Getting from Athens to Kylini

If you are heading to Kylini from Athens you are making your way to one of the main ferry departure points on the western Peloponnese coast. Kylini is a small port town in Elis whose primary purpose is connecting the Peloponnese to the southern Ionian islands, with year-round ferries to Zakynthos and Kefalonia departing from its pier. The town itself is quiet and pleasant with a long sandy beach and the medieval castle of Chlemoutsi nearby, one of the best preserved Frankish fortifications in Greece and worth the short detour.

Getting there by air

Kylini has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens, around 280 kilometres to the east. Flying is not a practical option for this route.

Take the train, bus or drive

The drive from Athens to Kylini takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via the E65 motorway through Corinth and Patras, a straightforward journey on good roads. The KTEL bus from Athens Kifissos terminal runs to Kylini taking around 4 hours. There is no direct train service to Kylini but the train to Patras, around 74 kilometres north of Kylini, takes around 2.5 hours and a bus or taxi connection south to Kylini takes around 1 hour further.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry from Athens to Kylini. The town is a mainland port with no connection to Piraeus or the Aegean ferry network.

Your best option

Drive from Athens. The road via the E65 motorway through Corinth and Patras is well signposted and the drive takes around 3 to 3.5 hours. If you are heading to Kylini to connect to Zakynthos or Kefalonia, the ferry to Zakynthos takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and the ferry to Kefalonia takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, with multiple daily crossings year-round.