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ATHENS Travel Guide
Athens (&
- 913;&
- 952;&
- 942;&
- 957;&
- 945;, Athνna), is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.7 million inhabitants. It is in many ways the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization.
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Highlights
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Background
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Getting Here
By plane
By train
By car
By bus
By boat
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Getting Around
Public transport in Athens has improved by leaps and bounds in the last ten years. The 1 integrated (flat fare) ticket lets you travel on any means of transport — metro, suburban trains, trams, trolleybuses, buses — with unlimited transfers anywhere within Athens (except the airport line east of Doukissis Plakentias) for 90 minutes, and you can also get a 3 ticket valid for 24 hours or a 10 weekly ticket.
The new Athens Metro system, opened in 2001 and currently being extended, is a wonder to behold, and puts many better-known metro systems to shame. Many metro stations resemble museums, as they exhibit artifacts found during excavations for the system (i.e. Syntagma). Greeks are very proud about the new subway system, so do not even think about littering and by all means avoid any urge for graffiti- you will be intercepted by security at once. You are also not allowed to consume food or drink in the subway system. There are three lines:
Validate your ticket at the validation machines upon entering the station. The standard metro fare (as of January 2005) is 0.80 for trips between all stations except the Airport line east of Doukissis Plakentias. The standard fare to or from the Airport is 6, 10 for a return trip within 48 hours, 10 for a one-way trip for a group of 2 persons and 15 for a one-way trip for a group of 3 persons.
The Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) is a new addition to Athens's network. The main line starts from Piraeus, passes through the main line train station of Larissis, and forks at Neratziotissa west to Corinth and east towards the Airport.
The new Athens Tram connects the city centre with the southern suburbs and has connections with the metro lines. There are three tram lines:
Athens is served by a network of diesel buses, natural gas buses and electric trolley buses run by the Athens Urban Transport Organisation. A standard bus ticket costs 0.50. Use the 3.20 ticket to travel to or from the Airport.
Nightbuses. As of March 2006 the nightbus routes are:
Canary yellow taxis are a common sight in Athens and are a reasonably priced way of getting around (if you can avoid the traffic jams). The starting fee is €1, after which the meter ticks up at €0.34/km ("rate 1") or €0.64/km ("rate 2"), with a minimum fare of €2.65. Rate 1 applies through Athens city limits, including the airport, while rate 2 applies outside the city and from midnight to 5 AM. Legal surcharges apply for calling a cab by radio (€1.60), trips to or from the airport (€3.20) and heavy bags (€0.32). Tipping is not necessary, although it's common to round up to the nearest full euro.
Taxi fare fraud is not as widespread as it used to be, but it still happens, so insist on the meter and make sure the rate is correct. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171.
Be aware that the taxi drivers rarely obey all of the rules of the road. Expect that if you are leaving Athens on an early flight, that the driver will likely drive aggressively to get you there as quickly as possible.
Athens is certainly not the city to go around with a bicycle, as it has not any bicycle lanes and the car drivers tend to drive quite aggressively. Nevertheless (or maybe because of this) riding a bicycle in Athens has become lately some sort of a political (counter-)action, especially by young people with an alternative lifestyle. In general, tourists not familiar with the terrible athenian traffic are not advised to use a bicycle as a principal means of transport. Small rides are safe though in the long network of pedestrian streets around the Historical Centre of the city and can be quite enjoyable indeed.
The initiative My city with a bike taken by the General Secretariat for The Youth and several NGO's offers free conducted tours with free bikes every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm all year round except for the rainy days. All you have to do is book 10 days in advance either by email (admin@anthropos.gr) or phone (8011 19 19 00).
