How to get from Athens to Rafina. Buses from Athens airport to Rafina port. What to see in Rafina
If you plan your route from Athens to the Greek islands by sea, then in 90 cases out of 100 your ship will depart from Piraeus. We have already talked about how to get to the largest port of Athens in. But in the remaining 10% of cases, your ship may well sail from Rafina or Lavrion - two other Attic ports, which we will talk about now.
Information about where the ship departs from is indicated during the booking process, so it is almost impossible to make a mistake with the port. Unless, of course, you intend to ignore it. About how to find out the current ferry timetable and buy tickets online, we, now our goal is to tell a little about Rafina and Lavrion and describe in detail how to get to these ports.
How to get to the port of Rafina
The second most important port of Athens is Rafina. This is a small and cute town north of the Greek capital, which in its atmosphere is more like an island than the mainland. Rafina has a beautiful promenade, well-groomed squares and plenty of cozy taverns to grab a bite to eat before continuing your journey. Rafina is located about 30 km from the center of Athens, 40 km from Piraeus and 10 km from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.
Ferry routes departing from Rafina
Rafina is the only port in Attica that serves ferries to Andros, as the latter is closer to Rafina than to Piraeus. In addition, ferries depart from Rafina to the islands of Tinos and Mykonos, and during the summer also to Ios, Naxos and Santorini.
How to get from the center of Athens
By Taxi: It takes about 75 minutes to get to Rafina by taxi from Athens if you depart from the city centre. Sometimes, to save money, travelers take the blue line of the Athens Metro to Nomismatokopio station and take a taxi from there. From Nomismatokopio metro to Rafina, a taxi ride takes about 35 minutes. The cost of the trip is about 50 euros during the day and 65 - at night (between 24:00 and 05:00)
It can be added to the information in the post that when it was written, the nearest metro station Victoria was closed due to work being carried out on it. Now it is working again, creating an additional opportunity to get to the bus station.
The cost of a metro or trolleybus ticket in Athens is 1.20 euros (2016). The cost of a trip to Rafina in 2016 was 2.40 Euro. Travel time depends on traffic, but averages 70 minutes.
From Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
By taxi: From the airport to Rafina is only 10 km, and a taxi runs this way in an average of 20 minutes. You can rent a car on the spot or book in advance using this link. Grekoblog wrote more about the service in the article. The cost of the trip is 35 euros during the day and 50 euros at night (between 24:00 and 05:00)
By bus: You can also get to Rafina by bus. They leave from the suburban bus station, located a little away from the terminal, and the journey time is about 30 minutes. Ticket price (2016) - 3 euros.
The current bus schedule can be found on the KTEL Attikis website.
Shuttle bus stop at Athens Airport (marked in yellow)
Bus stop marked in yellow
Port of Lavrio
Lavrio is a small coastal town in the south of Attica. In ancient times, Lavrio was famous for the mines located here, the proceeds from which helped Themistocles build the formidable Athenian fleet. Nowadays, the mines have not been working for a long time, and the town is known mainly for its port, which serves a number of routes to the islands. Lavrion is located 60 km from the center of Athens and 25 km from the airport.
Ferry routes from Lavrion
Ferries from Lavrion depart to the nearby island of Kea and Cycladic Kythnos. The port also serves a number of routes to the distant islands of the Eastern Aegean, such as Lemnos, Thassos and Samothrace.
How to get to Lavrion from the center of Athens
By Taxi: The taxi ride from the center of Athens to Lavrion takes about 75 minutes. To save some money, you can take the tram from Syntagma to Faliro or Voula and take a taxi from there. Travel time from Voula is approximately 30 minutes. The fare for a taxi from the center of Athens is about 65 euros during the day and 80 euros at night (24:00-5:00).
By bus: The suburban buses KTEL Attikis, which we talked about above, also serve the direction from Athens to Lavrion. The journey takes about 2 hours and the fare is 4.90 Euro (2016).
How to get from the airport
By taxi: The journey by taxi from the airport to Lavrion takes about 30 minutes, and you can take a car both at the exit of the terminal and
To the east of Athens lies the port of Rafina, around which you can find a whole "constellation" of ancient monuments.
This is the second largest port in Athens, receiving ferry passengers. Ferries depart daily from here to Andros, Hydra, Lesvos and Limnos, as well as to the port of Marmari and Karystos on the island of Euboea. Also on high-speed catamarans you can reach the islands of Tinos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Amorgos.
Attractions
Here is the world famous Marathon- the site of one of the most important battles of the Greeks against the army of the Persian king Darius (490 BC). grave hill Tymphos-Marathona, or soro(open from Thursday to Sunday from 8.30 to 15.00; 3 euros), on which 192 Athenians are buried, is still clearly visible from the main road between Rafina and the modern village of Marathon (Marathonas, Marathonas).
5 km to the south rises a hill on which the allies of the Athenians, the Plataeans, who died in the same battle, are buried, and to the north are the ruins Pyrgo, which are considered the tomb of Miltiades (the leader of the Greeks in that battle) or a victory trophy.
