Greece - Korina Miller [104]
For more information, Island Hopping.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
For information on international services from Athens, Click here.
Boat
Most ferry, hydrofoil and high-speed catamaran services to the islands leave from Athens’ massive port at Piraeus. Piraeus is the busiest port in Greece, with a bewildering array of departures and destinations, including daily services to all the island groups, except the Ionians and the Sporades. The departure points for ferry destinations are shown on Map.
There are also ferry and high-speed services for Evia and the Cyclades from the smaller ports at Rafina and Lavrio.
You can check the daily schedules in the International Herald Tribune or search and buy tickets online. For contact details see the Getting There & Away sections for each island; for specific information about services Island Hopping.
Note that there are two departure points for Crete at Piraeus port. Ferries for Iraklio leave from the western end of Akti Kondyli, but ferries for other Cretan ports occasionally dock there as well. Ferries for Rethymno leave from Akti Miaouli, so check where to find your boat when you buy your ticket.
Most hydrofoil and high-speed catamaran services from Piraeus to the Saronic Gulf Islands, the Peloponnese and a growing range of destinations in the Cyclades are run by Hellenic Seaways (Map; 210 419 9000; www.hellenicseaways.gr; cnr Akti Kondyli & Elotikou, Great Harbour). Other operators include Aegean Speedlines ( 210 969 0950; www.aegeansp eedlines.gr).
For information contact the Piraeus Port Authority ( 1441; www.olp.gr).
TICKETS
Agents selling ferry tickets are thick on the ground around Plateia Karaïskaki in Piraeus and at the Rafina and Lavrio ports. You can also normally purchase tickets at ticket booths located on the quay, next to each ferry. Contrary to what some agents might tell you, it costs no more to buy tickets at the boat.
Bus
Athens has two intercity (IC) KTEL bus terminals. Terminal A, 7km northwest of Omonia, has departures to the Peloponnese, the Ionians and western Greece. Terminal B, 5km north of Omonia, caters to central and northern Greece, and to Evia. The EOT office Click here has IC bus schedules.
TERMINAL A
Terminal A (off Map; 210 512 4910; Kifisou 100) is not a good introduction to Athens – particularly if you arrive after midnight when there is no public transport. Click here for details of fares, and Click here for information on taxi rip-offs. From the terminal, bus 051 goes to central Athens (junction of Zinonos and Menandrou, near Omonia) every 15 minutes from 5am to midnight. A taxi to Syntagma should cost no more than €8.
TERMINAL B
Terminal B (off Map; ( 210 831 7153; Liosion 260, Kato Patisia) is less chaotic and much easier to handle than Terminal A, although again there is no public transport from midnight to 5am. The terminal is on Gousiou, a side street off Liosion 260. Take bus 024 from outside the main gate of the National Gardens (Map) on Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias and ask to get off at Praktoria KTEL. A taxi from Syntagma should cost no more than €8.
MAVROMATEON TERMINAL
Buses for destinations in southern Attica leave from the Mavromateon terminal (Map; 210 880 8000; cnr Leoforos Alexandras & 28 Oktovriou-Patision, Pedion Areos), about 250m north of the National Archaeological Museum. Buses to Rafina, Lavrio and Marathon leave from the northern section of the Mavromateon terminal (just 150m to the north).
Car & Motorcycle
Getting in and out of Athens is now significantly easier thanks to the new Attiki Odos (Attiki Rd) and the upgraded National Rd (Ethniki Odos), as well as various ring roads around the city.
The top end of Leoforos Syngrou, near the Temple of Olympian Zeus, is lined with car-rental firms. Local companies tend to offer better deals than the multinationals, so it pays to do the rounds to get the best price. The average price you can expect to pay for a small car for a day is €50, much less for three or more days.
Athens Airport Car Rentals ( 210 965 2590;