Before heading to Greece, it is essential to know some Greek words about transportation as these will be handy if you want to explore every little corner of this beautiful country.
Every time I plan to head to a new country, choosing a form of transport is one of the first topics I explore, and I ensure I understand my options well. Greece was no exception, and I even got relief when I started researching this topic. As the Greek call, Μεταφορά (Metaforá as transportation in English) is straightforward all across the country. Whether you’re exploring the streets of Athens and jumping from bus to bus or island-hoping in the South from island to island, you’ll discover that there is a transportation method that will help you make your δρομολόγιο (dromológio as an itinerary in English) super easy to follow!
Want to ensure hassle-free travel? Learning Greek before heading to Greece is a great decision you can take to mix with the locals and get to know one of the oldest cultures in the world. If you want to know more about Greece and the Greek language, we at Ling have a blog full of outstanding and informative articles. Here are a few of my personal favorites that I highly recommend exploring:
- Greek Food? 5+ Best Dishes That You Must Try!
- 5 Ways To Say I Love You In Greek!
- Greece’s Hidden Gems: 5+ Must-Visit Sites!
Ready to be transported into our next chapter? (See what I did there?) Let’s dive in!
Standard Modes Of Transportation In Greece
Αεροπλάνο (Aeropláno – Airplane)
This will probably be the first transportation method you’ll use to get to Greek lands: The International Airport of Athens El. Venizelos is the central hub for flights in Greece. However, Greece has many other airports, such as Santorini or Mykonos, where you can schedule your flight.
Being a super touristy country during summer, there is an increase of charter flights that not only head to the capital Athens where many people start their Greek tour, but also take thousands of people every day to the paradisiacal islands of Greece in the Aegean Sea.
Αυτοκίνητο (Aftokínito – Car)
Once you get to a destination, renting a car is always a good choice: you get the comfort and flexibility to go wherever you want, whenever you decide. This mainly applies to the continental side of Greece, where a car can be helpful if you want to explore multiple places quickly. In tourist islands, renting a car is also possible. However, the narrow streets with cliffs on the side may become a challenge if you’re not an experienced driver.
Λεωφορείο (Leoforeío – Buses)
Traveling through Greece by KTEL buses (Koino Tamio Eis Praxeon Leoforion) is one of the most popular ways to travel between cities. Almost all the locations in Greece are reachable by this transport, either directly or by connection.
To make it easier for you to understand, you have to remember that the Greek KTEL buses are divided by area, which means that there are different providers for different parts of the country. For example, if you want to check information about KTEL buses in the Athens area, you have the KTEL Attikis website. However, if you book in the Thessaloniki area, you must book in KTEL Thessalonikis.
Τρένο (Tréno – Train)
The train is also an alternative transport for travel between big cities. However, remember that Greece’s railway system is not the best or the most organized out there. It is very limited in terms of destination. If you ignore this fact and want to go from Athens to Thessaloniki, then you’ll see that this is a very convenient and much more affordable way to get yourself into the next step of your trip.
Πορθμείο (Porthmeío – Ferry)
Suppose you dream of relieving the Mamma Mia movie and want to head to the paradisiacal islands of Mykonos, Crete, Milos, Hydra, or Santorini. In that case, you will eventually catch one of the many ferries that connect the several islands of Greece.
Pro tip: Book your ferry ahead of time, especially if you’re traveling in July or August, as tickets sell out quickly!
Ταξί (Taxí – Taxi)
Taxis in Greece have the classic cab color: yellow! It may be expensive, but it will take you anywhere you want. Although it is not exclusive to Greece, be careful about taxi drivers as some may be a bit sketchy and try to fool you for more money.
Ποδήλατο (Podílato – Bicycle)
Imagine this: you’re driving a bicycle on a hill overlooking the ocean while the sun sets behind the horizon. Sounds like a dream, right? Bicycles are also a great way to explore not only the islands of Greece but also big cities like Athens!
Μοτοσικλέτα (Motosikléta – Motorbike)
If you’re an adventurer, this option is right for you! Travelling Greece with a motorbike is an excellent way to enjoy the environment, especially on the islands where you’ll find that the roads may be a bit narrow for cars. You’ll see many rental spots across the islands that will even allow you to rent 4×4 motorbikes if you want an off-road experience.
