- Documents required for air travel to Greece.
- We study the customs rules of Russia and Greece.
- We study departure and landing airports.
- Choosing a flight to Greece.
- Buying a ticket for a flight to Greece.
- We prepare your luggage before your flight to Greece.
- We reserve a seat on the plane.
- Departure airport.
- Flight to Greece.
- Arrival airport.
Documents required for air travel to Greece.
International passport.To fly to Greece, you will need a non-renewed (valid for less than 10 years) valid passport with two blank pages and must expire no later than 90 days after the end of your trip to Greece.
Visa for air travel to Greece.
According to the Consulate of the Republic of Greece, a Russian citizen with a regular international passport can obtain a visa depending on the purpose of the visit: Short-term visa (type "C") up to 90 days -1400 rubles (35 €); National long-term visa (D) -1500 rubles (37.5 € );National long-term visa + Schengen: combined visa (D+C) -1500 rubles (37.5 €). Additionally, a service fee of 800 rubles is paid in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don Don, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnoyarsk, Kaliningrad, Ufa, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok and Sochi. The service fee is paid by each applicant, except for children under 6 years of age and children entered in the parents' passport. Payment in cash in rubles, on the day of submission of documents. Visa and service fees paid are non-refundable.
Air ticket for a flight to Greece*.
Without it, it will be extremely difficult to get on a flight to Greece.
We study the customs rules of Russia and Greece.
To prevent various misunderstandings, carefully read and! If we take more than 10,000 usd in cash, we must declare it at our customs. If there is a possibility that on the way back you will have more than 2500 usd, then upon entering the territory of Greece we declare the funds. According to Greek customs rules, the amount of funds (starting from 10,000 euros) must be declared.We pay special attention to the items listing prohibited and restricted goods.
We study the airports of departure and arrival.
Before flying to Greece, you should read the information on the website of the airports of departure and arrival. We study the infrastructure of airports and pay special attention to such points as: a list of prohibited things; baggage; check-in; customs control, passport control, security control; rules for using the airport terminal; public transport (in terms of how to get from the city to the airport and back). At the same time, we familiarize ourselves with “COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No. 185/2010” and “Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 104 of July 25, 2007.”Choosing a flight to Greece.
Choosing a regular flight to Greece or a charter flight to Greece is a decision that is determined only by your motives. However, this choice will require you to take into account several factors (departure time, the plane you will be flying on, the air carrier company, the number of connections, waiting time at the transfer airport). Our company, which sells air tickets for flights to Greece, can provide assistance in selecting the optimal flight to Greece that suits your wishes. Just call (495) 933-78-33 and our specialists will help you choose the right flight to Greece!Choose: charter or regular flight to Greece
Scheduled flights and charter flights have their pros and cons.
Regular flights to Greece are characterized by a slightly higher price for an air ticket, a longer flight duration is possible (due to transfers at the airports of Istanbul, Larnaca, Rome, Munich, Frankfurt am Main or Prague), on all regular flights the rule applies in accordance with by which a return flight ticket is considered invalid for air transportation if the first flight coupon is not used. But this is compensated by some advantages: a regular flight is called regular because departures occur on schedule; if there is a delay in departure due to weather conditions, then regular flights depart first; a ticket can be purchased at airline offices and it is possible to return the ticket; If there is a delay due to an aircraft malfunction, you will depart on the next scheduled flight.
For charters to Greece the situation is almost the opposite. On the positive side: the price of an air ticket is significantly lower than for a regular flight; the lack of transfers significantly reduces the flight time to Greece. Among the inconveniences: the regularity of flights depends on the demand for air travel to the destination; a ticket for a charter flight can only be purchased from the tour operator that chartered the flight or on specialized websites selling tickets for charter flights (for example, ours); a ticket for a charter flight cannot be returned, only reissued to another person; In the event of a technical malfunction of the aircraft, you will have to wait for a special reserve aircraft.
Select the flight time to Greece.
The easiest part in choosing the best flight to Greece. In the selection form, select: the desired departure city, arrival country, arrival city and click “search”. If the date of departure to Greece and the date of return are known, then it makes sense to set “round trip” in “Fare type:”. A round-trip air ticket on one airline is often cheaper than a one-way ticket. Then we get a list of flight numbers to Greece indicating the class, cost of air tickets, departure and return dates, departure and landing times, the number of transfers and the time they will take.
Selecting an air carrier and aircraft flying to Greece.
By the flight number you can determine which air carrier and which aircraft will carry out this flight to Greece. Knowing this information, you can find out what services you can count on during your flight to Greece and what services each airline offers. It should be taken into account that the free baggage allowance varies from airline to airline and may depend on the class of service and the direction of the flight. Therefore, having decided on the flight number, you should definitely check the free baggage allowance of this airline. Based on the model of the plane, you can also look in advance for the seats on the plane that will be most comfortable for your flight to Greece.
Buying a ticket for a flight to Greece.
Buying an air ticket to Greece is a very simple procedure. It should be remembered that air tickets for charter flights to Greece cannot be returned or exchanged and can only be purchased on specialized websites and at the office of the tour operator that chartered the flight you have chosen! Tickets for regular flights can be purchased on our website or at the representative offices of the airline operating the flight. We add up the knowledge we have gained: date of departure and time of return, time of departure and time of landing, quality of service by the airline during an air flight to Greece, rules and regulations for baggage transportation. As a final result, we decide on the flight number on which we will fly to Greece. Knowing the flight number to Greece, in order to save time and money, instead of a regular paper ticket on our website, we purchase an electronic ticket for a flight to Greece. Immediately after payment you will receive an itinerary receipt with detailed information about the flight.We prepare your luggage before your flight to Greece.
Baggage for air travel to Greece:1. Before leaving, check the availability of: Foreign passports (a minor citizen of the Russian Federation, traveling together with at least one of the parents, can leave the Russian Federation only with his own foreign passport (this rule applies to documents issued from March 2010)
2.Check the availability of the following documents: Air tickets, insurance policies, vouchers, certificate for export of cash currency (if necessary), driver's license (if you plan to rent a car), we recommend having the consent of both parents (for children traveling without parents/parent ) and the child’s birth certificate (for children traveling with one of the parents).
3. According to the airline’s baggage rules and regulations, we determine which items we check in as checked baggage and which ones as hand luggage.
4. We compare the weight and dimensions of your luggage with the free baggage allowance applicable to your air ticket to Greece. The free baggage allowance is indicated on your ticket and passenger receipt. If there is excess size and weight, you will have to pay for excess baggage.
