When in Bari, make time to explore the old city and visit the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola (photo © Mitzobs / dreamstime.com).
To Athens by train and ferry
This journey links two places which were both premier-league city-states. There were times when Venice and Athens wielded great influence through maritime power. For this completely new route for Europe by Rail, we offer an alternative to the direct ship from Venice to Greece, travelling down Italy’s Adriatic coast and then taking the ferry from Bari to Patras, from where it is just a short hop on to Athens.
MAP Double click on the map (or double tap on mobile) to zoom in. You can connect onto other routes in places shown in red. Change to a layer showing a more familiar road map view by clicking on the menu at the top right of the map. Get back to the original view by clicking on the house icon shown in the top left menu on the map.
Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail is the perfect guide. The book describes over 50 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and – brand new for this 16th edition – now also the British Isles. Find out more about the guidebook below.