From the airport to the city centre Athens
Venizélos international airport is 35 km from the city center. There are several options for getting there:
Metro. The metro is the ideal way to get to the airport, from any station in the city. Line 3, from Monastiraki or Syntagma, takes about 40 minutes and €10 to the airport. Frequency: approximately every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (timetable varies according to metro station).
Suburban. A suburban train connects the airport with the north of the city, the port of Piraeus and even Corinth (journey time 1 hour 20 minutes). Connections with the metro. For more information, visit www.trainose.com (in French).
City bus. Blue and yellow express lines have been set up to serve the airport. Tickets cost €6 and are valid on all public transport. From the airport, they can be picked up at arrivals. There are several lines, depending on where you live. Line X93 departs from the KTEL national bus terminals (Kifissiou and Liossion) approximately every 30-45 minutes. Journey time: 65 minutes. Line X95 departs from Syntagma Square every 10 or 30 minutes, day and night. Journey time: 60 minutes. Line X96 departs from the port of Piraeus every 15-30 minutes, day and night. Journey time: 90 minutes. Line X97 departs from Daphni bus station every hour. Journey time: 70 minutes.
Buses X95 and X93 accept all bankcards with contactless payment function. It is also possible to use a smartphone or connected watch equipped with NFC technology such as GooglePay, ApplePay, Samsung Pay or Lyf Pay.
Regional buses. To and from Rafina (approx. every hour from 4.50 a.m. to 10.15 p.m., €2.60, 30 minutes), Lavrio (every hour from 6.30 a.m. to 10 p.m., €4.90, 40 minutes) and Markopoulo (every hour from 6.30 a.m. to 10 p.m., €2.70, 20 minutes). KTEL bus, at arrivals.
Cabs. Cabs from the airport to the city center are now available on a flat-rate basis. It costs €40 during the day and €55 at night. Cabs are waiting for you at the airport arrivals area and can be picked up anywhere in town, provided you hail them.
Car rental. The airport is well signposted from the city center. Follow the small sign for the Eleftherios Venizelos airplane and prepare €2.80 to take the expressway to the boarding gate. At the airport, almost every car rental company has a branch in the terminal. Armed with a GPS or a good map, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting to your hotel.
Arrival by boat Athens
If you want to reach the Greek capital by boat, you can choose between the Italian ports of Ancona, Bari, Venice and Brindisi. We arrive in Patras, a city in the western Peloponnese, 211 km from Athens.
There are three ports in Athens: Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina. Most ferries operate from the famous port of Piraeus, serving virtually all the Greek islands. Rafina primarily serves Andros, but also Tinos, Mykonos, Ios, Naxos and Santorini. Lavrio is the port of choice for Kea and Kythnos. Some ferries also serve eastern islands such as Agios Efstratios and Lemnos. For timetables, ask at any travel agency. Many Athenian newspapers also publish daily timetables. Alternatively, visit www.gtp.gr for all the information you need, or call 14541.
To get to Piraeus, take Pireos Avenue by car from Omonia, the metro (terminus of line 1) or the ETHEL city bus (www.oasa.gr), number 40, Filellinon Street, Syntagma, which leaves every 10 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight and every half-hour at night. At the port of Piraeus, you can take the free shuttle bus between the various terminals.
To get to Rafina , take the suburban bus from Pedion Areos, the park next to the Victoria metro station. The journey takes around 70 minutes every hour. By car, allow 1h15 from Omonia or Syntagma. However, only 20 minutes from the airport. Tickets cost €2.60.
To get to Lavrio, take the suburban bus from Pedion Areos and allow almost two hours for the journey. Tickets cost €5.30. By car, 1h15 from Omonia or Syntagma.
Public transport Athens
The metro is the most convenient way to get around Athens. It serves the main bus, streetcar and suburban ( proastiakos) lines. It comprises three lines (1, 2 and 3), of which line 1 links Athens to the northern suburbs (Kifissia) and the port of Piraeus. Frequency: every 4-5 minutes on weekdays and 5 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. Ticket: €1.20, valid for 90 minutes, to be topped up in advance on the new Athena Card. Timetable and map: www.ametro.gr/?lang=en
Athens city center is criss-crossed by over 65 bus and trolleybus lines. This is the means of transport that can take you to every corner of the capital and its surroundings, giving you a more concrete idea of the city and the everyday life of its inhabitants. Ticket: €1.20 (available at metro stations and selected kiosks in the city center). Schedules are fairly regular and frequent.
To get to the outskirts of Athens, take the KTEL buses (www.e-ktel.com). Tickets can be purchased from the driver or at the bus departure point. For further information, visit the company's website.
For easy access to the south coast from the city center, take the streetcar; there are many stations and frequent trips. This can be a pleasant way to get away from the city center and enjoy the sea at the same price as a metro ticket. For more information, visit www.stasy.gr.
Bike, scooters & co Athens
Cycling is beginning to make an appearance in and around Athens. However, you'll need to be very careful if you're not used to the driving habits of Greek motorists. Bicycles are gradually being accepted on certain means of urban transport, at certain times and subject to certain conditions. Find out more before planning a trip of this kind. While there are many pedestrianized streets in some areas, there are very few cycle paths, and you can quickly become discouraged by the danger of the roads and the constant ups and downs of Athens and its hills!