5. Take a blue or black ballpoint pen with you (you will need it to fill out documents at airports).
6. We take with us a photocopy of our passport, a document with a photo and write down the phone number with the address:
Russian Embassy in Greece:
Office:
Address: Athens, 154 52 Paleo Psychiko, st. Nikiforu Litra 28
tel.: 210.672.52.35, 210.672.61.30,
fax: 210.674.97.08
The Consular Section:
Athens, 152 32 Chalandri, st. Tzawella 5
tel.: 210-67-11-945,
telephone answering machine: 210-67-11-906, 210-67-28-849, 210-67-11-935
fax: 210-67-29-157
(may be needed to return home if you lose your passport while staying in Greece)
7. We take slippers with us.
We pack the whole thing in suitcases and bags. We sign what we will put into luggage from the inside in Latin letters, full name. address and telephone. Under no circumstances should we wrap hand luggage in packing tape.
We reserve a seat on the plane.
An electronic air ticket allows you to check in for a flight yourself, at special self-check-in kiosks or on the airline’s website (the option becomes available 24 hours before departure). We go to the website of the air carrier carrying out your flight to Greece. We enter the necessary data and choose a seat on the plane. Online registration for flights to Greece has been completed. But by doing this you have only reserved the seat you “liked” in the aircraft cabin and now you know where your passenger seat is. Since you are flying to a visa-seeking country, and the airline guarantees to a foreign country that all its passengers have the right to enter, you will still have to come to check-in, where they will check that you have the necessary documents before boarding. This formality should not be forgotten.Departure airport.
We leave for the airport in advance, since check-in for the flight, border control, customs control, luggage and boarding the plane will take time. We are preparing for the possibility of increased interest in your person from the airport security service and customs. In case of transportation of animals, it will be necessary to undergo Veterinary control. In case of transportation of plants, you will need to undergo Phytocontrol for transportation of plants, where the rules for their transportation will be explained to you.Check-in:
After receiving information about the start of check-in for the flight, we go to the check-in counter, check in and check in baggage and hand luggage for transportation. An important point: at the check-in counter there are (must be) rules of conduct for passengers of the airline that will operate your flight. Be sure to pick up a copy of this useful read! There will be something to read during the flight. After reading, you won’t do anything stupid on board.
Customs control:
When returning from Greece, customs officers may require evidence that you took your personal belongings with you and did not buy them in Greece. If you do not have the appropriate document with you, you will have to pay a fee on everything that costs more than 1,500 euros. Therefore, it is better to immediately declare all expensive items when leaving the country. If you are not sure how to correctly declare the goods you are moving across the customs border, then contact a customs official.
After passing through customs control, passengers undergo passport control.
Passport control:
We arrange travel abroad of the Russian Federation. Monitoring the availability of visas or other permits for the entry of persons into a foreign country is the responsibility of the transport company (carrier). When leaving the Russian Federation, border control officers only check the legality of the passenger’s stay on the territory of the Russian Federation and do not control the citizen’s right to enter a foreign state.
After passing through passport control, passengers undergo security control.
Security control:
Security control is the most interesting procedure, which is worth learning more about. When going through security you must present your ticket, boarding pass and passport.
1. If you have implanted heart pacemakers:
- Under no circumstances enter the inspection area of a stationary metal detector!
- Contact the Aviation Security Service inspector and explain to him the essence of the issue.
- Enjoy personal manual (contact) inspection....
2. We put all liquids in one plastic container, which is presented for inspection separately from hand luggage (Remember Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 104 of July 25, 2007).
3. Remove the shoes and place them in a plastic container. We put on shoe covers.
2. Remove outer clothing and place it in another plastic container.
3. We put mobile phones, pocket computers, lighters, cigarettes, coins, keys and other metal objects in the next basket. Including a trouser belt (if the buckle is made of metal)!
4. Carry-on luggage and containers (without containers with liquids) must be placed on the introscope tape, and you yourself must go through a stationary metal detector.
When searching your hand luggage, you may be asked to open your bag and perform a manual search of its contents.
We are waiting to receive information about the start of boarding for your flight. Once received, proceed to the appropriate gate to board the plane.
Flight to Greece.
After boarding the plane:We take out slippers.
We put hand luggage on the luggage racks.
We follow the crew's instructions.
We don’t smoke on the plane (the sensors will go off and you’ll have to pay a fine).
During an air flight to Greece, every hour we perform the prevention of “economy class syndrome”: move your legs and feet for 3-4 minutes, tuck your toes in and out again 20-30 times - this strains many small muscles. Drink more water or juice and less tea, coffee and alcohol. When the body is dehydrated, the blood thickens and the risk of blood clots increases.
We do not abuse alcohol (having achieved impressive results in this way, you can organize an unscheduled transfer to the police station upon landing).
After landing, do not rush to leave the plane; you will have at least 10-15 minutes to get dressed, put on your shoes and pack your things.
Arrival airport.
At the airport of arrival, we first go through passport control: we give the border guard our passport and boarding pass. We receive our luggage and go to customs control. If you did not find your luggage on the transport belt or it was damaged, immediately contact the airport employee of the Lost and Found department. Naturally, be prepared for the possibility of increased attention from Greek customs and airport security. It is better to declare all expensive items that are in very good condition (like new) when importing into Greece.TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Before leaving for the airport, check that you have the following documents:
- international passport;
- air tickets;
- insurance policy;
- tourist package (voucher);
- a certificate from the bank for the export of currency (if the equivalent of more than 10,000 US dollars per person is exported);
- driver's license (if you plan to rent a car);
- power of attorney from both parents (for children traveling with one of the parents);
Documents for traveling with a child
If your minor child travels with one of the parents, do not forget to take documents confirming the relationship and a notarized power of attorney from the other parent.
If your child is included in your passport without a photo and he is already 6 years old, you must paste the photo.
If a child is traveling with any relative, acquaintance or alone in a tour group, then notarized consent is required from both parents (legal representatives: stepfather, stepmother, guardians). If the location of one of the parents is not established or he is absent for a long time (long business trip, seriously ill, etc.), then it is advisable to have a certificate from the relevant institution confirming this fact. When parents divorce, you can present at the border a divorce certificate and a court decision to leave the child with the parent who issued a notarized consent for the child’s tour.
RULES FOR CROSSING THE BORDER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
You need to arrive at the airport 2.5 hours before the departure time indicated on the ticket.
Receiving documents at the airport. If you receive documents at the airport, you should go to the company counter or a representative of the tour operator company, where you can receive a package of documents (air tickets, voucher, insurance), after which you go to check-in yourself.
To board the flight you must:
– undergo customs inspection, for which you need to fill out a customs declaration. Customs declaration forms are located in front of the customs line on tables or special counters.If you export foreign currency in equivalent:
- up to USD 3,000 per person, the amount can be exported freely.
