Rafina Port to Athens

There is a simpler way to do it than trying to get it all on the internet... especially since y ou don't have adequate info to get it online. Instead, Walk up to people and ASK (most Greeks under 40 can speak English). I haven't done this particular route, but here is how I guess it would work:

• FIRST, KNOW your EXACT DESTINATION in ATHENS. It's a big place! Is your AirBNB in central Athens?? Does your airbnb Host mean for you to take the AIRPORT EXPRESS BUS x95 which starts in front of the airport building and goes in to the center of ATHENS to its terminus on Syntagma Square?? Or is he directing you to get a DIFFERENT bus, that will go from the IKEA STORE Bus Station to a different part of Athens?? You need to get back to him and get clearer directions. If you cannot get to him, then you need to give US the address of your Airbnb, so we can make sense of things.

• PLAN YOUR ROUTE - If the host wants you to get a bus from the IKEA Bus Stop into Athens, get the NUMBER of the bus from him. He must tell you where the bus goes in ATHENS, and if you stay on till the end. Make him tell you if you can buy your t icket on the bus. If not, there must be a ticket window at IKEA... this is a Huuuge store with major bus passenger traffic.

• GET OFF FERRY -- you will probably see a bus stop sign nearby, but you certainly will see a kiosk or small building on the pier, with a staffed window. Walk up to the window and say WHERE do I get the bus to IKEA? WHERE do I buy a ticket?

• IF your bus from IKEA is an X(express) bus, it will be mainly tourists, with suitcases piled in a central "pen" of the bus. If this is an ordinary bus, you keep your bag with you... try to get on early so you can sit not stand all the way. In "ordinerary" busses, fewer people speak english, so you must have full information. If you are to exit before the end of the bus run. TELL the DRIVER the name of the street, and sit UP FRONT near him & check from time to time, so he will tell you when your stop is reached.

I don’t think you’ll have a problem. The boat pulls in to what is effectively a large car park and the bus leaves from the far side of this slightly to your right, only about 100 yards away. Other people from the boat will be heading in that direction.

Two buses leave from the same place - one for the airport and one for Athens itself. They will be marked but Janet’s advice to ask is worth following.

In any case you’ll need to tell the driver that you want to get off at IKA before he puts your luggage on board. Otherwise you will find it is on the wrong side of the bus and is impossible to get to until the terminal. This isn’t a problem - drivers are used to dealing with tourists in English.

It sounds like you’re staying in Ambelokipi. If so the IKA stop is just past the tube station and Panathinaikos football stadium.

Alan

This is the address

Dionisiou Efesou 7, Athina, 114 75, Greece

She said get off at IKA bus stop do you think she meant IKEA?

No, she means IKA which are the Greek initials of a government department (social security). The address is in Ambelokipi, and the bus stop is the one I had in mind.

The bus will come in along a road called Mesogeion and turn right on to one called Alexandreas. Both of these are major roads and Alexandreas is dual carriageway. Two or three hundred yards after the turn you will pass Ambelokipi metro and see a large glass faced building on your left. Immediately after this is the football stadium. You can’t miss it - it’s huge and has floodlights on pylons.

The IKA stop is immediately after the football stadium.

Ambelokipi is slightly further out than most people stay but the metro to the centre is cheap and quick. Panormou, which is the next metro station out of town, is lively and has a number of restaurants.

Alan

PS close to where you are staying is a square, Agiou Dimitriou. It has several nice local eating places, Allounou for example which has English menus.

Thank you Alan, That is helpful. So I will board the bus that says to Athens and not the one to the airport correct? And they are KTEL buses?

Yes, board the Athens not the airport bus. As I say tell the driver you want IKA so that he puts the luggage in the correct compartment.

Alan

Wow ulf, you should be SO grateful that someone really knowledgeable came along to save your bacon! Most of us know nothing about Govt. Agency Inititals.... and many people DO head to IKEA ..... not IKA. I hope that your AirBnb is a real BARGAIN, being out so far from central athens. Be sure you have the bus & metro schedules before you stay late in central athens.

Yes I am grateful for his advice but why do you have to be such a jerk ?