All foreign visitors entering Greece must possess valid passports, except citizens of the European Union countries. Participants should check with travel agents, Greek consulate offices or diplomatic missions in their own countries, whether or not a visa is required.
For VISA application please contact the congress secretariat.
Ms. Liana Iliopoulou
Triaena Tours & Congress S.A.
206 Syngrou Ave, 17672 Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 210 74 99 353
Fax: +30 210 77 05 752
E-mail: lianae@triaenatours.gr

The Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, opened in March 2001, is dedicated to customer satisfaction and provides high security standards and top quality service for all travellers. It is connected daily with over 50 cities around the world. The Athens International Airport is located 33 km southeast of Athens and is easily accessible by car and metro. Public transport connects to Athens and the port of Piraeus is provided by express airport bus connections on a 24-hour basis.
Link : http://www.aia.gr/

Athens Metro network consists of 2 lines (Line 2 and Line 3) and 23 station with trains arriving every 3 minutes during rush hours and every 5-10 minutes during the rest of the day. An additional line (Line 1) of the ISAP network (www.isap.gr) connects the Port of Piraeus with the northern suburb “Kifisia” via central Athens. The Athens Metro connects Syntagma Square with the Athens International Airport in 30 minutes and runs every 30’ minutes.
Useful tips:

The suburban train of Athens, a modern project inaugurated in July 2004, connects the centre of Athens (Larissis train station) to the Athens International Airport via 9 stations in 41 minutes. The suburban train operates from 04:26 to 23:36, with departures every half an hour. The coaches are modern and offer plenty of facilities for the comfort of passengers.
Link : http://www.proastiakos.gr/

The tram was enthusiastically welcomed in Athens, in July 2004, nearly 40 years after the old tram routes were terminated in the Greek capital. Its 5 routes operate daily, serving 47 stations. Tram vehicles arrive every 8 minutes between 06:00-01:00.
Link : http://www.tramsa.gr/

The broad bus network of Athens covers almost every point of the city and the suburbs with 7,500 stops. The fleet consists mainly of modern buses, environmentally friendly, with air conditioning and facilities for the elderly and passengers with special abilities.
Useful tips:

Taxis are yellow with a red-letter taxi-sign on top and are moderately priced - possibly the least expensive in Europe. Have in mind that taxis in Athens can be stopped on their way with a hand signal and they often take more than one passenger at a time embarking and disembarking at different points. For exclusive use of a taxi you are advised to order one by telephone since they are organised into radio-linked groups called “radio taxis”. In any case you can request a taxi from your hotel’s concierge.

The ticket for all means of public transportation (buses, trolley buses, tram, metro and proastiakos) in the metropolitan area of Athens costs 1 euro. The ticket is valid for 90 minutes and it is validated at first embarkation. Within the 90 minute period, the ticket holder can use different means of transport. In case the last ride is not over in 90 minutes, the same ticket needs to be validated for a second time.

Different ticket options (day-ticket, week ticket) are also available for all means of transport. Please check at the metro stations.

Athens Sightseeing Bus
Line 400 "Athens Sightseeing" requires a different ticket that can be bought on board only.

Please note that tickets from/to the Airport or other areas away from the city of Athens are priced differently.

Euro is the official currency of Greece. Foreign currency, traveller’s checks and Euro cheques can be exchanged at the exchange bureaux at the airport, upon arrival at the hotel or at banks located throughout Athens.

Banks are open from Monday to Thursday 8:00-14:30 and on Friday 8:00-14:00; on Saturdays and Sundays they are closed. ATMs are widely available in Greece for Master, Diners, American Express or Visa cardholders. Certain banks are open in the city center in the afternoon, as well as on Saturdays.

All major credit cards are accepted in almost all hotels, shops and restaurants. Stickers in the front windows will advise you as to which cards are accepted.

Varying
Downtown:
Monday-Friday 9:00-20:00 non-stop, Saturday 9:00-15:00
Suburbs:
Monday and Wednesday 9:00-14:30,
Tuesday-Thursday-Friday 9:00-14:00 and 15:30-20:30
Saturday 9:00-15:00
Supermarkets:
Monday- Friday 9:00-21:00
Saturday 9:00-20:00
On Sundays all shops are closed, except tourist shops.

The climate in Greece is mostly dry and temperate. Especially in Athens, Southern Greece and the islands, the climate is typical Mediterranean with warm and dry summers and mild winters. During April the temperature in Athens ranges between 10°C and 17°C.

Electricity is 220 V/50 Hz. Plugs are the standard continental (DIN) type with two round pins.

Emergency treatment is free to all in public hospitals. Public and private hospitals can be found in big cities. Small and large islands usually have hospitals and health centres.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Ambulance 166 Emergency Fire Brigade 199 Emergency Hospitals 1434 English-Greek Medical Information 210 8983146 Forest Service 191 Athens International Airport 210 3530000 Pharmacies on duty 1434 Poisoning Treatment Center 210 7793777 Police 112 SOS Doctors 1016 Telephone Directory Service 11888 Tourist Police 171

The international access code for Greece is +30.
The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the USA or Canada, 0044 for the United Kingdom).
Public payphones are available all over Greece and use phone cards, which can be purchased from kiosks. For information concerning mobile phone use in Greece (telephone transmissions are based on GSM technology), please ask your provider.

Tap water is generally drinkable in Athens. For places outside Athens water quality varies, so please ask your hotel reception.

