Martin Gerretsen reports from Athens.
We’re back with an excellent Port Short from Martin Gerretsen. We have a series of great ports to hear about from Martin’s cruise from Athens to the Black Sea. These include a report from the port of Sochi, Russia.
Martin begins from his first port of Athens with our map showing the start of the cruise from this port and on to the ancient Greek ruins of Ephesus, the Black Sea and the fabulous city of Istanbul. Click on map for large view.
Map of Eastern Mediterranean showing start of Martin’s cruise.
Athens is a sprawling metropolis of over three million people and is one of Europe’s most affordable cities. Its major historic sites are situated right in the downtown core, within walking distance or a short taxi ride of one another. The heart of Athens is pedestrian-friendly, with traffic restricted inside the commercial centre.
Transportation improvements were made in and around Athens in preparation for the 2004 Olympics. The new international airport is located at Spata, about 18 miles east of the city centre, and is connected by a six-lane highway and a rapid transit rail line, the latter providing 20-minute connections.
Taxi fares are relatively cheap compared to the rest of Europe, but not all drivers can speak English. Have the name and address of your destination written on a piece of paper and confirm the fare beforehand. If you’re setting off from an Athens hotel, ask the concierge to arrange a taxi for you. Expect a luggage surcharge.
If you are making same-day connections between a flight into Athens and a cruise, you are well advised to arrange for a transfer with the cruise line.
Connections between downtown Athens and the port of Piraeus (a distance of six miles) can be made by taxi (6 to 9 euros, depending on traffic and amount of luggage) or on the subway system. The green subway line (No. 1) connects the port with Monastiraki Square in downtown Athens. If you plan to return to the port by taxi after a day of sightseeing in Athens, be sure to allow at least an hour in case the traffic is crawling.
See Martins port report: Athens Port Short
