# m a k e t h e b l u e x p e r i e n c e

ATHENS city guide WELCOME TO

Dear reader,

As an international recruitment team, we live with the spirit of the expatriate which makes us this passionate about travelling, learning new cultures, gaining new skills and habits, speaking a new language, making priceless memories and inspiring others to make the international experience.

If you have tons of questions or hesitations about moving abroad we understand: we all did when we took up this challenge. That’s why we know how relocating feels, and we are ready to share your excitement and give you keys to overcoming your questions.

In this city guide, we have gathered the essential information on living and working in Athens. We hope you enjoy the city as much as we do!

1 - Athens Facts

2 - Cost of Living

3 - Transportation

4 - Accomodation

5 - Bureaucratic Tips

6 - Life in Athens

7 - Culture in Athens

#makethebluexperience ATHENS FACTS

3.8 Million +15 MILLION POPULATION VISITORS EACH YEAR CURRENCY: € TIME ZONE: GMT+2 DIAL CODE: +30

First EU Capital OLDEST CAPITAL of Culture in Europe

Average Temperature 15 - 25 °C +300 days of sunshine Shares its name with the patron goddess of the city: Athena Birthplace of DEMOCRACY & THEATER

Source: Athens ATHENS FACTS

TIME TABLES

Opening Hours for Stores: Shops are generally open: Monday & Wednesday: 9 am-3 pm; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 am-2 pm and 5.30 pm-9 pm; Saturdays: 9 am-3 pm; almost all shops are closed on Sundays.

Note: Most shops in the centre stay open throughout the day on Monday and Wednesday, and do not close for the 2.5 hour break on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Respect the quiet hours: 15:00 - 17:30 / 22:00 - 07:00 January 1 - New Year’s Day January 6 - Epiphany Clean Monday (Ash Monday) – variable dates; 40 days before Easter, marking the start of Lent. March 25 - Greek Independence Day Orthodox Good Friday – variable dates, though stores are open 1 pm - 7 pm. Orthodox Easter – variable dates Orthodox Easter Monday – variable dates Pentecost Monday – variable dates May 1 - Labour Day Day of the Holy Spirit – variable dates, usually early June. August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary October 28 – “Oxi” Day (National Holiday) December 25 & 26 - Christmas & Boxing Day

Source: This is Athens COST OF LIVING

DINING OUT

Basic Breakfast Out : 3€ Meal in Souvlaki: 10€ Fresh Sandwich: 4€ Meal in Tavern for 2 : 30€ Water (33 cl bottle) in bar/pub: 0.5€

Coke (33 cl bottle) in bar/pub: 2€ Cappuccino: 3€ Domestic Beer (0.5l - draught) : 4€ Imported Beer (0.33 - bottle): 4.5€

SUPERMARKET

Fresh White Bread : 0.80€ 12 Eggs: 3€ Local Cheese (1000 gr): 8.3€ Milk (regular) : 1.2€ Water (1.5 L bottle) : 0.8€ Pack of cigarettes : 4.5€ Bottle of Wine : 8€ Round Steak (1000 gr) : 9.5€ Chicken Fillets (1000 gr) : 6.5€ Domestic Beer (0.5l - bottle): 1.5€ COST OF LIVING

ACCOMODATION

Single/Studio : 400€

3 Bedrooms Flat Rent in Center : 650€ 1 Room in a Shared Flat Rent : 300-350€ Basic Utilities for 3 Bedrooms Flat : 150€

TRANSPORTATION One-way Ticket : 1.4€ Monthly Pass : 30€

Taxi Trip (5-10km) : 7.5 - 13€

Airport Ticket : 5 - 6€

Gasoline (1 liter) : 1.5 €

ENTERTAINMENT

Cinema Ticket for 1 : 8€

Gym Monthly Fee: 30 - 40€

Tennis Court Rent (1hr on Weekend): 20€

Source: Numbeo TRANSPORTATION

METRO, SUBURBAN RAILWAY, BUS & TROLLEYBUS

METRO Metro is the fastest way for getting around Athens. It runs daily from 5 am to midnight

SUBURBAN RAILWAY The suburban railway operates daily from 4:30 am until 11 pm daily and provides a link between Piraeus port and Athens International Airport.

BUS & TROLLEYBUS TRAM The Athens bus and trolleybus The tram operates from 5:30 to network runs daily from 5 am to 1am (2.30am on Fridays and midnight and Airport Express buses Saturdays) and links the city operate on a 24-hour basis. These centre to suburbs like Faliro and services connect Athens Voula. It also connects to the International Airport with the Metro and overground train at , Piraeus port and four stops: Syntagma, the Intercity Bus Terminal (KTEL Syngrou/Fix, Neos Kosmos and Kifissos). SEF.

Source: This is Athens TRANSPORTATION

TICKETS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT

More Info about Athena Card: ACCOMODATION

HHOOUUSISNINGG

There are two basic ways to find a flat or room in Athens:

The first one is through Facebook groups, discover them!

The second option to find flats or rooms to rent is through web pages like the ones below. You will be able to filter your search according to your needs or possibilities, for example, filter by your budget or the area you want to live in. ACCOMODATION

NEIGHBOURHOODS

The Old City Vibes. Elegant & Central.

