Difference between revisions of "Athens"

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{{Infobox Italian Location
 
{{Infobox Italian Location
 
|country = Greece
 
|country = Greece
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|state =  
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|state = Attiki
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|map = <map lat='38' lng='23.74' zoom='10' view='0' />
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|map = <map lat='38' lng='23.75' zoom='10' view='0' />
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|pop = 2,805,000
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|pop = 3.089.698
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|plate = YA - YH
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|plate = Y
 
|motorways = 1, 6
 
|motorways = 1, 6
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Athens''' is the capital of [[Greece]].
 
'''Athens''' is the capital of [[Greece]].
  
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== Hitching out ==
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==Public Transport==
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Around Athens people are generally suspicious about hitchhikers. It can take a long time before someone stops.
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Tickets cost 1,40€ (full price) or 0,70€ (students) and are valid for 90min after first validation. As an act of solidarity, half used tickets are left on the validating machines, escalators, etc. If you find one, take it. The time of first validation are the last 4 digits printed.
  
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The public transport is almost not controlled, except the metro intersections (Syntagma, Omonia, Attiki, Monastiraki), where they hide behind the turns of the connecting corridors.
  
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=== North to [[Thessaloniki]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] (E75) ===
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If the catch you without a ticket, give them your passport, but don't pay the fine. Till now, nobody saw their fines redirected to their countries.
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'''Option 1.'''
 
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Take the metro from the center north to Nea Ionia station. ('''Suggestion''': When you get off from the metro, take the bus no. 724 (it starts from here, you can't miss the direction) and get off at stop "Gymnasio" that is 10th stop and just walk 50m. Way better than to walk few kilometers as described in next lines). From the exit of the metro station, turn right, go down a few dozen meters, and go under the tunnel. This is the start of Odos Elevtheriou Venizelou. Walk up this street to Odos Tatoiou and turn right. Walk straight for a few kilometers until the road rises to become a bridge over a large motorway. Note that you will cross ringroad/highway E-94 (A6) first, but continue straight until you get to the bridge going over highway E-75 (A1). Don't go up the bridge, but rather take the road that stays below the bridge and runs to the right side. This is signposted ''Lamia'', one of the first major cities north of Athens. The best time to get a lift is the early morning when local people are driving to work in more distant communities. Eventually someone will stop who can take you far enough north that you can escape the Athens metropolitan area and get long distance rides. For Macedonia, turn left about a kilometer after the enormous toll booth plaza before Thessaloniki.
 
  
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'''Option 2.'''
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The below hitch-hiking spots have no control to get there, unless specified differently.
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Take the green "metro" to the final station Kifisia. Find the bus 509 (not exactly at the station, it is on a nearby parallel street. Ask around.) in the direction ΚΥΝΟΥΡΙΑΣ and get off at the stop 6η ΚΡΥΟΝΕΡΙΟΥ. Go straight and there you will see a turn right. This is taking you to the national road, going parallel with the highway (don't go to the highway yet) and walk on this road. In like 4 kilometers there is a toll station (the best spot!) on the highway. Walkable distance, but there are spots where you can stop and hitch.  
 
  
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E.g. a Lidl supermarket, where you can buy supplies for yourself for the road. Or something like a car repair shop like 500&nbsp;m later. Ask people if the are going your direction, and if they can take you for 3 kilometers to the toll station. They are friendly and somebody will take you.
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==North to Halkida, Lamia, [[Thessaloniki]] (E75)==
  
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'''Note''': it seems that bus 508 does not operate anymore, but if you happen to see one, it is the better option, get on! Take it to Neo Terma and you are much closer to the toll station. (like 2 kilometers)
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From metro Kifisia, [https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=38.073600,23.808195&daddr=38.072389,23.811949&t=h&dirflg=w cross the park]. You'll find a busy bus stop, direction north, take the bus [http://www.oasa.gr/xpmap.php?id=p509&lang=en 509]
  
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When you are at the toll, hitch with or without a sign. Everybody is going in the same direction. '''Very important!''' Refuse rides who would take you to the toll station before Halkida. That station is abandoned and cars are only slowing down a bit. Much worse spot. Stay here and wait for somebody who will take you further.
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Get off the bus when it makes a U-turn, at "NEO TERMA", and [https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=38.1549,23.857&daddr=38.155,23.8559&t=h&dirflg=w walk 300m] to the parallel of the high-way. It's quite busy with drivers avoiding the toll station 3km away. You can either walk to that toll station, or wait for a short ride, who's gonna drop you 18km away at "Sirios" complex. To help you make your decision, drivers are in better mood after eating than after paying tolls.
  
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Anywhere you hitch from, try to get a lift going at least to the town/village called Oinofyta. 10km before that there is a huge gas station called Autogrill where you can get long lifts if you are lucky. In Greece it is also no problem to hitch on the actual highway as long as you are far enough from the city suburbs.
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Sirios includes a restaurant, a gas station and Jumbo store. If Sirios restaurant is empty at that time of the day, you can also catch a ride at the point where drivers who avoided the tolls are getting back into the high way. Half of the rides go to Halkida, and the other half go further North. Decline rides that don't go in your direction, they will only put you in a worst spot.
  
