Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Athens taxis (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/athens-taxis-328905/)

museumlover Mar 24th, 2008 02:44 AM

Athens taxis
 
Hey Fodorites! I'm a brand new member. I have been reading some of the previous posts and I deeply appreciate everyone's thoughts & tips. Here's my questions: I will be arriving at the Athens airport shortly before midnight in May. I have read on Matt Barrett's Greece website and also in some travel books that reliable taxis companies are sometimes reluctant to be at the airport after midnight. Question#1-In your opinion will it be difficult to locate a reliable taxi after midnight on a Tuesday night in May?
Question #2- Would it be better for me to pre-arrange an airport transfer with a taxi before departig from the States? The problem here would be late arrival. What happens if my plane is an hour or two late? Would the pre-arrange taxi wait that long or would he take the first customer who comes by after waiting 30 or 45 minutes? What should I do? I understand that the pre-arrange taxis are higher in cost than a regular taxi. Any thoughts?

brotherleelove2004 Mar 24th, 2008 06:43 AM

Taxis are available at the airport all night long, but between midnight and 6 AM they charge double, which would be around 70 euro, to take you into Athens. _ALWAYS_ set the price of a taxi before accepting the ride.

There is an Airport Express Bus, #E95, that will take you into Athens to Syntagma Square in about 45 minutes. It leaves the airport every half hour night and day, 24/7. The cost is 3.2 euro. If your hotel is close to Syntagma you can walk the rest of the way. If not you can easily find a taxi to take you there from Syntagma.


museumlover Mar 24th, 2008 11:36 AM

Thanks Brotherleelove2004...in other words you believe it won't be a problem finding a reliable taxi after midnight at the airport. I was leaning toward a pre-arranged transfer (taxi) but after reading your comments I'm now leaning back toward just getting a regular taxi. Unfortunately my hotel is not in a good location. I wish it was!!! Have a great day and thanks again!!!

seeksocean Mar 24th, 2008 01:32 PM

Brotherleelove! Please help us as you so graciously do. Six of us arrive on a mid week day at 3:15pm into Athens. We need a taxi to the Electra Palace. Should we just take two taxis at the airport, or try to get a taxi to meet us there with one vehicle? What is a fair price to pay for either?

Also, 4 of us leave the Electra Palace for a 6:50am flight on a mid week day back to the USA. For what hour should we order our cab to the airport? Thank you Brotherleelove!!

brotherleelove2004 Mar 24th, 2008 05:30 PM

Take 2 regular taxis from the airport. If you arrange a large vehicle it will cost you a lot more. Expect to pay around 35 euro plus baggage charges per taxi, but BE SURE to set the price before you take the ride.

I do still think you can save money by taking the express bus to Syntagma Square. The Electra Palace is only one short block from Syntagma, a very easy walk.

A taxi takes approximately 45 minutes to reach the airport early in the morning when there's no traffic, so if you have a flight at 6:50 AM then you need to arrange for the taxi at around 4:00 AM. It's possible that you'll need to take 2 taxis back. Discuss this with your hotel concierge.

At that early hour the airport express bus, which leaves Syntagma every 1/2 hour all night long 24/7, takes about the same amount of time as the taxi. The cost is 3.2 euro per person in either direction. Save your money for something fun!

museumlover Mar 25th, 2008 04:09 AM

Thanks everyone! Happy travels!

angteck Apr 15th, 2008 05:36 AM

Hi
I am taking a bluestarferries from MYKONOS & expect to arrive at PIRAEUS at 19:45 hrs & I need to be at the airport by 0500 hrs. What is the cheapest way to the airport?

Gaspard Apr 15th, 2008 06:22 AM

The bus: +/- 3€.
G.

brotherleelove2004 Apr 15th, 2008 07:24 AM

There's an express bus-E96-between Piraeus and the airport that departs about every half-hour or so all night long.

Becca Apr 15th, 2008 08:17 AM

Sorry to hijack the thread, but my question is similar. We have a 4:50 a.m. flight out of Athens. If we stay near Syntagma Square (can't decide between there and an airport hotel), what time would we take the E95 bus back to the airport? You said it leaves Syntagma every 1/2 hour, correct, so 2 a.m.?

travelerjan Apr 15th, 2008 09:56 AM

Becca, yes. You might walk by the bus stop the day before, there is a complete 24-hour timetable posted on the sign, you can know EXACTLY when a bus will leave... in the wee hours it only taks 45 minutes.
Streets are perfectly safe, lots of people around believe it or not at 3 am.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:46 AM.