Athens Flights

Coming from Spain and 8 days in Ibiza, I was scared that I might not be able to read English, much less Greek. But, it turned out that the Athens airport is very simple. It is basically one big terminal, so you don't have to run all over th place looking for baggae, counters or anything; its all real close. All arrivals are located on the bottom floor, where luggage claim is, and all departures are on the second. To calm your nerves, everything is written in English, as well as Greek. To get to the city, its a 30 minute or more bus ride, or, I'm sure, a shorter taxi ride.

I took the bus from the airport, so check out the next tip for information on the bus schedules.

Most travellers arrive in Greece by air, the cheapest and quickest was to get there. Greece has got 16 Internationak airports but only Athens receive all the major airline carriers from all over the World. So, If you r planning to come to Greece, you will most probably will arrive in Athens and it is the best place to start your trip to Greece.

Olympic airways is the Greek National Airline. It has got the best air route network in Greece. The service of the airline is okay. Its not too bad and not too good. They have got large Boeings for International flights and small twin trotters or Fokker planes for going to Greek Islands.

All the World's major airlines arrive in Athens first and then proceed further in Greece. Cornus Airline is the second best national Airline of Greece and its aircrafts are better than Olympic Airways. If you are coming to Athens then u can either take your own national carrier or Cornuy airline or Olympic airways for the best connection to Athens.

Crete-based Aegean Airline is the sole surviver of the many new airlines that emerged to chanllenge National Greek Carrier, Olympic Airways, following the 1993 decision to end Olympic's monopoly on domestic flights. While other airlines have come and gone Aegean appears to have settled in for the long run following its merger with international operator Cornus Airlines.

After arriving in Athens, I bought ticket of Olympic Airways from Athens to Mykonos Island, and from Mykonos to Santorini Island and of Aegean Airline from Santorini Island to Athens & from Athens back to Stuttgart in Germany.

International Airport 'Eleftherios Venizelos' has started operating since the end of March 2001. There is frequent bus connection between the airport and Athens city centre. Bus stops to 'Ethniki Amina' Metro station, 'Syntagma' Metro station and the port of Athens (Pireaus). This is very inexpensive and quite reliable.

Additionaly, since summer 2004 (the fantastic Olympic summer)! the Suburban (Proastiakos) railway can take you from the airport to the Metro system and virtually everywhere. The service operates twice per hour.

I’ve used Athens Airport quite a few times. My first experience of this new one was in October 01 (yep, just after 9-11). A huge improvement on Hellenikon!

I have had a couple of waits for Iraklion flights, so time to hang around and check things out.

My latest visit was in December 10, arriving from Brussels - very quick baggage delivery - and leaving on the return journey.

I like the jazz (organ & sax) on the piped music - very cool, and no bloody “Jingle Bells” or Demis Roussos.

Security was fast & easy. The food outlets were great - good coffee!

First time I’d used this airline - the phoenix operation after Sabena went under after 9-11.

We left 45 late - I’m not sure why. Getting all those Greeks on board seemed to be too much for them. It took forever, and looked like we waited for some late transfers.

The seating was so tight I almost burst! 3 hours in a straightjacket!

You have to buy food if you want it.

Cheap and cheerful?

Anyway, just getting there was an achievement in the circumstances. Flights were being seriousy delayed or cancelled that week all around N Europe as a result of snow and ice.