Nearby is and Archaeological Museum(open from Thursday to Sunday from 8.30 to 15.00; 3 euros) with a small collection of objects from the battlefield and the cave of Pan located nearby.
Beaches
There are several nice sandy beaches near the port, for example, Kokkino-Limanaki(Kokkino Limanaki), which is located 1.5 km from Rafina. The beach stretches in the bed of a picturesque stream under a spectacular red cliff. It is a quiet and clean place with several fish taverns and a campsite.
Chinyas(Schinias) is one of the best beaches in Attica. A long sandy beach surrounded by pine trees is located 45 km north of Athens - in the southeastern part of Marathon, north of Rafina. Windsurfers especially love it. There is a surf club on the beach. From Athens, you can get to the beach by bus.
South of Rafina, a small town is also interesting Vavrona(Vavrona), which previously belonged to the mythical king Kekrops - the founder of Athens. This is an interesting area with many cozy sandy beaches and an amazing sanctuary of Artemis.
Sand beach Porto Rafty(Porto Rafti), 35 km south of the capital, surrounded by small fish taverns and enlivened by cool streams, is unfortunately also very crowded.
In Eastern Attica, 25 km from Athens, the city of Rafina is located. Today it is considered to be rather a suburb of the Greek capital. But Rafina has a rich past - the first settlements here were created in prehistoric times, as evidenced by ancient monuments. Modern Rafina is an important port of mainland Greece, which receives more and more ships every year.
Port of Rafina
The volume of traffic that falls on Rafina is less than that of the port of Piraeus. But to travel to some Greek islands, you will first have to get to Rafina. So, speed boats and ferries depart from it to the island of Andros. The reason is simple: this port is much closer to the island than Piraeus. Also Rafina serves ferries to Evia, Andros, Mykonos, Santorini, Tinos, Naxos, Ios and Paros. Most of the routes - to the Cyclades.
The port of Rafina is well suited for receiving passengers. Waiting points are equipped here, there is a guarded parking lot, traditional taverns and cafes.
Port of Rafina.
How to get to Rafina from Athens
Rafina on the map of Greece.
What to see in Rafina
Rafina is not only a transit point on the way to the Greek islands. It's worth stopping here for some sightseeing. During the excavations of Rafina, the foundations of Roman baths were found. But the modern look of the city took shape already in the 20th century. In the 50s, the church of Pantovasiliss appeared here. This name was given to her by refugees from Tirile - ethnic Greeks who were forced to leave Turkey. They also founded the House of Tiril in Rafina. This is a museum with numerous artifacts and relics that have been saved. Church relics are of particular value.
In 20 minutes from Rafina you can reach the famous Marathon, where the Plataeans and Athenians defeated the Persians. The small town went down in history, and one of its main attractions was the domed barrow. Athenians who died in battle are buried here. The barrow is well preserved and decorated with a memorial stele. Nearby you can visit the burial place of the Plataeans and the archaeological museum with finds found on the battlefield.
Vravrona is located 16 km south of Rafina. An ancient temple of Artemis with an archaeological park has been preserved here, along the territory of which columns and the remains of statues are scattered. This is one of the least visited archaeological sites near Athens, so you can spend time in a relaxed atmosphere. To the north of Rafina there is another interesting object - Rhamnus. During the Peloponnesian War there was a fortress here. Numerous ruins of pagan temples and a theater have been preserved in Rhamnus since ancient times.
Holidays in Rafina
Since the port of Rafina is important for the whole of Attica, the infrastructure is well developed here. The Athenians themselves come to Rafina to dine in the city's fish taverns. They will delight you with a variety of dishes and pleasant prices. The best establishments are concentrated near the port. In the evenings, it is crowded here - those wishing to have dinner and enjoy the evening landscapes gather.
If you have time, you can go to the beaches of Rafina. The most famous is located 1.5 km from the port and is called Kokkino Limanaki. It stretches for 400 m and is covered with a sand-pebble mixture. Red rocks protect the beach from winds and waves; fish taverns and hotels work nearby. If you drive towards Marathon, you can get to Schinyas beach. It is popular among connoisseurs of a relaxing holiday, and among surfers. You can go to Porto Rafti beach. It is located in a modern resort village with excellent infrastructure. Mostly Porto Rafti is covered with sand, but there are some pebbly areas.
How to get from the airport to Athens and Piraeus? There are three main ways - by metro, bus and taxi. In this article, we will take a closer look at each of these methods and tell you how to get from the airport to Athens and Piraeus as conveniently as possible.
How to get from Athens airport to the city center, the Acropolis and the port of Piraeus: routes and prices
How to get from the airport to Athens, Piraeus and the Acropolis
How to get from the airport to Athens and Piraeus by taxi
We will not describe the pros and cons of traveling from the airport to Athens by taxi, you already know everything without us. The main advantages are speed, individual approach and convenient time, no need to adjust to the schedule. The main disadvantage is the price: a taxi, of course, is more expensive than public transport. But if you are not traveling alone, with heavy luggage or the time factor is important to you, then getting from the airport to Athens by taxi will be the most convenient for you. In addition, taxis in Greece are not that expensive, even when compared with metro prices.