- up to USD 10,000 per person, the amount must be declared and passage is carried out through the red corridor.
- over USD 10,000 per person, you must have bank documents with you.
Customs control is carried out in the wing where check-in for the flight takes place;
– check in for your flight at the check-in counter and receive your boarding pass. The check-in number is located on the central display opposite your flight number;
– go through border control.
Then board the plane through the entrance whose number is indicated on the boarding pass.We remind you that check-in ends 40 minutes before flight departure.
ARRIVAL RULES TO GREECE
You can import 300 cigarettes, 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22 degrees (or 4 liters of wine), 75 ml of perfume (or 375 ml of eau de toilette) duty-free into Greece.
In the country of arrival you will be met by a representative of the host country with a sign
All holidaymakers are advised to remain close to their group and wait until the rest of the group goes through passport and customs control. After all members of the group have gathered and checked in with the guide, the group proceeds to the bus.
During the transfer from the airport to the hotel, the guide will answer all your questions and also inform you of the time and place of the meeting, at which you will receive complete information regarding the procedure for staying in the country.
In case of any problem related to your stay (transfer, hotel accommodation, shortcomings in hotel services, excursion services, etc.), please immediately contact a representative of the host company by phone.
You should know exactly the name of the city and hotel you are going to (if you are not on a sightseeing tour).
RULES FOR DEPARTURE FROM GREECE
CHECK OUT FROM THE HOTEL / TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT:
Check out time at the hotel is 12:00. You can leave your luggage in the hotel storage room. You must pay for additional services before the bus arrives. Please pay for all additional services (use of minibar, telephone, etc.) in advance. Upon arrival at the airport, luggage is checked through customs immediately at the entrance. Next, go to the check-in counter, where your flight number is indicated, check in your luggage and receive a boarding pass, after which you go through passport control, where you fill out the departure registration card. Next, proceed to the departure hall, where you await the announcement for the boarding of your flight.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTRY – GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
Greece occupies the south of the Balkan Peninsula, its area is 132 thousand square meters. km. In the north it borders with Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, in the east – with Turkey. Greece owns over 2,000 islands in the Ionian and Aegean seas. The capital, Athens, is the oldest existing European capital. The second largest city and second most important port, Thessaloniki, is called the “northern capital” of Greece.
VISA
Greece is a member of the Schengen Union, and a visa from any Schengen member country is required to enter the country.
CUSTOMS
To enter the country, you must have currency with you at the rate of 50 euros per person for each day of stay. Cash may be checked by Greek customs.
TIME
Time in Greece is 1 hour behind Moscow. The transition from winter to summer time occurs simultaneously.
MONEY
Since March 1, 2002, the currency of Greece has been the euro. In circulation are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros and coins of 1 and 2 euros, as well as small coins called cents or mite (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50). .
Cash currency can only be exchanged at banks and exchange offices.
Banks are open: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 14:00, Friday from 8:00 to 13:30. Saturday and Sunday are days off.
In banks, the rate is usually more favorable, and the percentage charged for exchange ranges from 1 to 3. In exchange offices, the cost of services reaches 5%.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Modern Greek. English, which is widely spoken, is used to communicate with tourists. You can increasingly find Russian-speaking staff in hotels and shops.
TRANSPORT
TAXI – the fare is relatively low. Payment by meter or at a fixed rate to your destination. At night (from 24:00 to 5:00) and on holidays there is a double tariff. You can catch a taxi (in Athens they are yellow, in Thessaloniki they are blue and white) both on the road and at special parking lots. You can also call a taxi by phone. It is better to find out the approximate cost to your destination in advance, because... In large cities, some taxi drivers like to cheat.
GROUND PUBLIC TRANSPORT - in large cities these are buses and trolleybuses. Tickets are sold at newsagents (periptero) and cost €0.45 per trip. Tickets are composted at the ticket offices. The fine for traveling without a ticket is quite high. Buses and trolleybuses stop at stops only by “voting” when boarding and by pressing a special button (on the handrails or above the door in the cabin) when exiting. METRO - so far only available in Athens, construction has begun in Thessaloniki. Tickets are sold at the entrance to each station. Upon entry, they are composted in special machines.
TELEPHONE
In any locality and even on some beaches you can easily find a pay phone with access to an international line. Phone cards can be purchased from a newsagent or convenience store. You can also call from the hotel, but it costs more. For international calls in Greece, IP telephony cards are actively used, which is much cheaper. To call Russia you need to dial 007 (country code), then the city code and phone number. For example, a call to Moscow: 007 – 495 – phone number. To call from Russia to Greece you will need to dial 8 – 10 (international line access), 30 (country code), area code (210 for Athens) and the subscriber number.
Useful phone numbers:
Tourist police - 171, telephone information service - 151, international telephone service - 161-169
VOLTAGE
The mains voltage is 220 V. Hotels, as a rule, have European standard sockets. Sometimes an adapter is required.
THE SHOPS
Approximate store opening hours:
Mon, Wed, Sat – from 8:30 to 14:00; Tue, Thu, Fri – from 8:30 to 13:30 and from 17:00 to 20:00; Sun and holidays are days off.
Supermarkets are open from 8:00 to 20:00.
Drinks and many other essentials can be found at the kiosks (periptero). They work from morning until late evening.
Shops and kiosks in the tourist area are open all day, including Sunday.
RELIGION
98% of believers adhere to Orthodox Christianity; 1.3% are Muslims; 0.7% – other religions.
TIPS
Bills sometimes include a 10-15% service surcharge, but usually the waiter expects a tip. Taxi drivers and hotel employees also expect rewards.
MEDICINE
Medical care in Greece is paid. An indispensable condition for obtaining a visa to Greece is obtaining international health insurance. Some hotels have first aid stations, in others you should contact the reception - they will call you a doctor for an additional fee.
Rules for using the insurance policy
To receive timely medical assistance, you must immediately contact the Service Center by phone specified in the policy and provide the operator with the following information:
- Last name, first name of the Insured in need of assistance
- Policy number and period of validity
- Nature of assistance required
- Location of the Insured and contact details
Next, follow the operator's instructions!
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
Airport precautions:
– keep an eye on your luggage, do not leave it unattended even for a short time;
– do not change large sums of money at the airport, since you will not need them on the way.
Precautions and recommendations for hotel accommodation:
– keep money, documents and valuables in the hotel safe;
– if the room has a minibar, then all drinks taken from it during your stay at the hotel must be paid for on the day of departure at the hotel’s accommodation service.
