Travel Guide
Foreword:
This document consists of two parts.
Part 1 is the essential information about how to get from the airport to the city-center and to the hotel. It also describes how you can get from the hotel to the venue.
Part 2 is more of a travel guide consisting of what we (the committee) think is good bars,clubs,fast-food shops, places e.t.c.
As a whole its a rather lenghty document so you can print part 1 to help you get to your hotel and keep part 2 on your mobile device as a reference.
Part 1:
Things you should know about Greece
Language
The native language is Greek. However, many Greeks speak rather fluent English therefore you will not face difficulties in communication.
Currency (approximately)
1US DOLLAR=0,80 EURO
1 GBP=1,24 EURO
How to get to and from the airport
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizellos is located about 20 km (12 miles) east of the city.
Transport to from the airport to the city center can be achieved via
- 24-hour express buses: All buses leave passengers at the Departures Level and depart from the Arrivals Level, between Exits 4 and 5. There are four routes:
- Metro: Take Metro Line 3 (Egaleo – Douk. Plakentias – Airport), which connects the Athens airport with the city center. Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The trip from/to the Airport to Syntagma station (Athens center) lasts 40 minutes
- Â Proastiakos: The Suburban railway connects the Athens airport with the Athens Central Railway Station and Acharnai Railway Center, and through them to the National Railway network
Tip: The Suburban railway departs every 15-20 minutes from the Athens Airport railway station to Plakentias station, where you can change trains and continue to the city center (Metro Line 3 to Egaleo), using the same ticket.
- Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the city center costs a flat rate of €35 from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, and €50 from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
For more info on athens transports as well as for detailed transport maps you can visit this page
Usefull link:Â http://www.aia.gr/pages.asp?pageid=981&langid=2
The Venue
The conference will take place at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Athens, Greece.
The Department of Informatics and Telecommunications is located in the University of Athens main campus, just a 20” walk from the Evangelismos metro station.
(Since there have been quite a few people who got confused about the location please read the section labeled WARNING below)
Evangelismos metro station is just a metro stαtion away(or a 10′ walk ) from the Syntagma/Constitution Square the most central point in Athens.
View 37.968565, 23.766790 in a larger map
WARNING!!!
The University Of Athens is one of those historic uni’s which has buildings all over the city.
The main university buildings are located in the center of the city(10′ walk from the Syntagma metro station) and its NOT the venue!
The venue is located IN the University Campus which is in a different area than the main buildings.
According to Google maps the walking distance is 4 kilometers (51 mins)
For your gps/google maps
Venue: 37.968466, 23.76667 ( +37° 58′ 6.48″, +23° 46′ 0.01 )
NOT VENUE: 37.980528, 23.732783
Getting There
From Εyaggelismos metro station you can either walk or take the bus.
The Bus number is 250 and the Venue is the 3rd bus stop once you enter the campus.
(and the 6th one from Eyaggelismos station)
The Bus numbered 250 follows this path from Eyangelismos to the Venue
The path is also the shortest route in case you want to walk or drive
BUS Number 250 BUS STOPS
AFETIRIA(PYLI)
2η SCHOLEIO
VRYSAKI
EVFRONIOY
2η RIZARI
EVAGGELISMOS
NOSOK. EVAGGELISMOSÂ Â <-You take the bus from this Buss Stop if you dont stay in the Caravel Hotel
KARAVELÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â <- You take the bus from this Buss Stop if you stay in the Hotel
EVFRONIOY
2η SCHOLEIO
PYLIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â <- Campus entrance
1η PANEPISTIMIOYPOLIS
2η PANEPISTIMIOYPOLIS  <- You get off here
3η PANEPISTIMIOYPOLIS
GEOLOGIA
MATHIMATIKO
FYSIKI
FILOSOFIKI
THEOLOGIKI
4η PANEPISTIMIOYPOLIS
5η PANEPISTIMIOYPOLIS
6η PANEPISTIMIOYPOLIS
AFETIRIA(PYLI)
Part 2
Around Athens
Around Athens
Athens is a beatufiul and lively city suited for party nightlife as well as for families and relaxed vacation.
It is most lively the weeks between the 1st of July and the 7th of August where its bustling with tourists and most Athenians are still in the city.
Sightseeing
For the hungry eye (and camera) there are many things to see and capture.
Athens is build on twelve hills, the seven historical are: Acropolis, Areopagus, Hill of Philopappus, Observatory Hill (Muses Hill), Pnyx, Lycabettus, Tourkovounia (Anchesmus), each one has something interesting to see apart from the view.