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For a place to sleep before Thessaloniki, there is a great 24 hour rest area/gas station called Olympus plaza(olympusplaza.gr). It is 10km east of Katerini and has free wifi, showers and comfortable couches you can sleep on. Workers were really nice when Sma asked if she could sleep there, they said "of course!".
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For a place to sleep before [[Thessaloniki]], there is a [http://hitchwiki.org/maps/?zoom=15&lat=40.33&lon=22.58 24 hour rest area/gas station] called [olympusplaza.gr Olympus plaza]. It is in Korinos and has free wifi and showers. Workers will allow you to sleep on the comfortable couches and might give food away.
  
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=== Southwest to [[Patra]]s and the [[Peloponnesos]] (E94) ===
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==West to the Peloponnesos, [[Patra]] or [[Tripoli]] (E94)==
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==== Option 1 ====
 
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* Bus A16 from Aigaleo Metro Station (end of blue line)
 
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* Bus B16 from Metaxourgio Metro Station (Red Line)
 
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* Bus 865 200m from Eleonas Metro Station (blue line)
 
  
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Get off at 1st Aerodromiou Stop or Levkes Stop. There you will see the connection with National Road 8 (N8).
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====Option 1 : Megara SEA====
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From metro Neratziotissa, take the suburban train to Kiato, and get down in Megara. The ticket costs 3€.
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The controller always gets on the train in Nea Peramos, in the 1st or 5th (last) wagon. You can either
  
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==== Option 2 ====
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- go down in Nea Peramos and try to find a [https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=38.013363,23.414524&daddr=37.9964,23.364 short ride to Megara].
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'''Harrys Truck-Stop'''
 
  
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In the suburb of Aspropyrgos, in west Athens, there is a truck-stop well known and used by truck-drivers. There are many trucks from western and northern Europe which means that hitchers will have very good chances of getting a lift to the port-city of Patras and possibly even beyond into Europe.
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- stay in the 3rd wagon, and when you see the control approaching, go the opposite direction. If the train is full, the control might be slow and you might arrive in Megara before he reaches you. If he catches you without a ticket, you wont pay any fine, but just the 3€ ticket.
  
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The truck stop is at the 17th km of National Road Athens-Korinthos (Athinon-Korinthou). Ιt seems this is where Halivas Cement Company is.
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From the train platform of Megara, you can see the restaurant / petrol station. Cross the field, and find this [https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=37.992,23.362&daddr=37.995,23.364&t=k underground pass] There are not many cars stopping there, but you can get a long ride. The intersection to Patra or Tripoli is just 40km away, be sure to ask for the correct direction before accepting the ride.
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It's a huge area and bus drivers and people know it.
 
  
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==== Option 3 ====
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====Option 2 : National Road 8====
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Take Suburban Train Piraeus-Kiato from Piraeus or Athens aka Larissis Train Station-be careful when you ask because there is Larissa city far from Athens. The train station is next to the red line metro station with the same name.
 
  
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:There are almost no controllers on that train. I have taken it 5-6 times last two months (April-May 2010) usually on Fridays and Sundays and have seen no controllers. My girlfriend neither in different occasions. Regular ticket is EUR 6.
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* from Ag.Marina Metro Station (end of blue line) buses [http://www.oasa.gr/xpmap.php?id=pa16&lang=en A16] and [http://www.oasa.gr/xpmap.php?id=p876&lang=en 876].
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* from Pireas Metro Station (end of green line), buses [http://www.oasa.gr/xpmap.php?id=p845&lang=en 845] and [http://www.oasa.gr/xpmap.php?id=p871&lang=en 871].
  
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Get off at last stop "KIATO". Walk straight from the right side of the railway line to the motorway
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Get off at 1st Aerodromiou Stop or Levkes Stop. There you will see the connection with National Road 8 (N8).
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you see. There turn right. After 20m there is a left turn to Egio, Patras.
 
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You can easily hitchhike there.
 
  
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(please be aware that Parking (Rest Area Kiato) on the way to Patras dosn't work anymore).
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====Option 3 : Harrys Truck-Stop====
  
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==== Option 4 ====
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In the suburb of Aspropyrgos, in west Athens, there is a truck-stop well known and used by truck-drivers. There are many trucks from western and northern Europe which means that hitchers will have very good chances of getting a lift to the port-city of Patras and possibly even beyond into Europe.
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Eleusina Toll Station.
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The truck stop is at the 17th km of National Road Athens-Korinthos (Athinon-Korinthou). Ιt seems this is where Halivas Cement Company is.
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It's a huge area and bus drivers and people know it.
  
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=== Southeast towards Sounio ===
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====Option 4 : Eleusina Toll Station====
  
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To go along the coast, take tram 5 from Sintagma or Sigrou-Fix and get off at the last station: Asklipio Voulas. A little ahead there is a good spot to start hitch-hiking from.
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With the same buses of option 2, you get off at Platia Elefsinas and [https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=ΠΛ.ΕΛΕΥΣΙΝΑΣ[email protected],23.542327&daddr=38.042,23.495 walk 5.5km] to Eleusina Toll Station.
  