Precautions on excursions:
– before each excursion, check the availability of tickets for this excursion;
– do not take a large amount of cash with you;
– do not be late to board the bus at the beginning of the excursion. During the excursion, arrive on time to the place designated by the guide during stops along the excursion program; The driver is not responsible for money and valuables left on the excursion bus; At the end of the excursion, do not forget your things on the bus.
Outdoor precautions:
– make a photocopy of your personal documents, and if possible, do not carry the originals with you;
– do not tell strangers the name of the hotel where you are staying, as well as your room number;
– if credit cards or traveler’s checks are stolen or lost, cancel them by calling your bank;
– on the street, avoid street demonstrations and other large crowds of people;
– when traveling on public transport, prepare money for travel in advance;
– do not carry large sums of money with you unless absolutely necessary; Do not, under any circumstances, carry money in handbags;
– if you are going for a walk with your family, agree in advance where you will meet if someone gets lost.
Precautions and recommendations for renting a car:
– You can rent a car upon presentation of a foreign passport and an international driving license. You can order a car at the rental office, through the administration of the hotel where you are staying, as well as through a representative of the travel agency with whom you are traveling. Some companies providing car rental services have additional requirements for drivers (the driver must not be younger than 21 or 23 years old, and he must have obtained a driver's license at least one or two years ago). When picking up the car, in some cases you may be asked to leave a certain amount of security deposit; Do not leave your car with things unattended.
1. When preparing for a trip to hot countries, take care to protect your skin from sunburn. NIVEA SUN sunscreens with a UVA/UVB filter system will help you with this.
2. Choose NIVEA SUN sunscreen according to your skin tone. The lighter the skin, the higher the SPF should be. The climate of the country you are traveling to is also important. The hotter the climate, the stronger the protection factor should be. In very hot countries, even very dark skin types may need NIVEA SUN sunscreens.
3. Remember that it is necessary to protect your skin from the sun even while swimming. That's why all NIVEA Sun products are waterproof.
4. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply regularly, especially after swimming and towel drying.
5. Use NIVEA Sun Invisible Protection invisible spray, it is instantly absorbed and does not leave a sticky effect on the skin.
6. Avoid excessive sun exposure between 12:00 and 16:00.
7. To protect your baby, use NIVEA SUN baby color spray, you can easily apply it to your baby's skin.
8. Be sure to wear a hat, it will help protect you and your child from sunstroke.
9. To protect delicate facial skin, use a special NIVEA SUN face cream with a high sun protection factor SPF 20 and SPF30.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
TOURISTS traveling to GREECE (CRETE)
BEFORE LEAVING
Check that you have the documents required for your trip:
- Foreign passport (passport must be valid for at least three months after the end date of the trip, have at least two free pages for affixing a visa);
- a photocopy of international passports (may be useful in case of loss of a foreign passport and in case of other unforeseen circumstances);
- air tickets or itinerary/electronic ticket receipts;
- voucher;
- medical insurance policy;
- permission to enter Greece - visa.
If traveling with children:
A minor citizen of the Russian Federation traveling with at least one of his parents MUST LEAVE THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ONLY WITH HIS FOREIGN PASSPORT.
Without the need to obtain a separate foreign passport for a child, a minor citizen of the Russian Federation under 14 years of age can travel together with at least one of the parents, if he is included in the foreign passport of the parent traveling with him, EXECUTED BEFORE MARCH 01, 2010. In this case, the parent’s passport MUST include a photograph of the child, regardless of his age, which must bear the stamp of the passport and visa service. The absence of a photograph or seal is grounds for refusing a child to cross the border. Departure from the Russian Federation of minor children, information about which is included in the passports of their accompanying parents, issued before March 1, 2010, is carried out according to the validity period of these passports.
When a minor Russian citizen travels across the state border of the Russian Federation together with one of the parents, the written consent of the second parent is not required, unless he has previously received a statement about his disagreement with the departure of the children of whom he is the parent from the Russian Federation.
If a minor child and the parent traveling with him have different last names, we recommend taking with you a notarized copy of the birth certificate to confirm the relationship.
You can obtain more detailed information on this issue by reading the memo “Procedure for traveling abroad for minor citizens of the Russian Federation”, posted on our website in the “Memos for tourists” section.
When collecting your luggage:
We recommend that you put all valuables, documents and money in your hand luggage and take them with you on the plane. All metal sharp and cutting objects (manicure scissors, nail files, penknife, etc.), as well as any liquids, gels and aerosols (except, if necessary, baby food and medicines) should be packed in your luggage. - carrying such items on board the aircraft in hand luggage is PROHIBITED or is regulated by special rules. You can obtain more detailed information on this issue by reading the memo “Rules for passing pre-flight control”, posted on our website in the “Memos for tourists” section.
Do not forget to collect and take with you a first aid kit, which will help you with minor ailments, save your time searching for medicines and eliminate the problems of communicating in a foreign language. Recommendations for its formation can be found in the “Tourist First Aid Kit” leaflet, posted on our website in the “Tourist Guidelines” section.
Before leaving for the airport:
We recommend that you obtain additional information about possible changes in the departure conditions of your flight using the website of the airline operating the flight or by calling its help desk.
AT THE RUSSIAN AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL
We recommend that you arrive at the check-in point for passengers in advance, no later than three hours before the flight departure, to go through check-in procedures for the flight, baggage check-in, and fulfill the requirements related to border, customs, sanitary-quarantine, veterinary and other types of control established legislation of the Russian Federation.
CHECK IN FOR A FLIGHT AND HANDLING BAGGAGE
Passenger check-in and baggage check-in are carried out on the basis of a personalized air ticket or an itinerary/electronic ticket receipt printed on paper, as well as the passenger’s foreign passport.
Upon check-in, the passenger is issued a boarding pass, which must be retained until the airline may file claims regarding the quality of the air transportation services provided.
Check-in for the flight ends 40 minutes, and boarding the aircraft 20 minutes before the flight departure time according to local time. A passenger who is late for check-in or boarding the aircraft may be denied transportation.
Each passenger is entitled to carry 20 kilograms of baggage free of charge, including 5 kilograms of hand luggage carried in the cabin. For carrying luggage in excess of the established free baggage allowance, an additional fee will be charged at the rate established by the carrier.
The dimensions of one piece of baggage (length+width+height) accepted for transportation must not exceed a total of 160 cm.
The carrier has the right to refuse a tourist to transport baggage whose weight or volume does not meet the established standards.
CUSTOMS CONTROL before travel
In advance, before the start of your trip, read the Leaflets “Customs control and rules for moving currency and goods abroad” and “Rules for passing customs control upon departure and arrival” posted on the website.