Motorcycles and scooters are popular means of transport in the city, as they are economical and avoid traffic jams. But driving a scooter in Athens is a real art. So beware! And don't be fooled by those delivery men on mopeds who, helmets on, run red lights or pass on the sidewalk with their cell phones to their ears!
With a driver Athens
Athenian cabs are still very useful and, above all, very cheap if you know how to use them. Cabs are hailed by announcing the name of the district to which you wish to go, and only then giving the address. If the driver doesn't stop, it's because your destination doesn't suit him! They have a meter that you need to keep an eye on. It is possible to share the same cab with other people, without it costing you less, but this is rare.
Here are a few orders of magnitude: the night rate is valid from midnight to 5am. For the airport-city-center route, a special flat rate has been introduced: €40 during the day and €55 at night. The minimum fare is €4. There is also a surcharge of €5 for luggage from the KTEL stations at Kifissos and Larissis, and when ordering a cab from your hotel or other accommodation.
By car Athens
The car is undoubtedly the most efficient means of transportation to discover the country, its capital and surroundings. However, we recommend you to be very careful when driving, as Greeks are very inventive when it comes to interpreting the traffic rules. When a car has decided to overtake you, it is not uncommon for it to do so in the left lane. It is up to you to pull over to the hard shoulder to let them pass. The lines in the middle of the road are useless, but for your general knowledge, two white lines mean that it is forbidden to overtake... In the city, and especially in Athens, the horn is the main weapon. As soon as the light turns green, you will hear a concert of horns behind your back if you take more than a tenth of a second to start. The main thing is not to get offended and to keep calm in all circumstances. In case of suspicious behavior, for example if you are speeding and a motorist seems to be about to enter an intersection where you have the right of way, honk your horn or make headlight calls to let them know that you are there and that they better not go. This is the Greek way of anticipating... As the Greek car fleet has been renewed very quickly, you will be surprised to see the number of big cars on the road, their owners not hesitating to go up to 170 km/h or 180 km/h. This is not a reason to imitate them! If you rent a car in the country, we still advise you to choose an intermediate category for more safety, as the nutshells can be really dangerous. Another important element is that the state of the roads leaves a lot to be desired: potholes, bumps, dead animals, are all traps that can seriously damage your car.
In case of an accident. A police report is mandatory in case of a traffic accident involving a third party. Dial 100 to reach the police and wait for them to file the report regardless of the type of accident and the waiting time. Indeed, insurance companies do not reimburse without an accident report. If there are victims, the foreign driver can be detained and then presented to the police court to determine his responsibility. In most cases, it is necessary to hire a local lawyer to defend you. It is therefore necessary to check the risks covered by your insurance contract (civil liability, payment of a guarantee deposit and legal assistance). A blood alcohol level higher than 0.24 g/l is punishable by a fine, while if it is higher than 0.50 g/l, it is considered a crime.
Car rental. International (such as Avis or Hertz) or local, there are countless car rental companies. You will find agencies at airports and near train stations, as well as in city centers and tourist resorts. This competition guarantees low prices, starting at around €20 per day with a sliding scale for multiple days of rental. In most of the agencies with several rental points, you can return the vehicle to another location without paying extra. Be careful: if some agencies show a price defying all competition, don't let yourself be blinded and really compare the offer. Be careful if you go through small independent rental agencies that are not licensed, as they do not always provide customers with vehicles that have been serviced and offer all safety guarantees. Above all, read all the clauses of the insurance contract carefully, as agencies often arrange for the insurance to never apply! Be aware that car rental from France, which is sometimes more convenient, can be less expensive when included in a package with your plane ticket, for example.
Formalities. According to the constraints imposed by the Greek Highway Code, people wishing to drive a car must have a valid international driver's license, as well as various official documents with a photograph, logbook or rental contract and appropriate car insurance. Failure to present any of the above-mentioned documents upon request of the authorities will result in a fine being issued on the spot. Warning triangles are mandatory. Cars can be imported for a maximum of six months. A carnet de passage is required for a van; for caravans or trailers, mention on the green card and a brief inventory of the contents. Also remember that to rent a car you must be over 21 years old and have held a B driver's license for at least one year, and possibly two years. You will be required to have a driver's license even if you only rent a moped or scooter.
Information and assistance. One of the big problems in Greece is the roads. Potholes, hollows, bumps, red lights in the middle of the highway, lack of markings, poor signage... Some sections of the highway are charged according to the distance traveled and the type of vehicle. Keep in mind that Greece is 80% mountainous and that the distances are short, but the time to cross them can be quite long..
Accessibility Athens
Unfortunately, people with reduced mobility and babies in strollers are not a priority in Greece. Accessibility is therefore limited, especially on local buses. The metro remains the most convenient way to get around for PRMs. In the city center, most of the sidewalks are adapted for handicapped people. It is also possible to order a cab or a shuttle dedicated to people with reduced mobility.
