Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tially serious risk. People who do choose to hitch will be safer if they travel in pairs and
they should let someone know where they are planning to go. In particular, it is unwise for
females to hitch alone; women are better off hitching with a male companion.
Some parts of Greece are much better for hitching than others. Getting out of major cit-
ies tends to be hard work and Athens is notoriously difficult. Hitching is much easier in re-
mote areas and on islands with poor public transport. On country roads it is not unknown
for someone to stop and ask if you want a lift, even if you haven't stuck a thumb out.
Local Transport
Bus
Most Greek towns are small enough to get around on foot. All the major towns have local
buses, but the only places you're likely to need them are Athens, Patra, Kalamata and
Thessaloniki.
Metro
Athens is the only city in Greece large enough to warrant the building of an underground
system. Note that only Greek student cards are valid for a student ticket on the metro.
Taxi
Taxis are widely available in Greece except on very small or remote islands. They are
reasonably priced by European standards, especially if three or four people share costs.
Many taxi drivers now have sat-nav systems in their cars, so finding a destination is a
breeze as long as you have the exact address.
Yellow city cabs are metered, with rates doubling between midnight and 5am. Addition-
al costs are charged for trips from an airport or a bus, port or train station, as well as for
each piece of luggage over 10kg. Grey rural taxis do not have meters, so you should al-
ways settle on a price before you get in.
Some taxi drivers in Athens have been known to overcharge unwary travellers. If you
have a complaint about a taxi driver, take the cab number and report your complaint to the
tourist police. Taxi drivers in other towns in Greece are, on the whole, friendly, helpful and
honest.
Tours
Tours are worth considering if your time is very limited or if you fancy somebody else do-
ing the planning. In Athens, you'll find countless day tours, with some agencies offering
two- or three-day trips to nearby sights. For something on a larger scale, try
Intrepid