Without presenting documents and without entering information about currency into the passenger customs declaration, tourists have the right to export cash foreign currency and/or currency of the Russian Federation in an amount not exceeding the equivalent of 3,000 US dollars, as well as traveler's checks in the amount of no more than 10,000 US dollars. When individuals export foreign currency and/or currency of the Russian Federation in the equivalent of 3,000 to 10,000 US dollars, or traveler's checks in an amount exceeding 10,000 US dollars, these amounts must be declared in the passenger customs declaration.
There are no restrictions on funds exported using a bank card. There is no need to declare a bank card.
CUSTOMS CONTROL at the end of the trip
If you do not move currency and items that need to be declared across the border, then you should go through the customs control zone along the “Green Corridor”.
Without paying customs duties, you can import into the Russian Federation goods for personal use worth no more than 10,000 euros at the exchange rate on the day of declaration, with a total weight of no more than 50 kilograms.
An individual at least 18 years old can import without paying customs duties: 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and beer; 50 cigars (cigarillos) or 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, or the specified products in an assortment with a total weight of no more than 250 grams.
When individuals import cash foreign currency and/or currency of the Russian Federation, as well as traveler's checks, foreign and/or domestic securities in documentary form in an amount equivalent to more than 10,000 US dollars, into Russia at a time, information about it must be entered into the passenger customs office. declaration. The declaration is also subject to: exported precious metals, stones, cultural values, state awards of the Russian Federation, rare animals and plants, narcotic, psychotropic, potent, poisonous, radioactive substances, chemicals, high-frequency devices, radio-electronic, vehicles, nuclear materials, information related to Scientific and technological progress for the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, military products.
ATTENTION! FORBIDDEN at the exit and entry!
- MOVEMENT OF CULTURAL VALUES, endangered WILD FAUNA and FLORA, WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION WITHOUT PERMISSION OF AUTHORIZED AUTHORITIES.
- Illegal movement of goods or currency across the customs border of the Russian Federation or their failure to declare, or false declaration entails administrative or criminal liability.
- ACCEPT suitcases, parcels and other items from strangers for transportation on board the aircraft.
PASSPORT CONTROL
To pass border control you must present a foreign passport. When carrying out border control, the border authorities of the FSB of Russia are given the right to request additional documents from tourists (air ticket, boarding pass, voucher, etc.), as well as to conduct a survey of persons traveling across the border.
SANITARY CONTROL
VETERINARY CONTROL
If you export animals, then you need to have a set of documents confirming that they are healthy. As a rule, you should have: Veterinary passport, Certificate of health (issued by any state veterinary clinic, the certificate indicates information about vaccinations by age, the last rabies vaccination must be done no earlier than a year and no later than two months before departure), a certificate from the SCOR or RKF club (the certificate indicates that the dog is not of breeding value, certificates from other clubs raise questions at customs). When importing pets into Greece, you must present a veterinary certificate indicating rabies vaccination. Animals undergo veterinary examination. A certificate is not required when importing kittens and puppies under three months of age.
When importing animals and birds into the Russian Federation, you must have an accompanying veterinary certificate obtained from the State Veterinary Service of the country where the animal was purchased.
It is prohibited to import any cargo of animal origin into the territory of the Russian Federation, including in hand luggage and baggage, in the absence of written permission from the Chief State Veterinary Inspector of the Russian Federation.
Without permission from the authorized bodies of the Russian Federation, it is prohibited to import and export endangered objects of wild fauna and flora.
AT GREEK ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE AIRPORT
Upon arrival at the airport in Greece, you must sequentially: go through passport control, receive your luggage, go through customs control, exit the airport building, find a meeting guide with a sign, present the tourist voucher to the guide.
PASSPORT CONTROL
VISA. Citizens of the Russian Federation cannot enter Greece for the purpose of a tourist trip without a pre-issued appropriate visa. Greece is one of the Schengen countries. For more detailed information about the required documents for obtaining a visa to enter Greece, please visit the website Consulate General Greece in Moscow: http://www.dipinfo.ru/gk/greece.
ATTENTION! For citizens who do not have Russian Federation citizenship, different rules for entry into Greek territory may be established. Information on this issue should be obtained from the Greek Embassy at your place of citizenship.
When going through passport control, you must present a passport with an open visa. You may be required to present a travel voucher and return air ticket.
CUSTOMS CONTROL
The import and export of currency is not limited. When entering from non-EU countries, amounts over 10,000 euros are subject to mandatory declaration. The export of imported and declared currency is not limited. In accordance with Greek customs regulations, all personal items (clothing, camping equipment, etc.), food and drinks weighing up to 10 kg are allowed to be imported duty free. Duty-free import is allowed for persons over 18 years of age - playing cards no more than 2 decks (playing cards, like matches, have a state monopoly in Greece), 200 cigarettes/100 cigarillos/50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 1 liter of strong alcoholic drinks (over 22 °) or 2 liters of wine, as well as cosmetics, perfumes (50 ml of perfume, 0.25 ml of eau de toilette), coffee - 500 g., tea - 100 g., food - within personal needs - up to 1 ( one) kg, except for food products of animal origin (meat, fish, dairy products). If meat and dairy products are found, they will be confiscated and the passenger will be fined. The ban does not apply to baby food and special medications needed for people with certain chronic diseases (in this case, the products must be carefully packaged and their weight should not exceed 2 kg). Audio, video, television and photographic equipment must be indicated in the declaration.
It is allowed to import a camera and film, or a video camera and film; binoculars, small musical instrument, audio and video equipment, bicycle, sports equipment.
PROHIBITED import of drugs, medicines containing a large dose of narcotic substances, weapons, pornography, some food products, plants and flowers with soil, animals and birds, as well as haberdashery and souvenirs made from endangered species of plants and animals..
It is PROHIBITED to export weapons, ammunition without special permission, jewelry, antiques, historical values, antiquities, including stones from archaeological excavations, as well as objects found at the bottom of the sea. If they are found in luggage, they are confiscated, and a criminal case is initiated against the violator. Free export of copies of ancient works is allowed, which are sold everywhere.
SANITARY CONTROL
Tourists do not need a vaccination certificate.
VETERINARY CONTROL
When importing pets, you must present a valid veterinary certificate with a stamp and all vaccinations, including rabies vaccination. Accommodation with pets is subject to the request of a specific hotel.
ABOUT GREECE
Greece is a state in southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It borders in the north with Albania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, and in the northeast with Turkey. It is washed in the east by the Aegean Sea, in the west by the Ionian Sea, and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the state is Athens. Crete is the largest island in Greece and the eighth in Europe (8259 km2).
