What would be cheapest and easiest means of transportation to get from the Athens Airport to Atlantis Travel agency located at 5 Patission and 9 omona Square in mid July?
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1388 posts
Metro from the airport to either Syntagma or Monastiraki and then change for Omonia. Even though the metro comes first to Syntagma I would probably opt for changing at Monastiraki as the connection is easier.
At Monastiraki you want the Green (1) line towards Kiffisia and Omonia is the first stop.
Airport to Monastiraki is 40 minutes and the trains run at least every 30 minutes during the daytime. Tickets are 6 euros for a single but there is a group reduction and I think it's 10 euros for 2 people.
An alternative is to get the bus from the airport to Syntagma and pick up the metro there. This is almost the same price - 3.20 euros for the bus ticket and then 0.80 for the tube - and, especially at rush hour, can take quite a bit longer.
Cheers
Alan
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3320 posts
You must be prepared for the possibility that the Metro service from the airport MAY not be available in July, as they are doing construction on/off all of 2008. The bus goes 24/7 so just get on and doze.... you may get an hour's sleep after NOT getting any ZZZs on the typical economy-seat flight from the US!
Posted by
midland, tx, usa
73 posts
Just for FYI...My husband and I found the metro a piece of cake and decided to take it from our hotel in the Plaka to the airport for our return. I, being the stupid American, purchased a one way ticket from the ticket machine and headed toward the airport only to find out that the ticket to the airport...even though it's the same train...is a different ticket. We were fined several hundred dollars for buying the wrong ticket. Fortunately upon my return, I pleaded my case with the Athens Metro and they dismissed the ticket! I'll pay closer attention next time!
Posted by
Spokane, WA, USA
7 posts
We will be traveling in Athens also This summer. I have heard cabs are a nightmare and they will say it is one fare and then charge another. SO if the Metro from the Airport is closed then is a Cab the only answer in getting to your hotel?
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA, USA
508 posts
Lucy - There are a few options including a bus. Rick has posted his new guide for Athens in the Best Destinations section - check out the Transportation Connections section.
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1388 posts
I wouldn't worry too much about the trip from the airport> I apologise as I think it was me who posted the initial post about the metro being closed. As I understand it now they are working on some of the stations and there is the possibility of the line being very occasionally disrupted. It certainly isn't true the whole line is going to be down the whole summer.
Also, there are now electronic departure boards, which cycle through both Greek and English, in the arrivals hall after you clear customs. They'll show you the time of the next metro and so you can check it is running. If not, the bus is an acceptable substitute.
Finally, a word in defence of greek taxi drivers! I've used taxis back and forth from the airport, and for other trips, dozens of times without any problem at all. Undoubtedly there are sharks about - there certainly are in London - but they are few and far between.
Happy travelling
Alan