Before arriving

Before you leave for your trip to Greece you should call your mobile carrier to let them know you will be traveling internationally. In many cases, making calls from abroad is blocked and all it takes is a phone call to have this ability activated (usually for free).

Also check the rates you will be charged. Roaming charges add up quickly once you are in a foreign country. It is not unusual for unsuspecting travelers to charge hundreds of Dollars (or Euro) in roaming charges, and that can be a major source of distress upon their return home.

Firstly you should decide if you want to keep the same number when you travel or if you would not mind changing your number to a Greek number when you arrive in Greece.

To get a mobile account in Greece you would need to provide your passport (they are required by law to make a photocopy of it).

As of June 15, Europeans will be able to travel in the EU without roaming charges. For more information please visit: Your Europe: Mobile roaming costs

Average weather conditions for Athens in October

 Greek summer is known to last more than the occasional summer months, with high temperatures in September being a common trend in the country and especially in Athens making the Greek capital an excellent destination for a continuation of someone’s summer holidays. On the other hand, the weather in October starts to cool off significantly, and especially at night, with a nice cool breeze chilling making its appearance across the town. This time of the year is perfect for late afternoon strolls across the city centre with Monastiraki and Plaka being the best destinations for someone to enjoy a late coffee or an early drink.

The average temperature of this month is 19°C (66°F), while the average low is 15°C (59°C), and the average high is 23°C (73°F). The lowest ever recorded temperature in Athens in October is 2°C (36°F), while the highest ever recorded temperature is 33°C (91°F). The average amount of daily sunshine in October is just five hours, which is two hours short form the daily sunshine (seven hours) in September. The average amount of rainfall in October is 40mm, occurring approximately in five out of October’s 31 days, more than 10mm over the corresponding amount in September where rain occurs in just three of the month’s 30 days. There is no certainty of rain in the month of October and as a result there is a very high possibility that visitors will not encounter rainy weather during the days of the conference.

Despite the temperature decrease in October, the weather is still widely considered pleasing and enjoyable by most people. .There is also the possibility of very warm days where a visit to the Athenian beach could certainly be enjoyable.

While most weather related measurements decrease in October, the humidity levels tend to have an opposing behavior. The average humidity level in October is 65%, which is the third highest average for the year in Athens. Regardless of the high level (for Athens’ standards), the humidity will be mostly unnoticeable and will not affect comfort levels.

[Source: Holiday-Weather.com]

Arriving

The Attiko Metro connects Athens’ international airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, to the city. It’s about a 40-minute ride to central Athens, and the station is easily accessible from airport terminals. Athens city center can also be reached by bus (bus line X95) or by taxi. In general, please note that you can expect to pay double fare when using a taxi after midnight.

Metro & Bus services from airport

(for more information click the link)

Type of Trip Fare
Single-trip METRO ticket to / from the Airport 10 €
Single-trip bus ticket to / from the Airport 6 €

Taxi from airport (for more information click the link)

Taxis are available at the designated Taxi waiting area located at Exit 3 of Arrivals Level. Fares for taxis are as follows:

DAY TIME FLAT FARE (05:00 – 24:00)
38 € Airport to Athens city center inner ring
38 € Athens city center inner ring to Airport
NIGHT TIME FLAT FARE (00:00 – 05:00)
54 € Airport to Athens city center inner ring
54 € Athens city center inner ring to Airport

Officially, taxis use taximeter. If you are travelling between midnight and 05.00, you will be expect to pay double.

Alternatively you can book a taxi online. You book online and you receive an email with all the driver’s information before your arrival. The drivers are trained, fluent English speakers and will be waiting for you at your arrival gate holding a board with you name. It also costs same as a regular taxi (35€ for downtown). “

Currency Exchange

(Main Currency: EURO)

Greece is a member of the Eurozone with EURO being the country’s national currency. It is suggested that delegates should bring with them EURO or USD. At the airport there is a currency exchange office, where an exchange of currencies for up to 50 countries is available. Another option is to pay by credit or debit cards, while you can also make withdrawals from ATMs. If you select to use central bank branches you must be informed that your transactions will take place using main currencies only. For more information, please click the Greek link.

Currency Exchange at the Airport:

(https://www.aia.gr/traveler/airport-information/currency-exchange/)

MAIN CURRENCIES
US Dollar Swiss Franc Japanese Yen
British Pound Czech Republic Koruna Norwegian Krone
Australian Dollar Danish Krone Swedish Krona
Canadian Dollar Hungarian Forint Turkish Lira
OTHER CURRENCIES
United Arab Emirates Dirham Indonesian Rupiah Polish Zloty
Bahamian Dollar Egyptian Pound Qatari Rial
Bermudan Dollar Jordanian Dinar Romanian Leu
Bulgarian Lev Kenyan Shilling Russian Ruble
Bahraini Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Saudi Riyal
Brunei Dollar Lebanese Pound Singapore Dollar
Brazilian Real Moroccan Dirham Thai Baht
Cayman Islands Dollar Mauritian Rupee Tunisian Dinar
Chinese Yuan Mexican Peso Trinidad & Tobago Dollar
Serbian Dinar Malaysian Ringgit Taiwan New Dollar
Egyptian Pound New Zealand Dollar Ukrainian Hryvnia
Fijian Dollar Omani Rial South Korean Won
Hong Kong Dollar Peruvian Sol South African Rand
Croatian Kuna Philippine Peso
Israeli New Shekel Pakistani Rupee

