Greece vs Northern Ireland
Travel advice for fans travelling to Greece for Greece versus Northern Ireland match on 14th October 2014.
Advice for fans travelling to Greece for Greece versus Northern Ireland match on 14th October 2014.
Date: Tuesday 14th
Venue: Karaiskaki stadium, Piraeus, Athens
Kickoff: 21.45 (local time)
Address: Karaoli Dimitriou & Sofianopoulou, Neo Faliro, Piraeus.
Website: www.olympiacos.org/en
As well as this advice, check out our advice for Greece.
Passports and visas
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you don’t need a visa to travel to GREECE but your passport should be valid for AT LEAST the length of your stay
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remember your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but also take out travel insurance, even if you’re only going for one night - it could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties
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do make sure that your passport is valid and in good condition. Keep your passport safe and keep separate copies of it when travelling. It is advisable to leave a photocopy of your passport and itinerary with a friend or a relative at home. Please take care of your passport – if you lose it you will need to report the loss to the local police and apply to the British Embassy on the next working day for an Emergency Travel. Document (ETD) to return to the UK. This could mean that you miss your flight home and need to pay for another flight in addition to paying for the ETD
Getting to the stadium
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Metro – Athens has an extensive metro system with three lines; Metro Line 1 (Green line), Line 2 (Red) and Line 3 (Blue)
The metro stop at the stadium is Faliro (Green Metro line 1). Journey time from the centre of Athens to Faliro is approximately 20 minutes. A single journey ticket valid for 70 minutes for all transport means [except airport express or airport suburban line] costs €1.20.
We would advise supporters to purchase a €4 day pass ticket which gives you 24 hours access on the metro and bus services or a 5 day pass ticket for €10 if you will be staying longer. Please note these tickets are not valid for trips to and from the airport (you will need to purchase a separate ticket when travelling on any airport express bus or the airport suburban line).
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Airport bus tickets cost €5 [single]
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Airport metro tickets cost €8 [single] & €14 [return]
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Tram – From Syntagma or Voula disembark at the Stadium of Peace and Friendship
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Buses – 040 from Syntagma, 101 from Ellinko, 130 from Nea Smirni, X95 from the Airport
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Taxi – approximate charges – €35 from the airport, €10 from Syntagma, €12 from Omonoia, €5 from the port
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Parking – If driving your own hire car please be aware that there are no parking facilities around the stadium we would advise you to park and ride from a metro station. The metro system will still run after the match
At the Stadium
The gates open three hours before kick-off.
Fans are encouraged to get to the stadium early as entry is by bar-coded ticket only and scanning takes some time.
The away section is accessed via Gate 26 or 27. Please refer to your match ticket for gate, block, row and seat number details.
A search by local police officers will be made before entering the stadium. All turnstiles are electronic and dedicated to visiting fans.
Away supporters can enjoy dedicated refreshment and toilet facilities. The section is well signposted and supporters will have a great view of the pitch albeit with a netting in front of the away section.
After the match it is anticipated that visiting fans will be kept back within the away section for up to 30 minutes. Please be patient with the authorities, announcements will be made to keep you updated.
Fans can expect to be security checked more than once on the approach to the stadium. No alcohol is allowed at the match. Fans who are manifestly drunk will be refused entry.
Rowdy and noisy behaviour, especially alcohol related, may not be tolerated by the Greek authorities.
Please note that the following items will NOT be allowed into the stadium [this list may not be exhaustive]: weapons, potential weapons, fireworks, drinks, alcohol, drugs, flag poles over 1m, flags over 1.5 x 2m, large cameras, animals, promotional material, spray cans, luggage, toilet / kitchen rolls and megaphones.
Tips
- Watch out for pickpockets in busy tourist areas and on public transport. Keep a photocopy of your passport with you. Only carry what you need, leave spare cash and valuables in hotel safety deposits British Embassy/Consulate address and telephone number
British Embassy, 1 Ploutarchou, Athens, Tel +30 210 7272600
- Public opening hours are by appointment only (except in the case of an emergency when Consular staff will exceptionally see customers without an appointment):
0900hrs -1300hrs >Monday, Wednesday and Friday
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Telephone lines are open: 08.30hrs – 15.00hrs > Monday to Friday
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Nearest metro : Evangelismos
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In the event of an emergency when the Embassy is closed, call the above number for information about connection to the Global Response Centre in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Emergency services numbers
- Police 100
- Ambulance 166
- Fire 199 or
- European emergency number 112
- Dialling 999 from a UK mobile will automatically connect you to the Greek emergency services