Bonflaneur: Travel in Greece, Walks in Athens,

GR
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"Η Αθήνα ενσωματώνει την υπερέχουσα ποιότητα του αρχαίου κόσμου. Την Τέχνη."

Benjamin Disraeli

What is bon flaneur?

Bon flaneur is a pioneering guiding tool for Athens and Thessaloniki. With bonflaneur.com you can create your own routes, according to your preferences, interests and your available time. It is a unique webpage, fully capable of creating an urban tour suitable for you! Therefore it is not a simple website with information about the city; it provides a number of services, which cover all the aspects of urban life, useful for inhabitants, students and visitors.

Who is flâneur?

“Flaneur” is the person who walks around the city in an exploratory way, feels its heartbeat, its aura and its society. He slips from the clichés of the trapped in routine inhabitant or the superficial tourist and becomes one with the essence of the city. There is no term which could better describe our goal and our effort than “flaneur”. “Bon” clearly refers to the term “bon viveur”, because a good and a pleasant urban experience are very much identified with our personal well being.

Who are we?

The team of bon flaneur consists of scientific personnel, which covers a wide range of expertise, from human to positive sciences and arts. You will find us “flaneuring” in the two largest Greek cities. This effort has started from our need to share the secrets of our cities in the best possible way both with citizens and visitors. To spread the world the flaneur’s optics. With Bon Flâneur we interlace electronic with physical public space and the flâneur with the city hacker, creating the new “e- wanderer", the new well informed urban man.

Why did we choose these two cities?

Because, as Hugo has said about major cities, “they are the melting-pots, where all the geographical, political, ethical and intellectual currents of a country come together, all the natural inclinations of a people, wells of culture, we would also say sewers, commerce, industry, spirit, population, everything that is a juice, everything that is life, everything that is soul for a nation is filtered and accumulated endlessly, drop by drop, century by century”.

What is our goal?

Our will is to prompt the inhabitant to become an observer and student in their own city, and the tourist to become a traveller.

We adore what we do and we hope you will love it too!

Special thanks to:

Bassayanni Eleni
Photographer, Sociologist
http://www.elenibassayianni.com

Hatzikoumparoglou Benjamin
Musician, musicologist

Kung Wenling
Sociologist
Researcher at Academia Sinica in Taiwan

Petroulia Phoebe
Architect
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoebe-Petroulia-Photography/203824292964980?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/PhDsein?fref=ts

Politi Ariadni
Lawyer
http://gr.linkedin.com/pub/ariadni-politi/17/9b1/ab

Skoulida Peggy
Marketeer
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?trk=contacts-contacts-list-contact_name-0&id=46019590

We also thank:

Anagnostaki Stella
Antonopoulos Grigoris
Aslanidis Stelios
Bakirtsis Thomas
Chalas Ioannis
Chantzis Pelopidas
Dimitriou Dimitris
Katseli Aleka
Markoglou Michael
Papavassileiou Ioanna
Siganou Konstantina
Tassios Miltiadis
Theodosi- Polymeri Kyriaki
Toskidis Giorgos
Toumpakari Sophia
Tsouvelas Giorgos
Tzimas Giorgos
Tziogkas Dimitris
Voulgaris Panagiotis
Zaras Yannis
…and of course, all those people, who were kind enough to lend their photographs.

Is Athens a safe city?

Athens is neither safer nor more dangerous than other European cities. It would be dishonest to claim that the effects of the financial crisis in Greece aren’t obvious in some parts of Athens, but this does not necessarily mean that visitors don’t come and have fun. Usually, people protest in specific places of the city centre and if some bad incidents happen, they are limited between Syntagma and Omonoia area. It isn’t the whole city under attack, as the media used to present.

How far is Thessaloniki from Athens?

A bit more than 500 km. It takes 40 minutes by plane, 5 hours by car, and 4,5 hours by train (intercity express)

How many days does someone need to spend for each city?