Time
The time difference with Moscow is 1 hour.
Climate
The climate in Crete is mild, dry, subtropical, Mediterranean. The swimming season begins in mid-May and ends at the end of October. In the spring, stunningly beautiful landscapes appear in Crete: carpets of poppies, daisies, wild orchids. The average temperature in the summer months is + 35°C, maximum +47°C. The hottest months are July and August. But even at this time, the proximity of the sea, the dry north wind - meltemi, which brings with it coolness and a minimal level of humidity, allow us to recommend Crete as a holiday destination even for those who are prone to respiratory diseases and asthma. Velvet season is September and October. The heat is subsiding, but the swimming season is still in full swing. From April to November the weather is mostly cloudless, rains are rare and short-lived, and in July-August there is none at all. The average temperature in winter is +10…+12°С.
Currency
The currency of Greece is Euro (EURO). You can exchange money at currency exchange offices in banks, ATMs and hotels (opening hours: 8.00-14.00 Monday to Thursday, Friday 8.00-13.30). Banks are closed on weekends and national holidays.
Language
The official state language is Greek. Many Greek residents understand English and German.
Population
About 11.3 million people, the indigenous population is 95% Greeks, 5% Turks, Gypsies, Bulgarians.
Religion
98% profess Orthodoxy. 2% - Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims.
National characteristics
Life in Greece is calm and measured. The Greeks are in no hurry. At a restaurant you have to wait a long time for your order, and even longer for the bill. Nevertheless, the Greeks keep their promises, especially when it comes to business. True, there may be some delay with the timing. The Greek word for tomorrow (avrio) means something uncertain or failure. Shaking your head from bottom to top means "no" in Greece, and shaking your head from top to bottom means "yes." In Greek, the sound "ne" means "yes", and the negation sounds like "oh". In a Greek home, it is not customary to take off your shoes. An invitation to visit does not imply lunch or dinner. During the daytime rest period from 14 to 18 hours and in the evening after 22 hours in Greece it is not customary to make phone calls. The Greek state provides a high level of social protection for citizens, but at the same time - a strict tax policy. Greeks are an emotional people, they love to criticize their country, but they will not even tolerate irony on this topic from foreigners. The Greeks are distinguished by ardor, sentimentality combined with tolerance. You should not enter temples and monasteries in shorts, miniskirts, or bare shoulders. It is not recommended to refuse treats in village houses.
In a hotel
On the day of arrival, check-in is carried out in accordance with the rules adopted by the hotel. Usually starting at 14:00 local time. Checkout time is usually 10-00. Please familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of the hotel's services on site and adhere to the rules established by the hotel. On the day of departure, before check-out time, you must vacate your room and pay for additional services: telephone calls, mini-bar, ordering food and drinks in your room, massage, use of a safe, etc. You can leave your luggage in the hotel storage room and stay on site hotel before the transfer arrives. If you have not checked out the room before 12-00, the cost of the room is paid in full for the next day.
Please note:
Most hotels in Greece operate a buffet system, drinks are paid extra. All necessary information can be obtained from the hotel guide. It is not permitted to take drinks or food out of restaurants, or to bring food into the hotel.
A-La Carte restaurants require advance reservations and additional payment (including many all-inclusive hotels).
It should be noted that the structure of Greek hotels, especially on the islands, and even in Athens and other big cities, is quite modest.
Tips
It is customary to leave a tip to the waiters (5-10%) of the order. It is believed that bus drivers, hotel maids, and tour guides deserve rewards if the client is satisfied with the service.
Mains voltage
Mains voltage - 220 W, current frequency 50 Hz, sockets - “European standard”.
Beaches
Beaches in Greece are municipal and entry is free. In some hotels, rental of sun loungers (4 euros per day) and umbrellas (4-8 euros per day) is additionally paid.
Excursions
On excursions to the island. Crete we recommend visiting: Knossos Palace, Archaeological Museum, o. Spinalonga, Santorini, the tourist center of Agios Nikolaos, where Athena once swam, the Cretan Sea Aquarium, a sightseeing tour of the island, “Cretan Evenings”, jeep safari, Samaria Gorge, etc.
Holidays and non-working days
January 1 – New Year; January 6 – Epiphany; March 25 – Annunciation, Independence Day; 1st day of Lent Clean Monday; Good Friday; In April-May - Easter; 2nd day after Easter - Bright Monday; May 1 – Flower Day; Spring Festival Day; Trinity; August 15 – Assumption of the Virgin Mary (All churches hold services); October 28 – Okha Day (No Day! In memory of the Greek resistance to Mussolini’s fascism); December 25 and 26 – Christmas.
Kitchen
Greek cuisine favors fatty, generously spiced dishes. Lamb or veal serve as the basis for most national dishes. Pork and poultry are significantly inferior to them. Olive oil is used almost exclusively for frying. Of the large number of dishes of Greek cuisine, the most popular are: avgolemono - rice soup with egg and lemon; barbuni – river barbel (fish); horiatiki salata - vegetable salad with pieces of cheese; domates gemistes – baked tomatoes stuffed with rice and meat; garides – shrimp, lobster; kalamarakia - squid; melitsanes – eggplants; pastisio - pudding or soufflé made from pasta; souvlakia - a type of shish kebab, pieces of meat on skewers; Taramosalata - fish roe salad. For sweets, you can order baklava - almond cake with syrup and honey.
Beverages
Wine is the most common drink in Greece. Famous white wines are “Demestika”, “Kambas”, “Pallini” and “Santa Elena”, red wines are “Mavrodaphne” and “Demestika”. The most famous strong drinks are “Ouzo” with an anise flavor, strong “Raka” and “Mastic” treated with mastic tree resin. Of the many brands of cognac, the most famous is Metaxa. And, of course, Greek coffee. This is strong black coffee, served in small cups along with a glass of clean water. It is called "glikos" (very sweet), "metrios" (medium), "sketos" (no sugar).
The shops
Large supermarkets and department stores, brand stores. Sales: September - October, January - February, April - May. As souvenirs you can bring from Greece: handmade souvenirs, leather goods, fur, ceramics, gold, silver, shell products, clothing, shoes, products: olive oil (cold pressed “First extra virgin”), goat cheese, aromatic dried herbs, nuts, olives, dried fruits, aniseed vodka, local wine, METAXA cognac. Tax Free refund at the airport upon presentation of the purchase and Tax Free receipt, which must be issued in the store. Issued when purchasing goods in one store in the amount of 175 euros or more.
