The capital of Greece was named after goddess Athena, daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom and knowledge. This is where democracy was born. This is where that marvel of architecture, the Parthenon, was created. This is where art became inseparable from life, and this is where Pericles gave the funerary speech, that monument of the spoken word. Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world.

In Athens memory never fades. Wherever you stand, wherever you turn, the city's long and rich history will be alive in front of you. In the center of the town there are two hills: the Acropolis, with the monuments from the age of Pericles and Lycabettus, with the picturesque chapel of Ai Giorgis.

Athens today is a modern city, alive, and on the go. Modern, but romantic as well, with busy streets and squares, shop windows a riot of colors, as well as little alleys in quiet, peaceful neighborhoods such as Plaka and Mets.

In the countless shops, the visitor will find whatever he may need. In the tavernas and restaurants he can enjoy any taste sensation, in the nightclubs, pubs, discos, and bars he can drink and dance the night away. Because in Athens, the fun never stops before daylight.

Address of ACCI

ACCI is centrally located near the Syntagma Square. Very near are also the Parliament building (with its change of Guard every hour on the hour), the National Garden and the Benaki Museum. You may also take the funicular railway (or for the brave climb) up to Lycabettus Hill for a nice view of Athens. Within walking distance are also the fashionable Kolonaki district, the Plaka (old Athens) and the Monastiraki Flea Market.

Three express bus lines serve the Athens International Airport (A.I.A.) “ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS”.

1. E94 METRO STATION “ETHNIKI ΑΜΥΝΑ” – A.I.A. EXPRESS
Connecting the airport with the nearest metro station “Ethniki Amyna” (connection with metro line 3).
(It takes approx. 40 min. to get from the Airport to “Ethniki Amyna” by bus and, from there, approx. 10 min to get to Syntagma – City Center by metro line 3).

2. E95 SYNTAGMA-A.I.A. EXPRESS
Connecting the airport with Syntagma square - City Center (connection with metro lines 2 and 3).

3. E96 PEIRAIAS-A.I.A. EXPRESS
Connecting the airport with the port of Peiraias (connection with metro line 1).

The ticket price for the airport express lines is € 2,90. It allows for unlimited travel by all transport modes (bus, trolley, metro) for 24 hours from the time of its validation during first trip (validate only once).

The 24-hour ticket can be purchased from the drivers of the airport buses, at all metro stations and at the blue or yellow ticket kiosks of the Athens Public Transport Network.

This ticket can be used, irrespective of traveling to/from the airport, as a daily ticket by those who wish to explore the city using public transport.

The standard ticket for buses and trolley buses costs € 0,45. Tickets are sold at the blue or yellow ticket kiosks of the Athens Public Transport Network and at the metro stations of lines 2 and 3.

The metro ticket of € 0,70 allows for traveling on all lines (any transfer from one line to another is permitted) in one direction within 90 minutes from the time of its validation.

The metro ticket of € 0,60 allows for traveling within one or two subsequent zones of line 1.
Children under the age of six travel free.

• Validate your ticket by inserting it into the validating machine as soon as you board on the vehicle or you enter a metro station.

• Keep it safe till the end of your trip. Otherwise, you are liable to an on-the-spot fine, up to € 28,00.

A taxi from the airport to the center of Athens may cost up to 30 €. Some of the following radio-cab fleets require as little as a 15-minute waiting period between the time of your call and their arrival:

Athina-1: 210 9217.942
Ermis: 210 4115.200
Ikaros: 210 5152.800
Kosmos: 1300
Parthenon: 210 5814.711
Piraeus P1: 210 4182.3335
Proodos: 210 6433.400
Radio Taxi Glyfada: 210 9605.600

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Hotels

SEC-2003 Official Travel Agent:

fax no: +30-210.77.05.752

Please find below a list with hotels in Athens located within close distance from ACCI (conference location).

De Luxe Category
ATHENS PLAZA	Tel: 210-3255301/9	Fax: 210-3235856
ROYAL OLYMPIC	Tel: 210-9226411	Fax: 210-9233317

Category A
ELECTRA	Tel: 210-3223222	Fax: 210-3220310
ESPERIA PALACE	Tel: 210-3238001	Fax: 210-3238100
ATHENS ACROPOL	Tel: 210-5231111/18	Fax: 210-5231361

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Phone services in Greece are managed by OTE, Greece's state telecommunications company. The easiest way to make a phone call is by using the "phone cards" that can be purchased at most kiosks and OTE offices. For prices please visit the OTE web site at www.ote-shop.gr/clientservice/tarifflist.htm. To make an international call the dial prefix is 00 plus the international dial code of the destination country.

The advantage of using OTE for international calls is that you won't suffer any surcharges on your international call. International calls from Greece can be prohibitively expensive, but at OTE offices (unlike at your hotel) one pays a direct rat that corresponds solely to the units used during one's call and charged at OTE's prices. Also, should the connection be lousy or fail altogether, one can hang up and dial again without being charged.