You can order a taxi from Athens airport to the city or port of Piraeus either directly at the airport upon arrival or via the Internet. We recommend the second method - in our experience, it costs either the same or less. And you don’t have to run around looking for anyone at the airport. For example, if you order a car online through the Kiwi Taxi website, then you can get from the airport to the center of Athens for only 40-45 euros (starting price per car), to the Piraeus cruise port - for 55 euros, to the port of Rafina - for 40- 45 euros, to the port of Lavrion - for 55 euros.
How to get from the airport to Athens, the Acropolis and the port of Piraeus? Taxi is the most comfortable way. But it is also the least budget. Although if you know the prices for travel in the Athens metro (see point 3), then a local taxi no longer seems so expensive.
How to get from the airport to Athens by bus
Now consider, how to get from the airport to Athens by public transport. Let's start with the bus - the most budgetary way.
Bus stops are located on the ground floor of Athens Airport. Why "stop" and not "stop"? Because different routes have different stops. But they are all located near exits 4 and 5. Just in case, you can contact the information desk (there are several of them on the ground floor). When you leave the building on the street, immediately buy a ticket at the kiosk - not all Athens buses allow you to pay the fare from the driver. The fare on all buses from the airport is 6 euros.
Here are the buses you need depending on where you need to get to.
⇒ from the airport to the center of Athens: bus X95, goes to the main square of the city, which is called Syntagma (Syntagma). There is also the metro station of the same name and the parliament. If you need to get to the Acropolis, then from the Syntagma station you can walk to the main attraction of Athens on foot following the signs. Alternatively, you can take the metro or local bus and travel one stop to Acropoli Station, which is the closest to the Acropolis.
Opening hours: around the clock (buses leave every 20 minutes, less often at night).
Travel time: 50-70 minutes.
⇒ from Athens airport to Piraeus port: bus X96, goes to the Piraeus metro station (it takes 5-10 minutes to walk to the port of Piraeus).
Opening hours: around the clock (departures every 20 minutes, from midnight to 5:00 - every 40 minutes).
Travel time: about one and a half hours.
⇒ from Athens airport to Kifissos bus station: bus X93. From the Kifiss bus station (aka Kifisos, aka Kifis bus station) you can go to many cities in Greece and abroad.
Opening hours: around the clock (buses leave every 30-45 minutes)
Travel time: 60-70 minutes.
⇒ From Athens Airport to Elliniko Metro Station: Bus X97.
Opening hours: around the clock (departures every 40-70 minutes).
Travel time: 40-50 minutes.
⇒ from Athens airport to Rafina port there is a suburban bus, on which it is written: Rafina. It does not leave from exit 4 or 5, but from the commuter bus stop, it is marked as Regional Buses (KTEL).
Opening hours: from 4:30 to 22:15 (buses leave every 50-60 minutes, there are longer breaks).
Travel time: 30-40 minutes.
You can find a detailed schedule of Athens bus routes from the airport to the city on the website Athens public transport system .
How to get from the airport to Athens and the port of Piraeus: bus stops at the Athens airport are near gates 4 and 5. Including bus stop X96 to Piraeus.
How to get from the airport to Athens by metro
In 2004, a new “airport” branch was built in the Athens subway. Now answering the question of how to get from the airport to Athens by metro is much easier. First of all, you need to find the station "Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport" (or simply Airport). This is the final "blue" line, one of the three main lines of the Athens metro. To get to the Airport station, you need to exit the airport building and follow the signs "To Trains" (to the trains). Or ask at the information desk how to get from the airport to Athens by metro.
The price of a metro ticket from the airport to Athens or Piraeus is 10 euros one way and 18 euros two ways. You can check the most up-to-date prices on the website. Athenstransport.com. The departure time of metro trains from Athens Airport is from 6:30 to 22:30.
So, how to get from the airport to Athens by metro, if you need to get ...
… to the city center. From the airport, trains run direct to the already mentioned Syntagma station. From here you can walk to the Acropolis. Or on Syntagma you can change to the "red" line and drive one station to the Acropoli stop. On the way - 30 minutes to Syntagma, 40 minutes to the Acropolis.
... to the port of Piraeus. To do this, you need to get from the airport to the Monastiraki station (Monastiraki) and there transfer to the "green" line to the Piraeus station. On the way - about an hour.
Athens metro map with all stops - on the website Ametro.gr
Most tourists come to Athens just to get to the port of Piraeus and leave this beautiful city as soon as possible. You can get to Piraeus from Athens Airport both by bus and by metro.
That's the whole instruction on how to get from the airport to Athens, the port of Piraeus and the Acropolis. As you can see, it's not difficult at all! And ahead of us is an exciting journey through the Greek islands. the fun is just getting started!
In the next article we will tell you about.
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