Venice to Athens overland: route, cost and stops
Venice to Athens, overland all the way, across 6 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 6 stops, 7 legs, 32h 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice → Ljubljana | Coach | 3.6h | €5–€10 |
| Ljubljana → Zagreb | Coach | 2.5h | €5–€5 |
| Zagreb → Split | Coach | 4.8h | €5–€10 |
| Split → Sarajevo | Coach | 3.2h | €5–€5 |
| Sarajevo → Belgrade | Coach | 3.7h | €5–€5 |
| Belgrade → Thessaloniki | Night train | 8.5h | €35–€80 |
| Thessaloniki → Athens | Coach | 5.5h | €5–€10 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €65 | €85 | €125 |
| Beds | €168 | €198 | €253 |
| Daily spending | €446 | €558 | €753 |
| Total per person | €749 | €919 | €1,221 |
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
Venice, Italy
Worth the time: Accademia, Cannaregio at dawn, Giudecca
Eating: Cicchetti bars €2 a plate; avoid San Marco
Beds near the centre:
Ostello Domus Civica · hostelBackpackers House Venice · hostelBest Veniece Apartments · guest house
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Worth the time: Castle funicular, Tivoli park, riverside market
Eating: Malica lunch deal €8
Beds near the centre:
The Fuzzy Log · hostelZZZ Hostel · hostelStari Tišler · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Odprta kuhna · marketFlea Market · marketKalvan · local
Split, Croatia
Worth the time: Diocletian's Palace, Marjan hill, island ferries
Eating: Konoba marenda menus €10
Beds near the centre:
Old Town Hostel Split · hostelHurricane hostel · hostelInchy Rooms · guest house
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Worth the time: Baščaršija, tunnel museum, siege history walks
Eating: Ćevapi €4
Beds near the centre:
Ferijalac · hostelHostel Balkan Han · hostelĐulić Jasmina i Amira · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Pijaca Grbavica · marketHalikarnas · turkishDervoz Buregdžinica · regional
Belgrade, Serbia
Worth the time: Kalemegdan fortress, Savamala, Zemun riverside
Eating: Pljeskavica €4; kafana lunch €7
Beds near the centre:
Fair Hostel · hostelGreen Garden · hostelVila Senjak · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Bizu Sushi bar · balkanZavičaj · regionalTrešnjin hlad · regional
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mostar, Bosnia | after Split | +60m | +€41 |
| Meteora, Greece | after Belgrade | +2.4h | +€63 |
| Bled, Slovenia | after Venice | +1.2h | +€70 |
| Dubrovnik, Croatia | after Split | +2.8h | +€93 |
Common questions
How long does the Venice to Athens trip take?
Moving time is about 32h spread over 7 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 6 stops, the whole corridor works as a 13-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €919 per person for 13 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €85 of transport, €198 of beds and €558 of daily spending. The realistic range is €749 to €1,221 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 32h of travel and €919 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Greece — 6 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, Night train. 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 Venice → Athens