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Practical Information |
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Accommodation Here are some hotels in Athens with special conference rates. To secure the special conference rates, we recommend that you book your accommodation through the Travel Agency that has been responsible for the technical support of the conference: Grecian Travel HOTEL ASTOR (3,5*) HOTEL CENTRAL (3*) ATHENS DIAMOND HOTEL (4*) HOTEL TITANIA (4*) HOTEL ELECTRA ( 4*) HOTEL ROYAL OLYMPIC (5*) ELECTRA PALACE (5*) Public transport to conference location The Titania Hotel is two blocks away (about 300 meters) from the Panepistimion station of the Athens Metro (red line). See map of the metro. From the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) Click here for the Athens Airport site. Taxi There is a taxi rank available outside the arrivals hall. A ride to the centre of Athens costs 35 Euros (this is a fixed price including the tolls). Taxis are easy to get, but unless you carry very heavy luggage or have someone else pay for your taxi ride, it might well be preferable to use the metro or the bus. Note that the tariff should show "1", except after midnight and until 5am when the tariff is "2" (the price then is 50 Euros). Always get a taxi from the official taxi rank at the airport and ask for a receipt. Tipping is optional but very welcome. Metro (Here is the Athens Metro website) Follow the signs to the Metro station at the airport. There is a metro to the city centre (blue line/line 3) every half hour (on the hour and half past the hour). It takes roughly 45 minutes and costs 8 Euros (14 Euros for a return ticket.) Get off at Syntagma station. Then change to the red line/line 2 towards Aghios Antonios and alight at Panepistimion station (just one stop after Syntagma). Note that you should validate your ticket before entering the metro cars. Alternatively you can get off at Synstagma Station and walk down Panepistimiou Avenue for about 800 meters. Suburban Railway Next to the Metro Station at the Airport. You can get off at Plakendias station and get on the metro (blue line/line 3) to Syntagma (direction Egaleo). Not really recommended, given the availability of a direct metro connection from the airport to Syntagma Square. Bus Take bus X95 just outside the arrivals hall. Get off at the end of the journey at Syntagma Square. The ride costs 5 Euros and takes about an hour (depending on the traffic). At Syntagma Square you can walk down Panepistimiou Avenue for about 800 meters. Note that you should buy your ticket either from the booth outside the bus-stop or directly from the driver and you should validate your ticket upon entering the bus. Internet facilities There will be free WiFi service on the 1st and the 10th floors of the Hotel. There is free WiFi service around Synstagma Square. Restaurants Athens has many restaurants, from cheap to expensive, including a variety of local tavernas - some of which are really unmissable. Here is some info about dining in Athens. Conference dinner The Conference dinner will take place on Friday 7 October at 20.30 at the Olive Garden Mediterranean Cuisine Bar & Restaurant, which is located at the Roof Garden of Hotel Titania. Only pre-booked places will be available. Banking hours From 08.00 to 14.00 Monday - Thursday. Fridays until 13.30. Closed Saturday and Sunday. There are plenty of ATM cash machines on Korai pedestrianised street, two blocks from the Conference Venue. Getting around the city (also in pdf) Walking around the centre of Athens is pleasant and safe. Most hotels will be within walking distance from the conference venue. Do try to explore Athens on foot, especially the area from Acropolis down to Thission and then up to Monastiraki via Plaka to Syntagma Square and then down to Klathmonos Square (two blocks from the Conference Venue). Ippocratus street (next to the Conference Venue) separates two of the most well-known and very different neighbourhoods of Athens: Exarchia (on the left) and Kolonaki (on the right). Exarchia is the lovely quarter of students, intellectuals and bohemians. The Exarchia Square (one of the most famous of the city) has lovely cafes and tavernas. It's been known as the place where anarchists and ultra-leftists hang out (you won't fail to notice the presence of the riot police on various street corners) but it is a safe place to visit and explore. You won't have seen Athens unless you have visited Exarchia. Kolonaki is the neighbourhood of the old aristocrats and a lot of nouveau riche. Around Kolonaki Square there are plenty of trendy cafes and restaurants-mostly on the expensive side. There are also some very interesting galleries and museums. From Kolonaki you can easily reach mount Lycabettus and have a spectacular view of Athens from above. Taxi (yellow cabs) is relatively inexpensive in Athens. There are not many taxi ranks, but you can always hail a taxi on the street. Make sure the meter is running and ask for a receipt. Tipping is optional but very welcome. There is a reliable metro network with three lines: the blue/line3, the red/line 2 and the green/line 1. The green line is the oldest (mostly overground; we call it the 'electric') and runs from the port of Pireas to the northern affluent suburbs of Athens (Kiffisia). The blue line runs from the Airport to the western working class suburbs of Athens (Egaleo); the red line runs from the western working class suburb of Peristeri (Agios Antonios) to the mixed eastern suburbs of Athens (Agios Dimitrios). Follow the link for a map. Here is the Athens Metro website. Places you can visit by metro (though almost all are within walking distance from the Conference Venue): The new Acropolis Museum (Acropolis station, red line)-a 'must see'. Thission (with a magnificent temple of Vulcan plus trendy cafes and restaurants. Another place you have to visit if you want to say you have visited Athens.) (Thission station, green line) Monastiraki (a rather touristy but picturesque flea market; also next to Plaka and Psiri-a recently reclaimed area of Athens with lots of restaurant, bars and street life) (Monastiraki station, green and blue lines) Keramikos (the ancient cemetery; next to a recently revamped and multi-cultural area with tavernas and trendy bars-known as Gasi, from the old Gas factory) (Keramikos station, blue line). Omonia Square (the most famous square of Athens; it is an ugly square at the heart of Athens; but there you get a feel of the diversity and vibrant character of the city.) (Omonia station, green and red lines) Evangelismos Station (for the national gallery and a number of smaller galleries and museums) (blue line) The spectacular Archaeological Museum of Athens (Victoria station, green line) Athens' Concert Hall (Megaro Moussikis station, blue line) There are various types of tickets available. You can get an one-day travel card (4 Euros), but you can also get an ordinary ticket which you can use for 90 minutes on all means of public transport (except for the journey to and from the airport). This costs 1.40 Euros. There is also a light rail system (tram), with two lines that connect the centre of Athens (Syntagma Square) with some of the affluent seaside suburbs of Athens). There is a dense network of buses and trolleys in Athens. For information, go to the OASA site (Athens Urban Transport Organization - click top right for English). You will find right there, all the information you may need about routes, tickets and times regarding all means of public transport: metro, train, tram, buses, trolleys as well as information about traveling from Athens airport to the centre or port. Also, a useful route search.
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