Greek National Road 8
Encyclopedia
The National Road 8 in Greece is a single carriageway
with at-grade intersections in the Attica
and Peloponnese
regions. It links the cities of Patras
, Corinth and Athens
. Until the 1960s when the National Road 8A
, a toll road
, replaced it as a major route, it was the only road linking Athens and Peloponnese, and Corinth with Patras. In the 1990s the section between Athens and Corinth was upgraded to motorway standards.
The highway passes at the northern part of the Saronic Gulf
, through the Isthmus of Corinth
and further, in the southern part of the Gulf of Corinth
and ends in downtown Patras. It runs through three prefectures: Achaea
, Corinth and Attica
. After passing through the Isthmus of Corinth
it reaches Patras
after going through numerous little towns and villages as opposed to the newer GR-8A which bypasses them. It is mainly a coastal road and nowadays it is used mostly by the residents and tourists of these towns, since using this route from Athens
to Patras
takes approximately 4 hours, while using the newer highway takes only 2 and a half hours.
I - Old Athens-Corinth Highway:
II - Old Corinth-Patras Highway
Single carriageway
A single carriageway is a road with 1, 2 or more lanes arranged within a single carriageway with no central reservation to separate opposing flows of traffic. Two-lane road or two-lane highway are single carriageway with one lane for each direction...
with at-grade intersections in the Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
and Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
regions. It links the cities of Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
, Corinth and Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Until the 1960s when the National Road 8A
Greek National Road 8A
Greek National Road 8A is a toll road running from Kifissou avenue, in Athens up to the northeast of Patras. It is a highway from Kifissou avenue up to Corinth, for about 85 km and the rest is an undivided highway with just one lane per direction. The total length is 215 km, but for the...
, a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
, replaced it as a major route, it was the only road linking Athens and Peloponnese, and Corinth with Patras. In the 1990s the section between Athens and Corinth was upgraded to motorway standards.
The highway passes at the northern part of the Saronic Gulf
Saronic Gulf
The Saronic Gulf or Gulf of Aegina in Greece forms part of the Aegean Sea and defines the eastern side of the isthmus of Corinth. It is the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal, which cuts across the isthmus.-Geography:The gulf includes the islands of; Aegina, Salamis, and Poros along with...
, through the Isthmus of Corinth
Isthmus of Corinth
The Isthmus of Corinth is the narrow land bridge which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the mainland of Greece, near the city of Corinth. The word "isthmus" comes from the Ancient Greek word for "neck" and refers to the narrowness of the land. The Isthmus was known in the ancient...
and further, in the southern part of the Gulf of Corinth
Gulf of Corinth
The Gulf of Corinth or the Corinthian Gulf is a deep inlet of the Ionian Sea separating the Peloponnese from western mainland Greece...
and ends in downtown Patras. It runs through three prefectures: Achaea
Achaea
Achaea is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The capital is Patras. The population exceeds 300,000 since 2001.-Geography:...
, Corinth and Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
. After passing through the Isthmus of Corinth
Isthmus of Corinth
The Isthmus of Corinth is the narrow land bridge which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the mainland of Greece, near the city of Corinth. The word "isthmus" comes from the Ancient Greek word for "neck" and refers to the narrowness of the land. The Isthmus was known in the ancient...
it reaches Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
after going through numerous little towns and villages as opposed to the newer GR-8A which bypasses them. It is mainly a coastal road and nowadays it is used mostly by the residents and tourists of these towns, since using this route from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
to Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
takes approximately 4 hours, while using the newer highway takes only 2 and a half hours.
Places
Here are places where the highway runs through and bypasses:I - Old Athens-Corinth Highway:
- AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
- "Sacred WaySacred WayThe Sacred Way , in ancient Greece, was the road from Athens to Eleusis. It was so called because it was the route taken by a procession celebrating the Eleusinian Mysteries...
" or Iera Odos - Eleusis
- junction with GR-3Greek National Road 3Greek National Road 3 begins from Eleusis and heads north, passing Larissa, Florina and terminates at the border with the Republic of Macedonia in Niki, which from there links with the M3. The road is part of the E65. In the late 1980s, motorway bypasses have been constructed for the towns...
- Eleusis Refinery
- Nea PeramosNea PeramosNea Peramos -Geography:Nea Peramos is situated in the eastern portion of the Megaris plain, in the northwestern part of the agglomeration of Athens. Mountains are situated to the north, and the Saronic Gulf to the south. Nea Peramos offers a panorama of the island of Salamis...
- MegaraMegaraMegara is an ancient city in Attica, Greece. It lies in the northern section of the Isthmus of Corinth opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being taken by Athens. Megara was one of the four districts of Attica, embodied in the four mythic sons of King...
, bypasses next to the motorway to the south - KinetaKinetaKineta is a suburban town located 55 km W of Athens, 14 km W of Megara and 25 km E of Corinth. Kineta is the westernmost town in Attica and is part of the municipality of Megara...
- Agioi TheodoroiAgioi TheodoroiAgioi Theodoroi is a town and a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi, of which it is a municipal unit. It is a suburb of Athens, located around 12 km east of Corinth and about 63 km W...
- Corinth RefineryCorinth RefineryCorinth Refinery is a complex oil refinery with an annual capacity of , operated by Motor Oil Hellas S.A.-Fuels production:Crude oil is processed in the Crude Distillation Unit, from which Liquified petroleum gas , Naphtha, Kerosene, Diesel and Fuel Oil are produced...
