Air
The national airline, Olympic Airlines, flies from:
• Athens to Alexandroupolis, Astypalaia, Chania (Crete),
Chios, Heraklion, Ikaria, Ioannina, Karpathos, Kithira, Kos, Kozani,
Kassos, Kastellorizo, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefaloniá, Kerkira
(Corfu), Lemnos, Leros, Milos, Mykonos, Mytilini, Paros, Preveza,
Rhodes, Sitia, Skiathos, Skiros, Samos, Santorini (Thira), Siros,
Thessaloniki and Zakinthos
• Rhodes to Heraklion, Kassos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Karpathos,
Mykonos, and Santorini (Thira)
• Chios to Samos, Mykonos and Thessaloniki; from Heraklion
to Santorini (Thira), Mykonos and Paros
• Karpathos to Sitia and Kassos
• Kefaloniá to Zakinthos
• Kos to Samos and Leros
• Mykonos to Mytilini
• Thessaloniki to Chania, Kavala Kerkira, Kos, Heraklion,
Ioannina, Larissa, Lemnos, Mykonos, Mytilini, Rhodes, Samos and
Santorini.
There are also services to the Greek Aegean Islands (including
Cyclades, Dodecanissa, North Aegean Sea and the Sporades).
Departure tax
€8,51.
Sea
It is both inexpensive and easy to travel
around the islands. There are ferry services
on numerous routes, with sailings most frequent during the summer.
The main ports are Attica,
Rafina and Piraeus, although
there are regular sailings to the islands from the smaller
ports of Alexandroupolis, Igoumenitsa, Patras,
Kavala, Kyllini, Thessaloniki and Volos.
Tickets can be bought from
the shipping lines’ offices located around
the quaysides. In major ports the larger lines have offices in
the city centre. There are two classes of ticket Economy
Class and First Class) which offer varying
degrees of comfort; couchette cabins can be booked for
the longer voyages or those wishing to avoid the sun. Nearly all
ships have restaurant facilities. During high season it is wise
to buy tickets well before hand, as inter-island travel is very
popular.
Routes from Piraeus: There are regular sailings
to the following ports: Dodecanese: Astipalaia, Chalki, Karpathos,
Kassos,Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Leros, Lipsi, Nissiros, Patmos,
Rhodes, Symi and Tilos. Cyclades: Aegiali and Katapola (both on
Amorgos), Anafi, Donoussa, Folegandros, Heraklia, Ios, Kimolos,
Koufonissia, Kythnos, Paros, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos,Santorini,
Schinoussa, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Siros and Tinos. Peloponnese:
Kithira, Gytheion, Hermioni, Methana, Monemvassia and Porto Heli.
Saronic Gulf Islands: Aegina, Hydra, Poros and Spetses. Crete:
Heraklion, Kastelli, Agios Nikolaos, Chania,Rethymnon and Sitia.
Samos: Karlovassi and Vathi. North Eastern Aegean Islands: Chios,
Evdilos (Ikaria), Limnos,Agios Kirykos (Ikaria), Mitilini (Lesvos)
and Psara. Northern Greece: Kavala and Thessaloniki.
Confirm sailing times either with individual
lines, the Greek/Hellenic National Tourist Organisation, or in
Piraeus upon arrival in Greece.
Routes from Rafina: There are local services
from Rafina (near Athens) to: Amorgos, Andros, Agios Efstratios,
Chalkida (summer only), Chios, Donoussa, Kavala, Koufonissi, Karistos
(Evia), Kythnos, Limnos, Marmari (Evia), Milos, Mykonos, Heraklia,
Naxos, Schinoussa, Serifos, Sifnos, Syros, Thessaloniki and Tinos.
Other routes: These include Agia Marina–Nea
Styra; Aedipsos–Arkitsa; Perama–Salamis; Rio–Antirio;
Eretria– Oropos; Glifa–Agiokambos; Patras–Ithaca;
Patras–Kefalonia (Sami); Patras–Corfu; Patras–Paxi;
Preveza–Aktion; Igoumenitsa–Corfu; Corfu–Paxi;
Kyllini–Zante; Kyllini– Cephalonia (Poros); Kavala–
Thassos (Prinos); Kavala–Thassos (Limenas);Keramoti–Thassos;
Alexandroupolis– Samothrace and Lavrion–Kea.
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil service (also called the
Flying Dolphins) offers a speedy and efficient
service from Piraeus, travelling to many of the nearby islands.
Though this is somewhat more costly than travelling by ferry,
journey times are cut drastically. There are also fast hydrofoil
services from Agios, Gytheion, Kimi (Evia), Konstandinos, Lavrion,
Thessaloniki, Volos and Zea Marina (Piraeus).
For further information on various ferry and hydrofoil timetables,
visit www.gtp.gr.
Yachts
Many types of yachts and sailing vessels can
be chartered or hired with or without
crews. ‘Flotilla holidays’ are popular,
and the Greek/Hellenic National Tourism Organisation
(see Contact Addresses section) has a full list of companies running
these types of holidays.
Rail
The two main railway stations in Athens are Peloponnissos
(with trains to the Peloponnese)and Larissa (with
trains to northern Greece, Evia and Europe).
Information and tickets are available from the Hellenic
Railways Organisation (OSE) in Athens (tel: (210) 529 7313
or 529 7777) or in Thessaloniki
(tel: (310) 599 143).
Travelling north, there are regular daily trains
from Athens to Thessaloniki, Livadia, Edessa, Florina, Seres,
Drama,Paleofarsala, Larissa, Plati, Komotini and Alexandroupolis
(connections from Thessaloniki and Larissa).
