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Unique Destination Ltd & transfers Frequent Asked Questions
Read the following questions and answers about Athens transfers. If you have any additional question or need clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us and ask. Continue reading
Climate
Most of Greece has a mild climate. Summers are warm and dry, particularly in the southern coastal areas. Rain is heavy during the winter months, with some mountain areas getting snow.
Communications
Adequate and modern communication networks reach all areas. Mobile phone network coverage in general is good in most parts of the country. The main operators are Vodafone, Cosmote and Telestet. You can purchase locally inexpensive phone cards for international calls and sim cards which will enable you to use your mobile phone locally. There are also many internet cafes in Athens and on most tourist destinations and Greek islands.
Culture
The majority of people in Greece are of Greek heritage with small populations of Turks, Bulgarians and other Europeans. Although more than half the population is classified as urban, rural life retains a powerful influence. A strong sense of community and family ties prevail even in the busiest of metropolitan centres.
Customs
You may plan to visit some churches or monasteries during your stay in Greece. As a sign of respect men and women should dress conservatively when visiting these places. In some monasteries it is not appropriate to expose bare arms or entry is not allowed to men or women wearing shorts.
Economy
The achievement of a sound economy within the guidelines of the European Union is a major factor in the development of contemporary Greece. Rapid economic progress has enhanced Greece’s international status, particularly in the surrounding region.
Greece is an agricultural country. 22% of the workforce is employed for agriculture, 27% in the industry sector and 50 % in the service industry. The tourism and shipping sectors make a significant contribution to the country’s economy. The main industries are: tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining, petroleum.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used. North American require a transformer and British an adaptor.
Geography & Population
Greece is situated in southeast Europe on the Mediterranean Sea and covers a total area of 130.800 km2. The country is surrounded by the sea. The islands represent one fifth of the country’s area. There are about 1400 islands of which 169 are inhabited. The majority of the islands are scattered in the Aegean Sea between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The total coastline is around 13,676 km.
Greece has a population of 10,610,000 (2000) of which 3.7 million are located in Athens, the country’s capital. The majority of people in Greece live in cities along the coast, with over 50% living in, and around, Athens.
Getting Around Greece
Mainland Greece is well connected with a network of government and local buses. Bus depots are located on the outskirts of each city. The train network in Greece is rather limited. From Athens there are rail connections to Thessaloniki north of Greece through to the Balkan countries and Europe or eastwards to Turkey. A 2nd line goes into the Peloponnese region via Corinth and Patras.
The most popular form of transport to the Greek islands is by ferry, hydrofoil or high-speed ferry boats. The majority of these vessels depart from the port of Piraeus and link Athens on a daily basis with the Greek islands. For those with limited time there is a well established network of domestic flights to most of the major cities in Greece and the most popular Greek isles.
Island Hopping
The cheapest way to visit the Greek islands is to use the ferries. When booking ferries there are a few things you should keep in mind. The weather may affect the frequency of ferries and at times services may be cancelled. It is important that you reconfirm the ferry times the day prior to travel to avoid any disappointment.
Language
Greek is the main language of the country but most of the people associated with tourism and the younger generations currently practice English and sometimes German, Italian or French.
Newspapers
There are 18 daily newspapers in Athens. Foreign press can be found in the cities and in the popular islands.
Politics
The democratic Greek system works like a parliamentary republic with a president at the head of the state. The actual head of government in Greece is the Prime Minister and the chief of state second in charge.
Religion
98% of the Greek population belongs to the Orthodox church. The rest of the Greek population is Roman Catholic, Muslim and Jewish. Only Russia has such a proportion of Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox Church forms the third largest branch of Christianity.
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Tipping
Tipping is common practice in most Mediterranean countries, however it is optional and only required if you have enjoyed the service.
Travel Formalities
You must at all times carry a valid passport. US citizens and Australian citizens do not currently require a visa to visit Greece if the stay in no longer than 3 months. No specific vaccinations are currently required for the Mediterranean region. However it is recommended that you check with your local doctor before departure for the latest updates.
Working Hours
The Public services are open from 08.00 to 14.00 from Monday to Friday. Private companies are opened from 09.00 till 17.00.
The shops are open
Monday-Wednesday- Saturday from 09.00 to 15.00
Tuesday-Thursday-Friday from 09.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00.
These opening hours are not the same in the tourist areas where some shops may stay open all day long and even late at night.
General information about the weather in Greece
Most occasional visitors to Greece get to experience the splendor of the Greek summer, and leave with the impression that Greece is a tropical paradise where the temperatures remain high all year round.