Budget-friendly For Night-Life neighbourhoods. Lovers. Exarcheia Psirri Omonia Gazi BUREAUCRATIC TIPS

RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE

If you are an EU citizen who will stay more than 90 days in , you need to get a certificate of registration at the local foreigners bureau in a police station.

Documents needed for the issue of the residence certificate:

Application form Copy of passport or identity card Four passport photos Proof of medical insurance: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), IKA, OAEE or private health insurance Certificate from employer Proof of local residence (rental agreement, property ownership documents or statement of person whose name is on the property deed if owned by someone else)

Source: AngloInfo, Expat Arrivals BUREAUCRATIC TIPS

TAX REGISTRATION NO

The Greek Tax Number (AFM) is essential for all residents and non-resident foreigners who have financial affairs in Greece.

To get an AFM you can go to the nearest tax office.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

All employees working in Greece must obtain the AMKA (Greek Social Security Number).

You can obtain your AMKA from the local Social Security Institutes (IKA) or Citizens Service Office (KEM).

MEDICAL INSURANCE

EU national employees in Greece must have medical insurance or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Source: AngloInfo, Expat Arrivals LIFE IN ATHENS

10 MUST-DO THINGS AT ATHENS

Don't miss the chance to visit Acropolis museum.

Walk through Ermou Street and visit Syntagma Square.

Enjoy traditional Greek food and culture at Plaka.

Souvenir shop and visit flea market at Monastiraki.

Have a nice dinner at .

Enjoy the night life at Psiri.

Go to a bar to enjoy sunset over Athens at Thissio.

Attend an event at Irodio Theater.

Visit Olympic Marble Stadium.

Take photos of beautiful Athens. LIFE IN ATHENS

MUSEUMS TO VISIT

Acropolis Archeological Site + Museum If you are in Athens, you should definitely visit the Acropolis of Athens, the museum the archeological sites. Especially Parthenon should make in the top of your list! If you purchase a combination ticket that costs 30€ you can also visit Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hydrian's Library, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Kerameikos and Aristotle's School.

Museum of Cycladic Art How Much: 7€; Concessions & Mondays: 3.5€ What to See: Figurines, Ceramics and everything you expect from ancient Aegean Cycladic art.

Byzantine & Christian Museum How Much: 8€; Concessions 4€, U19 Free What to See: Sacred icons, mosaics and textiles from Byzantine history and culture.

Beraki Museum How Much: 9€; Concessions 7€, U22 Free What to See: Meeting point of folkloric costumes from diverse cultures and historical periods and contemporary art paintings. LIFE IN ATHENS

BEACH LIFE

You are in Greece, you'll end up in beach eventually. Summer in Greece is popular with beautiful Greek Islands that you should definitely discover, however, if you want to have a beach time near Athens, you'll find quite a lot of options as well.

Enjoy Athenian Riviera in these spots you can easily access with a rental car or bus.

Pireaus Glyfada Saronida: especially for windsurfers! Kavouri Varkiza CULTURE IN ATHENS

CELEBRATIONS Name Day Celebrations Birthdays are important everyhere, but in Greece, Name Days are the big deal. When one has a holy (saint) name in Greece which is very common to have, it is celebrated the name day in the date that is associated with that name.

Carnival - Apokries The carnival of Greece, named Apokries, is a celebration before Easter Lent and lasts 3 weeks. The festival is characterised by masquerade that expresses anonymity and colourful parades.

Clean Monday The Monday that marks the beginning of the 40-day fast before Easter. Kites are the characteristic of the Clean Monday celebration in Greece.

Easter Greek Orthodox Easter has specials dates for Easter that follows Julian calendar. Red dyed eggs and recipes with animal products are the characteristics of the Easter Sunday.

Greek Independence Day & The Ohi Day Both dates are very important for the commemoration of Greek History and politics. You can see Greek flags, parades and performances of Evzones (Presidential Guards.

SUPERSITITIONS

Evil Eye (Mati) There are lots of supersititions in Greek culture but Mati is the most common one. This big blue eye is believed to protect one against envious or malevolent glare. You'll see them everywhere! CULTURE IN ATHENS

EAT

Have Koulouri for breakfast

Get a Souvlaki plate for lunch

Go to a Tavern for dinner

Order Orektika and Mezes

Try Moussaka and Dolmades

Dessert time: Baklava

DRINK ya mas! Ouzo Metaxa

Tsipouro

LISTEN & DANCE

Dimotiki

Laiko

Sirtaki

Hasapiko #MAKETHEBLUEXPERIENCE

The Blu Experience? What is "Blu"? And why would you want to experience it?

When we speak about the "Blu Experience" we are talking about the experience you have with the members of our Blu Team during the whole recruitment process.

As we are working in. a human-to-human business it is very important for us to have a good connection with our candidates. Therefore, we decided to make us, the Blu Team, more transparent to you. We want to share our passion and motivation that you see the behind Blu Selection there is more than just a voice on the phone.

We are here to help you with more support as you deserve, career know-how we have and the spirit of the expatriate we share together.

Welcome to the Blu Experience!

Feedback matters, let's keep it mutual! CLEOT'S SNTART TA NEAW JOCURNETY TO GUETHESR! !

[email protected] +34 931 24 44 90

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