ILPC 2015: Athens hints and tips This brief document is designed to help you with practicalities and to make the most of your time at the ILPC 2015. Travelling from the Airport! From Athens International Airport to Downtown Athens (including the areas where the conference hotel is situated): 1) Metro line 3 (blue line) runs from Athens airport to Syntagma Square in the city centre, estimated cost: 8 euro. Ten minute walk to conference hotel. 2) Express Airport Bus connections with the Athens City Center on a 24-hour basis, X95 (to Athens downtown "Syntagma"), estimated cost: 5 euro, http://www.oasa.gr Ten minute walk to conferecence hotel 3) Taxis: the taxi stand extends from Door 4 to Door 1 at the Arrivals Level of the Airport. Standard charge is 35 euros from airport to city (including conference hotel). Drivers will charge you a couple of euros extra for suitcases. Greek Easter! The first thing we would like to make you aware of is that it is Easter weekend on the Sunday before the conference – April 12th. This, for the uninitiated, is a big celebration in Greece and will have some implications for the beginning of your trip to Athens. With this in mind, we’ve drawn up the following list of questions: Will the metro run over that weekend? Yes, with Sunday service for Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday (11-13th April) and Saturday service Friday (10th April) and Tuesday (14th April) (this is information from last year, information for April 2015 is not yet announced – we will update when it is) Will taxis be more expensive over that period? No, there are no extra charges. Will tavernas/ restaurants/ cafes be open? All tavernas will be open and possibly crowded on Good Friday and Saturday night, so reservations may be required. Most will be closed on Easter Sunday and a few on Easter Monday. Your best chances of finding open taverns are in the Plaka and Monastiraki areas where there are many reasonably priced eateries. Shops remain closed on Easter Sunday and Monday (please note that shops in Greece remain closed every Sunday except for tourist areas). Eating out in Athens! Exarcheia Area (close to the hotel): Rozalia: Valtetsiou 58-Traditional Greek cuisine Zachari & Alati: Valtetsiou 47- Bistro-bar in an early twenty century renovated house of Salero: Valtetsiou 51, Tapas bar with inspiration from the Iberian Peninsula Thiseio (the other side of Acropolis hill – Thiseio metro station or taxi or 40 minutes walk through town from conference hotel): KUZINA: Adrianou 9 - Modern Greek Cuisine, depending on the weather you can have your lunch/dinner on the terrace with the spectacular view of Acropolis Filoistron: Apostolou Pavlou 23, Traditional Greek cuisine To steki tou Ilia: Thessalonikis 7-Traditional Greek cuisine (mostly visited by locals for grilled lamb chops) To krasopoulio tou Kokkora: Aisopou 4, Psirri- Greek Cuisine Acropolis – Plaka (Old downtown – Acropolois metro station or 20 minutes walk from conference hotel): Strofi: Robertou Gali 25-Greek Cuisine, awarded as one of the Athenian restaurants with the best view Giasemi: Mnisikleous 23-in one of the most photographed locations of Plaka. Ideal for coffee, drink & tapas Syntagma down to Monastiraki: (10 minutes walk to Syntagma from conference hotel/ 20 minutes walk to Monastiraki Square or metro to Monastiraki station) The area around Kolokotroni Str (ten minutes walk from conference hotel). up to Agias Eirinis Square provides several choices for coffee, drink and light lunch /dinner Rock & Balls: Vasilikis 2- Agias Eirinis’ Sqr.- All day bar-restaurant, specialized in several types of meat and veggie balls Barley Cargo: Kolokotroni 6 – Large selection of beers & a few tapas as accompaniments Black Duck: Bistro-Bar –Restaurant Once in Monastiraki there are a number of traditional Greek tavernas and also souvlaki shops where you can eat in or take away. What does an average meal cost? An average meal is 18-25 euro per person. Tavernas may offer a meal as cheap as 10-15 euro per person and a more expensive meal can be over 30 euro per person. The prices are estimated for one salad and two-course menu, excluding drinks. A couple of souvlakis will cost you 4-5 euros – they’re good! Local tavernas will sell wine by the kilo – it is cheap and cheerful but don’t expect a smooth drink! Things to see! In case you arrive on Good Friday of the Orthodox Easter, you may come across the entourage of Epitaph (of Jesus Christ) at night. With priests leading, people follow the flower-decorated Epitaph with lit candles. There is a sombre atmosphere to the parade as it represents the mourning of Christ. This lasts for around an hour. The narrow alleys of Plaka are especially crowded. To capture the atmosphere of Greek Easter visit the church of St. George Loubadiaris where the Epitaph is followed by a children’s chorus under the Acropolis. Explore Greek History: Starting from Acropolis Museum, you can stroll down to Dionisiou Areopagitou Street passing from Herode’s Attikou Theater, around Acropolis hill to Thiseio & finally reaching the Ancient Agora at Monastiraki. This is a lovely walk – flat and good surface, mainly traffic free with plenty of cae stops en- route – and a good way to capture the full view all the way around Acropolis hill. Also consider the National Museum on Patision Street, the Benaki museum on Vasillis Sofias. The Kallimarmaron Stadium, the Columns and the Temple of Olympian Zeus also worth a visit. Just a small example of things to see in Athens. City by the Sea Take the tram from Syntagma to visit Floisvos marine, ideal for coffee. At Mikrolimano area (meaning small bay) you can find many taverns for fish & meat in front of the sea. Best to visit by car/taxi. With a View Philopappou Hill (near the Acropolis Hill) Lycabettous Hill: There is a restaurant on the top, though it is quite expensive. As an alternative you can drink a coffee enjoying the view. The terraces of Great Bretagne Hotel close to Parliament & A for Athens Bar close to Monastiraki Station. Shopping The shops will remain closed on Easter Monday. Several option for shopping on Ermou Str. Handmade items, antiques, souvenirs in alleys around Monastiraki & Plaka. Safety in Athens! Though Athens is a very safe city, the area below Omonoia square is best to avoid, especially at night. A few taxi drivers may try to charge you more than they should. It’s always good idea to check they start the counter once you enter the taxi (scale 1 during the day and scale 2 after midnight). Do not pay more than what is written on the counter upon arrival even if the driver insists (however, small amounts may be charged extra for heavy luggage). In case the driver refuses to give change back take a note of the registration number on the car plate and contact the conference organisers. .