London to Athens: route, cost and stops
London to Athens across 4 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 8 stops, 8 legs, 22h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Cambridge | Coach | 1.9h | €5–€10 |
| Cambridge → Northampton | Coach | 1.7h | €5–€5 |
| Northampton → Leicester | Coach | 1.4h | €4–€5 |
| Leicester → Coventry | Coach | 1.2h | €4–€5 |
| Coventry → Birmingham | Coach | 1h | €4–€5 |
| Birmingham → Barcelona | Flight | 5.2h | €25–€150 |
| Barcelona → Palermo | Flight | 4.8h | €25–€135 |
| Palermo → Athens | Flight | 4.7h | €20–€125 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €92 | €197 | €440 |
| Beds | €366 | €431 | €552 |
| Daily spending | €870 | €1,088 | €1,469 |
| Total per person | €1,429 | €1,828 | €2,590 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
London, England
Worth the time: British Museum, South Bank, Borough Market
Eating: Museums free; markets beat restaurants
Beds near the centre:
London Central YMCA · hostelHelen Graham House · hostelLSE Northumberland House · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Market Place Food Hall Leicester Square · marketSoho Vegan Market · marketSeven Dials Market · market
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Beds near the centre:
YHA Cambridge · hostelRegency Guest House · guest houseGraduate by Hilton Cambridge · hotel
Leicester, United Kingdom
Coventry, United Kingdom
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Beds near the centre:
YMCA · hosteliQ Studios 51 · hostelThe Wellington · guest house
Barcelona, Spain
Worth the time: Sagrada Família, Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc
Eating: Menú del día €13 including wine
Beds near the centre:
sant jordi alberg hostel · hostelHostal Oliva · hostelHostal Amra · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Col.lectiu d'Artesans de l'Alimentació de la Plaça del P · marketEspai Grill · marketSnack Bar Nevada · market
Palermo, Italy
Worth the time: Ballarò market, Cappella Palatina, Monreale
Eating: Street arancine €2
Beds near the centre:
Al Vucciria · hostelHostel Agata · hostelB&B Teatro Massimo · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Mercato Della Vucciria · marketMercato del Capo · marketBallarò · market
Athens, Greece
Worth the time: Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Anafiotika
Eating: Souvlaki €4; taverna lunch €12
Beds near the centre:
Bedbox · hostelMosaikon · hostelAthens Stories · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Υπαίθρια αγορά Μοναστηρακίου · marketΛαϊκή Αγορά Καλλιδρομίου · marketAthens Street Hub · market
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nafplio, Greece | after Palermo | +4.2h | +€70 |
| Sheffield, United Kingdom | after Birmingham | +3.1h | +€90 |
| Girona, Spain | after Birmingham | +3.9h | +€79 |
| Derby, United Kingdom | after Cambridge | +2.5h | +€88 |
Common questions
How long does the London to Athens trip take?
Moving time is about 22h spread over 8 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 8 stops, the whole corridor works as a 19-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €1,828 per person for 19 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €197 of transport, €431 of beds and €1,088 of daily spending. The realistic range is €1,429 to €2,590 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 61h of travel and €1,482 in total — €346 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Greece — 4 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Coach, Flight. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan London → Athens