Considering that someone spends a lot of time for sightseeing each day (approximately 6 hours), he/she needs 2-3 days for the centre of Thessaloniki and 5-6 if he/she chooses to include the wider urban and surrounding area. As for Athens, someone needs at least 4-5 days for the centre, 8-9 days if the wider urban area is included in his/her tour and 12-13 days if the whole prefecture of Attica is included too. These estimations are made after considering that someone does not attend any professional tour, but he/she moves around the city according to his/her own schedule and visits most of the most important monuments/places. In order someone to see and experience all the secrets and masterpieces of each city, he/she needs probably months.

Do Greeks speak English?

The vast majority of them yes, especially the young Greeks. Many of them also speak other languages like French, Spanish or German. Even if someone is not a fluent speaker, you’ll be able to understand each other.

Are these two cities expensive?

Like in most cities, there are districts with quite expensive restaurants and shops and others with lower prices.

Why do I need this website/ application?

It helps you make a daily schedule of where to go and what to see, according to your taste and needs. Additionally, its goal is to make you feel like a local during your stay and not like someone who has to stay for months in order to explore the city.

Do I have to pay anything for having this website/application fully operative?

Both website and application are free. You can create your own city walks according to the basic categories for free. If you want advanced city walks, according to the subcategories of each category, you need to buy the “premium” application or register the website (“premium” option) for a very small amount of money. Another way to become a premium member is share an amount of points (100) through your account. This advanced application helps you adjust even more the city’s characteristics to your preferences. You can also buy the “bon flaneur card” which offers you a discount for businesses around the city (restaurants, cafes etc).

How do we get from the airport to Athens center, the port of Piraeus, the central railway station (OSE) and the central intercity bus station (KTEL)?

Airport- Syntagma square options:

Metro line 3 (blue line from the airport to Aghia Marina)
Suburban railway from the airport, change at Doukissis Plakentias station and take the metro line 3 (blue line) towards Aghia Marina.
Bus line X95. It is a 24hour bus and it also connects with metro lines 2 and 3

Airport- Omonoia or Monastiraki area options:

Suburban railway from the airport, change at Neratziotissa station and take the metro line 1 (green line) towards Piraeus.
Metro line 3 (blue line from the airport to Aghia Marina) or bus line X95, change at Syntagma for line 2 (red line) if you want to go to Omonoia area or get off at the Monastiraki station of the metro line 3 if you want to go to Monastiraki area.

Airport- central intercity bus stations (KTEL):

Bus line X93

Airport- port of Piraeus options:

Suburban railway from the airport to Piraeus.
Suburban railway from the airport, change at Neratziotissa station and take the metro line 1 (green line) towards Piraeus.
Bus line X96.

Airport- central railway station options:

Suburban railway from the airport to Piraeus, get off at “Athens Central” station.
Metro line 3 (blue line from the airport to Aghia Marina) or bus line X95, change at Syntagma for line 2 (red line) and get off at Larissa station.
Suburban railway from the airport, change at Neratziotissa station and take the metro line 1 (green line) towards Piraeus. Then change for line 2 (red line) at Attiki station towards Elliniko and get off at Larissa station.

How do we get from the airport to Thessaloniki center, the port, the central intercity bus stations (KTEL) and the central railway station (OSE)?

Bus line 01X going to the centre, the port, the “Makedonia” central intercity bus station and the central railway station.

Bus line 01X, change for bus 45, 45A or 45B at 25i Martiou stop for the “Chalkidikis” central intercity bus station.

Am I allowed to take pictures of everything I want?

You can take pictures of everything you want, apart from places with signs which indicate that photos or video shooting are forbidden. These are usually military spaces. Theoretically, embassies are forbidden to be photographed, although there are no clear signs. It is an ambiguous issue. Moreover, you can take pictures of museum exhibits as long as you do not use flash and the photographs are not for commercial use.

Which is the best way to move around the city?

