Mainland Greece and Turkey have officially become connected by ferry for the first time.
A special ceremony was held on Sunday at the Turkish port in Çeşme to launch the new ferry service on the ‘Kaunas’ between the Çeşme District and the Lavrio Port in Athens.
The route takes seven hours, with a one-way ticket starting from €55.00.
The service runs six days a week, departing Lavrio on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from Çeşme on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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According to reports, the new ferry route was scheduled to commence on 2 June, but was delayed due to bureaucratic obstacles.
It is expected to boost tourism, as well as creating a more affordable pathway for cargo carrying vehicles from Turkey to Europe.
“The line will not only boost the region’s economy but it will also provide significant convenience for expatriates as well as tourists,” Bülent Ipek, Board Chairman of the Turkey-based company Aegean Seaways told Daily Sabah.