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Attica has a very efficient transportation system that can take you to any destination within the Attica region, Greece and the world. Visitors may also wish to explore the city on foot. Many of the important sights are gathered in the center of Athens and are easily approached by the promenade that connects the ancient sites surrounding the Acropolis (Dionysou Areopagitou Promenade).
Getting to the sights that are outside the city center is quite easy as well. Transportation tickets can be purchased at the kiosks in the city or at all train and metro stations.
Do not forget to validate your tickets in the cancelling boxes that are located inside the bus vehicles and at the entrances of train stations. Ticket inspectors often randomly check for ticket validation and if you have not punched it, you will be charged with a fine.
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| BY AIR |
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BY BUS & TROLLEY |
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The ultra modern, state-of-the-art, Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" is the pride and joy of the Athens transportation network, servicing approximately 16 million passengers annually. With flights to all major European metropolitan areas and to various cities in the other four continents, Athens International Airport aims at becoming the most prominent air transportation center in the Eastern Mediterranean region and in Southeast Europe.
The airport is well-equipped with many cafes, restaurants and shops, while visitors can stay overnight at one of the hotels surrounding the airport. Eleftherios Venizelos provides short and long term parking spaces for travelers.
The express bus system provides organized shuttle routes from and to the airport. Busses depart every 15 to 30 minutes. Busses E94, E95 and E96 travel to various parts of Athens city and Piraeus. The routes are connected with other forms of transportation, offering travelers easy access to any area in Attica. Tickets can be bought at designated ticket kiosks and transportation stations. Metro line 3 also interchanges with the suburban train line, which departs for Athens International Airport.
Athens International Airport
"Eleftherios Venizelos"
Administration Building 17, 19019, Spata, Greece
Tel & Fax: (+30) 210 3530000/1, 210 3531000, 210 3532284
e-mail: airport_info@aia.gr
 www.aia.gr
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The urban Athens bus and trolley routes are many and frequent. Most areas in Athens and the suburbs have several bus and trolley lines intersecting with other means of transportation. Tickets are reasonably priced and can be purchased at kiosks and public transportation booths. Some lines stop at midnight, but several continue throughout the night.
BY KTEL BUS
The orange KTEL busses travel to the east coast of Attica and take you to the seaside areas and beaches. The terminal is at the Green Park (Pedio tou Areos), for the following destinations: Rafina, Nea Makri, Marathon, Markopoulos, Lavrion, Sounion, Porto Rafti, Kato Souli, Agious Apostolous, Saronida, Lagonisi, Chalkoutsi, Oropos and Kalamos.
KTEL East Attica Coast Bus Terminal
Mavromataion Str. & Alexandras Ave., Athens, Greece
Tel: (+30) 210 8230179, 210 8210872
www.ktel.org
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BY KTEL INTERCITY BUS
KTEL intercity busses travel from Athens to the rest of Greece. The vehicles are clean and comfortable and quite fast. You can catch the busses from the following terminals:
Kifissou Bus Terminal: Routes to Northern Greece, the Peloponnese and Epirus. Information about schedules and destinations are given by phone.
Kifissou Intercity Bus Terminal
100, Kifissou Ave., Athens Greece
Tel. (+30) 210 5124910
www.ktel.org
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Liossion Bus Terminal: Routes to Thessaly and Mainland Greece. Information about schedules and destinations are given by phone.
KTEL Intercity Bus Terminal
260, Liossion Str., Athens Greece
Tel. (+30) 210 8317179
www.ktel.org
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KTEL Bus Tickets are sold only at the terminals. Their prices depend on the destinations.
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| BY METRO |
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The state-of-the-art Athens Metro lines transfer thousands of Athenians daily to and from their businesses, and have significantly improved the city's transport network. This huge construction has become one of the most ambitious and complex infrastructure ventures ever built in Greece and in Europe.
For years the existing ISAP train line 1 connected Kifisia to Piraeus. Today the two new Metro lines have been added to boost and reinforce the transportation system, which contributes to a cleaner environment and to a less congested city center. Metro line 2 travels from Agios Antonios in the Peristeri district to Agios Dimitrios, while Metro line 3 starts from Monastiraki (the historical Athens bazaar, below the Acropolis) and ends at Doukissis Plakentias station in the Halandri area. Metro line 3 also interchanges with the suburban train line, which departs for Athens International Airport. Further extensions to other locations in Attica are scheduled for the near future.