Other Greek Words About Transportation
Do you know how to say “travel” in Greek? Or how to even say “road”? Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Now that we’ve explored the most common transportation ways in Greece, let’s learn how to say a few words that may become handy when traveling in Greece.
| Greek | English | Pronunciation |
| Προορισμός (Proorismós) | Destination | |
| Σπίτι (Spíti) | Home | |
| Δρομολόγιο (Dromológio) | Itinerary | |
| Τοποθεσία (Topothesía) | Location | |
| Χάρτης (Chártis) | Map | |
| Προέλευση (Proélefsi) | Origin | |
| Σχέδιο (Schédio) | Plan | |
| Διαδρομή (Diadromí) | Route | |
| Μεταφορά (Metaforá) | Transportation | |
| Ταξίδι (Taxídi) | Travel | |
| Ταξίδι (Taxídi) | Trip | |
| Διακοπές (Diakopés) | Vacation |
Words For Travelling By Airplane
| Greek | English | Pronunciation |
| Αεροδρόμιο (Aerodrómio) | Airport | |
| ασφάλεια αεροδρομίου (asfáleia aerodromíou) | Airport Security | |
| σύνδεση (sýndesi) | Connection | |
| καθυστερημένη (kathysteriméni) | Delayed | |
| αναχώρηση (anachórisi) | Departure | |
| πτήση (ptísi) | Flight | |
| πύλη (pýli) | Gate | |
| ταυτότητα (taftótita) | ID | |
| αποσκευές (aposkevés) | Luggage | |
| διαβατήριο (diavatírio) | Passport | |
| τερματικό (termatikó) | Terminal | |
| τον έλεγχο ασφαλείας (ton élencho asfaleías) | The Security Check | |
| επιβιβάζομαι (epivivázomai) | To Board | |
| προσγειώνομαι (prosgeiónomai) | To Land |
Words For Travelling By Train Or Bus
| Greek | English | Pronunciation |
| στάση λεωφορείου (stási leoforeíou) | Bus Station | |
| Έλεγχος ταυτότητας (Élenchos taftótitas) | ID control | |
| επιβάτης (epivátis) | Passenger | |
| πλατφόρμα (platfórma) | Platform | |
| δημόσιες συγκοινωνίες (dimósies synkoinoníes) | Public Transportation | |
| Πρόγραμμα (Prógramma) | Schedule | |
| έδρα (édra) | Seat | |
| σταθμός (stathmós) | Station | |
| να σταματήσει (na stamatísei) | Stop | |
| εισιτήριο (eisitírio) | Ticket | |
| να πιάσω (na piáso) | To Catch | |
| για αλλαγή (gia allagí) | To Change (planes, buses, etc.) | |
| σιδηροδρομικό σταθμό (sidirodromikó stathmó) | Train Station | |
| τραμ (tram) | Tram |
Words For Travelling By Car
| Greek | English | Pronunciation |
| φρένο (fréno) | brake | |
| τροχόσπιτο (trochóspito) | caravan | |
| οδηγός (odigós) | driver | |
| άδεια οδήγησης (ádeia odígisis) | driver’s license | |
| κινητήρας (kinitíras) | engine | |
| τέλη (téli) | fee | |
| καύσιμα (káfsima) | fuel | |
| ΒΕΝΖΙΝΑΔΙΚΟ (VENZINADIKO) | gas station | |
| Αυτοκινητόδρομος (Aftokinitódromos) | highway | |
| δρόμος (drómos) | road | |
| κυκλική διασταύρωση (kyklikí diastávrosi) | roundabout | |
| ζώνη ασφαλείας (zóni asfaleías) | seat belt | |
| ταξί (taxí) | taxi | |
| ταξίμετρο (taxímetro) | taximeter | |
| λάστιχο (lásticho) | tire | |
| να φτάσω (na ftáso) | to arrive | |
| να σπάσει (na spásei) | to break down | |
| να οδηγείτε (na odigeíte) | to drive | |
| να μπεις (na beis) | to get in | |
| για να κατεβείτε (gia na kateveíte) | to get off | |
| να νοικιάσετε αυτοκίνητο (na noikiásete aftokínito) | to rent a car | |
| ΚΙΝΗΣΗ στους ΔΡΟΜΟΥΣ (KINISI stous DROMOUS) | traffic | |
| φορτηγό (fortigó) | truck | |
| φλας (flas) | turn signal | |
| αναστροφή (anastrofí) | u-turn | |
Phrases Related To Transportations In Greek
| Greek Question | English Question | Pronunciation |
| Που είναι ο σταθμός των τρένων? (Pou eínai o stathmós ton trénon?) | Where is the train station? | |
| Σε ποιον σιδηροδρομικό σταθμό θα κατέβω (Se poion sidirodromikó stathmó tha katévo?) | Which train station do I get off at? | |
| Πού είναι ο πλησιέστερος σταθμός του μετρό (Poú eínai o plisiésteros stathmós tou metró?) | Where is the nearest metro station? | |
| Πού μπορώ να πάρω ταξί (Poú boró na páro taxí?) | Where can I get a taxi? | |