The Greek peninsula, Europe's southeastern tip, has an area of 131,944 square kilometers, and consists of mainland Greece (Attica, the Peloponnese, Sterea Ellada, Thessalia, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace) and the islands of the Aegean and Ionian seas. Geographically it belongs to Europe since it forms the most southerly extremity of the Balkan peninsula, but it also has a special link with Europe through the small entity of the Ionian islands which form a chain off Greece's western shores in the Ionian sea.

In contrast, there are the numerous islands of the Aegean sea, some isolated like Crete in the south, and some in groups like the islands of the Northeast Aegean, the Sporades, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.

The Cyclades consist of 39 islands, of which only 24 are inhabited.

The Sporades lie off the eastern shores of mainland Greece and Evia and retain their genuine island characteristics and unchanged local traditions.

The Dodecanese group consists of twelve major islands and a number of smaller islands, each with its own distinctive features and peculiarities.

Finally, the Saronic Gulf which is the stretch of sea linking the shores of Attica to those of the Peloponnese, contains a further group of small islands which adds its variety to the general surroundings.

Vegetation and climate conform with the variations in the geographical area. The multiplicity of plants is exceptional, some 6,000 indigenous species having so far been recorded, 250 of which flourish on Crete alone. It is an impressive figure that is due to Greece's geographical position between Europe and Africa.

Plants associated with the joys of life are the country's countless vineyards. Major vegetation is likewise peculiar and above all made to human measures. The trees are of medium height and vary from pine, oak, fir, olive and mulberry trees to fruit and palm trees.Another result of the country's geographical location is also seen in its climatic range with mild winters and subtropical warm summers cooled by a system of seasonal breezes popularly called "meltemia". Lastly, an outstanding feature of the Greek climate is its ample sunshine. It is not an exaggeration to state that the sun shines in Greece for 3,000 hours a year.

(Opening hours may change without notice. Please check before visiting. On Sundays, admission to state-run museums is free.)

ACROPOLIS
tel 210-3210219.
Open 8am-6.30pm daily.

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
tel 210-3236665.
Open Mon 11-6.30. Tue-Sun 8.00-6.30pm

ANCIENT AGORA
tel 210-3210185.
Open daily 8.30am-3pm. Closed Mon.

NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
44 Patission. Tel 210-8217717
[Closed for restoration purposes ]

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF PIRAEUS
31 Harilaou Trikoupi, Piraeus. Tel 210-4521598.
Open 8.30am-2.45pm. Closed Mon.

ATHENS CITY MUSEUM
(Vouros and Eftaxias Foundation), 7 Paparigopoulou. Tel 210-3246164.
Open Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat 9am-1.30pm.

BENAKI MUSEUM
1 Koubari (corner of Vassilissis Sofias). Tel 210-3626215.

BYZANTINE MUSEUM
22 Vassilissis Sofias. Tel 210-7211027.
Open 8.30am-3pm. Closed Mon.

CENTRE FOR FOLK ART AND TRADITION
6 Angelikis Hadzimihali, Plaka. Tel 210-3243972.
Open Wed, Fri, Sat 9am-1pm & 5-9pm; Tue & Thu 9am-9pm; Sun 9am-1pm. Closed Mon. Entrance free.

CYCLADIC AND ANCIENT GREEK ART MUSEUM
4 Neofytou Douka, Kolonaki. Tel 210-7228321/23.
Open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 10am-4pm; Sat 10am-3pm. Closed Sun & Tue.

DAPHNI MONASTERY
tel 210-5811558. Open daily 8.30am-3pm.

ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS MUSEUM
Eleftherias Park (Vassilissis Sofias, behind Venizelos' statue). Tel 210-7224238.
Open 10am-1pm and 6-8pm. Closed Mon all day and Sun evening.

EPIGRAPHICAL MUSEUM
1 Tossitsa. Tel 210-8217637.
Open daily 8.30am-3pm. Closed on Mon. Entrance free.

GOUNAROPOULOS MUSEUM
6 Gounaropoulou. Tel 210-7777601
. Open Tue-Sun 9am-1pm; Tue, Wed, Thu 5-8pm. Closed Mon. Entrance free. Closed the month of August.

GREEK CHILDREN'S ART MUSEUM
9 Kodrou, Plaka. Tel. 210-3312621.
Open Tue-Sat 10am -2pm; Sun 11am-2pm. Closed Monday. .

GREEK FOLK ART MUSEUM
17 Kydathinaion, Plaka. Telephone 210-3229031.
Open 10am-2pm. Closed Mon.

GREEK FOLK MUSIC INSTRUMENTS MUSEUM
1-3 Diogenous (Aeridon Sq). Tel 210-3250198.
Open daily 10am-2pm; Wed 12am-6pm. Closed Mon. Entrance free.

GREEK HISTORICAL COSTUME MUSEUM
7 Dimokritou, Kolonaki. Telephone 210-3629513.
Open Mon, Wed, Fri 10am-1pm. Entrance free.

GREEK MARITIME MUSEUM
Marina Zea, Freatidos Square Piraeus. Tel 210-4516822, 4516264.
Open 8.30am-2pm. Sun 9am-1pm. Closed Mon.