Many Metro stations include features that could be found no where else but in Athens. During construction, ancient artefacts and water ducts were discovered. These are now on display in the stations. Others are adorned with contemporary artwork by Greek artists and with portraits of Greek citizens of whom the country is particularly proud of.
Attiko Metro S.A. main offices
191-193 Mesogeion Ave., 11525, Athens Greece
Tel: (+30) 210 6792399
Fax: (+30) 210 6726126
e-mail: info@metro.gr
www.ametro.gr
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| BY TRAIN |
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BY TRAM |
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The OSE (the Greek Railway Organization) train system offers widespread transportation throughout Greece and to neighboring countries. In Athens there are two OSE train stations: Larissis Station and Peloponnisou Station, which provide standard and express intercity trains to various destinations. It is prudent to call for schedule and destination information and to reserve a seat beforehand.
Larissis Train Station:
tel: (+30) 210 5297777
Peloponnisou Train Station:
tel (+30) 210 5131601
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Construction of the A' phase of the Athens Tram has just been completed and has begun transporting Athenians across the city. Line A1 covers 12,7 km and starts from the National Garden (Zappeio), next to Synatgma Square, and ends at the Neo Faliro Line 1 train station, from where passengers can be transported to other destinations via the train and metro routes. Line A2 departs from Palaio Faliro and travels along the coastline to Glyfada, covering a distance of 8 km.
Construction of 3 more lines is expected to commence shortly. The new lines will cover areas such as Piraeus to Perama (9 km), Goudi to Votanikos (8,3 km) and Patesia to Plateia Egyptou (3,6 km).
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| BY SHIP |
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At the moment there are 3 main ports in Athens and Attica from which cruise ships, ferry boats, catamarans and flying dolphins (hydrofoils) regularly depart for the Greek Islands and destinations abroad.
From the main port of Piraeus, cruise ships, ferry boats, catamarans and flying dolphins depart for the Greek Islands in the Saronic Gulf, the Cyclades cluster, the Dodecanese cluster and the Eastern Aegean Isles. From Marina Zeas, near the Piraeus port, flying dolphins frequently leave for the Saronic Islands.
Rafina port caters to departures for Evia Island and the nearby Cycladic Islands. Ferry boats for the Sporades depart from Volos and Kymi. Visitors must travel by intercity or KTEL busses to these ports. Presently, the port of Lavrio is being reconstructed to assist boat transport to the islands in the Aegean Sea, due to its proximity and easy accessibility.
The Ionian Islands can be reached from other parts of western Greece such as, Kyllini and Patra.
For further information about departure times and destinations, call the following port authorities:
Piraeus Port Authorities:
tel: (+30) 210 4226000 to 4, 210 4511310, 210 4511312 to 20
Marina Zeas:
18504, Piraeus,
tel & fax: (+30) 210 4513623, 210 4284100 to 6, 210 4184182
Rafina Port Authorities:
tel: (+30) 22940 63491, 22940 22300
Lavrio Port Authorities:
tel: (+30) 22920 25249
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| BY TAXI |
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BY CAR |
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Taxi cabs are an easy alternative if you are in a hurry or if you do not feel like waiting for a bus or trolley. Taxis can be found effortlessly by just waving them down and the fares are quite reasonable. Many radio taxi companies are efficient and can collect you from your residence in just a few minutes. Your hotel will have a list of radio cab companies. Owing to years of transporting tourists, most cab drivers know enough English and a few other languages as well. Taxi rates double between midnight and 5 a.m. and when travelling outside the Athens city limits.
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Athens is jam-packed with car rental agencies and most of them provide a wide range of cars to choose from, for all specific needs and preferences. The majority of Rent a Car offices in Greece are known for their diligence and efficiency.
While driving, be sure to pay close attention to the road signs. You will have no trouble in reading them as they are all written in Greek and English. If you wish, you may invest in a road map, although you will also find your way around by asking, since Greek people are always eager to help a lost driver.
In the city center there are several main roads, most of which eventually lead to either Omonia or Syntagma Squares. If they do not, they usually intersect with streets that do.
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ATHENS HOTELS GUIDE
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United Online S.A., 61-63 Protopapadaki St., 11147, Galatsi, Athens, Greece
Tel. (+30) 210 2139810, Fax: (+30) 210 2134822 - E-mail:
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