Athens International Airport (AIA) to/from Downtown Athens

Athens International Airport (AIA) is your most likely port of entry to Greece. All Olympic Airways (National Greek Air Carrier) flights arrive in and depart from the Western Terminal (access via Siggrou Ave.), and all other international flights arrive in and depart from the Eastern Terminal (access via Vouliagmenis Ave.). There are two options available for ground transportation between AIA and Downtown Athens:
 

• Express Bus 092: 250GDR fare per person per ride, runs 24 hours a day every half hour. Between midnight and 5:00 a.m. the fare doubles to 500GRD per person per ride, and the frequency drops to one hour between consecutive rides. This bus route serves only two stops, both in the Downtown area of Athens. Syntagma Square is the first stop, and the second stop (last stop) is on Stadiou Street very near Omonia Square (closer point to conference site AUEB, also link stop of  the underground metro). Most highly recommended, especially to "light travelers".

• TAXI : Expected fare between AIA and Downtown Athens is about 3,000 GDR (US$10.00), with a deviation of about 500GDR, depending on luggage load or traffic congestion. More general information about hiring a TAXI in Athens is given below.

Buses and Trolleys:
 
Athens and its outskirts are linked by a web of bus and trolley lines, and you can get maps of these lines at the Greek National Tourist Organization (GNTO) as well as specific verbal info on major routes as to which "number" bus or trolley to take for your destination. Bus and trolley tickets are GDR120 (US$0.45) each and can be purchased at special booths and kiosks near the bus stops.

 
 Once you are on the bus or trolley, validate your ticket by asserting it into one of the meters for that purpose; the ticket will be punched and dated. Then keep the ticket until you leave the bus, since it's not uncommon to have a ticket checker to check their validity (if you are found that you haven't punched your tickets, you're required to pay a GDR 4,800 (US$16.00) fine.

There are several major bus terminals for destinations outside central Athens; at the Zappeion, for instance, buses go south to Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. Many buses leave from the huge bus stop at Academias and Sina Strs to the northern suburbs of Halandri, Psyhiko, Maroussi and Kifissia. All buses have their route number and destination on the front.
 

Athens' metro system is now being expanded. Limited in terms of destinations as the metro is currently, it does manage to connect Piraeus with downtown Athens and the northern suburb of Kifissia with some major stops -(such as the one at the Olympic Stadium) on the way.

Trains run every four minutes during rush hours and no less frequently than every ten minutes at all other times (expect between midnight and 5:30am, when the metro is closed). Metro tickets are purchased at the stations and will cost either GDR120 or GDR 180 (US $0.50-0.60), depending on how far you are going. For a map, go to the GNTO office (see appropriate section).

The most convenient metro stop near  the conference site AUEB is  the Victoria Square stop. Other  metro stops in the Downtown area are :
• Omonia Square stop
• Monastiraki stop
• Thission stop
 

•  Make sure that the cab driver turns his "Meter" on from the moment you begin your ride to your hotel. Do not make "a deal" with the taxi driver. The cab fare is not negotiable and any agreement you might make with him is going to be to your disadvantage.
•  Look at the meter and make sure that it is running at the normal speed. You can determine this by looking for the number " 1 " or the number " 2 " in one of the 4 corners of the meter's face. If you see the number 1 then it is correct. If you see the number 2 then it is running at double the normal rate. (The double rate is only applied when you use a cab after the hour of 12 midnight or if you take the cab for a trip far outside the Athens city limits).
• There is an additional charge for every suitcase you load into the cab's trunk which is added to the total indicated by the meter.You can tip the driver (if you want to) at a rate of 10 - 20% at your own disgression.

Taxi fares begin at GDR200 ($0.80) and all cabs have meters (if the driver does not turn the meter on, remind him/her to do so). Minimum charge in any taxi hiring is GDR 500 ($1.80). All taxis also have charts in Greek and English on their dashboard, explaining the changes you can expect to incur for baggage, the airport surcharge (only coming from the airport and not going at), rates between midnight and 5am (charged at a faster meter rate), holiday surcharges, etc. Tipping is neither expected nor practiced, though it's customary to round off the fare.

Although you will occasionally see signs for taxi stands in central Athens, you'll seldom find taxis there. Getting a cab in Athens on the street is usually a matter of flagging it down and calling out the area or street where you are going as they approach you (make sure you "mouth" your destination clearly, because the driver won't slow down very much). It is rare to get a cab to yourself during rush hours, so expect other people to be in the cab or to pick up others heading in the same direction after you're already in. When you piggy-back like this, you'll still pay the normal rate, with the meter (conceptually) beginning at GDR200.

If you have to be somewhere and want to reach your destination on time with a taxi, it's advisable to call one. Your hotel can certainly do that for you, but if you want to do it yourself or if you are not in your hotel, there is a number of reliable and efficient radio taxi fleets operating in Athens. All radio taxis are metered, and their meters also begin at GDR200, however, radio taxis tack on an extra GDR300.

Some of the following radio-cab fleets require as little as a 15-minute waiting period between the time of your call and their arrival, but all will require that you speak a bit of Greek. A list of them is:

     Athina I: 922-1744, 921-7942
     Ermis: 411-5200
     Express: 993-4812, 995-1136
     Ikaros: 513-2316, 513-2319
     Kosmos: 805-5000
     Parthenon: 582-1292
     Piraeus P1: 418-2333
     Proodos: 643-3400, 643-2240
     Pyrsos: 502-3583, 502-3783
     Radio Taxi Glyfada: 894-4531
     Radio Taxi Kifissias:808-4000, 808-4101
 

 
     Base Rate: GDR200
     Inside City Limits: GDR58/km
     Outside City Limits: GDR113/km
     Waiting Rate: GDR2000/hr
     Radio Taxi Appointment Fee:GDR300
     Radio Taxi Simple Call Fee:GDR200
     Pick up from Airport Fee: GDR300
     Pick up from Seaport Fee: GDR160
     Bags over 10kg: GDR55/each