- Kalamaki
- IsthmiaIsthmiaIsthmia is a noun meaning "of the isthmus"It may refer to:* The ancient Isthmian Games* The archaeological site related to the Games, including the Temple of Poseidon at Isthmia* The modern village of Isthmia...
, town near the Isthmus of CorinthIsthmus of CorinthThe Isthmus of Corinth is the narrow land bridge which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the mainland of Greece, near the city of Corinth. The word "isthmus" comes from the Ancient Greek word for "neck" and refers to the narrowness of the land. The Isthmus was known in the ancient... - Corinth CanalCorinth CanalThe Corinth Canal is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, thus effectively making the former an island. The builders dug the canal through...
(two branches) - CorinthCorinthCorinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
- junction of GR-7Greek National Road 7The Moreas Motorway is a motorway in Peloponnese, Greece. Locally it is known as the Moréas , which was the medieval name of the Peloponnese. The A7 begins just west of the Isthmus of Corinth, branching off from Greek National Road 8A...
, old highway
II - Old Corinth-Patras Highway
- junction of GR-7 (western branch)
- LechaioLechaioLechaio is a village in the municipality of Assos-Lechaio in Corinthia. Distances are about 4 to 5 km W of Corinth, SE of Kiato...
- Perigialo
- Assos
- Vrachati
- north of VeloVelo, GreeceVelo is a town and a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Velo-Vocha, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located about 15 km west from Corinth, and 5 km southeast of Kiato...
- KiatoKiatoKiato is a coastal town in Greece that is agricultural-based. The town is located in the northern part of the prefecture of Corinthia in the Peloponnese, Greece. Kiato is located in a sandy area which features lemon trees, orange trees, and other fruit-bearing trees. It has a lot of tourist...
- Kato Domini
- Melissi
- Sykia
- XylokastroXylokastroXylokastro is a town and a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Xylokastro-Evrostina, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 40 km W of Corinth via Greek National Road 8A/E65...
- Kamari
- Kato Loutro
- Lykkoporeia
- Stomi
- Lygia
- DerveniDerveni-In Greece:*Derveni, Achaea, part of the municipality of Diakopto, Achaea*Derveni, Arcadia, part of the municipality of Megalopoli, Arcadia*Derveni, Corinthia, a town in the northwestern part of Corinthia, in the municipality Evrostini...
- AigeiraAigeiraAigeira or Aegira is a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Aigialeia, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located about 500 m SW of the Gulf of Corinth in the northeastern part of Achaea. It is located on...
- ElikiElikiEliki , is a Greek village in Achaea. Eliki is located about 15 km east of Aigio, about 45 km east of Patras, west of Diakopto and northwest of Kalavryta. Eliki is also in the municipality of Diakopto and had a population of 565 in 2001. Eliki is linked with the road linking with the...
- river
- AigioAigioAigio is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Aigialeia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Its population is around 30,000. Aigio is surrounded by trees in the north and cliffs in the...
, junction with GR-31Greek National Road 31Greek National Road 31 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Palas with Kalavrita.... - RododafniRododafniRododafni is a Greek village located 30 km southeast by the old road and 35 km east by the new road from Patras, about 10 km west of Aigio, west of Corinth and north-northwest of Kalavryta. Rododafni had a population of 2,514 in 2001. Rododafni was the seat of the municipality of Sympoliteia...
- LongosLongos-Places:*In Greece:**Longos, Achaea, a village in Achaea**Longos, Phthiotis, a village in the prefecture of Phthiotis**Longos, Paxoi, a village in the island of Paxoi**Longos, Phocis, a village in the prefecture of Phocis...
- Kamares
- south of PsathopyrgosPsathopyrgosPsathopyrgos is a tourist village located in the municipal unit of Rio in the northern part of Achaea. It is the northernmost community in the Peloponnese. Psathopyrgos is located southeast of Cape Drepano, a trapezoidal cape facing the northwest and is the northernmost point in the Peloponnese...
- ArachovitikaArachovitikaArachovitika is a village located in the municipal unit of Rio in the northern part of Achaea, Greece. Cape Drepano is a trapezoidal cape facing the northwest and is the northernmost point in the Peloponnese and the prefecture of Achaia. The village is connected slightly northwest of the old GR-8...
- Agios VasileiosAgios Vasileios (Achaia), GreeceAgios Vasileios is a village located in the municipal unit of Rio in the northern part of Achaea in the Peloponnese, Greece. The village is connected slightly northwest of the old GR-8 linking Patras and Corinth. The nearest interchange for the GR-8A highway is nearly 3 km SW via the...
- junction with GR-5 and GR-8A (eastbound lanes)
- Agios GeorgiosAgios Georgios (Rio), GreeceAgios Georgios is a quarter of the municipality of Rio, Achaea, Greece. Its area is just a width of about 1 km and by about 100 m. The area is about 1.2 km²...
- south of the University of PatrasUniversity of PatrasUniversity of Patras is a university established in 1964 in Patras, Greece. Initially housed in the city centre, the university's campus is now located in the adjacent municipality of Rio...
- Junction with the Patras Bypass
- Panepistemiou Avenue
- downtown PatrasPatrasPatras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
(western terminus)