Ilias LALAoUNIS Jewellery Museum
4a Karyatidon Str., Acropolis. Tel 922-1044.
Open Mon, Thur, Fri, Sat & Sun 9am-4pm. Wed, 9am-9pm. Closed on Tue.

JEWISH MUSEUM OF GREECE
36 Amalias. Tel 322-5582, 323-1577.
Open 9am-1pm. Closed Sat. Entrance free.

KERAMIKOS MUSEUM & SITE
148 Ermou. Tel 210-3463552.
Open 8.30am-3pm. Closed Mon.

KESSARIANI MONASTERY
tel 210-7236619.
Open daily 8.30am-3pm. Closed Mon.

MUSEUM OF THEATRICAL ART
50 Akadimias. Tel 210-3629430.
Open daily 9am-2.30pm; Closed Sat. & Sun.

NATIONAL GALLERY
50 Vassileos Constantinou. Tel 210-7235938.
Open 9am-3pm; Sun 10am-2pm. Closed Tue.

NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Stadiou & Kolokotroni (old Parliament). Tel 210-3237617
Open daily 9am-1.30pm. Closed Mon.

NATURAL HISTORY-GOULANDRIS MUSEUM
13 Levidou, Kifissia. Tel 210-8086405.
Open daily 9am- 2pm. Closed Mon & Fri.

N. HADJIKYRIAKOS-GHIKA
3 Kriezotou, Syntagma Sq. Tel 210-3626266. Open daily 10am-2pm. Closed Tue.

OLYMPIAN ZEUS' TEMPLE
1 Olgas. Tel 210-9226330.
Open daily 8.30am-3pm. Closed Mon.

PANOS ARAVANTINOS COLLECTIONS OF STAGE DESIGNS
Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, 2 Agios Konstantinou. Tel 412-2339.
Open Mon, Tue & Wed 4-8pm; Thu & Fri 9am-2pm. Closed Sat & Sun. Entrance free.

PHILATELIC MUSEUM
2 Fokianou. Tel 751-9066.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-2pm; Mon & Wed 5-8pm. Closed Sat & Sun. Entrance free.

RAILWAYS MUSEUM
4 Siokou (opposite 301 Liossion). Tel 524-6580.
Open Wed 4.30-8pm and Fri 9am-1.30pm. Sat and Sun 9am-1.30pm. Entrance free.

ROMAN FORUM
Pelopida & Eolou (Aeridon Sq), Plaka. Tel 210-3245220.
Open Tue-Sun 8.30am-2.45pm. Closed Mon. .

SKIRONIO CENTRUM KIFISSIA
Park of Contemporary Sculpture, 73 Georgiou Lyra St., Nea Kifissia. Tel 210-6206437, 6201253.
Open Tues-Sat 10am-6pm. Closed Sun & Mon. Entrance free (educational programs require admission fee).

SKIRONIO MUSEUM POLYCHRONOPOULOS
50 km on the old national road Athens to Corinth. Tel 0296-62170.
Open Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 10am-2pm & 4-8pm. Entrance free.

THEATRE OF DIONYSSOS
D. Areopagitou. Tel 210-3224625.
Open daily 9.00am-2.45pm.

TSAROUHIS MUSEUM
Yannis Tsarouhis Foundation, 28 Ploutarhou, Maroussi. Tel 210-8062637.
Open daily 9am-2pm. Closed Tue. Sun free.

VORRES MUSEUM
Peania, Attica. Tel 210-6642520, 6644771.
Open Sat & Sun 10am-2pm.

WAR MUSEUM OF GREECE
Vas. Sofias & Rizari. Tel 210-7290543.
Open daily 9am-2pm. Closed Mon. Entrance free.

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The city of Athens	Hotels
Conference Location	Telecommunications
Transportation	Museums
Information about Greece	Useful Links

From ETHNIKI ΑΜΥΝΑ to the AIRPORT
Every	7 min.	From	5:30	To	20:10
Every	15 min.-20 min.	From	20:10	To	2:55
Every	25 min.-30 min.	From	2:55	To	5:30
From SYNTAGMA to the AIRPORT
Every	10 min.	From	5:15	To	7:25
Every	20 min.	From	7:25	To	2:40
Every	25 min.-30 min.	From	2:40	To	5:15
From PEIRAIAS to the AIRPORT
Every	15 min.-20 min.	From	5:00	To	20:30
Every	30 min.	From	20:30	To	5:00
From the AIRPORT to ETHNIKI ΑΜΥΝΑ
Every	7 min.	From	6:15	To	21:25
Every	15 min.-20 min.	From	21:25	To	3:40
Every	25 min.-30 min.	From	3:40	To	6:15
From the AIRPORT to SYNTAGMA
Every	20 min.	From	8:35	To	18:55
Every	10 min.	From	18:55	To	23:10
Every	15 min.-20 min.	From	23:10	To	3:40
Every	25 min.-30 min.	From	3:40	To	8:35
From the AIRPORT to PEIRAIAS
Every	15 min.-20 min.	From	7:20	To	22:10
Every	30 min.	From	22:10	To	7:20