Greece Map Tourist Attractions

WHEN TO GO

June through August is high season in Greece; consider visiting during May or September, when the weather is equally beautiful but the crowds are thinner. The low season, from mid-September through May, offers cheaper airfares and lodging, but many sights and accommodations have shorter hours or close altogether. Ferries and trains run considerably less frequently, although ski areas at Mt. Pamassos, Mt. Pelion, and Metsovo beckon winter visitors.

DOCUMENTS AND FORMALITIES

VISAS. EU citizens do not need a visa. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, though they are ineligible for employment. South Africans need a visa any stay.

EM BASSIES. Foreign embassies in Greece are in Athens (519). For Greek embassies at home, contact: Australia, 9 Turrana St. Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 (02 6273 3011); Canada, 80 MacLaren St. Ottawa, ON K2P 0K6 (613-238-6271; www.greekembassy.ca); Ireland, 1 Upper Pembroke St. Dublin 2 (01 676 7254); South Africa, 1003 Church St. Hatfield, Arcadia-Pretoria 0028 ( 12 437 3523); UK, la Holland Park, London Wll 3TP (020 7229 3850); and US, 2221 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 ( 202-939-1300; www.greekembassy.org).

TRANSPORTATION

BY PLANE. The domestic service offered by Olympic Airways, Syngrou 96-100, Athens 11741 (s2810 114 4444; www.olympic-airways.gr), has increased greatly. Their website lists information for every office around the globe. A lhr. flight from

Athens (‚60-90) can get you to almost any island in Greece. Even in the low season, remote destinations are serviced several times per week,- while developed areas may have several flights per day.

BY TRAIN. Greece is served by a number of international train routes that connect Athens, Larissa, and Thessaloniki to most European cities. Train service within Greece, however, is limited and sometimes uncomfortable, and no lines go to the western coast. The new express, air-conditioned intercity trains, while slightly more expensive and infrequent, are worth the price. Eurail passes are valid on all Greek trains. Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE; www.osenet.gr) connects Athens to major Greek cities; from Greece, call 145 or 147 for schedules and prices.

BY BUS. There are almost no buses running directly from any European city to Greece. Busabout, 258 Vauxhall Bridge Rd. London SW1V IBS (0207 950 1661; www.busabout.com), is one of the few European bus companies that runs to Greece. Domestic bus service is extensive and fares are cheap. KTEL (www.ktel.org) runs most domestic buses; always check with an official source about scheduled departures, as posted schedules are often outdated.

BY FERRY. The most popular way of getting to Greece is by ferry from Italy. Boats travel from Brindisi, Italy, to Corfu (546), Kephalonia (546), and Patras (536), from Ancona, Italy, to Corfu and Patras. The travel agency Manolopoulos (2610 223 621), at Othonos Amalias 35 in Patras, can provide information on ferries to Italy. Ferries also run from Greece to various points on the Turkish coast. There is frequent ferry service to the Greek islands, but schedules are irregular and faulty information is common. Check schedules posted at the tourist office or the limenarcheio (port police), or at www.fer-ries.gr. Make reservations and arrive at least l-2hr. before your departure time. Flying Dolphins (www.dolphins.gr) provides extensive hydrofoil service between the islands at twice the cost and speed as ferries; their routes’are listed in the Transportation sections where appropriate.

BY CAR AND MOPED. Cars are a luxury in Greece, a country where public transportation is nonexistent after 7pm. Ferries charge a transport fee for cars. Rental agencies may quote low daily rates that exclude the 20% tax and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance; expect to pay ‚20-40 per day for a rental. Foreign drivers are required to have an International Driving Permit and an International insurance Certificate to drive in Greece. The Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA), Messogion 395, Athens 11527, provides assistance and offers reciprocal membership to foreign auto club members. (210 606 8800. 24hr. emergency roadside assistance 104. Info line for Athens 174; elsewhere 210 606 8838. Open M-F 7am-3pm.) Mopeds can be great for exploring, but they also make you extremely vulnerable to the carelessness of other drivers; wear a helmet.

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