Athens' new airport - Eleftherios Venizelos - at Spáta, some 26km east of the city, opened in March 2001, replacing the far more convenient (if tiny) one south of town at Ellinikó. 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 cafés, 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, Ethnikí Ámyna , 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 Pireás 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 Pireás, 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.
Train stations
There are two train stations , almost adjacent to each other, a couple of hundred metres northwest of Omónia, off Dheliyáni street. The Stathmós Laríssis handles the main lines coming from the north (Lárissa, Thessaloníki, the Balkans, western Europe and Turkey). The Stathmós Peloponníssou three blocks south, is the terminal for the narrow-gauge line circling the Peloponnese, including the stretch to Pátra (the main port for ferries from Italy and Corfu).
From either station you are five to fifteen minutes' walk away from the concentration of hotels around Platía Viktorías and Exárhia, both handy for the National Archeological Museum and excellent restaurants. For hotels elsewhere, the yellow trolleybus #1 southbound passes along Sámou, one block east of the Laríssis station (to get to it from the Peloponníssou terminal, use the giant metal overpass, then detour around the metro works); it then makes a strategic loop down through Omónia, along Stadhíou to Syndagma, then down Filellínon to Hadrian's Arch (for Mets), and finally along Veïkoú to Koukáki (on the southeast side of Filopáppou Hill). Bus #057 from the Peloponníssou terminal also passes through both central squares and down to Leofóros Syngroú.
Be wary of taxis (both official and unlicensed) at the train stations - some thrive on newly arrived tourists, shuttling them a couple of blocks for highly inflated fares.
Bus stations
Again, there are two principal terminals. Coming into Athens from northern Greece or the Peloponnese, you'll find yourself at Kifissoú 100 , a ten-minute bus ride from the centre. The least expensive way into town is to take city bus #051 to the corner of Zínonos/Menándhrou, just off Omónia and only a block or two from a yellow trolleybus stop. Routes from central Greece arrive at Liossíon 260 , north of the train stations; to get into the centre, take the blue city bus #024 to Omónia or Syndagma.
In addition, there are international OSE buses , run by the railway company, which arrive at the Stathmós Peloponníssou. Private international bus companies arrive at, and leave from, a variety of locations. Most will take you to the train station or to Kifissoú 100; a few drop passengers right in the city centre.
Pireás: the ferries
The simplest way to get to Athens from Pireás port is by metro to the stations at Monastiráki, Omónia or Viktorías. Trains run from 6am to midnight, with fares varying from ¬0.60 to ¬0.90 according to a zone system (you will only need to pay ¬0.80 if you are going up to the northern suburbs). For the airport, take express bus #E96. Taxis between Pireás and central Athens should cost around ¬7.20, including baggage, although rates per kilometre double at night.
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