Long stopover/layover in Athens
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,570
With the financial crisis, it shouldn't be hard to find a hotel/motel at the center at either a full one day's rate, or a few hours day rate (it would be crazy not to try to accommodate you with this financial crisis and in a low season period, and rates should be very cheap). Being sleepless and facing a 17hour layover I would go for a hotel, particularly if you're flying economy from YYZ.
Unfortunately, the Greek economy and bailout negotiations are again tittering on the brink this week, this is definitely a buyer's market for perishable goods like hotel rooms, I would be very surprised if you cannot negotiate a 40-50 euro day rate for a hotel at the center.
Unfortunately, the Greek economy and bailout negotiations are again tittering on the brink this week, this is definitely a buyer's market for perishable goods like hotel rooms, I would be very surprised if you cannot negotiate a 40-50 euro day rate for a hotel at the center.
Last edited by nk15; Mar 28, 2015 at 1:14 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
#18
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,504
#19
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
Of course, if time is critical, the Acropolis Museum is right next to a metro station and probably the better choice (The NAM is a few minutes walk away from the closest station).
#20
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OTP
Programs: AF/KL platinum, Turkish gold, QR gold
Posts: 1,565
I love museums, and I agree with this (finally someone said it!). It's definitely worth visiting and the whole story behind its architectural concept and construction is interesting, but given a choice, I'd pick the National Archaeological Museum every time. World-class, absorbing, I could spend hours and hours there (with a nice little cafe to relax in as well).
Of course, if time is critical, the Acropolis Museum is right next to a metro station and probably the better choice (The NAM is a few minutes walk away from the closest station).
Of course, if time is critical, the Acropolis Museum is right next to a metro station and probably the better choice (The NAM is a few minutes walk away from the closest station).
For what it's worth, another good museum (cycladic art) is a partner of M&B, giving you a small discount:
https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbon...-cycladic-art/
#21
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
Here are my 2 cents worth (certainly not an expert!):
Akropolis M.: Fantastic building with amazing views all around. Contents are rather "limited"
National Archeological M.: Run down building but really amazing contents ranging from neolithic to hellenistic via Mycaenaic through classics. Simply great!
Benaki M.: "Esoteric"! Greek, Eastern, Ottoman, super collection...
Cycladic Art M.: (very close to the previous and the next ones). Very specific, stuff you won't see anywhere else in the world.
Byzantine M.: Unique collection of late Roman to Byzantine art.
All of the above reachable by metro, when coming from the airport you'd have to change at Syntagma to reach the first two, on opposite directions, though. There are several more small museums in Athens, let's leave it here.
Akropolis M.: Fantastic building with amazing views all around. Contents are rather "limited"
National Archeological M.: Run down building but really amazing contents ranging from neolithic to hellenistic via Mycaenaic through classics. Simply great!
Benaki M.: "Esoteric"! Greek, Eastern, Ottoman, super collection...
Cycladic Art M.: (very close to the previous and the next ones). Very specific, stuff you won't see anywhere else in the world.
Byzantine M.: Unique collection of late Roman to Byzantine art.
All of the above reachable by metro, when coming from the airport you'd have to change at Syntagma to reach the first two, on opposite directions, though. There are several more small museums in Athens, let's leave it here.
Last edited by KLouis; Mar 31, 2015 at 8:49 pm Reason: links added
#22
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,845
Here are my 2 cents worth (certainly not an expert!):
Akropolis M.: Fantastic building with amazing views all around. Contents are rather "limited"
National Archeological M.: Run down building but really amazing contents ranging from neolithic to hellenistic via Mycaenaic through classics. Simply great!
Benaki M.: "Esoteric"! Greek, Eastern, Ottoman, super collection...
Cycladic Art M.: (very close to the previous and the next ones). Very specific, stuff you won't see anywhere else in the world.
Byzantine M.: Unique collection of late Roman to Byzantine art.
All of the above reachable by metro, when coming from the airport you'd have to change at Syntagma to reach the first two, on opposite directions, though. There are several more small museums in Athens, let's leave it here.
Akropolis M.: Fantastic building with amazing views all around. Contents are rather "limited"
National Archeological M.: Run down building but really amazing contents ranging from neolithic to hellenistic via Mycaenaic through classics. Simply great!
Benaki M.: "Esoteric"! Greek, Eastern, Ottoman, super collection...
Cycladic Art M.: (very close to the previous and the next ones). Very specific, stuff you won't see anywhere else in the world.
Byzantine M.: Unique collection of late Roman to Byzantine art.
All of the above reachable by metro, when coming from the airport you'd have to change at Syntagma to reach the first two, on opposite directions, though. There are several more small museums in Athens, let's leave it here.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,611
I would add that the bus at that time is probably actually faster and easier than Metro anyway. And a few bucks cheaper too.
