Taxis in Athens Greece – Get around Athens by Taxi
Taxis in Athens – Get around the city with ease.
There is no getting around the fact that taxi cabs cost more than public transportation BUT if the group is 4 or more (and sometimes even for only a group of 3) the extra cost for a taxi is minimal. What you get for that extra money is really important.
Taxis in Athens provide:
Taxis in Athens – EASE
Once you are in a taxi you can relax and not worry about anything else. The driver knows the way and even helps with bags. They will maneuver the crazy small streets, the crazy traffic and are completely relaxed at moments when I literally held my breath thinking we were not going to fit into a small space.
Not all tax drivers are wonderful of course. One taxi driver in Athens, bless his heart, was so confused by our requested destination I pulled up google maps to help. In the end we still found our way and it was STILL quicker and easier than had we used public transportation.
Taxis in Athens – TIME EFFICIENCY
When you vacation, time is precious. Public transportation can be very efficient, but if your trip involves transfers and long waits between connections for buses rethink your choice. A taxi can save your precious time for more fun things!!
Taxis in Athens – LUGGAGE STORAGE
If you are passing through a location, a taxi can hold your bags for you. Once we hired a taxi to take us from the south of Spain then wait on us while we explored Gibraltar. He drove us right up to where we needed to be to cross into the small country and kept our bags safe and sound while we visited. When we returned, after exploring without concerns about getting back in time to catch a bus, we continued on our way to the next leg of our trip which would take us to Morocco. This long day of travel was technically possible through public transportation but it would have caused more stress because of lugging suitcases and waits for bus connections.
When hiring a driver for a day like we did be sure to negotiate the price up front. This is even easier to do when you hire a local company. We used Visit Meteora to arrange our driver from Kalambaka, through Delphi, and back to Athens. The price was just a little more than had we used public transportation but the day really wouldn’t have even been possible with public transportation only. He answered our questions and we stopped for coffee and photo stops on the way. It was very convenient and easy. I highly recommend them if you are in the area.
Taxis in Athens – SAVES ENERGY
Whether you travel with the kids who tire easily or find the climb up the hilly streets is daunting, a taxi can save you valuable energy. We took a taxi to the bottom of Mount Lycabettus to catch the funicular to the top for a coffee and an amazing view! Thank goodness we did, too, because the neighborhood around the Lycabettus hill is HILLY!! Incredibly hilly. We would have been completely exhausted by the time we arrived had we walked. Really…..hike would be a better word. LOL!
How to find a GREAT taxi driver? I can help!
We love Alex!! We got lucky and stumbled upon him and from that moment on… we called upon him as much as we could. Alex has been a taxi driver for 25 years and knows Athens like the back of his hand.
He took us to several places and always had great tips. When we needed a drink after visiting the Archeological Museum he suggested the cafe directly across the street from the museum entrance. We found treats of all kinds including a common fruit drink. BUT, my husband had a sip of the coffee he ordered and announced it was the best coffee he had had yet in Greece. HIGH praise!!
Call ALEX
From a US phone you call Alex easily.
+30 698 375 8840
The + symbol is also 0.
Don’t be afraid to call him! He speaks English very well, and will answer the phone like Greeks do, saying “NEH”. NEH is spelled differently but that is what it sounds like and it means – yes. Be brave on your Greek adventure.
***Seriously, what is the worst that can happen? Don’t be afraid of the language. When he says, “Neh” you just start talking. He’ll understand. No problem! ***
If Alex is already booked call George the Famous Taxi driver. He comes highly recommended through Matt Barrett’s web site though I haven’t used him myself.
If you are lucky enough to find yourself in the warm and wonderful Greece you’ll enjoy these related posts!
Read about Greece before you go – book list
Food and tips – Greek information for everyone
Happy Travels,
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
Public transportation is also one of my biggest concerns when it comes to traveling. Like you, I’ve also relied on them. Lucky for you that you are able to find reliable drivers during your time in Athens. And even with a hiccup, I’m pretty sure is nothing as bad as you will encounter with public transport!
Thank you for the tips, Natalie 🙂 I already visited Greece, but I didn’t have the opportunity to get a taxi because everything was walking distance or the tour picked us up at the hotel. Every time I travel I like to get the taxi driver’s phone number in case I need a ride or to simply have a point of reference by someone that knows the area. – Mariella
I don’t often find myself in a group large enough to make taking a taxi economically feasible, but when I do, it’s definitely my first transportation choice. Even when I travel solo, I will sometimes treat myself to a taxi ride because it’s often quicker and easier. Great to know it’s an easy way to get around Athens too.
Storage and Luggage!!!!!!!! You can’t over emphasize that. That’s a major factor why in 10 trips, I board taxis to buses in 7:3. I hardly forget my stuffs and even if I do, it’s traceable. And thanks for featuring Alex, he must be a great guy to have made it to the blog.
This is really great info for anyone travelling around Athens! I mostly used public transport as it was just me and one other, but it’s good to know what to expect, especially if you’re travelling solo or with a family. It’s great to know there’s someone you can trust!
We don’t have great experiences with taxi drivers and try to avoid them where we can, but sometimes we have to, because it is convenient, especially with our little one. It is great that you did provide Alex details as you had great experiences with him, so other visitors can travel with him to0
Taxis are great for all the reasons you pointed out! Traveling in groups, traveling with a lot of luggage, and when you’re on a time crunch and need to get from point A to point B without having to worry about switching trains/buses/etc. Most of the time I find myself traveling by myself or just one other so public transportation it is!
Great tips, Natalie! I was actually just in Athens recently but was only there for a day so walking around everywhere was fine for me. Had I had more time in Athens and wanted to do some day trips, it sounds like taxi is the way to go! I did try taking the subway once in Athens and was quite confused by the system.. not to mention a subway ride from the city to the airport cost me 10 euro! Am I crazy for thinking that is a ridiculous fare??