Important Telephone Numbers:

Greek Emergency services: Dial 112.

Athens Tourist Office: 00 30 210 331 0392

U.S. Embassy Athens: 30 210 721 2951

Car hire

Having a car in Athens city centre is more of a bind than a convenience, as the roads are often congested and parking is difficult and expensive. Even if you travel out of the city, I’d take the bus or ferry – unless you are aiming for out-of-the-way spots. For car-hire prices in Greece go Here.

Transfers

Athens International Airport (www.aia.gr) lies 17 miles north-east of the city. The metro (www.amel.gr) runs direct to Syntagma and Monastiraki in the city center (change at Monastiraki for Piraeus port) and tickets cost €8. In addition, airport buses, operated by Athens Urban Transport Organisation (www.oasa.gr), run to and from the city. Bus X95 runs to Syntagma Square in the city center and bus X96 runs to Pireaus port. Tickets cost €5 and allow for 24 hours of unlimited travel on all forms of public transport (bus, tram and metro). Taxi services are also available – expect to pay around E30 to E50 to the city center or E35 to E 50 to Piraeus port.

Cruises

Cruise ships disembark passengers at the city’s port, Piraeus (www.olp.gr), which lies 7.5 miles from Athens city center. Shuttle buses are laid on to ferry people the 20-30 minutes from the port to the city centre. Their frequency and cost depends on the cruise ship company involved. The metro (green line) also runs from Piraeus to Monastiraki, below the Acropolis – ticket €1.40 valid for 1hr 30min on all forms of public transport. Taxis are also available, charging around €12 to Monastiraki.  For Ferry Tickets go Here.

Public transport

Athens’s city center is a pleasure to explore on foot and most of the main attractions lie within walking distance of one another. If you decide to use the public transport system (including buses, trolley buses and the metro), you will find that it is cheap and efficient, though often crowded. Tickets cost €1.40 and are valid for 1hr 30min on all forms of public transport. They are sold in metro stations, at special booths near bus terminals and at some street kiosks (periptera), and must be validated at the beginning of your first journey. One-day tickets (also known as “airport tickets”) cost €5 and allow for 24 hours of unlimited travel on all forms of public transport in the city, plus one bus trip to or from the airport.

 Published July 11, 2011 with special thanks to http://www.telegraph.co.uk