Where? When? How ?

Getting ready...

I am landing in Athens (AIA) 🛬 How do I reach the Eugenides Foundation (conference venue) ?

1. By taxi

Arrivals level, exit 3.

Fixed price from Athens International Airport.
Day time (05:00-24:00) Athens Airport to city centre inner ring: €40
Night time (24:00-05:00) Athens Airport to city centre inner ring: €55

Note: ALL applicable surcharges are included; luggage fee, toll cost, VAT, metre start, airport charge. Price stated always per vehicle and not per person.

2. By metro & city bus

Metro line 3 (blue) connects the airport to the city centre Syntagma Square.
The journey time is approximately 40 minutes.
Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm.
One way tickets cost €9 (€4.50 for children, teenagers, over 65), return tickets cost €16.
View details on the Athens Urban Rail Transport website.

Option A: M3 line > Bus A2 line

M3 🚇 > A2 🚌. View your route.

-At Syntagma Square you will need to exit the station and take bus line A2 –destination "Voula".

(You can use the same ticket.)

-Get off at "Iasonos" stop. You are a few blocks from the Eugenides Foundation!

Option B: M3 line > Bus 550 line

M3 🚇 > 550 🚌. View your route.

-At "Megaro Moussikis" you will need to exit the station and take bus line 550 –destination "Palaio Faliro"

(You can use the same ticket.)

-Get off at "Ōnaseio" stop. You are a few blocks from the Eugenides Foundation!

3. By Airport Express buses & city bus (or 15' walk, depending on the line!)

Express bus lines connect the airport with Syntagma square (X95) and Piraeus (X96).
These non-stop services operate daily, including public holidays.
All buses drop off passengers at the Departures Level and depart from the Arrivals Level.
Bus tickets are sold at the ticket booth outside the Arrivals hall (between Exits 4 and 5).
New! Tap2Ride, contactless payments with bank cards directly on validation machines.
One way tickets cost €5.50 (€2.70 for children, teenagers, over 65).
Airport Express bus tickets are valid only for one ride on an airport express bus, and no other transfer.

Option A: X95 > Bus 550 line

X95 🚌 > 550 🚌. View your route.

Option B: X96 > Bus 550 line

X96 🚌 > 550 🚌 View your route.

Option C: X96 > Bus B2 line

X96 🚌 > B2 🚌 View your route.

Option D: X96

X96 🚌 > 👣 View your route.

What about urban transport; ticket options & fares? 🎫

Planning to use the Athens metro/bus/tramway network? Click here!

New! Tap2Ride

Contactless payments with bank cards directly on validation machines.

Available for your public transport rides on metro, trams, trolleys and buses under OASA network.
Simply use your bank card —either physical or digital via mobile or smartwatch (Apple Pay, Google Pay) —for instant and secure contactless fare payment, eliminating the need for additional cards or tickets (Athena Ticket or Athena Card).

View supported fare products for contactless payments.

Info on taxis and mobility service apps 🚕

All licensed taxis in Athens are equipped with metres. The fare is charged per kilometre and per hour. Make sure the metre is switched on as soon as you set off.

The meter starts at €1.80 and the minimum fare is €4.00.

Free Now (formerly Beat) is an app-based yellow taxi service which finds your location and offers the options of paying in cash, by card, or using a Paypal account.

Android / iOS

Uber is also available in Athens with the UberTaxi product—you can call an Uber via your app and a yellow taxi will pick you up.

Packing...

Do I need a travel adaptor? 🔌

For Greece, there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F has two round pins with two earth clips on the side and plug type. Greece, as most of Europe, operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

United States use electrical outlets of types A & B.

I am attending the social event-dinner at Ble Azure; is there a dress code? 👗

This is a wonderful opportunity to get together under Athenian skies and watch the sunset over the Saronic Gulf... We are just happy to see you!

Are we going for a morning run this year? 🏃 Shall I pack my running shoes?

Morning run tradition continues and gifts & rewards 🎁 are on the menu!

Thursday 22 May, 7AM, destination Esplanade-SNFCC Park, exact route TBA here; scan the designated QR code on the programme you will receive upon your arrival.
More info by our Chief Track & Field Officer: Nanette Mol Debes.

Where can I find the programme of the conference?

The detailed programme of the conference (including original abstracts, poster rounds and oral presentations in order of appearance) can be found inside the book of abstracts that will be distributed to all registered attendees when collecting their badge.
You may also find it here.

Where can I view the ePosters?

We have encouraged all authors, –whether participating with posters or oral presentations–, to submit a digital version of their work. You may find the ePosters of all those who submitted one, here TBA.