ATHENS WALKING TOUR
While in Athens attending the Congress, why not take advantage of the city’s easy accessibility for pedestrians and enjoy one or more walks in the spring time beauty of Athens? A walking map will be provided at the Registration Desk showing areas of Athens that you and/or your partner will be able to visit on foot. You may have choices, from the narrow streets of Plaka to a real hard walk up to the top of Lycavittos Hill.
Plaka
Athens oldest and most picturesque neighborhood. It’s easy to get lost in the labyrinth of narrow streets in Plaka, but the lovely atmosphere of beautiful architecture, little gardens, calmness, many monuments, make you don’t mind losing your way for a while.
The Roman Market
The Monument of Lysikrates, the Children’s Museum and the National Garden are some of many things to see in Plaka.

 

Anafiotika
Anafiotika, built by stonemasons from the island of Anafi in the 1800s, is a very charming neighborhood at the highest point of the area Plaka. Anafiotika is the closest thing to a Cycladic village in the city. In the shadow of the Acropolis and still populated by many descendants of the original Anafi islanders who settled here. Anafiotika is a beautiful view in the rocky landscape.
Philopappou
A hill opposite the Acropolis named after a monument built in the honour of the Roman monarch Gaius Julius Antiochos Philopappos, a perfect area for rambles.
Lycavittos Hill
A 277 metre high limestone rock with an incredible view over the central landmarks of Athens, as well as the beautiful coast and surrounding mountains. This geological wonder rises high above the streets of Athens. There is a funicular that you can ride to the top or you can revel in the peace of this green island and walk up. The walk is fairly steep but rewarding with superb view of Athens, as you climb higher. There is an outdoor café, about halfway up, where you might feel the need for ice cold drinks. From here you can chase the sunset.
The National Gardens
It is a great place to escape the noise and heat of Athens. Located behind the Parliament building, the park is a green oasis in the center of the capital. You can spend hours wandering around the many paths, lakes, sitting on a bench, feeding the ducks or just enjoy the peacefulness and the lush verdure.

Syntagma Square
This is the center of all activities. The House of the Greek Parliament is located here, along with popular restaurants, bars and café which surround the place. The square that never sleeps.

Kolonaki Square
This is the trendiest and most busy place of Athens with a wide range of fashion shops with the latest vogue. The neighborhood is full of café and fancy restaurants. Walk past the café and turn left up to Anagnostopoulou Street at the top of the square and turn right to Iraklitou Str., then take the steps and walk through the small park. If you have kids you can leave them in the playground while you take a seat at the Ouzeri in Platia Dexameni, for a light lunch. This is one of the best spots in Athens, high enough to be breezy and cool, with excellent food.

Avyssinias Square
The flea market in Monastiraki is an eternal Bazaar where you can buy almost everything. In the shops you can find antiques, records, books, instruments and other second-hand objects.

Where to dine out and where to do shopping. Athens is a city full of life and energy that literary "never sleeps" and having many places that one can entertain oneself.

There is a wide variety of restaurants, bars, cafés, night clubs that stay open till 02.00 o'clock after midnight. You can easily access the night life by browsing the following sites:
Athens Time Out
http://www.timeoutathens.gr/englishnew/default.asp or  www.greece-athens.com

There follows some proposals for going out to different parts of Athens:

LYCABETTUS HILL

Frame (210 7214368) Dinokratous 1 (St George Hotel Lycabettus) Dexamenis Sq, KOLONAKI, Also lunch, Many elements of the ΄60s and ΄70s dishes adhering to the Good Mood Food philosophy create a sense of well-being and lift the spirits
Orizontes Lycabettus (210 7227065) Creative Lofos Lycabettus, LYKAVITOS, Also lunch, Panoramic view of Athens form the top of Lycabettus and subversive sea flavours.
Metro Evangelismos.

PLAKA

Traditional Taverna
Psaras (210 3218733) Erechtheos 16 & Erotokritou 12, PLAKA, ACROPOLIS, Also lunch
Vegeterian
Eden(210 3248858) Lysiou 12 & Mnisikleous, PLAKA, MONASTIRAKI, Closed Tue, Also lunch, The once, and for many years, only vegetarian restaurant in Athens, serves its “green” version of traditional Greek and international cuisine.

VARI
Traditional Tavernas
Tselingas (210 8952371) Panos 24, VARI, Also Sat, Sun lunch,
Tsolias (210 8952446) Vari-Koropiou  Ave, VARI, Also Fri-Sun lunch,

GAZI

Modern Taverna
Mamacas (210 3464984) Persefonis 41, GAZI, Also lunch, Trendy version of bakes and casseroles and meze, at a strategic spot on the Gazi foot-walk.
Metro Kerameikos

PSIRI

Taverna  with music
Elihryson (210 3215156) Aghion Anargyron 6, PSIRRI, MONASTIRAKI, Also Sun lunch
Modern Taverna
Zeidoron (210 3215368) Taki 10 & Aghion Anrgiron 17, PSIRRI, Also lunch, Meze and contemporary cuisine. On the Aghion Anargiron Square foot-walk
PIRAEUS
Fish Restaurant by the sea
Plous Podilatou (210 4137910, 4137790) Fish-Seafood Akti Koumoundourou 42, MIKROLIMANOContemporary cuisine that is not limited to seafood, in an elegant, neo-Mediterranean, minimalist space

Internet sites for information or your entertainment.
Athens Railway Organization (www.metro.gr)
Athens Urban Transport Organization (www.oasa.gr)
Cultural Events (www.culture.gr)
Taxi Reservations (www. taxireservations.gr)
Athens Concert Hall (www.megaron.gr)
Athens Traffic Map (www.transport.ntua.gr/map/el)