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== Sleeping ==
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==South to Sounio==
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From the northbound hitchhiking point, go up the stairs, across the bridge to the other side of the motorway, take the stairs down, and then walk a few meters south. You'll find a small wooded area surrounded by a fence. The gate of this is open, you just have to look for it. Surrounded on all sides by motorway and away from any normal pedestrian avenues, this is a pretty safe place to camp for the night, even pitch a tent. The large amount of trees means you won't be seen by the cars, which pass by rather fast.
 
  
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== Public Transport ==
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Take the bus [http://www.oasa.gr/xpmap.php?id=pe22&lang=en E22] from Elliniko to Saronida, go down at the last stop, walk along the coast to get out of Saronida, and from there you can hitch-hike to Sounio.
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Blackriding is possible .Controllers lately don't wear the the dark blue uniform nor name tag.
 
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In the metro sometimes the hide behind the turns of the connecting corridors.
 
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Good news is they are as rare as elephants in Athens.
 
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It's very possible to run into them between the last and the first 2-3 days of the month.
 
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Look for used tickets in entry/exit points or validating machines.Tickets of 1.40e or 0.70e student
 
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tickets are valid for 90min. after first validation.
 
  
 
{{IsIn|Greece}}
 
{{IsIn|Greece}}

Revision as of 15:08, 7 July 2014

Athens
<map lat='38' lng='23.75' zoom='10' view='0' />
Information
Country:
Flag of Greece
 Greece
State: Attiki
Population: 3.089.698
Licence plate: Y
Major roads: 1, 6
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots

Athens is the capital of Greece.

Public Transport

Tickets cost 1,40€ (full price) or 0,70€ (students) and are valid for 90min after first validation. As an act of solidarity, half used tickets are left on the validating machines, escalators, etc. If you find one, take it. The time of first validation are the last 4 digits printed.

The public transport is almost not controlled, except the metro intersections (Syntagma, Omonia, Attiki, Monastiraki), where they hide behind the turns of the connecting corridors.

If the catch you without a ticket, give them your passport, but don't pay the fine. Till now, nobody saw their fines redirected to their countries.

The below hitch-hiking spots have no control to get there, unless specified differently.

North to Halkida, Lamia, Thessaloniki (E75)

From metro Kifisia, cross the park. You'll find a busy bus stop, direction north, take the bus 509

Get off the bus when it makes a U-turn, at "NEO TERMA", and walk 300m to the parallel of the high-way. It's quite busy with drivers avoiding the toll station 3km away. You can either walk to that toll station, or wait for a short ride, who's gonna drop you 18km away at "Sirios" complex. To help you make your decision, drivers are in better mood after eating than after paying tolls.

Sirios includes a restaurant, a gas station and Jumbo store. If Sirios restaurant is empty at that time of the day, you can also catch a ride at the point where drivers who avoided the tolls are getting back into the high way. Half of the rides go to Halkida, and the other half go further North. Decline rides that don't go in your direction, they will only put you in a worst spot.

For a place to sleep before Thessaloniki, there is a 24 hour rest area/gas station called [olympusplaza.gr Olympus plaza]. It is in Korinos and has free wifi and showers. Workers will allow you to sleep on the comfortable couches and might give food away.

West to the Peloponnesos, Patra or Tripoli (E94)

Option 1 : Megara SEA

From metro Neratziotissa, take the suburban train to Kiato, and get down in Megara. The ticket costs 3€. The controller always gets on the train in Nea Peramos, in the 1st or 5th (last) wagon. You can either

- go down in Nea Peramos and try to find a short ride to Megara.

- stay in the 3rd wagon, and when you see the control approaching, go the opposite direction. If the train is full, the control might be slow and you might arrive in Megara before he reaches you. If he catches you without a ticket, you wont pay any fine, but just the 3€ ticket.

From the train platform of Megara, you can see the restaurant / petrol station. Cross the field, and find this underground pass There are not many cars stopping there, but you can get a long ride. The intersection to Patra or Tripoli is just 40km away, be sure to ask for the correct direction before accepting the ride.

Option 2 : National Road 8

  • from Ag.Marina Metro Station (end of blue line) buses A16 and 876.
  • from Pireas Metro Station (end of green line), buses 845 and 871.

Get off at 1st Aerodromiou Stop or Levkes Stop. There you will see the connection with National Road 8 (N8).

Option 3 : Harrys Truck-Stop

In the suburb of Aspropyrgos, in west Athens, there is a truck-stop well known and used by truck-drivers. There are many trucks from western and northern Europe which means that hitchers will have very good chances of getting a lift to the port-city of Patras and possibly even beyond into Europe.

The truck stop is at the 17th km of National Road Athens-Korinthos (Athinon-Korinthou). Ιt seems this is where Halivas Cement Company is. It's a huge area and bus drivers and people know it.

Option 4 : Eleusina Toll Station

With the same buses of option 2, you get off at Platia Elefsinas and walk 5.5km to Eleusina Toll Station.

South to Sounio

Take the bus E22 from Elliniko to Saronida, go down at the last stop, walk along the coast to get out of Saronida, and from there you can hitch-hike to Sounio.

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