Transport
Communication between cities is carried out by buses. Buses run from 5:00 to 24:00. If you have a lot of trips, it is preferable to buy a monthly pass. If a passenger is standing at a stop and sees an approaching bus on the route he wants, he must vote, otherwise the driver will not stop. When a passenger is traveling on a bus and approaching the desired stop, the passenger must press a button near the door. Taxis in Greece are numerous and affordable; it is better to take a taxi at special stands or call from the hotel. Payment by meter, from midnight to 5:00 there is a double tariff. In large cities, taxi drivers can greatly inflate the bill; it is necessary to negotiate in advance. When looking for something by address, keep in mind that there may be streets with the same names in different areas. Please check the area and landmarks, as... Even taxi drivers don’t know the exact addresses. A taxi driver has the right to pick up fellow travelers without the consent of other passengers. There are certain services that are not included in the regular fare, such as luggage transportation, for example, or travel at night from 22:00 to 06:00.
Car rent
To rent a car, you must be at least 21-25 years old (depending on the company and make of the car), have a valid license and at least a year of driving experience. To rent expensive brands of cars, you also need to show serious driving skills in a short test drive. In Greece, traffic is on the right, and signs and markings comply with European standards. On highways the maximum speed is 120 km/h, on country roads – 90 km/h, in populated areas – 50 km/h. Wearing a seat belt is mandatory everywhere and under all circumstances. Children under 10 years old are prohibited from sitting in the front seat. In rural areas, the roads are often simply “wild” and it is best to rent a jeep there. There are far fewer gas stations in rural areas, so it's best to fill up your tank full on trips like this. At gas stations the price is indicated for 1 liter.
Telephone
It is most profitable to call from a telephone booth, which allows you to contact anywhere in the world. Telephone cards are sold at newsstands. Calls from 21:00 to 7:00 are 30-40% cheaper than at other times.
How to call to Russia?
You need to dial: 00 (international access) + Russia code - 7 + city code + subscriber's phone number; from Russia to Greece: 8-10-30 (Greece code) + city code + subscriber number.
To call Russia you need to dial: 00 (international access) + 7 (Russian code) + city code + subscriber number.
To call from Russia to Greece: 8-10-30 + area code + subscriber number.
Useful phones
Helpline for Greece - 131,
European emergency service -112,
police - 100,
urgent medical care - 166,
fire service - 199.
information service for emergency pharmacies - 107 (all over Greece).
PERSONAL HYGIENE AND SAFETY RULES:
Do not violate the safety rules established by airlines, transport organizations, hotels, and local authorities.
- We categorically do not recommend that you purchase excursions and additional tourist services from travel and excursion agencies unknown to you. You may be given deliberately false information about the excursion itself; you will not be guaranteed the safety of the services provided and the serviceability of the equipment used, thereby you may expose yourself to serious danger.
- Before the trip, it is recommended to make photocopies of the main pages (with photograph, personal data, registration mark) of the foreign and internal Russian passports and take them with you.
- Carry your passport (or photocopy of your passport) and hotel business card with you.
- Respect the traditions of the country you are in, do not do anything that could be considered disrespectful by the Greeks.
- Observe measures prohibiting or limiting smoking in public and other places, and rules for the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- If transport accidents or conflicts with the police or other local authorities occur, it is necessary to notify a representative of the receiving party or employees of the Russian Embassy/Consulate.
- During your travel, you are not entitled to engage in commercial activities or other paid work.
- You must leave Greece before your visa expires, otherwise you may be fined, arrested and forcibly expelled from the country.
- Do not leave children alone without your supervision at the beach, by the pool, on water slides or while using attractions.
- Wash your hands before eating. Do not drink raw water, especially from open water. For drinking, it is recommended to use mineral water, which can be purchased in the hotel shops and bars.
- Be careful with the sun! We advise you to stock up on sunburn protection products in advance and use them during your exposure to the sun. Don't forget about sunglasses.
- Take on a trip an individual first aid kit with the set of medications you need.
- Remember that diverse representatives of the animal and plant world can be not only beautiful, but also dangerous. If you are injured or bitten, seek medical attention immediately.
- It is not recommended to carry large amounts of cash with you. Theft of money and things from tourists happens quite often, as do frauds with counterfeit currency. You should not take large amounts of money out of your wallet in front of everyone.
- To avoid danger on the streets, we recommend keeping an eye on your handbags and wallets, especially in tourist centers, train stations, gas stations and markets.
- When leaving the bus at stops and during excursions, do not leave hand luggage on it, especially valuables and money.
- We recommend leaving cars in guarded parking lots and hotel garages, and not leaving valuables in the car in plain sight.
- It is better to store important documents, cash and jewelry in the room safe. If your room does not have a safe, it can be rented for a fee from the hotel or deposited in the safe at the front desk by the receptionist.
- It is recommended to hand over your room key to the hotel reception, and if it is lost, notify the administration.
- Many hotels prohibit taking towels from your room to the beach or pool. Do not bring towels or equipment from your room to the beach without permission from the staff.
- If the room has a minibar, then all drinks and snacks taken from it must usually be paid for.
- Smoking in bed is strictly prohibited.
- Keep in mind that many cities have a system of fines for littering the streets, as well as for spitting on the street.
- For drug trafficking and use, the law provides for penalties of up to 5 years in prison.
- If you find yourself on the territory of a foreign state without a means of subsistence, you have the right to receive assistance from diplomatic missions and consulates of the Russian Federation.
IN CASE OF LOSS OF YOUR PASSPORT
Keep yourself in control and don't despair. To return to your homeland, you will need to obtain a “Certificate of Entry (Return) to the Russian Federation.”
First, you should contact the local police at the resort (where they will draw up a loss report in 2 copies) and obtain from them the appropriate document (they will give you 1 copy) about the loss or theft of your passport. Contact the guide.
Then you need to contact the Russian diplomatic mission or Greek consulate and explain the situation. Go to the Consular Office with photographs and a police certificate. It is advisable that someone from your tourist group or travel agency travel with you. There you must write an application for the issuance of a “Certificate of entry (return) to the Russian Federation” and receive there an identification certificate giving the right to enter (return) to the Russian Federation and the possibility of obtaining a new foreign passport from the internal affairs authorities at the place of registration in the Russian Federation . To speed up the process of confirming your identity at the Consulate, it is advisable to have a copy of your international passport or civil passport, or driver’s license. The certificate is issued for the period necessary to return to your homeland, but not more than 15 days. Upon returning to the Russian Federation, within three days you must submit the certificate to the organization that issued the passport (OVIR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Despite the small size Greece, air traffic within the country is quite developed. More or less large Greek islands and administrative centers of Greek regions have their own airfields. Several years ago, hydroplanes began to be developed in Greece; in the Ionian Sea, the project went well; in the Aegean Sea, it is still failing due to the lack of infrastructure - hydrodromes. Domestic flight tickets are not as cheap as you might think. If you order shortly before departure and don’t get any promotions, then the average return price will be 150-200 euros.
