There are 7 ways to get from Athens to Smolyan by plane, car, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Kavala International Airport, drive
best- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Kavala International Airport (KVA)ATH - KVA
- Drive from Kavala International Airport (KVA) to Smolyan
5h 43m$106–211Train, drive
cheapest- Take the train from Athens to ThessalonikiIc
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to DramaRe
- Drive from Drama to Smolyan
13h 41m$60–88Bus, drive
- Take the bus from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL to Kavala
- Take the bus from Kavala Central Bus Station to Xánthi
- Drive from Xánthi to Smolyan
10h 59mDrive 720.8 km
- Drive from Athens to Smolyan720.8 km
10h 11m$152–219Fly to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos, bus, drive
- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos (AXD)ATH - AXD
- Take the bus from Alexandroupoli to Xanthi
- Drive from Xanthi to Smolyan
7h 42m$97–199Bus via Thessaloníki
- Take the bus from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL to Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station
- Take the bus from Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station to Plovdiv Bus Station South
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
17h 50m$71–104Bus
- Take the bus from Athens Chiou to Plovdiv Central Train Station Bus StopCitylines 42 / ...
- Take the bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
18h$72–91
Athens to Smolyan by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Athens to Smolyan is to train and drive which costs $60 - $90 and takes 13h 41m.
The fastest way to get from Athens to Smolyan is to fly and drive which takes 5h 43m and costs $100 - $220.
No, there is no direct bus from Athens to Smolyan. However, there are services departing from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL and arriving at Smolyan via Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station and Plovdiv. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 17h 50m.
The distance between Athens and Smolyan is 520 km. The road distance is 720.8 km.
The best way to get from Athens to Smolyan without a car is to bus via Thessaloníki which takes 17h 50m and costs $70 - $110.
It takes approximately 5h 43m to get from Athens to Smolyan, including transfers.
Athens to Smolyan bus services, operated by KTEL Thessalonikis, depart from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL station.
Athens to Smolyan bus services, operated by KTEL Thessalonikis, arrive at Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Athens to Smolyan is 721 km. It takes approximately 10h 11m to drive from Athens to Smolyan.
There are 618+ hotels available in Smolyan.
What companies run services between Athens, Greece and Smolyan, Bulgaria?
You can take a bus from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL to Smolyan via Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station and Plovdiv in around 17h 50m.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Athens International Airport to Kavala International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–150
Flights from Athens International Airport to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–160
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Athens International Airport to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–110
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Athens to Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 12m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
Train from Thessaloniki to Drama
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 27m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $11–17
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- +30 2510.222294
- info@ktelkavalas.gr
- Website
- ktelkavalas.gr
Bus from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL to Kavala
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Schedules at
- ktelkavalas.gr
- Phone
- 25410 27200
- info@ktelxanthis.gr
- Website
- ktelxanthis.gr
Bus from Kavala Central Bus Station to Xánthi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Book at
- https://ktelbus.gr/xan/ticketweb/
- Phone
- +30 25510 26479
- info@ktelevrou.gr
- Website
- ktelevrou.gr
Bus from Alexandroupoli to Xanthi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Schedules at
- ktelevrou.gr
- Book at
- eticket.ktelevrou.gr
- Phone
- +30 2310 500111
- ktel2310@gmail.com
- Website
- ktelthes.gr
Bus from Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL to Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $50
- Schedules at
- ktelthes.gr
- Book at
- ktelthes.e-ticketing.gr
- info@bgrazpisanie.com
- Website
- bgrazpisanie.com
Bus from Plovdiv to Smolyan
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10
- Website
- https://bgrazpisanie.com/en
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- citylines.eu
Bus from Athens Chiou to Plovdiv Central Train Station Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–85
- Website
- https://citylines.eu/
Want to know more about travelling around Bulgaria
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Getting around the Cyclades
Read the travel guide




