Bus:
http://www.oasa.gr/xmap.php?id=px95
Click on "backward direction". You will start at KTIRIO AFIXEON (=arrivals) and go down till AFETIRIA (=bus starting point, being Syntagma square).
Regarding luggage: If you arrive at 4AM that sounds like the either the Aegean or BA flight from London. In case of BA I would suspect that the flight to JTR is on a separate ticket. If that is the case then you may need to retrieve and check your luggage again. Which probably will not be possible so early. If you are on one single ticket it should be no problem to check your luggage through to JTR from your starting point.
Bus:
http://www.oasa.gr/xmap.php?id=px95
Click on "backward direction". You will start at KTIRIO AFIXEON (=arrivals) and go down till AFETIRIA (=bus starting point, being Syntagma square).
Regarding luggage: If you arrive at 4AM that sounds like the either the Aegean or BA flight from London. In case of BA I would suspect that the flight to JTR is on a separate ticket. If that is the case then you may need to retrieve and check your luggage again. Which probably will not be possible so early. If you are on one single ticket it should be no problem to check your luggage through to JTR from your starting point.
#24
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 77
Coming into Athens, my girlfriend and I have had a slight schedule change with a new arrival from IST at 12:00 and a departure for FCO at 15:25.
Assuming flights are on time, do we have time to get out of the airport, see the Parthenon / Acropolis and take a couple of snaps and get back to the airport with time to spare? How much of a horrible rush would this be?
(IST - ATH in economy, ATH - FCO in business. Not sure if this makes a difference)
Assuming flights are on time, do we have time to get out of the airport, see the Parthenon / Acropolis and take a couple of snaps and get back to the airport with time to spare? How much of a horrible rush would this be?
(IST - ATH in economy, ATH - FCO in business. Not sure if this makes a difference)
#25
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
Coming into Athens, my girlfriend and I have had a slight schedule change with a new arrival from IST at 12:00 and a departure for FCO at 15:25.
Assuming flights are on time, do we have time to get out of the airport, see the Parthenon / Acropolis and take a couple of snaps and get back to the airport with time to spare? How much of a horrible rush would this be?
(IST - ATH in economy, ATH - FCO in business. Not sure if this makes a difference)
Assuming flights are on time, do we have time to get out of the airport, see the Parthenon / Acropolis and take a couple of snaps and get back to the airport with time to spare? How much of a horrible rush would this be?
(IST - ATH in economy, ATH - FCO in business. Not sure if this makes a difference)
It could be done, marginally, by taxi (especially when arranging for the cab to wait for you at the Acropolis and bring you back to ATH), but the traffic in Athens would bring you very close to a heart attack/stroke worrying about making your next flight.
I'd wait for a next time with a visit to the Acropolis...
Last edited by KLouis; Apr 2, 2015 at 11:24 pm Reason: edited a few details
#26
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,845
Coming into Athens, my girlfriend and I have had a slight schedule change with a new arrival from IST at 12:00 and a departure for FCO at 15:25.
Assuming flights are on time, do we have time to get out of the airport, see the Parthenon / Acropolis and take a couple of snaps and get back to the airport with time to spare? How much of a horrible rush would this be?
(IST - ATH in economy, ATH - FCO in business. Not sure if this makes a difference)
Assuming flights are on time, do we have time to get out of the airport, see the Parthenon / Acropolis and take a couple of snaps and get back to the airport with time to spare? How much of a horrible rush would this be?
(IST - ATH in economy, ATH - FCO in business. Not sure if this makes a difference)
#27
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London uk
Programs: *A Gold, BA Silver, Avis President, Hertz President circle
Posts: 2,804
Have a 7:30 stop, between 16:00 - 23:30
Musuems would be closed, any idea anything else?
Are there any good planespotting locations around the airport?
Musuems would be closed, any idea anything else?
Are there any good planespotting locations around the airport?
#28
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
In your case the choice would be North or South: Take a cab and either go to Loutsa or Rafina (North) or Varkiza (South). Have an early dinner at a sea-side taverna and then a taxi back to the airport. Depending on the wind direction, you'll see the planes landing, although they'll be rather high to call this planespotting: all three places are sort of under the flight path, the first couple under 10 km, and the latter ~15 km from the runway.
#29
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3*G AC*nobody TK*nobody
Posts: 1,967
If my flight arrive ATH very early in the morning, but have a connecting flight very late at night. Is it possible for me to take a rest in the A3 lounge for a few hours before I have a day trip in ATH and back in the evening? (assume luggage check through)
#30
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
I see no reason why not...