As for the centre of Athens, the best way to move around is on foot, because you have better sightseeing. However, there is a satisfactory network of means of public transportation, such as the metro, busses, electric busses and tram. Thessaloniki’s centre is definitely better seen on foot, because it is more “restrained” and there are plenty of things to see. Alternatively, you can use the busses, whose network covers the whole city and they are quite often.

Greater Athens is covered partly by metro lines and tram, but busses and electric busses penetrate more in the city’s neighbourhoods. Taxi and a rented car is also a good option. Greater Thessaloniki is smaller compared to Athens and it can be walked, but still this can be quite tiring. Therefore, using busses is the best choice for your moving around the city.

Attica and Thessaloniki prefectures are areas with many sparse things to see. There are KTEL busses starting from Athens centre (Pedion tou Areos) and Eastern and Western Thessaloniki, the Suburban railway or even metropolitan busses that can approach those areas. Car rental though, is our recommendation.

What is the time-table of the transportation?

For Athens:

Metro Line 1: 5.00- 24.00
Metro Lines 2 and 3: 5.30- 24.00, Fridays and Saturdays 5.30- 2.00
Tram: 5.25- 24.00, between 2.00 and 3.00 on Fridays and Saturdays
Suburban Railway (Piraeus- Kiato): 6.17- 22.17
Suburban Railway (Kiato- Piraeus): 4.59- 21.59
Suburban Railway (Athens Central- Kiato): 5.36- 22.36
Suburban Railway (Kiato- Athens Central): 4.59- 21.59
Suburban Railway (Airport- Piraeus): 6.09- 22.09
Suburban Railway (Piraeus- Airport): 4.44- 20.44
Suburban Railway (Airport- Athens Central): 5.52- 22.50
Suburban Railway (Athens Central- Airport): 4.30- 21.03
Suburban Railway (Athens Central- Chalkida): 4.51-21.51
Suburban Railway (Chalkida- Athens Central): 5.26- 22.37
Busses, Electric Busses: 5.00- 24.00
Night busses and electric busses: 790 (Peristeri- Glyfada), X14 (Syntagma- Kifissia, via Kifissias av.), 040 (Piraeus- Syntagma), 11 (Ano Patissia- N. Elvetia), 500 (Piraeus- Kifissia)

For Thessaloniki:

Busses: Start at 5.30 and finish between 23.30 and 00.45, depending on the bus line.
Night bus: 01Ν (KTEL- Airport)

When are the shops open?

Shops in Athens are open: Monday and Wednesday 9.00-15.00, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9.00- 14.00 and 17.00- 21.00, Saturday 9.00-15.00 (most of Ermou st. shops close at 17.00). Shopping Malls are open daily from 9.00- 21.00 and on Saturdays until 20.00. On Sunday shops are closed apart from specific Sundays of the year, when some shops are open at will.

In Thessaloniki: Monday 12.00-20.00, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00-20.00, Saturday 10.00-17.00. On Sunday, similarly with Athens.

Where does youth usually go?

In Athens, youth goes mostly downtown. Especially Gazi, Exarchia and Panormou areas are very much visited by students, although many parts of the centre are frequently entertainment hot spots. However, many clubs by the sea that open during summer, mostly from Elliniko till Glyfada districts, are packed by the young. Other neighbourhoods of greater Athens that attract young people are Chalandri in Northern suburbs, Bournazi in Western and Mikrolimano near Piraeus.

In Thessaloniki, the heart of the entertainment of young people and students is the centre, mainly by Nikis Av and Ladadika district and the surroundings. Additionally, many people who visit clubs or the bouzoukia (greek live music) go to the area near the airport.

What do I need for my tours?

First and foremost you need comfortable, non-slippery shoes (snickers are recommended), because some archaeological sites and pedestrian roads are partly very slippery and partly rough, apart from the fact that you may be walking for several hours. If you visit Athens or Thessaloniki during summer, then you definitely need a sunblock, a hat and water during your tours, because temperatures are often above 30C.

What’s the weather like in Athens?

