Greece at your fingertips

The dialling code for Greece is +30. All fixed line numbers have 10 digits and begin with 2. Time is GMT+2.
Travel information is also available online from the Greek National Tourism Organization website, www.visitgreece.gr


Emergency Numbers

Airports
Athens International Airport (tel.: +30 210 353 0000) can be reached by car, metro (www.ametro.gr), suburban rail (www.trainose.gr), or bus (www.oasa.gr) from Athens and Piraeus. Real-time flight information and airline contact numbers are available on the airport’s website, www.aia.gr
Taxi fare to or from central Athens has been set at 35 euros.
Thessaloniki’s International Airport Makedonia (tel.: 2310 985 000) is reachable by bus (www.oasth.gr), car, or taxi. Its website offers real-time flight tracking and other information (www.thessalonikiairport.gr)

Other international airports:

Domestic airports:

Ports
Athens is served by three ports, Piraeus (tel.: 210 414 7800, reached by subway, bus, and car), Rafina (tel.: 22940 28888, by bus or car), and Lavrio (tel.: 22920 25249, by bus or car).

Other ports:

Embassies & Consulates

Getting Around
Athens is served by a network of buses, trolleys, trams, metro (subway), electric train, and suburban rail. Tickets are available from metro stations, bus ticket kiosks at terminals, automated vendors at tram stops, and some kiosks. Tickets must be validated before boarding. Fare schedules are posted in metro stations. Pets are not allowed on public transport; bicycles are allowed on the suburban rail in the last car and there is a pilot program to allow bikes on the metro.

Attiko Metro www.ametro.gr

OASA (Urban bus network) for route information tel.: 185 or www.oasa.gr

Proastiakos (suburban rail) route information tel.: 210 529 7777 or  tel.: 1110 or www.trainose.gr
Trams route information www.tramsa.gr

Thessaloniki is served by an extensive network. Fare information and schedules from www.oasth.gr

Domestic travel

Airlines

By sea

Check with a ticket agent or harbor police for companies serving your destination. The websites www.ferries.gr and www.greekferries.gr have route information while major operators also have online schedules and bookings:

By train

Via Hellenic Railways (www.ose.gr and www.trainose.gr) or call 1440 for recorded schedule in Greek.

By bus

Via KTEL (tel.: 14505, premium charges apply). In Athens, terminals vary according to destination; information is available from 210 512 4910.

Road Tolls
Greek highways are toll roads, including the Athens ring road or Attiki Odos. Tolls vary according to the road and are posted at toll booths. Roads designated with green signs and the E-prefix are part of the European road network.

Store Hours
Stores are closed on Sundays, except in tourist zones. Supermarkets, department stores, chain outlets, and malls generally operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but this varies slightly by season so check posted hours.
Banks are open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; some banks operate evening and Saturday hours at selected branches.

Pets
Pets must be fitted with a microchip and an EU “pet passport” or veterinary certificate. Pets are not allowed on public transport or in public offices. Most taxis will allow small pets provided they are in a carrier; there are special “pet taxi” operators in large cities who charge extra for the service. Pets are allowed on boats, but it’s always good to check when booking. Admission to cafes and restaurants is at the owner’s discretion; check hotel policy when making reservations.

Smoking
Smoking is banned in all public buildings, public transport, and indoor spaces such as offices, cafes, and restaurants.

Holidays
Official holidays are January 1 (New Year’s), January 6 (Epiphany), Ash Monday (Kathara Deftera, movable, 41 days before Orthodox Easter), March 25 (Independence Day), Easter (movable), Easter Monday (movable), May 1 (Labor Day), Pentecost (movable, 50 days after Easter), August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin), October 28 (National day), December 25 (Christmas Day), December 26 (Boxing Day).