Transport
From LBW2007
Contents |
Coming to Greece & Crete
Passport and Visa Requirements for Greece
Greece is both a member of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). All EU nationals (including citizens of new member states) may enter Greece with a valid national ID card; this includes non-member states affiliated with the European Union, such as Monaco and Andorra. Citizens from EEA states that are not members of the EU (such as Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland), may also enter Greece with a valid national ID card.
A valid passport is required of all non-EU and non-EEA nationals, and most are also required to obtain a visa. Citizens of select countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States, are allowed a 90-day visa-free stay. Citizens of Brazil and Uruguay are allowed a 60-day visa-free stay. For the most recent information on entry requirements, contact your nearest Greek consulate.
Greece is a signatory of the Schengen agreement along with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. There are no passport checks when traveling between any two Schengen countries. A non-Schengen national who plans on visiting multiple Schengen countries -and who needs a tourist visa to visit them- may do so on just one visa from one Schengen country; but he is best advised to specifically obtain the visa for the first country he will be visiting.
By Air
Athens - Elefthérios Venizélos International Airport (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV), located near the Athens suburb of Spáta, is the country's largest, busiest airport and main hub, handling over 14 million passengers annually as of 2005. Other major international airports in terms of passenger traffic are, in order of passengers served per year, Heraklion - Nikos Kazantzákis Int'l (IATA: HER, ICAO: LGIR), Thessaloniki - Makedonia Int'l (IATA: SKG), Rhodes (Diagorás), and Corfu (Ioánnes Kapodistrias).
During tourism season, several charter flights arrive daily from many European cities to many islands and some cities on the mainland. Several airlines operate year-round scheduled international service to Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion, with Athens handling the bulk of international flights. Olympic Airlines, the nation's flag carrier, offers service to Greece from several cities in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North America. Aegean Airlines, which owns half the the domestic market, also operates a number of international routes to Greece from various European cities.
For low budget companies, advise Easyjet (flying from London Gatwick, London Luton, Milan and Berlin), Virgin Express (flying from Brussels, to be substituted by Brussels Airlines as of 2007), Transavia (flying from Amsterdam), German Wings (flying from Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart), Hemus Air (flying from Sofia), Sterling (flying from Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo), LTU (flying from Düsseldorf), Alpi Eagles (flying from Venice), Norwegian Air (flying from Warsaw, Katowice and Krakow) and FlyGlobeSpan (flying from Glasgow).
The airport at Heraklion has, apart from the very frequent local flights to and from the mainland (mainly Greece's two largest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki), a constant flow of low-budget charters coming and going to and from everywhere in the world especially during the summertime, so that part should be easy.
By Train
Coming by train from Munich or Berlin to Athens and then by sea to Heraklion with a single national ID is possible since Bulgaria & Romania joined the E.U. in 1st January 2007. So you might want to try the following schedule:
- Munich to Vienna: 05:29h
- Berlin to Vienna: 13:25h
- Vienna to Budapest: 02:41h
- Budapest to Bucharest: 12:50h
- Bucharest to Sofia: 10:55
- Sofia to Athens: 15:38
Total, from Munich: 47:33 aka almost 2 full days
Total, from Berlin: 57:29 aka 2 full days + 9 and a half hours
These schedules are indicative of the total hour someone will do traveling from Germany to Greece. Maybe staying more in some cities changes the total amount of time to spent. For more info, you can go to the official railways sites:
- Die Bahn German Railways
- ÖBB Austrian Railways
- MÁV Hungarian Railways
- CFR Romanian Railways
- БДЖ Bulgarian Railways
- ΟΣΕ Greek Railways
Also, for more exact information you can download from Eurail site, the exact timetable and map of European Rail System.
By sea
From Italy, several ferries depart for Greece daily. Ferries to Patras (Pátra), Igoumenítsa, and Corfu (Kérkyra) leave throughout the year from the Italian port cities of Venice, Trieste, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. For more information on Italy-Greece ferries, see Greek Ferries.
The port of Heraklion is one of the busiest in Greece and has at least two very large ferries connecting Heraklion with Athens (6-hour trip) every night, itineraries which are doubled or even tripled during peak periods in the summer.
By car
Greece can be entered by automobile from any of its land neighbors. From Italy, ferries will transport cars to Greece. From western Europe, the most popular route to Greece was through Yugoslavia. Following the troubles in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s, most motorists from western Europe came overland by Italy, and then took a trans-Adriatic ferry from there. Although the countries of the former Yugoslavia have since stabilized, and Hungary-Romania-Bulgaria form another, albeit a mugh longer, alternative, the overland route through Italy now remains the most popular option.
By bus
There is some, albeit limited, international bus service mostly to neighboring Albania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
Moving around Crete & Hersonissos
Buses
Frequent buses to and from Hersonissos to Heraklion
http://www.ktel-heraklio-lassithi.gr/courses/heraklion/hersonissos-en.htm
Taxis
Renting car and motorcycles
Just Rental Center
JUST Rental Center, offers a large variety of brand new car models, service all over Crete Island at
the most competitive prices of the market. You can ask for a quote and manage your rental with online
price quote system http://www.rental-center-crete.com/online-quote.php .
Offering car hire services since 1975.
Location Heraklion
Address Nidas 1, Poros
Tel +302810240120
Fax +302810240120
Web http://www.rental-center-crete.com
E-mail info@rental-center-crete.com
Elite
ELITE car and bike rental office is situated in Hersonisos and can meet the needs of transport of the
visitors with a complete collection of new models of cars and bikes. The visitor who is interested can
choose the car that he wishes.
Location Hersonisos
Address Filonidou Hotou
Tel +302897029246
Fax +302897029246
Web
E-mail elite@hersonisos.com
Eurocar
The EUROCAR go well company, was founded in 1990 by George and Miron Shinarakis in the region of Anissaras,
Chersonissos,CreteIt was quickly recognized in it's field, as one of the most established and trustee
companies.
Location Anisaras
Address
Tel +302897024631
Fax +302897024631
Web http://www.eurocar-crete.com
E-mail info@eurocar.gr
Motor Plan
Motor Plan S.A., one of the most well-known companies in the area, is found in the central road of
Hersonisos offering services to the clients 24 hours per day, 12 months per year. Motor Plan S.A. is
the largest independent rental company of vehicles in the island.
Location Hersonisos
Address El. Venizelou 206
Tel +302897023851
Fax +302897023892
Web http://www.motor-plan.net
E-mail reservation@motor-plan.net
Royal
We provide you high quality service, all over Crete. Delivery to/from every port, airport and hotel of
the island without any charge. Unlimited kilometres, 24hour road assistance and excellent service!
Location Hersonissos
Address El. Venizelou 149
Tel +302879023988
Fax +302879023988
Web http://www.creteroyal.com
E-mail info@creteroyal.com
Speed
Speed rent a car is a car hire and motorbike rental in Anisaras and Analipsis established in 1993. With
a car fleet over 140 cars and 60 bikes is one of the most reliable car rental companies in the island.
Location Hersonisos
Address Anisaras, Analipsi
Tel +302987021657
Fax +302897024918
Web http://www.speedrentacar.gr
E-mail info@speedrentacar.gr
More Information
- Wikitravel about Greece
- Hersonissos Transportation
- Athens Survival Guide, humorous guide, contains info on food and traveling
There are some more pointers to ferries and how to get from Athens to Hersonissos on the Mailinglist
