Venue-Travel Info

Useful information for those will travel to Greece

About Venue: Greece, Patras, Rio, Univ. of Patras, Conference & Cultural Centre

Travel Info: Transportation, Passport/Visa, Currency, Time Zone, Electricity, Weather

Sights for visiting: Rio, Patras, Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae, Epidaurus

Transportation

If the below information don't satisfy you or you need some other or special information don't hesitate to ask us writing at icbf2006 electronic address.

Travelling to Greece

1. By Sea
This kind of travelling is recommended especially for Europeans who wish to use their own car and intend to spend more days for vacations in Greece
The port of Patras is connected to many ports of Italy as, Venice, Ancona, Bari, Brintisi, through large, fast and comfort ferries.

Information of such a kind of trip are available at addresses:
http://www.greekferries.gr/
http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=117
http://www.agoudimos-lines.com/
http://www.anek.gr/
http://www.minoan.gr/en/main.asp
http://www.bluestarferries.com/ENGLISH/main.htm
http://www.superfast.com/                                                  

2. By Train (not recommended)
Train travellers with destination to Patras should change train at the Central Railway Station the "Larisis Station" (or Stathmos Larisis in Greek) and take the train to Patras.
For the booking of your tickets please be informed by the time table of the Railway Company (O.S.E.) at the address: http://www.ose.gr/%286001223890213399%29/echome.asp?lang=2

3. By Air
Almost every airline company provides the convenience of doing your reservation on-line and having your normal ticket either delivered at home without any further surcharge or just having on-line, or by e-mail, an electronic ticket using it directly at checking-in place.

More Information on this are available at addresses:
http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_information/travel_flight_info/body.shtm
http://www.aia.gr/EN/our_airlines/body.shtm
http://www.aia.gr/EN/arrivals&departures/body.asp

Other Related links:
Greek Airports
Athens International Airport
Athens International Airport: Transportation and Parking
Athens International Airport: Real Time Flight Information
Athens International Airport: Frequently Asked Questions

Domestic Airlines
Olympic Airlines
Aegean Airlines                                

Arriving in Athens
Greece has an extensive domestic air network. It has many Airports, but Patras although has one  this is rarely used and only in special cases. The main reason is that it is situated in a small distance from Athens and the travel by airplane is not practically faster than by other (cheap) means of transportation. Therefore, the bus (more often) or the train are the most preferable transportation means for the travellers from Athens to Patras . It takes only about 2:30 h by bus and a little more by train. An alternative way is by a rental car. This last is recommended to whom they wish to move by own mean especially if they are going to spend more days for vacations in Greece. The airport accommodation will help you to rent a car beforehand. Please click here

Useful information are available at addresses:
http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_information/transportation&parking/body.shtm
http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_information/services_facilities/body.shtm            

Moving in/around Athens to Patras
After one's arrival at the Airport of Athens there are several ways to reach at Patras (or elsewhere). To reach at the Bus Station, or at the Railway Station, to the Patras, except of taxi (not recommended), there are numerous, fast and reliable public transport means to use for this purpose. Public transport to/around Athens region is provided by a railway-metro combination and express airport buses, providing efficient transportation for air travellers and facilitating linkage between Airport and the city. Getting out of the Main Terminal Building you'll find the Bus stops or Taxi stops. If you'll select the Bus transport, you have to take the Express Bus going to Kifisos Intercity Bus Station. Kindly, any help you'll be given by the staff of airport you can meet them easily.

More information are available in E93T.pdf and E93A.pdf or at the following addresses:
http://www.oasa.gr/uk/index_gr.asp and
http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_information/transportation&parking/by_bus/body.shtm

Map

Otherwise, if you'd select the train transport or the metro, you have to follow the signs to the Pedestrial Bridge which will direct you to the Suburban Railway Station (Proastiakos in Greek), and to the subway (metro). The following photo of Airport may be helpful. 

Taking the suburban railway (not recommended) your destination must be the Central railway station the "Larisis Station" (or Stathmos Larisis in Greek).
Taking the subway train, metro, you have to change line at the Junction "Syntagma" and to take the line 2 to the direction of "Ag. Antonios". Your destination will be the central railway station the "Larisis Station" (or Stathmos Larisis in Greek).

