Athens Arrival

The new airport opened on Wednesday March 29th, 2001. The airport is located in Spata, about 40 minutes from downtown Athens.

Since they have been building this airport for 30 years it is pretty amazing that they had not been able to construct the roads in that time but these things happen in Greece.

But it's not a bad trip especially after you have been looking out the window staring at clouds or the seat in front of you for 10 hours. The ride into town is a nice introduction to Athens and there is a lot to see. Not in the way of archaeological sites, but in activity, signs and the reality of being in a foreign city.

If you are planning to fly to Athens and then fly to an island then I suggest doing it that day if possible and don't go into Athens until the end of your trip.

But your best bet would be to fly to Athens, spend a day or two there and then take the ferry or flying dolphin to get to your island since it will be easier to get to the port of Pireaus then it will be to get back to the airport.

A major hotel, the Sofitel, has been completed and can be booked through any of the agencies on this website but unless all you want to do is sleep and watch and listen to planes I suggest staying in the city.

If you are stuck in the Athens Airport because of a delay or a missed flight or because it is easier to hang out in the airport than do anything else you will be happy to know that the food at the airport concessions is great and there are plenty of choices. You can also go to the zoo.

If you are trying to decide whether to fly or take a ferry to the islands this may help you. If you are going to Mykonos for example it is a 30 minute flight. But it may take you an hour and a half to get to the airport if traffic is bad, plus you need to be there an hour before your flight to check in. Then provided there are no delays when you land in Mykonos you have to get into town or wherever your hotel is which will take another 30 minutes including getting your bags. Total time: Three and a half hours.

If you take a high speed ferry like the Aeolis Express or a Catamaran it will take you 15 minutes to get by taxi or the metro to the port and in less then two hours you are on Mykonos and right in town. Total time about two hours and fifteen minutes. Even the slowest ferry will take you less then 5 hours and will be a lot more relaxing and interesting then what you will have to go through to fly there.

Santorini is a longer trip but even so the pros of ferry travel outweigh the cons of flying.

If you are making a connecting flight to the island on the day you arrive from Greece then this is a different story though make sure you have plenty of time between flights in case you are delayed. But if you are planning to spend the first day or so in Athens take ferries.

When you get off the plane and into the terminal there are usually several lines for immigration, one for EEC members, one for people needing visas and the other for everyone else. The EEC line goes the fastest and then becomes another line for everyone else. The visa line is the slowest and chances are you don't need a visa if you are from most countries so avoid it unless the cop in the booth is there and the line isn't. Then it's worth a shot to see if he will stamp your passport so you can get into position for the most difficult part of your arrival in Athens...the luggage carousel.

The Luggage Carousel

When you get off the plane you will most likely have your first experience with the dreaded 'luggage carousel'. It sounds like fun and with the right attitude can be but usually it's not, especially during the heavy season. When you come to the baggage claim area you will see a mob of people waiting as the luggage goes around. Chances are you won't see the luggage until you work your way to the front of the crowd and do battle with your fellow travelers. After a ten hour flight this is the last thing you want to be doing and for this reason I say travel light.

Important: If you can squeeze all your stuff into a carry-on bag then do it. Then you can just breeze right through like we always do. When you get into position keep your eyes peeled for your bag. My mom always marks hers by tying a colorful piece of material to the handle, usually a pattern that the chances are a million to one that anyone else will mistake it for theirs in case they are using the same trick and have the exact taste in patterns as you. Your ability to react quickly to a glimpse of your luggage is key. If visibility is low on the carousel get yourself in a position where you can see the luggage a few yards before it gets to you. If you miss it you have to wait until it goes around again. If you are traveling with people station someone in a prime vantage point who can signal you when the luggage is sighted. If you have a lot of luggage there are carts that you can use. There is also a place to change money within the baggage section so someone can do that too while you struggle with the luggage and your fellow travelers. Actually if you are prepared and you have a sense of humor the luggage carousel is a fun experience. If you can remain calm while others are tense and annoyed and see their behavior as a form of entertainment while you await your bags, you may want to stick around even after you have gotten them. But don't do it. Get your bags and go.

Used with permission from Matt Barrett's Athens Survival Guide