Greece
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Patras
Patras is Greece's ferry gateway to Italy, important for road freight to Western Europe.
Services in Patras
- Air freight in PatrasAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in PatrasFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in PatrasImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Patras
- AirportAthens
ATH - AirportAraxos
GPA - SeaportPort of Patrasferries to Italy
Patras is Greece's main ferry gateway to Italy. The Port of Patras has regular ferry services to Italian ports such as Ancona and Bari, carrying trucks and unaccompanied trailers to and from Western Europe. For air freight, Athens International Airport (ATH) is the main option, reached via the Olympia Odos motorway. Araxos Airport (GPA), west of Patras, is primarily a military airfield with limited civil traffic.
The Olympia Odos motorway links Patras with Corinth and Athens. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge across the Gulf of Corinth connects Patras with western mainland Greece, where the Ionia Odos runs north to Ioannina and the Egnatia Odos. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Patras and the Western Greece region.
Industries in Patras and how we support them
Patras and the surrounding Achaia and Western Greece region produce agricultural goods, wine, olive oil and processed food, much of it exported to Italy and Western Europe by road via the Patras ferries. The port also supports trade and distribution businesses. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with road freight via the Patras-Italy ferries, air freight via Athens under our own air waybills, sea freight through Piraeus, and in-house customs clearance for exports to non-EU markets.
Operational logistics facts for Patras
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Patras | Ferries and ro-ro to Italy | Road freight to Western Europe without the Balkan land route |
| Olympia Odos motorway | Road link to Athens | Access to Athens Airport and Piraeus |
| Rio-Antirrio Bridge | Link to western mainland Greece | Road connection north towards Ioannina and Epirus |
| Western Greece agri-food | Wine, olive oil, food products | Exports by ferry or via Piraeus |
Customs clearance in Greece
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in Greece is handled by our own in-house customs team.
For air freight to and from Greece we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Greece need an EORI number issued by the Greek customs authority.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport do you use for air freight from Patras?
Athens International Airport (ATH), reached via the Olympia Odos motorway. Araxos (GPA) has limited civil traffic. Air freight runs under our own air waybills, and we confirm cut-off times with every booking.
Can urgent goods from Patras be sent by On-Board Courier?
Yes. An On-Board Courier collects in Patras, travels via Athens and delivers door to door at destination. We check the item against airline and security rules before collection.
Can you combine road and air freight from Patras?
Yes. Part of an order can travel by road on the Patras ferries to Italy, while urgent items fly from Athens. Both are handled in one shipment file.
Are customs formalities needed on the Patras-Italy ferries?
Greece and Italy are both EU members, so goods in free circulation travel without customs formalities. Non-EU goods or goods for export must be covered by the correct transit or export documents, which we prepare.
Can you clear exports of wine and olive oil from Patras?
Yes. Our own customs team prepares export declarations. Wine is an excise good, so movements under duty suspension need the correct excise documents, and some destinations require certificates of origin or health certificates.
Can you clear imports for Patras businesses arriving at Piraeus?
Yes. We file the declaration with AADE customs, coordinate release at Piraeus and arrange road transport to Patras once the goods are cleared.