Points Of Arrival
Athens' new airport - Eleftherios Venizelos - at Spata, some 26km east of the city, opened in March 2001, replacing the far more convenient (if tiny) one south of town at Elliniko. Its distance from the city, its enormous size and lack (so far) of fast, direct public transport links to the city have not particularly endeared it to travellers. On the plus side, though, it has good facilities: the arrivals hall has ample money-changing bureaux, including two American Express offices, plus cash dispensers that accept Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus and Plus. Luggage-storage facilities are open round the clock, as are cafes, newsstands, a Sbarro food court and other fast-food restaurants. There's also a business centre offering internet access, fax, telephone, typing and photocopying services, though at steep prices. Underground links from the airport the whole way into town are not foreseen until 2003 at the earliest; for now, the best you can do is take the # E94 express bus (every 15min 6am-8.30pm, half-hourly 8.30pm-midnight) from outside the arrivals hall to the current last metro stop, Ethniki Amyna , and then continue into the centre. Otherwise there's the # E95 express bus all the way to central Syndagma square, via the Hilton (every 25min 6am-7.50pm; every 35min after 7.50pm), incidentally, your only option from midnight to 6am. There is also the #E96 express bus to Pireas port (every 20min 5am-7pm, half-hourly 7pm-8.30pm, every 40min 8.30pm-5am), going via the beach suburbs. All three services cost ?3, but for the price you automatically get a "one-day" travelcard valid on all Athens public transport. Tickets should be bought from a booth beside the stops, or, if this is closed, can be purchased on the bus: make sure you have small change. Getting a taxi is another option, though it's not necessarily the quickest way into the city; it takes an average of one hour and fifteen minutes, depending on the traffic. The fare is ?11.50-14.40 to central Athens or Pireas, more expensive than the fare from the old airport, but a reasonable cost if split two or more ways. Before setting out in a taxi you're advised to make sure that the meter is switched on to Rate 1; overcharging of tourists can be brutal. If the driver resists or claims the meter is broken, any mention of the police should quickly change his tack. You may have fellow passengers in the cab; each drop-off will pay the full fare.
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