Average high: 33.7C (August)
Average low: 6.8C (January and February)
Higher average rainy days: 12.6 (January)
Lower average rainy days: 1.7 (August)
Humidity % (higher): 71.9 (November)
Humidity % (lower): 47.6 (August)
Snowfalls: infrequent, once or twice/ year
Higher temperature record: 48C (Tatoi and Elefsina areas)
Lower temperature record: -13 C (Parnitha) and -10C (Athens centre)

What’s the weather like in Thessaloniki?

Average high: 31.5C (July)
Average low: 1.3C (January)
Higher average rainy days: 12.5 (December)
Lower average rainy days: 4.7 (August)
Humidity % (higher): 78 (December)
Humidity % (lower): 53.2 (July)
Snowfalls: infrequent, a few days/ year
Fog: average of 193 days/year
Higher temperature record: 42C (Mikra district)
Lower temperature record: -14C (Mikra district)

How much do the transportation tickets cost in Athens?

Tickets *	Regular (euro)	Student’s/ half (euro)	Duration
- Single	1.40	0.60	90΄
- Daily (excluding airport)	4.50	4.50	24hour
- Bus X80 (summer) 3 day touristic for all MMT (including one way to or from the airport)	22	22	3 x 24hour
- 5 day ticket (excluding airport and bus line X80)	9	9	5 x 24hour
- Bus to airport	6	3	One way
- Metro to airport	10	5	One way
- Metro to airport, 2 persons	18	18	One way
- Metro to airport, 3 persons	24	24	One way
- Any means to airport with return	18	18	2 validations
- Airport to Pallini, Kantza, Koropi by metro	6	3	90΄

Cards*	Regular (euro)	Student’s/ half (euro)
- Monthly for all means (no airport)	30	15
- Monthly for all means	49	25
- 3 month for all means (no airport)	85	43
- 3 month for all means	142	71
- 6 month for all means (no airport)	170	85
- 6 month for all means	250	125
- Annual for all means (no airport)	330	165
- Annual for all means	490	245

* They are valid until Varkiza, Koropi and Magoula
* Half tickets also are eligible for people 7-12 years old and above 65 years old, with ID or passport verification
* KTEL buses and X80 have different charges.
* Suburban railway has different charges from Magoula to Kiato.

How much do the transportation tickets cost in Thessaloniki?;

Tickets *	Regular (euro)	Student’s/ half (euro)	Duration
- 1 way (1 bus)	1	0.50	One way
- Single (2 buses)	1.20	0.60	70΄
- Single (3 buses)	1.50	0.80	90΄
- Single (4 buses)	2	1	120΄
- Lines 50 (cultural), 01X, 01N (to airport)	2	1	One way

Cards*	Regular (euro)	Student’s/ half (euro)
- Monthly	30	15
- 3 months (January to October)	84	42
- 6 months (January and July)	150	75
- Annual (January)	270	135

* Half tickets also are eligible for people 7-12 years old and above 65 years old, with ID or passport verification
* KTEL buses have different charges.
* Suburban railway has different charges from Thessaloniki to Larissa.
* Attention, the ticket boxes inside the buses DO NOT give change.

Any suggested close destinations to Athens?

Any suggested close destinations to Thessaloniki?

What should I be cautious about taxis?

Unfortunately there are cases of taxi drivers who take advantage of visitors’ ignorance about taxi charges, despite them not being the majority of taxi drivers. You must never ask how much it costs to take you from a central area to another central area. You must enter the taxi, watch the taximeter and in the end always ask for a receipt. The lowest charge in both cities is around 3.5 euros. Between 00.00 and 5.00 am the charge is doubled. In case you are charged considerably more than you should, do not hesitate to report the driver to the police.

Do I get better prices by bargaining?

Νο, Greek shop owners, especially in these two cities, are not tolerable to bargaining, although many tour guides claim the opposite.

Where am I allowed to smoke?

Theoretically you are allowed to smoke only in your personal space and open spaces. This law though is not abided by everyone and especially by night clubs.

email: info@bonflaneur.com

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