The main air gateway of the country is, of course, Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos. Eight years ago, a new airport was built in Spata (in Eastern Attica near the seashore), which remains one of the most modern and successful airports in Europe and the world (as of 2008, Eleftherios Venizelos was among the top ten best airports in the world). Every year the airport improves its performance indicators, passenger traffic is steadily increasing. On the Athens airport website you can find all the information a traveler needs:
- transport links to the city and parking (You can even calculate the cost of parking at the airport), the first 20 minutes are free, and depending on the parking time, you choose short-term or long-term parking.
Between the airport and Athens It is convenient to travel by metro ("blue line"), as well as by the suburban electric train "proastiakos". The price of a ticket (both on the metro and on the electric train) is 8 euros one way, when buying a round trip or for 2 people 14 euros, for 3 people 20 euros.
Tickets are valid for 90 minutes from the stamping time for all types of public transport in Athens. If you purchase a refundable ticket, the refundable ticket must be used within 48 hours.
Express buses connecting the Greek capital with the airport operate around the clock, but at night the frequency of routes drops. The price of a one-way ticket is 5.00 euros. Tickets for express buses (unlike the metro) are not valid for other types of transport. There are the following express routes to the airport:
X92 Kifissia (northern areas of Athens) - canceled since June 2010
X94 metro station "Efniki Amina" (Ministry of Defense) - canceled since April 2010
X95 Syntagma Square, the very center of Athens, average travel time 70 minutes
X97 metro station "Dafni" (southern part of central Athens, metro 4 stops to the Acropolis), average travel time 70 minutes
About taxis, please read in the corresponding section of the article "Athens Transport". The airport is approached by the Attiki Odos toll highway (2.80 euros one-time payment), along which (see map) you can quickly get out, bypassing Athens, in the direction of Corinth (Peloponnese, Epirus and the Ionian Islands), you need to go to the very beginning highways, and to Thessaloniki (to other regions of Greece), turn right at junction No. 8).
There are two sections in the arrivals area: "B" - for those arriving from Greece and Schengen countries, and "A" - for passengers from non-Schengen countries.
Second airport in Greece by size and volume of transportation - Thessaloniki Airport "Macedonia". The airport is not new, but was completely modernized several years ago. Located in the southeast relative to the city center. You can get from the airport to the city by two buses: express trains No. 78 or No. 78A (at night, No. 78N runs along the same route as a regular route, i.e. with all stops) or express train No. 79. Bus number 78 passes through the railway station, but does not pass through the port. The final stop of the route is the Macedonia bus station, from where you can go throughout Greece, except the peninsula Halkidiki.
Unfortunately, only the capital's airport is represented on the Internet; other Greek airports do not have their own websites. Only thanks to the portal Flight Stats you can track the arrivals/departures board regional airports in Greece. Airports on the islands and other popular tourist destinations receive a huge number of charters during the summer, the number of which exceeds domestic flights. For those interested, there is a website where you can track the position of aircraft in real time.
In addition to Athens and Thessaloniki, only two airports have regular flights from abroad (not charters):
- Kavala, "Alexander the Great", from where Aegean Airlines operates a number of flights to Germany. Nearby is the port of Keramoti, from which you can sail to the island of Thassos;
- Heraklion, "Nikos Kazantzakis", from where the local Cretan company Sky Express operates flights to Romania and Albania.
Keep in mind that you will only find active Greek airport activity in Athens, Thessaloniki and popular tourist destinations during high season. All other provincial airports operate limited hours during flight arrivals and departures to/from Athens. At other times, ticket offices, car rentals and all other services will be closed.
The two main players in the Greek national transport market are the privatized former state airline Olympic Air and the private Aegean Airlines.
Olympic has experienced great difficulties in recent years, like many state-owned carriers in Europe. Since 2007, there has been a protracted process of reorganizing the company through privatization.
And finally, the problematic air carrier was bought by the Greek-Cypriot holding Marfin Investment Group, and from 01/10/2009 began flying in a reformed form with a new fleet of regional aircraft and under the name.
Special promotions are constantly held on discounted tickets, both domestically and for international flights. If you order earlier than a month in advance, you can actually buy a ticket within Greece for 100 euros or less round trip. .
In early 2009, a new private airline began flying in Greece. The first aircraft in its fleet are four regional luxury jetliners EMBRAER ERJ-145. The company positions itself as providing the highest level of service for all categories of passengers. Also among the new products is a youth ticket category, all passengers aged 12 to 24 years (and students under 28 years old) are given a permanent 20% discount. There is a permanent 15% discount on return flights.
Flight destinations - Alexandroupoli (Eastern Thrace), Mytilene (Lesbos), Kavala, Thessaloniki. By the summer of 2009, all popular island routes were already covered: Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Chania, Heraklion, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and others. You can book tickets on the airline's website.
Another regional carrier in Greek skies is a small private airline from Crete, founded in 2005. The company's fleet includes small class airliners JETSTREAM 31, 32 and 41.
In addition to air carriers operating regular flights, there are also several airlines operating in charter or business aviation in Greece. For example, Athenian Hellas Jet, Cretan Blue Bird Airways or Thessaloniki Astra Airlines. Those. their planes can be found on charter routes to Greece, including from the CIS countries.
In mid-December 2009, a tender was held for the right to operate flights outside the European Union. Among the Greek airlines included in this list of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, you can now find Hellas Jet, Blue Bird Airways, and Hellenic Imperial Airways. Thus, by the start of the 2010 summer schedule, the map of international flights of Greek air carriers will undergo significant changes.
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, in Greece existed and seaplanes. Three seaplane companies were created - AirSeaLines, ArGo Airways and Aeronaftica. But no airline is operating at the moment.
The pioneer of maritime air travel in Greece is a company that successfully served the Ionian Sea region: Patras, Cephalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaca, Lefkada, Corfu, Paxi, Kastoria, Ioannina, Brindisi (Italy). I used Canadian-made De Havilland DHC 6 seaplanes (twin-engine). The company tried to launch flights to the Aegean Sea region, but was forced to curtail its activities due to the unavailability of the hydrodrome infrastructure on the islands.
the site is temporarily unavailable!
The second seaplane company - which operated flights between Athens, Thessaloniki, Volos and the Northern Sporades islands - Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos. Also used Canadian De Havilland DHC-3 (single-engine) aircraft.
ATTENTION! The airline has suspended its operations and its website is temporarily unavailable!