Taxis are the lifeblood of a city, especially for Greece, which has once again become a popular tourist destination thanks to the Greece investment immigration program. In Athens, Greece, a taxi ride itself can serve as an excellent tour guide. Perhaps your taxi experience will become one of the most memorable parts of your holiday. Taking a taxi in Greece can be divided into three stages:
First: Hailing a taxi. The streets of Athens are filled with yellow taxis day and night. However, hailing one is not always easy, especially during the driver shift change between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, when they are usually only willing to pick you up if you are heading in the direction of their home. To hail a taxi, you must stand on the edge of the sidewalk and loudly call out your destination to the taxis slowing down as they pass. If the taxi's roof light is on, it indicates the taxi is vacant. (However, sometimes a taxi is vacant even if the light is off.) In Athens, it is common for drivers to pick up multiple passengers heading in the same direction, so you should never miss a taxi that already has passengers inside.
Once you have hailed a car, it is best to get in first and then state your destination. This is because drivers can be very selective; if your destination does not align with the direction they wish to travel, they might not even let you in. If you must state your destination first, say it loudly and clearly (with standard pronunciation); they might take you, or they might not even stop. If you see a vacant taxi, run to it as quickly as possible, or you might find an agile Athenian has beaten you to it.
Second: The ride. After getting in, confirm that the meter is working properly and that it is not set to double fare (double fare is only applicable from 0:00 to 5:00, or when traveling outside the city). Do not be surprised if you find other passengers in the car; Greek drivers often carry two, three, or even four individual passengers as long as they are heading in roughly the same direction. In fact, the taxi acts like a small bus, and the price is cheaper. If you are sharing a ride with a mother who has just finished shopping, a suave businessman, and a slightly cynical college student, you might become the center of the conversation, as they may be interested in everything you say. When you are alone, you might encounter a retired sailor who will tell you legends of his time in the United States, or you might encounter a driver who does not speak English at all.
Finally: Payment. If you are sharing a ride with others, you do not need to pay for the distance traveled before you boarded; you only pay for the distance from where you got in to where you got out, plus a minimum surcharge of 2.5 euros. In another scenario, the meter displays the price directly, which is calculated based on the kilometers recorded by the taxi meter. Taxis at airports and ports charge an additional fee for each piece of luggage, and prices are higher during Christmas and Easter.
Many drivers try to inflate the price, especially if you do not look like a Greek. If the price seems too high, be sure to ask why, regardless of the language you use, as the goal is to reach a fair price.
In recent years, various taxi radio dispatch services have become available in Athens and other major cities. You can call a reservation center, and a car will arrive to pick you up shortly. Although this service is slightly more expensive, it is well worth it if you need to hire a taxi during peak hours. If you are carrying heavy luggage and need to catch a flight or a ferry, booking a car in advance is a very wise decision.
Be extra careful when driving during peak traffic hours in Athens. The two main traffic issues are congestion and pollution. The problem is so severe that local regulations in Athens dictate that vehicles with even-numbered license plates can only be on the road on even-numbered dates of the month, while odd-numbered dates are for vehicles with odd-numbered plates. Unfortunately, this has not alleviated Athens' traffic problems; congestion persists, and pollution remains severe, as many families own two cars—one with an even plate and one with an odd plate—and simply switch cars each day.