How can I vote for the Best Poster and Best Oral presentation?

Visit the "Best of" page for details, or scan the QR code on your badge.
The voting platforms will become available immediately after the completion of the respective –poster/oral presentation– last rounds.
The winners will be announced during the closing ceremony, on Friday 23 May at 4.15PM.

How can I reach the Ble Azure venue from the Eugenides Foundation?

We have hired 2 coaches (50 passengers each) to facilitate the transport of the attendees that have registered for the social event.

Alternatively, you may also consider:

-A 10'-15' car/taxi ride.

-City bus A2. View itinerary.

-City bus B2. View itinerary.

How can I attend the "We are stardust" private screening at the Eugenides New Digital Planetarium?

All social event-registered attendees will receive a ticket for the "We are stardust" show when arriving at the conference venue along with their badge. You can register for the social event until Sunday 11 May!

Farewell Athens...

How can I receive a certificate of attendance/CME credits (for medical professionals)?

Just say the word! Fill out the form below.

Certificates of attendance are also available for virtual attendees.

⚠️ Participants who will have actively attended 2/3 of the virtual conference programme are eligible to receive one.

The online system (Demio) automatically records the active attendance time of each participant, no setup is required on your end.

Kindly note: Only medical professionals that will have attended the conference in person, are eligible for CME credits.

Will you make the recordings of the sessions available on the website?

Yes! Once the recordings have been edited for clarity, and any possibly sensitive/confidential parts have been removed, we will make them available online in a protected area, accessible by virtual and in-person attendees for a period of 4 weeks.

I truly enjoyed the conference! How can I become a member/renew my membership?

This is such an important, vital matter to the Society!
Commitment and time dedicated (a very great deal of it!) have been the fuel that allowed for this conference to take place despite the tight mathematics.
Becoming a member echoes both moral encouragement and recognition, as well as meaningful, concrete support to keep the endeavour alive so that we can meet again next year!
View membership page here.

I would love to get more actively involved in ESSTS' activities; whom should I contact?

Let's talk!
Send us a message at ideas@essts.org, or feel free to contact directly any of our board members.

Credit: thisisathens.org

Speak their (body) language

Don't

Don’t think that you need to learn some Greek before you get here. While a “hello” (yia sas) or “thank you” (efharisto) are welcome, most Athenians speak English. They often speak several other languages, too.

Be aware that Greeks love to talk. So don’t be surprised if asking a stranger for directions turns into a heart to heart or an invitation to their grandma’s for lunch.

Don't

Don’t be frightened by how loudly they speak, and don’t duck as they wave their arms around as they do so. They’re not trying to hit you. They love to speak with gestures. They created drama, they will keep it alive.

Pick your restaurant wisely

Don't

Don't be lured by the waiters standing outside restaurants in touristy areas, trying to persuade you to sit down. No matter how hungry you are. Even if they’ve almost convinced you that this place has the best grilled octopus in the country, the world, the universe. With few exceptions, these places are not the best example of what Athens has to offer food-wise.

Do your research about where to eat in Athens. You’ll be grateful. Just don’t show up for dinner at 6, 7, or even 8 pm. Athenians like to eat late, and many restaurant kitchens stay open until well after midnight.

Haggling is not cool

Don't

Don’t assume that every vendor is out to overcharge you just because you’re not a local. While bargaining used to be acceptable, it’s a lot less so today. Unless you’re clean sweeping a store, you’re not really expected to shoot numbers back and forth. Obviously, if the price seems ridiculous, do speak out. Loudly. With gestures.

Tread carefully

Do be careful on the streets. In many cities, drivers slam on the breaks the second a pedestrian sets their toe on a pedestrian crossing. This does not happen in Athens. But don’t fear for your life. Just be on high alert for random motorcycles riding along the pavement or cars jumping red lights.

Avoid the clichés

Don't

Don’t assume that all Athenians do is drink frappé, eat souvlaki, wash it down with retsina, and ride around on donkeys in chitons. Or that you should do the same. Frappé is strong, instant coffee, and it may give you the shakes. Souvlaki is an occasional treat, not a staple food. Retsina, or too much of it, is a guaranteed headache. And donkeys can be found at the city’s zoo.

Spot the crooked cabbie

Don't

Don’t fall into the eternal tourist trap. Wrongly or not, cab drivers worldwide are notorious for ripping off tourists. Athenian ones are no exception. Make sure the taxi metre is turned on the second you sit down. Some routes - such as from Athens airport to the city centre have a flat fare. If your cab feels like an open oven and ash is flying through the back windows, feel free to remind your driver that it’s no longer 1960.

...Any questions?