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MEETINGREECE
15
ATHENS - ATTICA
rainfall tends to occur in the form of short and sometimes heavy
showers. Snow is relatively rare although the city has experienced
its share of blizzard-like conditions. The most recent examples
include the blizzard of January 2002 as well as that of February
2004 and 2008 that dumped heavy amounts of snow and froze
the entire metropolitan area for days. Spring and autumn are
considered ideal seasons for sightseeing and indeed for all kinds
of outdoor activities. Summers can be particularly hot and at
times prone to smog and pollution related conditions, however,
admittedly less so compared to the past. The average summer
daytime maximum temperature is 32
o
C (90
o
F). Heat waves are
not uncommon during the months of July and August during
which daytime temperatures can soar at or above 40
o
C (104
o
F).
PUB L I C T RANS POR T A T I ON
During the last 8 years, the transport system in Athens is constantly
being modernized and now it is offering to the traveller many
reliable and efficient options for combined trips. The Athenian
public transportation system is divided in five main categories: the
urban buses, trolley, tram, ISAP and the Athens metro.
One of the greatest projects, accomplished in Athens during the
last decade is considered to be the Athens Metro. With 33
stations and almost 50 km length lines, the Athens Metro is
believed to be the solution to the traffic issues that Athens faced
for a long time, as it is estimated that on an annual basis
approximately 170 million people use the Metro . What is more, it
is anticipated that, the Metro’s operation reduced by 70.000 the
number of cars entering the city center. At the same time, the
Metro operation was combined with the restructuring of other
public transportation modes as well, by reducing the bus terminal
stations in the city center due to the creation of new bus terminal
stations close to the Metro Stations. Therefore, the Metro’s
operation reduced significantly not only the number of private
cars, but also that of buses in the center of Athens.
The Athens metro joins with the Athens-Piraeus Electric rail (ISAP)
and the Proastiakos suburban. Generally, the Athens Metro
consists of 3 lines: The red line (Aghios Antonios-Aghios
Dimitrios), the blue line (Aigaleo-Airport) and the green line
(Piraeus-Kifissia).Within the next years the Metro blue line is
expected to expand more both to the west and to the east of
Athens. It is worth mentioning that many of the Metro stations are
characterized as public museums due to the fact that all the
artifacts discovered during the excavations for the Metro, are now
being exposed in these stations. For those who are interested in
visiting the south coastal route of Athens, there is also the tram
for their transportation. The tram is a light, brand new rail system
with three routes (Neo Faliro/SEF-Voula, Sintagma-Neo Faliro
/SEF and Sintagma-Voula).
More specifically, the tram connects Athens from Parliament
square all the way down to Sygrou Avenue and continues along
the coastal Poseidonos Avenue to the south coastal suburbs until
Glyfada. In addition, Athens city center and Athens International
Airport are connected with Athens greater area, as well as with
Corinth and other cities in Peloponnese and Chalkida to the
north, via Proastiakos (suburban train).
Last but not least, the urban buses that are under the authority of
the OASA (organization of urban transport of Athens) are giving
the opportunity to the visitors, to travel around all the
Municipalities of Athens and Piraeus.Moreover, there are the
suburban buses (under the authority of KTEL), which connect
Athens with suburban areas and the rest of the mainland of
Greece. The main terminal stations of Ktel are located in 2 major
areas, the first is at Kifisou 101 for western Greece and
Peloponnesus and the other is at Liossion street 260 for northern
Greece. For East Attica suburbs and coastal resorts, like Rafina,
the terminals are in Pedion Areos next to the junction with
Alexandra’s avenue.
All of the above can be used in combination to move around, in
and out of the city, at low cost fares and in reasonable short time.
It is also good to know that there is a new three-day integrated
ticket that offers unlimited use of all public transport means
(buses, trolleybuses, electric railway, tram, metro and suburban
railway). Tickets are sold at the airport and in the metro/electric
rail stations.
The public transportation system is been complemented with the
taxis as a mean of transportation. There are more than 14.000
taxis around the city of Athens, which operate 24 hours per day, 7
days per week and offer their services in reasonably low prices.
A T HENS : AN E V EN T - P L ANNER ’ S DRE AM
Surrounded by mountains and beaches with crystal clear waters
that have been awarded the European Union Blue Flag, Athens is
an exciting destination for any event. This fascinating city has
world-renowned archaeological sites and museums, modern art
galleries, luxury hotels and spas, fashionable shops, restaurants
and bars, modern theatres, cinemas multiplexes and outdoor
cinemas. There are more than 60 conference venues to ensure
variety and the success of any event.
T HE ACROPOL I S MUS EUM
The new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25.000 m2, with
exhibition space of over 14.000 m2, ten times more than that of