Travel

Ancient City Of Athens

How to Get to Athens:

By Air:
Athens can be reached by plane, from almost anywhere in the world. The older airport at Athens - Athens International Airport, lying about 30km east of Athens, Greece, was officially opened in March 2001. The newer Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is an airport in spata and very efficient in administration. Replacing the old airport, it was constructed mainly to cope with the increased air traffic. The airport is state-of-the-art as far as the technology is concerned. The Athens Airport is the main airport in Greece as well. The Athens Airport has two terminals, a main terminal and a secondary satellite terminal with boarding gates. The Passengers at the Airport should check in at the main terminal. There is a path with a canopy that connects the Main Terminal to the airport's Satellite Terminal. The main terminal at the Athens Airport functions for domestic and international passengers. Athens International Airport has been ranked amongst the top shopping centres of the finest European airports, offering tempting prices in combination with superb quality and variety, satisfying even the most demanding customers. Metro line 3 connects the airport to syntagma in the city centre. There are express bus services and taxi services from the city to the airport and vice versa taking not more than 35 minutes.

By Car:
To reach Athens by road, one requires to have a national driving license for nationals and car registration documents must be carried at all times; European nationals who are holders of green cards which has an international third party insurance are also allowed to transfer or import a car or motorcycle or a caravan, trailer or even a boat, that has been registered in a foreign country, for a period of 6 months but the stipulated time can also be extended to a period of 15 months for a fee, nevertheless the green card is not a requirement if the visits to Greece is for a period of 3 months or less, but it is important to note that without the green card the insurance cover is then legally limited to a smaller sum; however nationals of other countries will require an International Driving Permit. The main roads have blue signs and the maximum speed limit is 120 km per hour or 70 miles per hour on motor ways. Outside the built-up areas ( a settled area with restricted speed limits that contains straight lights ) is 110 km per hour or 60 m per hour and within a built-up areas the speed limit is 50 km per hour and 31 m per hour respectively. The minimum age limit to own a driving license is 18 years, the use of seat belts are mandatory and children below the age of 10 must be seated at the back of the car for safety reasons. Driving with alcohol levels above 0.08% is a criminal offense. Visitors travelling from Corinth will get to see signs that will eventually through the Ayio Konstandinou street in Omnia all the way to Omnia square , and then the directions on the blue signs will direct you to Syntagma square and other places in Athens according to where your destination is.

By Bus:
Athens contains two domestic bus terminals that cater to long distance travellers as well. The bus station at 100 Kifissou Street or the bus station at 260 Liossion street. The bus station at 100 Kifissou Street will take you to and fro to all the main towns of the Attica, Peloponnese, northern Greece; whereas the bus station at 260 Liossion street will take you to and fro to Central Greece to places like Delphi, Meteora, Evia, Thebes and other places in Eastern and Northern Greece. The bus numbers are 51 and 24 respectively.

By Train:
Trains in Greece have a first class and second class accommodation and apart from that the trains also provide luxury and sleeper class accommodation for certain routes only. It is important to note that the railway lines are restricted to the northern and eastern mainland and parts of the Peloponnese. Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) is the name of the Greek railway service. The domestic railway service functions within the mainland of Greece and all the trains now depart from Larissis station, off Dheliyáni; whereas the international railway service includes a break journey at Thessaloníki, The direct services are to Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Serbia, Slovenia and Tu journey process. Do note that there is a 20% on return journeys, touring cards are processed offering unlimited second-class travel at a reduced cost for 10days 20 days or 30 days respectively. Although travelling by train is cheaper the drawback is that they are slower than the buses.

By Ferry Boats:
The main Sea port at Athens is at Piraeus which is 11 kms or 7 miles away towards the southwest from Central Athens, which is metro ride of 15 minutes from Monastiraki and the Omonia squares. The port at Rafina is a 1 hr journey from Athens. Please note that the Emergency Breakdown Service: ELPA (tel: 10400).

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Getting Around Athens