Travelling south, there are regular daily trains
from Athens to Kiato, Xylokastra, Diakofto, Tripoli, Patras, Olympia,
Argos, Megalopolis and Kalamata.
Cheap fares
Current promotional offers include:
Inter Rail Cards are open to all European residents
for unlimited rail travel in 2nd class in numerous European countries.
Passes are valid for 16 or 22 days or 1 month.
Euro Domino Cards are open to passengers of all
ages and offer rail travel in either 1st or 2nd class travel in
one or more European countries. Passes are valid for 3 - 8 days
and do not have to be taken consecutively.
Vergina Flexipass offers unlimited rail travel
in Greece for 3, 5 or 10 days within 1 or 2 months in either first
or second class, depending on the choice of ticket.
Greek Flexipass offers unlimited rail travel
in Greece for 3 or 5 days within 1 month in first class.Students
may be entitled to a 25 % reduction in the price of domestic rail
fares. Travel is limited to certain routes and times. For more
information on the above schemes, contact the Hellenic Railways
Organisation (OSE).
Road
Greece has a fine quality road network
on the whole, totalling approximately 116,150km (72,174 miles),
mostly paved. Traffic drives on the right.
Examples of some distances from Athens: to Corinth, 85km (53 miles);
to Igoumenitsa, 587km (365 miles); to Thessaloniki, 511km (318
miles); and to Delphi, 165km (103 miles).
Bus
Buses link Athens and all main towns in northern Greece, Attica
and the Peloponnese. Service on the islands depends on
the demand, and timetables should be checked
carefully. Some islands do not allow any kind of motorised
transport, in which case islanders use boats, or carts and donkeys
to travel around. Fares are low. The Greek/Hellenic
Railways Organisation Ltd (OSE) runs bus services to
northern Greece from the Karolou Street terminus and to the Peloponnese
from the Sina Street station.
Bus information: There are two long-distance
bus terminals in Athens-Terminal A and
Terminal B. For detailed information on long-distance
buses, run by KTEL, from Athens to the provinces, enquire at Terminal
A, 100 Kifissou Street, Athens (tel: (210) 512 4910) or Terminal
B, 260 Liossion Street, Athens. Additional information can be
obtained from KTEL offices.
Taxi
Rates are per km and are very reasonable,
with additional charge for fares to/from stations, ports and airports.
Taxis run on a share basis, so do not be surprised
if the taxi picks up other passengers for the journey.
There is an additional charge from 0100-0600,
with double fare from 0200-0400.
Car hire
Most car hire firms operate throughout Greece.
For details, contact the Greek/Hellenic National Tourism
Organisation (see Contact Addresses section). Reservations
can be made either in writing or
by telephoning the car hire agency direct.
Regulations
Minimum age for driving is l8. Children under
10 must sit in the back seat. Seat belts must be worn
at all times. There are fines for breaking traffic rules
and regulations.
The maximum speed limit is 120kph (70mph) on motorways, 110kph
(60mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas.
There are different speed limits for motorbikes. It is
against the law to carry spare petrol in the vehicle.
EU nationals may import a foreign-registered car, motorcycle,
caravan, boat or trailer for a maximum of six months. This period
can be extended to 15 months for a fee and further paperwork.
Documentation
A national driving licence is adequate for EU nationals.
EU nationals that are taking their own cars to Greece are advised
to obtain a Green Card, to top up the insurance cover to that
provided by the car owner’s domestic policy. It is no longer
a requirement by law for visits of less than 3 months, but without
it insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal cover in Greece.
The car registration documents must be carried at all
times. Nationals of non-EU countries
may need an International Driving Permit
and must contact ELPA (Automobile
and Touring Club of Greece).
Road assistance
A breakdown service is available
on main roads, conditions of which have improved. For details, contact
ELPA, Athens Tower,
Messogion 2-4, 115 27 Athens (tel: (210) 779 1615; fax: (210) 778
6642; e-mail: elpa@techlink.gr).
Emergency breakdown services can be contacted toll-free-dial 104.
There are good repair shops in big towns and petrol is easily obtainable.
Urban
Buses
There are numerous services around Athens and Attica.
The terminal at Mauromateon Street, Areos Park, Athens has regular
services to Amfiaraio, Nea Makri, Porto Rafti, Marathonas, Ramnous
and Sounio. Trolley buses ILPAP) and regular
buses (ETHEL) have frequent links to tourist sights and
places of interest. Tickets for buses and trolley
buses can be bought from the Athens Urban
Transport Organisation (OASA) at various
booths and kiosks situated around
the city. For more information contact OASA
at 15 Metsovou Street, 106 82 Athens (tel: (210) 883 6076; fax:
(210) 821 2219; e-mail: oasa@oasa.gr).
Metro
Athens has a consistent underground system (ISAP)
that consists of three major lines. The old line
runs north–south between Athens (suburb of Kifissia) and Piraeus
daily 0500-0015. There are also two new lines:
Line 2 runs between Aghios Antonios and Aghios Dimitrios and line
3 runs between Monastiraki and the airport. Tickets
can be bought at every Metro and
ISAP station. Information on timetables and schedules
are available from Athens
Metro or OASA (see address details above).
Tram
A new tram system in Athens cuts through the city
from Syntagma Square right through to the coast and runs
a pleasurable route from Peace and Friendship Stadium all
the way to the most southern point of Glyfada. Tickets can be booked
at all stations and trams connect with the Metro at Neos Kosmos
and Neo Faliro (website: ww.tramsa.gr).
Travel times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and
minutes) from Athens to other major cities/islands in Greece.
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