Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

The state-of-the-art international airport is the primary gateway to Athens for most visitors, and - for transit passengers - it even has its own museum! In addition to flight, a well-run bus system, trains and ferries from the islands and Italy are also popular methods of arrival.

Piraeus is 10km southwest of central Athens, it is the busiest port in Greece with a bewildering array of departures and destinations, international and domestic. The largest of its three harbours is the Great Harbour (Megas Limin), on the western side of the Piraeus peninsula, which is the departure point for most ferry, hydrofoil and catamaran services; Zea Marina (Limin Zeas) and the picturesque Mikrolimano (Small Harbour), lie on the eastern side. Make sure you know exactly where your vessel is leaving from.

Getting around

The sparkling new metro system has made getting around the centre of Athens relatively painless, and the extension of the whole network should ease the city's notorious traffic congestion. Athens also has an extensive bus and trolley (electric cable bus) network that was upgraded for the 2004 Olympics.