Athens, Greece — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
Airlines flying directly to Athens from the UK include British Airways, easyJet, Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines.
Athens International Airport (ATH)
Tel: 210 353 0000.
Website: www.aia.gr
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) is located 27km (17 miles) northeast of the city.
Airport facilities
These include banks, bureau de change, duty-free shops, bars, restaurants, a post office and a GNTO tourist information office. Car hire is available from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National Car Rental/Alamo and Sixt.
Transport to the city
The Athens Urban Transport Organization (tel: 185) runs 24-hour express bus services linking the airport to the city (journey time - approximately 40 minutes, depending on traffic). Bus X94 runs to Ethniki Amyna metro station, bus X95 runs to Syntagma Square in the city center and bus X96 runs to Pireaus Port. Tickets, which can be bought from the driver, allow for 24 hours of unlimited travel on all forms of public transport (bus, tram and metro).
In addition, metro Line 3 has been extended so that some, but not all, trains now run between Monastiraki in the city center and the airport. A suburban railway line also connects Larissis train station in the city center to the airport. Taxi services are also available - the cost is approximately €25 to the city center or €28 to Pireaus Port.
Approximate flight times to Athens
From London is 3 hours 15 minutes; from New York is 10 hours; from Los Angeles is 18 hours 30 minutes; from Toronto is 12 hours and from Sydney is 22 hours.
Getting There By Road
In Athens, traffic drives on the right and the minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limits are 120kph (70mph) on motorways, 110kph (60mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. It is illegal to carry spare petrol (benzina) in the vehicle. A national driving license is acceptable for EU nationals but nationals of other countries may need an International Driving Permit. EU nationals in possession of a Green Card, which provides international third-party insurance, are permitted to import a foreign-registered car, caravan, motorcycle, boat or trailer for a maximum of six months (or up to 15 months for a fee). A Green Card is no longer a legal requirement in Greece for visits of less than three months; however, without it, insurance is limited to the minimum legal cover. Car registration documents must be carried at all times. The Greek Automobile and Touring Club - ELPA (tel: 210 606 8800; www.elpa.gr) provides members of associated national automobile clubs with 24-hour assistance on main roads.
Emergency breakdown services
ELPA (tel: 10400).
Routes to the city
The PATHE (Pátra, Athens and Thessaloníki) motorway runs from Pátra in the west via Athens to Thessaloníki and Tsoliades on the FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) border. To reach both Istanbul and Sofia, drivers must head north on the E75 to Thessaloníki. From there, Istanbul is east on the E90, crossing the border at Kipi, while Sofia lies northeast on the E79, crossing the border at Promahonas.
Driving times to the city
From Thessaloníki - 6 hours; from Sofia - 10 hours 45 minutes; from Istanbul - 16 hours.
Coach services
There are two domestic long-distance bus terminals in Athens - terminal A, Kifissou 100, and terminal B, Liossion 260. Buses link Athens and all the main towns in Attica, northern Greece and the Peloponnese. Bus schedule information for the Attiki region is available (tel: 14505; www.ktel.org or www.ktelattikis.gr). Hellenic Railways Organization – OSE (tel: 1110; www.ose.gr), runs regular international bus services to Albania and Bulgaria, departing from Pelopónnisos train station (now defunct but still the point of departure for buses), Dheliyáni.
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
The Greek railway service is run by Hellenic Railways Organization - OSE (tel: 1110; www.ose.gr). Greek trains have first- and second-class accommodation and there are luxury sleeper trains on selected routes. However, the rail service is limited to the northern and eastern mainland and parts of the Peloponnese. Trains are cheaper than buses but generally much slower. Reservations are available for no extra charge and there is a 20% rebate on return fares. Touring cards, issued by OSE, entitle the holder to unlimited second-class travel at a reduced cost for 10, 20 or 30 days - there are further discounts for groups. All trains now depart from Larissis station, off Dheliyáni. Facilities at Larissis station are minimal, basically left luggage and a couple of bars.
Rail Operators
The domestic railway network is limited to the mainland and is generally slower than travel by road. Destinations include Patra (fastest journey time - 3 hours 20 minutes) and Kalamata (7 hours 10 minutes). International train services require changing at Thessaloníki (4 hours 15 minutes), from where the only direct services are to Bulgaria, FYROM (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Romania, Serbia and Turkey.
Getting Around in Athens, Greece
Public Transport
The Athens Urban Transport Organization (tel: 185; www.oasa.gr) operates the city's buses, trolleybuses, trams and metro/electric train service.
Public transport in Athens is cheap and extensive but often overcrowded. Tickets are sold at bus terminals and some street kiosks (periptera) and must be validated in orange machines located on-board buses or in the metro station. Monthly passes for the entire urban network are available.
Blue-and-white buses run daily - there is also a limited night service on the major routes. The most visited parts of the city are served by several yellow trolleybus routes. In most cases, however, it is preferable to walk.
The electric train/metro Line 1 runs north-south between the suburb of Kifissia and the Piraeus Port. Line 2 runs from Agios Antonios to Agios Dimitrios, with its new Acropolis station just a 10-minute walk from the Acropolis Hill, while Line 3 runs from Egali, passing through Monastiraki and Syntagma to run all the way to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.
Three tram lines link the city center and the coast: one runs from Syntagma to Neo Faliro; one from Syntagma to Glyfada; and the third between Neo Faliro and Glyfada.
Taxis
Official yellow taxis with red-on-white number plates can also be hailed on the street. A number of companies also operate radio cabs in Athens, including Athina 1 (tel: 210 921 2800), Ermis (tel: 210 411 5200), Hellas (tel: 210 645 7000) and Ikaros (tel: 210 515 2800).
When taxis are in heavy demand, it is not unusual to share the ride (but not the fare) with other passengers. Tipping is not customary.
Driving in the City
To improve Athens's traffic and pollution problem, cars with registration plates ending in an odd number are allowed in the city center only on odd-numbered days of the month, while those ending in even numbers are allowed in only on even-numbered days. Foreign cars are exempt from this government scheme, which applies from Monday to Friday.
Parking is extremely difficult in central Athens, as it is restricted in many streets. Luxury hotels have their own parking spaces; otherwise drivers can try the central but very crowded car park at Kathmonos Square. For all these reasons, a car is more of a problem than an asset in Athens, although visitors may wish to rent one for a trip out of the city.
Car Hire
Regulations vary between companies; however, in all cases drivers require a valid driving license. A national driving license is sufficient for nationals of EU states. Other nationalities should obtain an International Driving Permit. The minimum age for hiring a car ranges from 21 to 25 years. Major car hire providers include Avis (tel: 210 687 9600; www.avis.gr), Budget (tel: 210 898 1444; www.budget-athens.gr), Europcar (tel: 210 924 8810; www.europcar.com) and Hertz (tel: 210 626 4000; www.hertz.gr).
Bicycle Hire
Scooters are a popular means of transport in Athens although riding a bicycle cannot be advised. Rent Moto, Robertou Gali 1, Makrigiani (tel: 210 923 4939; www.motorent.gr), hires out scooters and bicycles.
