive). There you can see a Mini Eiffel Tower. You can take a bus from Kalamata to Kardymili and Stoupa and walk to a bunch of cool things to do. Caves and old towns, good food and nice sandy beach in Stoupa. Worth a weekend. Stay in Kardymili then you don't have to rent a car.
Thank you. Not this time but I am sure I will come back.
@@agirlandherpassport Also, in my recommendation for Kardymili and Stoupa I forgot to mention that there is a high rate of English speakers there. Most everyone speaks English and you will have no trouble communicating.
Thanks!
Hi there, thanks for this video! How long before the bus would you recommend to arrive at the bus station in athens?
You’re welcome. I would say about 30 minutes is okay unless you need to get your tickets. Maybe 10 minutes more.
Hello! Thank you for your video! So the bus didn’t stop. Did the bus had a toilet inside then? Thank you!
Virg
Great video! I know many travelers are intimidated by trying to figure out the buses, this is going to help out a LOT of people. Did you come down for the TBEX conference? If you come to the Mani in the area of Kardamyli/Stoupa let me know and I’ll buy you a glass of wine. 🍷 Enjoy your trip!
Thanks! I did come for that. I am not coming that way this time unfortunately. I appreciate the offer though.
Hello, I am planing my trip to Greece Arriving June 1.
Suggestions on where to sleep 1 night and then get to the bus station for kalamata!? Thx
I would sleep in the center as the area where the bus station is isn't very great. You can take a taxi to the bus station. Here are some suggestions, agirlandherpassport.com/where-to-stay-in-athens/
She should’ve got express to kalamata you probably pay an extra €10 on top of the bill, but there are no stops goes straight through
I did take the express bus.
Hi, how did you get to the KTel bus station from central Athens?
I took a taxi as it’s not close to a metro station.
You have to use another bus.
how about sunday ? is it possible to get ticket from the counter on sunday without booking online ?
Yes, you can get a ticket from the counter if the bus is running.
Watching this video just gave me a wild idea ~ show up to the bus station and buy a ticket to somewhere 😅
But noooo, I must plan everything ahead 😆😆😆
If you are willing to be flexible then no problem!!
Hey, is there an option to book round trip ticket - Athens - Kalamata - Athens?
Yes there is! You can book it online.
I want to come back to Greece next March/April and rent a car for a month to explore the entire Peloponnese area. And then come back in June for the islands lol
Great plan!!!!
@@agirlandherpassport I think so too!
wow...I didn't know buses go to Kalamata from Athens. I thought you have to only take the ferry.
Did you say how much the ticket was? don't remember
There isn’t a ferry from Athens to Kalamata. You can only drive from Athens to Kalamata or take the bus. The ticket one way was €22.30.
@@agirlandherpassport thanx!
You’re welcome
The worst thing about using KTEL busses in Greece is that quite a few of the station staff (predominantly female) are abrupt and rude.
If it were possible to buy the bus tickets from a vending machine and not deal with the staff that would be great. I buy my ferry tickets online in Greece for that reason also, to avoid dealing with the ticket sellers. The price is the same.
Don’t come in July or August. You won’t like how crowded it gets
I think all of Greece is this way.
@@agirlandherpassport Yes. We try not to come here from Florida then, but sometimes it’s only the time I can schedule vacation.
Sometimes it’s unavoidable.
@@agirlandherpassport We are having lunch in Kalogrya. The beach here is sandy and fairly large by local standards.
See! That's what I was talking about. None of those yellow cabs in this video are real taxis. One guy charged me 15 euro to the port and another charged 25, one week apart, no meters. Most other countries have cracked down on illegal taxi business. The buses are great tho.
They are real taxis though. You have to insist on the meter if they don’t turn it on. My yellow taxi dropped me off there. All taxis in Athens are yellow.
@@agirlandherpassport Yeah, but are all yellow cars taxis?
Mostly. I have never seen a yellow car that isn’t a taxi here
Been in the bus station. It’s totally gross. Especially the bathroom. 0/10