| Πώς μπορώ να φτάσω στο αεροδρόμιο (Pós boró na ftáso sto aerodrómio?) | How can I get to the airport? | |
| Ποιος είναι ο πιο γρήγορος τρόπος για να φτάσετε στο σιδηροδρομικό σταθμό (Poios eínai o pio grígoros trópos gia na ftásete sto sidirodromikó stathmó?) | What’s the quickest way to get to the train station? | |
| Πού είναι η είσοδος στον αυτοκινητόδρομο (Poú eínai i eísodos ston aftokinitódromo?) | Where is the entrance to the highway? | |
| θα πάρω το ποδήλατό μου (tha páro to podílató mou) | I’ll take my bike | |
| Από πού φεύγει το λεωφορείο (Apó poú févgei to leoforeío?) | Where does the bus leave from? | |
| Μπορώ να κατέβω στον επόμενο σταθμό (Boró na katévo ston epómeno stathmó?) | Can I get off at the next station? | |
| Πού είναι η επόμενη στάση του λεωφορείου (Poú eínai i epómeni stási tou leoforeíou?) | Where is the next bus stop? | |
| Πόσο είναι το εισιτήριο του λεωφορείου (Póso eínai to eisitírio tou leoforeíou?) | How much is the bus ticket? | |
| Πόσο κοστίζει ένα εισιτήριο απλής μετάβασης (Póso kostízei éna eisitírio aplís metávasis?) | How much for a one-way ticket? | |
| Πόσο κοστίζει ένα εισιτήριο μετ’ επιστροφής (Póso kostízei éna eisitírio met’ epistrofís?) | How much for a round-trip ticket? | |
| Έχετε εκπτώσεις για φοιτητές (Échete ekptóseis gia foitités?) | Do you have discounts for students? | |
| Πού μπορώ να αγοράσω εισιτήριο τρένου (Poú boró na agoráso eisitírio trénou?) | Where can I buy a train ticket? | |
| Υπάρχουν διαθέσιμα εισιτήρια (Ypárchoun diathésima eisitíria?) | Are there any tickets available? | |
| Πού μπορώ να νοικιάσω αυτοκίνητο (Poú boró na noikiáso aftokínito?) | Where can I rent a car? | |
| Πόσο κοστίζει η ενοικίαση αυτοκινήτου (Póso kostízei i enoikíasi aftokinítou?) | How much is the car rental? | |
| Ο κινητήρας σταμάτησε να λειτουργεί (O kinitíras stamátise na leitourgeí) | The engine has stopped working | |
| Το αυτοκίνητο δεν ξεκινά (To aftokínito den xekiná) | The car won’t start | |
| Πού είναι το πλησιέστερο βενζινάδικο (Poú eínai to plisiéstero venzinádiko?) | Where’s the nearest gas station? | |
| Τι είδους καύσιμο χρησιμοποιεί (Ti eídous káfsimo chrisimopoieí?) | What kind of fuel does it use? | |
| Το αυτοκίνητο έχει σκασμένο λάστιχο (To aftokínito échei skasméno lásticho) | The car has a flat tire | |
| Είναι το αεροπλάνο στην ώρα του (Eínai to aeropláno stin óra tou?) | Is the plane on time? | |
| Πόσο θα καθυστερήσει το αεροπλάνο (Póso tha kathysterísei to aeropláno?) | How long will the plane be delayed? | |
| Πού είναι η πύλη μου (Poú eínai i pýli mou?) | Where is my gate? | |
| Σε ποιο τερματικό να πάω (Se poio termatikó na páo?) | Which terminal do I go to? | |
| Θα ήθελα ένα κάθισμα στο παράθυρο (Tha íthela éna káthisma sto paráthyro) | I’d like a window seat | |
| Θα ήθελα ένα κάθισμα στον διάδρομο (Tha íthela éna káthisma ston diádromo) | I’d like an aisle seat | |
| Σε ποια πλατφόρμα να πάω (Se poia platfórma na páo?) | Which platform do I go to? | |
| Πού είναι ο αριθμός του καθίσματος … (Poú eínai o arithmós tou kathísmatos …?) | Where is the seat number …? | |
| Να κατέβω εδώ (Na katévo edó?) | Do I get off here? | |
| Πόσο θα διαρκέσει η διαδρομή με το τρένο (Póso tha diarkései i diadromí me to tréno?) | How long will the train ride take? | |
| Υπάρχει διαθέσιμο φαγητό στο τρένο (Ypárchei diathésimo fagitó sto tréno?) | Is there food available on the train? | |
| Υπάρχουν τουαλέτες στο πλοίο (Ypárchoun toualétes sto ploío?) | Are there washrooms on board? |
Wrapping Up!
This is just a little taste of what the Greek language can bring you and help you during your visit to this beautiful country. To help you master Greek, I have the perfect tool for you!
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