Ferry passenger shipping services between Izmir (Smyrna’s Cesme district) and Port Lavrion (close to Athens) started on Sunday, June 30, with a special ceremony held at the Turkish Port.
For the first time, the Greek and Turkish mainlands are now connected by ferries, something which is expected to boost tourism. The crossings (on Kaunas ferryboat) take ~7 hours. The vessel departs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (from Lavrion) and from Cesme on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fares for a one-way ticket start at EUR 55.
Bureaucratic obstacles delayed the start of the service that was initially scheduled for June 2. The Cesme to Lavrion route was chosen as it is the closest distance between the mainlands of Turkey and Greece.