More information are available at the following addresses:
http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_information/transportation&parking/by_suburb/body.shtm
http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_information/transportation&parking/by_metro/body.shtm 
Suburban Railway: http://www.proastiakos.gr/en/index.asp
Subway of Athens (Metro): Attico Metro                                                 

Map 1                  Map 2
  

Travelling to Patras

1. By Bus
For the booking of your tickets please be informed by the time table of the Bus Company (K.T.E.L.) at the address: http://www.ktel.org/en/timetable.asp#

2. By Train (not recommended)
For the booking of your tickets please be informed by the time table of the Railway Company (O.S.E.) at the address: http://www.ose.gr/%286001223890213399%29/echome.asp?lang=2

3. By Rental Car
The main corridor linking Patras with Athens International Airport is a high-speed toll motorway. Your initial destination to reach Patras is "Eleusis" by following the motor way "attiki odos". Then, You should continue with high-speed motor way E94 "Athens-Korinthos" with destination to "Korinthos", You will end your trip via E64 "national road" with destination to "Patras"
Interesting notice: Driving in Greece is at the right side of the road.  

Map 1                            Map 2        

    

4. By attendance of ICBF-2006
The local organizing committee exert great effort to offer to the participants special transport services in airport by hiring for this purpose proper transportation means.  If this will being practicable then, you will be called to submit a form informing us of your precise arrival and/or departure.

Passport/Visa:

Passport and visa requirements vary from country to country.
All travellers should get in touch with the appropriate office, well in advance to their scheduled trip, as changes take place quite often and might not be posted yet on the site.
For Greek Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad please visit the address: http://www.mfa.gr/english/the_ministry/missions/

Greece has ratified the Schengen Agreement concerning the visa issues. The Schengen Agreement covers the following ten member-states of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. For holders of regular passports of the following countries who wish to visit Greece and stay up to 3 months NO visa is required:

Select one of the following formats and download the application for Schengen Visa.

• Microsoft Word format (Size: 89KB)
• Adobe Acrobat format (Size: 47KB)

For details please visit the address: click here

Currency: Euro (In Greek: evró) (€) or (EUR)

Since 1/1/2002, Greece belongs in the zone of "Euro" together with other twelve countries of European Union. This means that twelve countries of European Union, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland, have substituted their national monetary system with the system of Euro. Therefore, Greece has substituted its system of Drachma also by the Euro. The equivalence of Euro related to US Dollar is roughly the same. (See below) For more about Euro click here

Some exchange rates against U.S. Dollar

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

1 Euro = 1.17810 US Dollar
1 US Dollar (USD) = 0.84882 Euro (EUR)

Median price = 1.17780 / 1.17810 (bid/ask)
Minimum price = 1.17060 / 1.17100
Maximum price = 1.18030 / 1.18060

US $ 1.244 = Euro 1 (2004, average)
US $ 1.135 = Euro 1 (2003, average)

For more recent and other Currency Exchange please visit the address:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic?user=stev&lang=en

Time Zone:
Greece is in the Eastern European Time Zone.  Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).
Like most states in Europe, Greece has Summer (Daylight-Saving) Time where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour, 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3).
After the summer months the time is shifted back by 1 hour to Eastern European Time (EET) or (GMT+2)
The Daylight Savings Time (GMT+3) begins at 3 a.m. on the last Sunday of March and ends at 4 a.m. on the last Sunday of October

Electricity
The electric current in Greece is 220-250 AC (50 Hz). Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using step down transformers of 220 - 250/110 volts connected to each outlet.

More information you'll find at address: http://www.dei.gr

Weather:  Click here

 

About Venue:
 
Greece
Patras
Rio
Univ. of Patras
Conference
and Cultural
Centre

Travel Info:
 
Transportation
Passport/Visa
Currency
Time Zone
Electricity
Weather

Sights for
visiting:
 
Rio
Patras
Olympia
Delphi
Mycenae
Epidaurus