General Information
About Athens
A unique combination of the old and the new, set up against a spectacular Mediterranean landscape; a world famous past; an exciting present: Ancient and brand new at the same time, Athens inspires and seduces its visitors, leaving its mark in their hearts and minds.
A city where hospitality, setting and character are guaranteed to take your breath away.
Stroll along the cobblestone, pedestrian-only path that encircles Europe’s largest Archaeological Park for a close up view of some of the world’s most significant ancient treasures including the Acropolis, Theatre of Dionysus and Herodeus Atticus.
Delight your palate by indulging in the bouquet of dining options that make up the Athenian restaurant scene renaissance.
Innovation and achievement have ushered in a new era for the city, its citizens and its visitors. Mega-infrastructure improvements have made Athens a city that is easy to navigate.
Take the fast, clean and safe metro to discover the myriad of Athenian neighborhoods.
Sea farers, catch the new tram for a walk or a swim along the boardwalks and beaches of Palio Faliro, Alimo and Glyfada.
An award winning airport (Athens International Airport) that since its opening in 2001 has seen an annual growth of 7%, currently serving 80 international destinations. There are 30,000 rooms to suit all budgets and 95, 000² of conference space to meet the requirements of the most demanding of events.
Getting to Athens
Athens is easily accessible from all European countries and most destinations around the world. The Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos (opened in March 2001), strongly focuses on customer satisfaction and provides high security standards and high-end quality services to travelers. It is connected daily with over 60 cities around the world.
The airport is located 33 km southeast of Athens and is easily accessible via Atttiki Odos, a six-lane motorway (the Athens City Ring Road).
Public transportation to Athens and the Port of Piraeus is provided by express airport shuttles on a 24-hour basis, while a direct Metro line connects the airport to the city center (Syntagma square) in less than 40 minutes.
A taxi ride from the airport to the city center cots between 35-40 Euros. Duration approximately 40 minutes.
In addition, coaches connect Athens to the southeastern European states and the Balkans on a regular basis, while ferries operate daily from the port of Patras (2h drive from Athens) to Italy. To view all destinations served by Athens International Airport please visit www.aia.gr
Moving Around
The Athens public transportation network offers a wide range of routes, combining many different means, including the metro, trains, buses, trolleybuses and the tram. With a ticket of €1.40 you can move around using any means of public transport for 1h and 30m. Tickets are available at all metro and train stations as well as the kiosks on the streets. Alternatively, you can inquire about day or weekly passes that offer transport at discounted rate.
Metro
The state-of-the-art Athens Metro, opened just be- fore the 2004 Olympic Games. It serves all major city spots and sites of interest, giving you, at the same time, the opportunity, to see the ancient ruins and statues which were discovered during its construction and are in display at various metro stations.
Taxis
Greek (yellow) taxis are inexpensive by European standards and offer an alternative to public transport. All licensed taxis are equipped with meters (the fare is charged per km and per hour) and display a card detailing the latest valid tariffs and surcharges. In certain tourist areas you may be asked to pay a predetermined (standard) amount for a ride to a specific destination; thus, before boarding a taxi make sure to seek information from another source on the exact fare of the journey.