You should definately visit Acropolis, but be prepared for an uphill walk so either pack sunscreen and water, or do it late in the afternoon (archaeological sites are usually open until sunset).
Hill of Philopappus is more of a park overseeing Acropolis, you can visit it on the same day as Acropolis.
Observatory Hill (Muses) is near the ancient market and it is nice for a relaxed walk.
Lycabettus features a lift which can take you to the top (its taller than Acropolis hill and slightly more tiring to walk), it features a very nice view and one of the luxurious restaurants of the city Orizontes, the ideal place for a romantic dinner.
Aeropagus is by far the best, it doesnt feature anything except from the view, but its quiet and you can sit on the rocks and have a -kiosk bought- beer.
Pnyx is of archaelogical interest since it’s the ancient parliament.
For all of you who prefer flat ground you can:
-Visit Monastiraki, Plaka,Psyri
- Watch a concert/play at the Herodeion (under the acropolis)
- Drink, eat and party at Gazi district (Kerameikos metro Station)
- Visit Kolonaki district for a more VIP experience (and its close to the Venue and the Hotel)
- Visit the Panormou area where there are many good bars.
- Visit Zografou area (its more of a residential area but its very close to the Venue and its the place where most students live and go out)
Coffee places
Been built on hills Athens has the advantage of allowing you to enjoy your coffee in some very nice places.
- Zepellin. Located at Attico Alsos Galatsiou. Amazing view. We recommend you go there for a coffee especially in the afternoon. To get there you will need either a car or a taxi. You can also take the bus but you will have to walk.
- Menta. At Kifissia city-north suburbs of Athens. You can get there via the Metro line 1 (Piraeus-Kifissia) and walk for about 15 minutes from Kifissia station. (Be advised last train on metro line 1 is at midnight )
- Brazil cafe. On Voukourestiou street- centre of Athens
- 42. Kolokotroni street, next to Stadiou Street. Access via the Metro: Panepistimio or Syntagma Station
- Waffle house. Vouligameni city- south suburbs of Athens. To get there you will need tram and bus or a taxi.
- Floral. Located at Eksarchia square-centre of Athens
- Balux cafe. Asteras Glyfadas- south suburbs of Athens. To get there you will need tram and bus or a taxi.
- Many coffee places in Glyfada city-south suburbs of Athens. Access via tram.
- Many coffee places in Nea Makri beach- north/east suburbs of Athens. You will probably need a car to get there.
Bars – Taverns
enough with the pictures and the coffee lets drink and eat!
Drinks/Bars
In Athens you can find expensive drinks, mid-price drinks, cheap drinks and ridiculously cheap drinks.
Generally the rule is as everywhere in the world, the most expensive the drink the better your head will be the next day.
For expensive drinks visit the expensive hotel bars, like Grand Bretagne, Hilton, Lecabetus hotel and of course Caravel (which has a roof-pool) you get what you pay for.
For mid-price and/or cheap drinks you can visit the bars around syntagma square and near Kerameikos metro station (Gazi District/Area), you can find a bar suited to your tastes.
For ridiculously cheap drinks grab a beers from one of the many kiosks around the city or remember the following: Retsina Malamatina and Ouzo they cost 3-6 eyros and a bottle of these is enough.
Recommended Bars:
- A for Athens. One of the best roof bars in town. Enjoy your cocktail overlooking Parthenon. Next to the Metro: Monastiraki Station.
- Gin joint. A fairly new bar in Karitsi Square with a very special concept…Jazz, Swing and other sounds of the 20′s & 30′s in America and over 65 varieties of Gin. Access via the Metro: Panepistimio or Syntagma Stations
- Roof garden Bios. Gazi. Access via the Metro: Kerameikos
- Jazz in Jazz. Kolonaki
- 42 bar. One of the best cocktail bars in the heart of Athens. Here you can enjoy any cocktail you have ever imagined at its best version. Access via the Metro: Panepistimio or Syntagma Station
- Bar -Roof garden in Grande Bretagne. (Hotel in Syntagma square)
- Marabu- Panormou area. Access via the Metro: Panormou
- Zepellin – Lofos Galatsiou
- T.A.F- Monastiraki
- A Liar Man. A place in the heart of Athens, Gazi. For food or drink within the sounds of jazz, ethnic, blues, funk and rock. Access via the Metro: Kerameikos Station
- Vrettos. A historic place right beneath the Acropolis. The oldest bar in Athens with authentic liqueurs and traditional Greek drinks. Access via the Metro: Monastiraki or Acropolis Station
Taverns:
Around Monastiraki and Plaka you can find many Taverns (The local version of pub I guess), they serve Greek Drinks, wine and food they look mostly the same to me and everything there is fine so I cant recomment a particular one
Greek drinks
You can get a drink of these for a normal price (6-9 eruros in most cases), your choices include mayrodafni, muscat, and savatiano and retsina from widely sold wines and ouzo. metaxa, raki, tsikoudia, tsipouro from widely sold spirits.
