We are going to Italy in Setp/Oct 98. We then would like to go from Athens to Turkey thru the
Greek Islands. How much to fly Rome to Athens or how much in Train up thru Italy and then down to Athens. Hoping someone can help. Thank you

The standard route is a day train to Brindisi, a boat to Patras, and three hours' bus to Athens: total trip 30 hours. This will be cheaper but less iutesting than the route you ask for, which takes about 48 hours non-stop, and more if you have a break in Venice, Zagreb, Belgrade or Thessalonika (or by still a third route Budapest). The route via Venice Zagreb and Belgrade will cost about 400 US dollars second class and about 600 first, including beds for the two nights in sleeping cars.

Schedules are in the Thomas Cook European Timetable, which is probably in the reference library of a large city near you. Trains don't yet run from Zagreb to Belgrade, but Swiss rail say they will run from 1 June.

Please write again if I can heklp further.

Ben Haines, London

As an alternative, you could go from Rome to Venice. Spend some time there and take a Ship from Venice to Patras and then onto Athens by bus or train. The cost for the entire two nite trip is $152/each in a double inside cabin(full facilities) or $180 in a double outside cabin. For info go to:
http://www.minoan.gr/
For info from Brindisi to Patras,go to:http:/www.adriatica.it/index.html
You will find that the Brindisi/Patras overnight fare is not much less than from Venice.

Thank you for your information. It has been of great assistance, including your long mail Ben to my home. Both my husband and I are going in October but my friend and husband are off in May so this has been a double whammy. Thanks

I was in Rome last year and then went to Paris. I would actually fly. It takes an hour and a half to get there and the flight round trip was only $215. It is worth it rather ant a day on the trains and boat.
As for the flight. I would fly to Rome it is cheaper. There are more commercial flights to ROme than Athens.