Emergency Numbers

Telephone Numbers
Emergency 112
Ambulance 166
Police 100
Tourist Police 171
Fire Department 199

Transport

Transportation in Athens is available through many options, such as:

  • Attiko Metro and Athens Metro System (for more information on ticket prices metro map click here)
  • OASA Buses
  • Athens TRAM system
  • Taxis

Costs

Regular type of tickets are active from the moment you validate them until their time-limit expires. During the time-limit you can use the transportation mean of your selection as many times as you wish without having to validate or purchase another ticket. Metro, busses and trams use the same type of ticket which you can acquire from OSY kiosks or from automatic ticket machines inside Metro Stations across Athens.

Undergraduate, MSc and PhD students as well as children and teenagers under the age of 18 can acquire a Reduced Ticket at a lower price but should take note that in case of a ticket check they must demonstrate their Academic IDs or in case of children and teenagers their regular IDs to the corresponding Authorities.

Airport line tickets are used the exact same way as the Regular ones but can be purchased on a different price according to the table above.

Timetable for the various Metro Lines:

Line 1, Piraeus-Kifissia (Green Line)

  • First Train: 5.00
  • Last Train: 00.15
  • Last Train to Omonoia Station: 00.30

Line 2, Anthoupoli-Elliniko (Red Line)

  • First Train: 5.30
  • Last Train: 00.05
  • Last Train on Friday and Saturday: 2.05

Line 3, Aghia Marina-Doukissis Plakentias (Blue Line)

  • First Train: 5.30
  • Last Train: 00.00
  • Last Train on Friday and Saturday: 2.00

Visitors should take note that the Airport Metro Station is the terminal of Line 3 for approximately one out of three trains during the day. Each train that has Airport as its terminal has the corresponding sign of Airport. If you board a train which has Airport as its destination and you wish to disembark on a different station until the regular terminal of the line (Doukissis Plakentias station), then you only have to pay the price of a Regular type of ticket. However, if you wish to proceed beyond the Doukissis Plakentias station, then you need to purchase the appropriate ticket according to your destination using the table above.

Timetable for EXPRESS Bus Line

EXPRESS Bus Line has the Airport as its final destination and uses a different timetable from the other Athenian Buses as they are available 24 hours daily. The express busses have the sign X on them and have four primary lines:

  • Χ93, Kiffisos Intercity Bus Station-Airport
  • X95, Syntagma Square-Airport
  • X96, Piraeus Port-Airport
  • X97, Elliniko Metro Station-Airport (take note that the midnight busses depart from Dafni Metro Station from 00.00 until 04.55)

For more information on the intermediates stops of each line, please use the OASA Telematics App.

Timetable for the various Bus Lines:

First bus departs at approximately 5.00 from its terminal (depending on the bus) and the Last bus departs approximately at 23.30 from its terminal (depending on the bus). For more information on the busses timetable (information about specific busses) please use the OASA Telematics App.

We strongly recommend that you use the Metro System for your transportations inside the city for your convenience due to the fact of cheap tickets combined with high speed and frequent available trains. However, if you wish to use the Tram in order to see the streets of Athens, then approximately the First and Last train have the same timetable with the Metro. However, the Tram is extremely slower due to the traffic in the Athenian Streets. For more information on the Tram Lines and train Timetables, please use the OASA Telematics App.

The OASA Telematics App is available in English for Android, iOS, Windows Phones and Windows/Mac computers. Follow the links below and get the OASA Telematics App for free:

[Source: OASA]

Sightseeing

The city has no single sightseeing pass, but the Acropolis ticket, valid for 48 hours, allows entry to all of the sites on the World Heritage – listed hill.

You may visit the archaeological site of the Acropolis and its Slopes.

Tickets are available only at the ticket office on site, Full Ticket costs €20, while Reduced Ticket costs €10. For more information on the ticket prices and discounts here.

Another choice for you is to choose to buy a unified ticket package in order to be able to visit all the following places: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North Slope of Acropolis, Olympieio, Roman Agora of Athens, South Slope of Acropolis.

Unified Ticket packages are available on site, Full Ticket costs €30, while Reduced Ticket costs €15.The Unified Ticket it is valid for 5 days. (http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2384)

Athens open buses

Athens Open Tour (http://www.athensopentour.com/?gclid=CMasz7OAz9ICFcidGwodTeABuA)

CITY SIGHTSEEING (http://www.citysightseeing.gr)

HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS (https://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/athens-bus-tours)

Tipping

If a restaurant bill does not already include a service charge, it’s usual — but not really obligatory — to tip about 10% to 15% on top. Taxi fares should be rounded up by a euro or possibly more, according to the total amount. Meanwhile, it’s customary to leave some small change for attendants at cloakrooms and restrooms.

Survival Skills

Athens is known as one of Europe’s safer cities for tourists, although, as in all major destinations, pickpockets do exist. Exercise appropriate caution.

[Source: Time]