Lars Brinck
Getting there
ARRIVAL BY AIR Fly to Elefteros Venizelos, Athens international airport (ATH). Direct flights from Copenhagen (CPH) by SAS and Aegean. Other options include departing from Billund or Hamburg via Frankfurt or Munich. GOING FROM AIRPORT TO PORT OF RAFINA Go from Athens airport by bus or taxi to Rafina. Bus is 4 €, taxi about 40 €. Both trips last about 30 minutes. Bus and taxi depart just outside arrivals. GOING FROM DOWNTOWN ATHENS TO PORT OF RAFINA Take the metro to Moniaklis station and change to the bus toward Rafina. ARRIVING AT PORT OF RAFINA Rafina is a picturesque harbor village with nice restaurants on the sea front. A nice place to have your lunch before entering the ferry boat to Andros. You may also need to stay overnight in Rafina and take one of the morning boats. STAYING OVERNIGHT IN RAFINA Depending on arrival time of your flight, you may need to stay overnight in Rafina, and then catch the morning boat. Hotel Corali (0030) 2294 022477 or (0030) 694 7588903 (www.hotel-corali.gr/) is nice and close by Double bed with balcony € 50-70. No breakfast, but very hospitable when it comes to dogs.... Hotel Avra +30 2294 022780 (www.avrahotel.gr) is also nice. Right next to Corali, includes breakfast buffet and offers shuttle bus to and from the airport. No dogs. Finally, quite a few nice AirBnB options in the area. Hosts may offer to pick you up and/or take you to the boat. TAKING THE FERRY BOAT The ferry boats leave from Port of Rafina mornings and late afternoons and arrive 2 hrs. later at the small town of Gavrio on Andros. Check timetable here: http://www.danae.gr Tickets are for sale at ticket shops on the Rafina harbor side. GOING FROM GAVRIO TO KOXYLOU In Gavrio, you have the option of either 1) renting a car for your entire stay or 2) taking the local bus to Ormos Korthio and a taxi the last 8 km up the mountain to Koxylou. It is then possible to get by with local taxis and hiking. Most importantly, you'll need to shop in Ormos Korthio down by the sea, a 10 min car ride or a 45 min hike away. RENTING A CAR Renting a small car to go to and from the house for shopping and swimming and for sight seeing around the island is convenient and not too expensive. From 25-40 € per day, depending on season and duration of renting period. Go straight after leaving the ferry boat across the road to rental office of Anna Vrettou (staff speaks English). Phone: (0030) 22820-72440 APPROX. TRAVEL TIMES Copenhagen Airport - Athens Airport: 3,5 hrs. by air Athens Airport - Port of Rafina: 30 min. by bus or taxi Port of Rafina - City of Gavrio on Andros: 2 hrs. by boat City of Gavrio - Village of Koxylou: 45 min. by car or bus