You can also rent a bike or join a conducted tour at http://www.pamevolta.gr
By metro
The new Athens Metro system, opened in 2001 and currently being extended, is a wonder to behold, and puts many better-known metro systems to shame. Many metro stations resemble museums, as they exhibit artifacts found during excavations for the system (i.e. Syntagma). Greeks are very proud about the new subway system, so do not even think about littering and by all means avoid any urge for graffiti- you will be intercepted by security at once. You are also not allowed to consume food or drink in the subway system. There are three lines:
- Line 1 (?1 ISAP): Piraeus Kifissia connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens via the city centre.
- Line 2 (M2 Attiko Metro): Agios Antonios Agios Dimitrios connects western and southern Athens.
- Line 3 (M3 Attiko Metro): Egaleo Doukissis Plakentias International Airport connects the south-western suburbs with the northern suburbs (Halandri and Doukissis Plakentias stations) and the International Airport.
Validate your ticket at the validation machines upon entering the station. The standard metro fare (as of January 2005) is 0.80 for trips between all stations except the Airport line east of Doukissis Plakentias. The standard fare to or from the Airport is 6, 10 for a return trip within 48 hours, 10 for a one-way trip for a group of 2 persons and 15 for a one-way trip for a group of 3 persons.
By suburban rail
The Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) is a new addition to Athens's network. The main line starts from Piraeus, passes through the main line train station of Larissis, and forks at Neratziotissa west to Corinth and east towards the Airport.
By tram
The new Athens Tram connects the city centre with the southern suburbs and has connections with the metro lines. There are three tram lines:
- Line 1 (T1): Syntagma Palaio Faliro Neo Faliro connects the city centre with the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
- Line 2 (T2): Syntagma Palaio Faliro Glyfada connects the city centre with the coastal zone.
- Line 3 (T3): Neo Faliro Palaio Faliro Glyfada runs along the coastal zone.
By bus
Athens is served by a network of diesel buses, natural gas buses and electric trolley buses run by the Athens Urban Transport Organisation. A standard bus ticket costs 0.50. Use the 3.20 ticket to travel to or from the Airport.
Nightbuses. As of March 2006 the nightbus routes are:
- X14 Syntagma Square to Kifissia
- 11 Ano Patissia Neo Pangrati Nea Elvetia (trolley bus)
- 040 Piraeus to Syntagma Square
- 500 Piraeus Kifissia (night only)
- X92, X93, X95, X96, X97 (the Athens
- By_plane|airport buses)
By taxi
Canary yellow taxis are a common sight in Athens and are a reasonably priced way of getting around (if you can avoid the traffic jams). The starting fee is €1, after which the meter ticks up at €0.34/km ("rate 1") or €0.64/km ("rate 2"), with a minimum fare of €2.65. Rate 1 applies through Athens city limits, including the airport, while rate 2 applies outside the city and from midnight to 5 AM. Legal surcharges apply for calling a cab by radio (€1.60), trips to or from the airport (€3.20) and heavy bags (€0.32). Tipping is not necessary, although it's common to round up to the nearest full euro.
Taxi fare fraud is not as widespread as it used to be, but it still happens, so insist on the meter and make sure the rate is correct. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171.
Be aware that the taxi drivers rarely obey all of the rules of the road. Expect that if you are leaving Athens on an early flight, that the driver will likely drive aggressively to get you there as quickly as possible.
By bicycle
Athens is certainly not the city to go around with a bicycle, as it has not any bicycle lanes and the car drivers tend to drive quite aggressively. Nevertheless (or maybe because of this) riding a bicycle in Athens has become lately some sort of a political (counter-)action, especially by young people with an alternative lifestyle. In general, tourists not familiar with the terrible athenian traffic are not advised to use a bicycle as a principal means of transport. Small rides are safe though in the long network of pedestrian streets around the Historical Centre of the city and can be quite enjoyable indeed.
The initiative My city with a bike taken by the General Secretariat for The Youth and several NGO's offers free conducted tours with free bikes every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm all year round except for the rainy days. All you have to do is book 10 days in advance either by email (admin@anthropos.gr) or phone (8011 19 19 00).
You can also rent a bike or join a conducted tour at http://www.pamevolta.gr
