Athens’s combination of taxis, buses and trains will get you to where you want to go - although with traffic congestion a likelihood, leave plenty of time to get there.

To and From the Airport

Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
Athens Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, is located 30km east of the city centre and is conveniently served by train, bus and taxi. For more information, contact the Airport Call Centre, Tel: +30 210-353-0000.

Buses
You can travel to the city centre or many other destinations on the express airport buses. All buses run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, departing approximately every 20-30 minutes from outside exit doors 4 and 5 of the main terminal building. When travelling to the airport, passengers will disembark at Departures level.

Line E92 travels to Kifisia; E93 to Kifisos intercity bus station; E94 to Ethniki Amyna metro station; E95 to Syntagma Square; E96 to Pireas; and E97 to Dafni Metro Station. The one-way ticket costs EUR2.90 and is also valid for an unlimited number of trips on all public transport until the end of the day the ticket has been purchased and validated. Tickets can be bought from the bus driver, at metro stations and at public transport ticket outlets. Make sure you validate your ticket at the beginning of your journey.

Metro
A new metro system from the airport has been built and is very effective. The fact that it is air-conditioned and spacious is also welcome on hot days. The metro leaves from the airport station, which is 10 minutes’ walk from the Arrivals doors. When outside exit 2 or 3, take the lift to level 1 situated on the other side of the road and then walk to the station via a long platform. The metro (line 3) goes from Athens International Airport to Monastiraki and leaves every 30 minutes. A single ticket to Monastiraki costs EUR6 per person, with reductions for groups of two (EUR10) or three people (EUR15). The journey takes around 30 minutes to Monastiraki.

Taxis
There are always plenty of yellow cabs waiting outside door 3 of the Arrivals hall. Be aware that during rush hours the city centre is almost completely gridlocked and waiting in a taxi can be an expensive business. Some taxi drivers would rather not enter the city centre at peak times and will offer to drop you off at a convenient point outside the centre. You should expect to pay around EUR18 to get to the city, although depending on time of day this can increase substantially.

 Public Transport

If you’re planning to travel around a lot by public transport, it might be worth investing in a one-day travelcard, which costs EUR3 and is valid on all forms of transport. All tickets must be validated at the beginning of your journey, or you face a possible fine up to EUR48.

Metro/Trains
There are three metro lines in Athens. Line M1 goes from Kifissia to Pireas, M2 from Aghios Antonios to Aghios Dimitrios, and M3 from Athens Airport to Monastiraki. Trains run from 05h30 to 00h15 every 3 to 10 minutes. A single ticket costs EUR0.70 (EUR0.40 for reduced fares) and is valid for 90 minutes. Metro station names are written in both Greek and the Roman alphabet.

An electric train system also covers the suburbs with trains running south to the port of Piraeus where ferries leave for the Greek Islands.

Tram
A tramway line runs from Syntagma Square to Sef, north of Posidonos Avenue; and to Kolimvitirio, south of Posidonos Avenue. From Mousson station where transfers can be made to change directions on the line, the tram runs by the seafront. There are automatic ticket machines at each tram stop. A single ticket costs EUR0.70. If travelling on another mode of public transport and wishing to transfer to the tram system, your existing ticket can be used as long as it has been validated within the last 90 minutes. Trams run from 06h00 to 01h00 every 8 minutes, and from 01h00 to 06h00 every 40 minutes. Tram station names are also written in both Greek and Roman alphabets.
Buses
Buses offer a fairly comprehensive 24-hour service. However, note that destinations are only written in the Greek alphabet, which can problematic for non-Greek-speakers. Single bus trips cost EUR0.70, available from metro stations, public transport offices and kiosks.

 Driving

The Ancient Greeks had a name for hell: Hades. It could be used for Athens’s traffic today. Driving in and around the city should be avoided if possible - the centre reaches total gridlock during peak rush hours in the morning and evening, and is little better at other times.

If you absolutely have to drive, major car hire firms can be found at the airport and in the city centre.

A national driving licence is accepted from most countries. If you plan to take your own car to Greece, EU nationals are advised to obtain a “Green Card” to ensure full insurance cover. You must carry your car registration documents at all times. The minimum driving age is 18.

Driving is on the right and you must overtake on the left. Children under ten years of age must travel in the rear of the car. Seat belts must be worn where fitted.

The speed limit is 120km per hour (74mph) on motorways, 110km per hour (68mph) on the open road and 50km per hour (31mph) in urban areas. Toll charges are payable on two motorways in Greece, one to Northern Greece and the other to the Peloponnese. Tolls must be paid in cash. Wet weather driving can be hazardous as Greek roads become slippery in heavy rainfall.

In an emergency you can call the national breakdown service, ELPA, Tel: 104. Take care when renting a motorbike or moped. Motorbike rental companies often don’t insure their vehicles and you will be responsible for any damage.

The following table provides approximate driving distances between Greek cities. Kilometres in the lower left of the table, miles in the upper right.

Taxis

In the main touristy areas there are plenty of yellow cabs around. Most drivers will understand the name of the destination you are looking for, but in order to make sure it’s worth carrying a map to point out the exact destination if in doubt. Make sure that the driver switches on the meter or you might end up paying a lot more than the usual fare for your trip. Travelling by taxi is relatively cheap unless travelling during rush hour.

If you don’t want to rely on luck, book a radio taxi. Try Apollon (Tel: +30 210-363-6508) or Hellas (Tel: +30 210-645-7000).

Get a Trackback link

No Comments Yet - You can be the first to comment!