From A to B with using a taxi in Athens, Greece
City: Athens
Country: Greece
Country: Greece
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Canary yellow taxis are a common sight in Athens and are a reasonably priced way of getting around (if you can avoid the traffic jams).
The starting fee is €1, after which the meter ticks up at €0.34/km ("rate 1") or €0.64/km ("rate 2"), with a minimum fare of €2.65. Rate 1 applies through Athens city limits, including the airport, while rate 2 applies outside the city and from midnight to 5 AM. Legal surcharges apply for calling a cab by radio (€1.60), trips to or from the airport (€3.20) and heavy bags (€0.32). Tipping is not necessary, although it's common to round up to the nearest full Euro.
Taxi fare fraud is not as widespread as it used to be, but it still happens, so insist on the meter and make sure the rate is correct. At busy tourist locations cab drivers can try and con you with a set rate that is ridiculously high (fees of 20€ for a short trip). In these cases it is best to find another and again insist on the charge shown on the meter. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171.
Be aware that the taxi drivers rarely obey all of the rules of the road. Expect that if you are leaving Athens on an early flight, that the driver will likely drive aggressively to get you there as quickly as possible.
Taxis are considered as fairly cheap in Athens. As such you can expect to share the ride during rush hours if you can find one, and at night after the Metro has shutdown. As such if you hail a taxi which is already occupied (Free Taxis have a brightly lit TAXI sign on top of the cab) the driver will ask where you want to go to before he will let you in to join the other customers.
Strikes by cabbies and public transit are common so be prepared and watch the local news.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at Wikitravel.org & Traveldudes.org.
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Posted by: Traveldudes
on: 01 February 2010
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Comments
Be prepared in you're not Greek
Submitted by dave (visitor) on Mon, 01/02/2010 - 18:22.
Everything you've said rings true from the two times I've visited Athens (I ADORE Greece!), but there was one very noticeable distinction that I feel warrants mention as well: it was a great surprise to me how common it was for me to flag a taxi, get in, pleasantly give my destination, & have the driver ask "American?" When I'd smile & nod, he'd promptly tell me he wasn't for hire & demand I leave. There was one night I spent nearly 45 minutes flagging & getting kicked out of taxis. I always considered myself a nice, respectful guy too!
After asking around a bit I was told by quite a few locals that many of the taxi drivers either refuse to drive Americans or even foreigners in general. I heard many a harsh word about those drivers from many a local.
Hopefully, it's needless to say that Athens - & Greece in general - is a wonderfully warm & welcoming place, with absolutely outstanding, friendly people, but if you plan to make use of the taxis while in Athens, it's good to be prepared for the possibility of being kicked out without provocation. Don't try to fight it, don't be rude, just smile & be on your way (or at least be on your way). Arguing won't work, & will just end up frustrating you & solidifying the driver's resolve not to pick up foreigners. It's annoying - & at times quite offensive - but if you're prepared for it, you can help change opinions by taking poor behavior in stride.
Great tips!
What???
Hi Dave,
that does sounds sooo crazy? Why do they behave soooo unfriendly? What's the reason?
In Germany we have a law that the taxi drivers have to drive you, even if it's just around the corner. The taxi driver might have waited for a long time already and that would mean for him to get back to the end of the taxi line again. I'm sure that you'll have some problems getting in taxi to take you about 200 metres... whatever the law says.
But your story is still different. Crazy! But thanks a lot for the info! It's good to know that when getting to Athens.