Patras can be directly reached by ferry from the Italian ports of Ancona (trip duration approx. 20 hours), Bari (trip duration approx. 15 hours), and Venice (trip duration approx. 30 hours).
By Bus (through Athens airport "El. Venizelos")
The easiest way is to take a taxi from the airport to the bus station "KTEL KIFISOY" (approx. distance from the airport 30 Km). It should cost you between 5000 and 10000 GRD.
If you prefer public transport (or you don't want to be cheated by the taxi driver), here are the directions:
From the airport, take the express bus E94 or E95 and get off at the Metro Station "ETHNIKI AMYNA" (bus E94 terminates there). The ticket costs 1000 GRD and is valid for 24 hours on all public means (buses, trolley-buses, and metro). The schedule and more info for the buses can be found here.
At "ETHNIKI AMYNA", take the blue line 3 of the Athens Metro, get off at "SYNTAGMA", switch to the red line 2 (direction "SEPOLIA"), and get off at "OMONOIA". Take the exit to "AG. KONSTANTINOY" street, walk along AG. KONSTANTINOY, and then turn left at the 3rd street ("MENANDROY" street), where the bus number 051 departs and takes you to the bus station for Patras ("KTEL KIFISOY"). Here is a map of OMONIA Square. The departing point of Bus 051 is No. 5 in the map.
There is a bus to Patras every 30-45 minutes, from 6:00 to 21:45. The duration
of the trip is 2:30 hours (express bus, doesn't stop anywhere), or 3 hours
(the bus stops at Egio, the second largest city in the Patras area). You have to
buy the ticket before entering the bus. There is a large room where all ticket
offices are located, but you have to find the appropriate one for Patras.
By Train (through Athens airport "El. Venizelos")
The easiest way is to take a taxi from the airport to the Peloponnese train station "STATHMOS PELOPONNISOY" (approx. distance from the airport 27 Km). It should cost you between 5000 and 10000 GRD.
If you prefer public transport (or you don't want to be cheated by the taxi driver), here are the directions:
From the airport, take the express bus E94 or E95 and get off at the Metro Station "ETHNIKI AMYNA" (bus E94 terminates there). The ticket costs 1000 GRD and is valid for 24 hours on all public means (buses, trolley-buses, and metro). The schedule and more info for the buses can be found here.
At "ETHNIKI AMYNA", take the blue line 3 of the Athens Metro, get off at "SYNTAGMA", switch to the red line 2 (direction "SEPOLIA"), and get off at the Metro station "LARISSA". The "LARISSA" (train) station is the main train station of Athens, but not the one you are looking for :-) [it is for destinations in central and north Greece]. Get out of the "LARISSA" metro station. As you will be facing the main entrance of the "LARISSA" train station, you will see on the left of the station a pedestrian (stair-case) bridge. Follow this bridge that crosses the train station from above. At the left of the other end of the bridge, you will see a smaller (but nicer and older) train station which is the one you are looking for ("STATHMOS PELOPONNISOY").
IC (fast) train departures from Athens to Patras: 8:45, 12:05, 14:05, 18:20 (trip duration approx. 3:30 hours).
RE (slow) train departures from Athens to Patras: 6:29, 9:37, 15:26, 22:19 (trip duration approx. 5 hours).
From Patras Train Station
Getting out of the Patras Train Station, you will see on your right a square ("TRION SYMMACHON"). Cross the square and at the other side you will see a pedestrian street ("AGIOY NIKOLAOY"). Both hotels are located on this street, Galaxy on the left, and Mediterranee on the right.
From Patras Bus Station
Get off the bus, walk downhill, and follow the street that goes next to the port (and next to the railway tracks) in the direction in which the cars move. After 150 meters you will reach the "TRION SYMMACHON" Sq, and in the meanwhile you will have seen the Train Station on your right. Then, follow the instructions above.
By Taxi (15-20 minutes)
Get out of either hotel and turn left. Walk "Riga Feraiou" street in the direction opposite to the flow of the cars. After approx. 100 meters, you will reach a square ("OLGAS" Sq) where there is a taxi station (taxis in Patras have a dark red color). The trip costs 1500-2000 GRD (5-6 EURO). Tell the driver to take you to the conference center ("SYNEDRIAKO KENTRO") of the university ("PANEPISTIMIO").
By Bus (20-30 minutes)
Bus No. 6 (usually very crowded) takes you to the university ("PANEPISTIMIO"). However, not all buses No. 6 pass through the university :-). There is usually a not easily recognizable sign (in greek) on the bus indicating that the bus passes through the university, but better ask either the driver (most probably doesn't speak English), or some other passenger waiting at the bus stop whether the coming bus goes to the university ("PANEPISTIMIO"). Usually, there are heplful students around ... Buses to the university run every 8-15 minutes.
To find the closest bus stop to the hotels: walk "AGIOY NIKOLAOY" uphill, turn left at "KORINTHOY" street (3rd one from Galaxy and 2nd from Mediterranee), cross "KORINTHOY", and somewhere halfway to the next traffic light you will see a blue sign with a sketch of a bus on it (you will probably recognize it by the people standing there waiting for the bus).
The bus ticket costs 280 GRD, is valid only for a single trip, and you have to cancel it after you get on the bus. It is recommended that you buy the ticket before entering the bus. Tickets can be bought at kiosks (since there are several kinds of tickets, be careful to ask for the ticket to the university). Theoretically, you can buy a ticket from the driver (at a higher price), but most probably he will be either out of stock or out of change.
Get off at the second bus stop within the campus, walk downhill, and in a while you will see on your right a parking lot (the one with a special sheltering construction for the cars). The (yellow and white colored) building at the diagonally opposite side of the parking lot is the conference center building.