This impression is true to an extent, but every Greek knows that once summer is gone, the four seasons are pronounced with their distinct characteristics: fall brings mild cold and much rain, winter settles with bitter cold, and spring is as pleasant as you would ever experience in terms of weather.
Despite its relative small area size, the weather in Greece varies widely between the different areas.
The northern Greece, more mountainous regions, experience winter cold in its extreme. Ice and snow become a permanent feature of the landscape, and the temperatures settle on lower numbers than places of southern Greece.
Even in the summer months, as you move from the coast towards the mountainous interior of Greece you will experience a drop intemperatures.
The coastal areas and Greek islands experience a milder winter in terms of ice and snow, but high humidity and strong coastal winds during the winter make the cold seem even more bitter than the mountains.
The summer on the other hand is hot and dry, and this combination along with the endless sunshine and complete lack of precipitation, make Greece one of the favorite vacation spots for sun and sea lovers.
Weather Now in Athens City and Piraeus Port Via –> Weather in Greece
“the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy”
Athens the capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery; as one of the world’s oldest cities, its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. The oldest known human presence in Athens is the Continue reading
“the Acropolis of Athens was formally proclaimed as the pre-eminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments on 26 March 2007”
The word “Acropolis” means city on top of a hill, and there are many acropolises all over Greece. They were always situated on a high spot, and were often used as a place for shelter and defence against various enemies. The one in Athens is the best known of them all, and is therefore often referred to as “The Acropolis”. Towering over the capital, it is a very Continue reading
” light, movement, and a tectonic and programmatic element. Together these characteristics “turn the constraints of the site into an architectural opportunity, offering a simple and precise museum” with the mathematical and conceptual clarity of ancient Greek buildings”
The New Acropolis Museum is situated under the south slope of the Acropolis in Dionyssiou Areopagitou Street. Set only 280 meters (310 yd), as the crow flies, away from the Parthenon, and a mere 400 meters (440 yd) walking distance from it, the museum will be the largest modern Continue reading
“The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is the largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art”
The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is the largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art. Although its original purpose was to secure all the finds from the nineteenth century excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became Continue reading
Athens City the capital of Greece, might seem like a huge city to the first-time visitor, but what one must always keep in mind is that in reality it’s a collection of many different neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive flair Continue reading
“Cape Sounion is one of the most famous and picturesque places in Attica”
Cape Sounion is a promontory located 69 km by road of Athens, at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula in Greece. Cape Sounion is noted as the site of ruins of the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in classical mythology. The remains are Continue reading
“ Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion is one of the most famous and picturesque places in Attica”
Temple of Podeidon at Cape Sounion is a promontory located 69 km by road of Athens, at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula in Greece. Cape Sounion is noted as the site of ruins of the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in classical mythology. The remains are Continue reading
“Piraeus was selected to serve as the port city of classical Athens in the early 5th century BC and nowadays is the largest passenger port in Europe and the third largest in the world”
Piraeus is a city in the periphery of Attica located 12 km southwest of its center and upon the Saronic Gulf. Piraeus has a long history, which dates back to ancient Greece. The effects of its natural space and geographical place have been critical factors for the configuration of the historical fate of Piraeus. The development Continue reading
“Recent studies suggest that Poros has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Graves on the island have been dated to the Mycenaean period, and manmade structures have existed on it since at least 1000 BCE”
Poros is a small, volcanic little island of great beauty with rich vegetation. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy, whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the Continue reading
“Hydra island presents the originality that no vehicles are allowed within it. The people, locals and visitors, go from one place to another only on foot or on donkeys”
Hydra is one of the Saronic islands, close to Athens. It is considered the most cosmopolitan, and many celebrities from Greece and abroad own houses here, or spend their vacations on this pretty island. Continue reading
“Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power in antiquity. During the 6th century BC, when, as an independent power, it was the first city of the western world to mint coins”
Aegina is one of the islands in the Saronic Gulf, just 17 miles (27 km) from Athens. The island, along with offshore islets, comprises the Municipality of Aegina in Piraeus Prefecture, a part of the Attica region. The capital is the town of Aegina (pop. 7,410 in 2001 census), situated at the northwestern end of the island. Continue reading
“The Temple of Afea (or Aphaea or Aphaia) is dedicated to the Greek goddess Afea and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece”
The Temple of Afea (or Aphaea or Aphaia) is dedicated to the Greek goddess Afea and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. It is located approximately 13 km east by road from the main port (town) of Aegina. It stands on the top of a hill covered by pine trees, offering Continue reading
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