Which means of transport to use Central Greece?

From the airport to the city centre Central Greece

You will usually arrive in mainland Greece via the international airports of Athens or Thessaloniki.

Both cities offer very cheap shuttle buses (€5.50 in Athens, €2.20 in Thessaloniki) to the center as well as a subway connection in the capital (€10 one way). Cabs in both cities also offer packages (from €38 during the day in Athens, €20 in Thessaloniki). In Athens, the website "Athens transport" (www.athenstransport.com) contains interesting information in English. For the rest, the country has other regional airports, such as Kalamata in the Peloponnese, which offer direct connections with France in season. The regional airports (Ioaninna, Alexandropouli...) are rarely far from the cities and easily accessible by cab at moderate prices.

Arrival by train Central Greece

The most romantic - or adventurous - can always go by train to Venice and take a boat to Greece. For the rest, the Greek railway network has considerably diminished. However, there are still a few international lines running north from Bucharest (Romania) and Sofia (Bulgaria) to Thessaloniki (see trainose.gr). The domestic network has also melted away. It allows to connect Athens to Thessaloniki through Meteora for example. More interesting, the proastiakos, a new "suburban" train, now connects Athens to the Peloponnese (Corinth) and to Evia (Halkida) from the airport. For longer distances, the bus network is more reliable, complete and regular.

Arrival by boat Central Greece

Reaching mainland Greece by sea is mostly possible from Italy. Boats, from Bari or Ancona, arrive at Igoumenitsa in Epirus or Patras in the Peloponnese (see connections on www.minoan.gr). You can also continue or dream your itinerary in Greece online (www.gtp.gr) and book your tickets in advance, again via the Internet (http://openseas.gr) or at the travel agencies in Piraeus, near Athens.

Public transport Central Greece

The bus is a highly developed means of transportation that is flexible (often with many daily departures), cheap (comparable to the train) and even generally faster than the train! Greek cities are better served by bus than by train. They all have a regional Ktel network (see http://ktelattikis.gr or http://ktelmacedonia.gr for example). You can buy the ticket before departure online (sometimes), in the bus stations or at the small kiosks next to the main stops. In most cities there is also a local network.

Bike, scooters & co Central Greece

The density of traffic in the city centers makes cycling still infrequent, except for interesting organized tours in Plaka. However, subscription-based bike terminals and bike lanes are slowly starting to appear in Thessaloniki, for example, especially on the waterfront.
In the larger cities, but especially in the countryside or on the coast, you can rent motorcycles or scooters. Anyway, don't imitate the locals and wear a helmet... on your head! The roads are not necessarily well maintained, the wind blows strongly and an accident can happen quickly: without a helmet, the insurance will not cover you. Many rental companies do not insist on wearing a helmet, so ask specifically for one. Another important piece of information: the classic French B license includes the driving of scooters up to 125cc (but not including them).

However, some rental companies will refuse to let you have a scooter (even a 50cc) if you do not have a special motorcycle/scooter license or if you cannot prove that you have taken the two-wheeler training that is now mandatory in France. Again, in case of an accident, Greek insurance may not cover you.
Finally, like other capitals and big cities, Athens and Thessaloniki have also seen the emergence of electric scooters. You just have to download or open some applications (the same as in France...) that geolocate the free scooters. The rate is 1 € to unlock them, then 0.15 € per minute, or 5.50 € for 30 minutes. Again, wearing a helmet (not provided) is recommended.

With a driver Central Greece

Cabs (yellow in Athens, blue in Thessaloniki) charge significantly lower rates throughout Greece than elsewhere in Europe. Cab fares are normally flat rates set annually by the national administration, which means that every trip has a fixed, pre-determined fare based on the distance traveled. Most cities, even small ones, usually have cab drivers, although not necessarily in sufficient numbers. This is one of the reasons - and it should not be surprising - why most drivers will not hesitate to pick up other passengers going in the same direction as you..

If there is no Uber in Athens, the Freenow application (to download) offers a similar efficient service.

By car Central Greece

Whether you arrive with your own vehicle or rent a car, be aware that Greeks have their own ways. Speed limits are rarely respected and it is common to drive on the hard shoulder for example. Parking is difficult and often anarchic and leaving your car in double lane with a phone number on the windshield is common. Wearing a seatbelt is optional and using the phone while driving is an individual freedom, it seems. Nevertheless, the car remains without doubt the most efficient means of transportation to discover Greece. We simply recommend you to be very careful when driving. Outside the big cities, roads are often poorly maintained and narrow, so you will have no choice but to limit your speed. On the other hand, the highways - which many Greeks avoid because they are not paying - are often clear and of very good quality.

Accessibility Central Greece

The fate of disabled people and strollers is unfortunately not a priority in Greece, far from it. This results in poor accessibility, especially in all public transport, trains and local buses. In Athens, however, access is finally available in the most recent metro stations and some important tourist sites such as the Acropolis. On the sea side, ferries and other boats are not always very accessible either: on the big ferries, access is theoretically assured for all, but in practice, it is another story (the escalators used to get on the boat are deactivated when it comes to disembarking...). Elevators are provided, but they do not necessarily serve all the floors of the ferries.

Tourist traps Central Greece

Apart from a universal classic (in cab, watch the meter or check your airport pass), not much to report..