Be advised: ouzo, raki, tsikoudia and tsipouro are strong.
Clubs
Recommended Clubs
Energy restored, mood set, let’s party!
With a quick web search you can find many parties and clubs, so below there are only a handful of the most popular ones.
Since it is summer most of the clubs are located at the south and north suburbs of Athens and ideally near beaches. Therefore you will not find easily a club in the centre of Athens in the middle of the summer.
Some recommendations:
- Aqua club. St Andreas Beach-north-east suburbs of Athens
- La Costa. Nea Makri Beach-north/east suburbs of Athens
- Island club- Varkiza (more luxurious club)
- Acanthus bar/club. Located at Asteras Glyfadas Beach-south suburbs of Athens
- Balux cafe. Located at Asteras Glyfadas Beach-south suburbs of Athens
Food
You can find pretty much everything to eat, its not NY where the chinese restaurant is around the corner but fast foods and restaurants are everywhere.
Some recommendations:
- Vlassis
- Cucina Povera
- Kozi’s. Burgers’ place in Melissia city- north suburbs of Athens
- Feticcio. Crepes in Glyfada City-south suburbs of Athens.Access via Tram
- Crete. Tavern in Kaningos Square for drinking and eating traditional greek food.
- Kotopoulades. One of the best places for sandwiches filled with ridiculous ammounts of chicken,potatoes etc. You can find it in the western suburbs of Athens (Peristeri, Egaleo, Nikea, Ilion,Kerameikos)
- George’s steak house Biftekoupoli. Steak house in Glyfada. (a little expensive though)
- Vromiko In Gazi/Kerameikos its more of a fast food but its the best medicine for the uneasy head and stomach
Souvlaki, the world-famous greek fast food based on pitta, gyros, kebab, etc. is everywhere and usually quality is above average. Savvas is a popular souvlaki-chain of above quality standard. Stay away from Bairaktaris at Monastirakis (Thanassis is a few meters up the street and one of the best in the city).
International eats
Around the center there are many chinese restaurants and hot dog shops, but the most common and the fastest ones by far are the bakery-like shops which sell pies, pizza slices or cold sandwiches (along with the necessary coffee or orange juice to get you started)
There is a good variety of quality restaurants too and even a couple of vip gourmet ones.
Discclaimer: These are personal recommendations from our committee members, some of which off the beaten track. No sponsors which means no discount coupons for you but quality guaranteed
Around Greece
Well, since you got to Athens, in Summer, it’s a good opportunity to visit someplace out of the city
- Visit Delphi ~2.5 hours from Athens
- Visit the ancient theater of Epidaurus and watch an ancient play (will have to double check if they have a play at that time of the
year) ~2.5 hours from Athens
- Visit Nafplion (first capital of Greece and a nice, icturesque town~1.5-2 hours from Athens)
- Visit the temple of Sounio (~1 hour south from Athens)
- Visit the islands Hydra, Spetses, Poros. They are close to Athens (approximately 1:30-2:30 hours depending on the island)
- Visit Parnitha mountain for hiking if you love nature. There are many shelters where you can stay (Bafi, Flabouri) and can provide you with maps and any guides you may need.
Islands
- The islands are a whole different story, and again it depends on what you’re looking for: relaxing, partying, a bit of both, etc and describing life on the islands is out of the scope for this guide.
More detailed Travel Guides About Athens
http://wikitravel.org/en/Athens#b
An more everyday one but somewhat outdated
http://www.athensguide.com/
If you enjoy walking around we strongly recommend bringing along Strolling through Athens, a very useful guide for all the historical and important areas in Athens.
http://amzn.com/1850435952
Disclaimer: These are personal recommendations from our committee members, some of which off the beaten track. No food sponsors which means no discount coupons for you but quality guaranteed
