photos: ©k.vergas

Doing business
Greece is very much a part of Europe when it comes
to business etiquette although still today business
dress tends to be formal, even in the hot summer
months. English is widely spoken so language will
generally not be a problem. One noticeable difference
between Greece and western Europe is the
prevalence of smoking.

Cool hotel
If striking interiors, quirky bespoke furniture and
handmade fixtures appeal, the New Hotel is a good
choice (www.yeshotels.gr). Opened last summer, the
79-room hotel is a member of the Design Hotels
group and located next to Constitution Square
(Syntagma Square), within walking distance of the
city's main business district. It includes the ‘New
Taste’ Mediterranean restaurant and a fitness area,
with executive floors, lounge and penthouse suite
opening soon.

Hip restaurant
The Funky Gourmet restaurant in the Keramikos
(www.funkygourmet.com) area of Athens is one of
several establishments currently in favour across the
city. Universally praised on review websites, the
restaurant is in an old industrial area which is being
reclaimed and filled with art galleries (Funky Gourmet
showcases art itself) and theatres, and offers quality
upscale dining.

Getting there
Athens is well served with scheduled flights from
Aegean, British Airways, easyJet and Olympic.
Flights are available from a number of airports
around the UK including Aberdeen, Belfast,
Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester.

Getting downtown
There are lots of different options. Metro Line 3
serves the airport while Suburban Rail Services
operate from Athens Central Railway Station (Larissis)
and Piraeus. Four bus services also serve Athens
International Airport – Eleftherios Venizelos; these are
X93, X95 (from Syntagma Square), X96 from Piraeus
and X97. Taxis and limo transfers are also available
from outside the airport terminal.

Must-see sights
A 3km pedestrian zone has been created in the city’s historical
centre based around the sacred rock of the Acropolis, site
of much iconic architecture and art, not least the photogenic
Parthenon temple. Some 4000 historical items are on show in the
new Acropolis Museum.

CARBON COST
A return flight from London to Athens will cover 5,293km and
produce 0.58 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The Carbon
Neutral Company, from £5.80.

INSIDER'S TIP
”After a first business meeting it’s possible that an embrace might conclude matters – and will be a sign of a successful
meeting – although a handshake is more probable.
It’s normal practice to use a person’s surname rather than
first name, certainly at first and, as elsewhere, most business
meetings start with general conversation over a coffee”

The details
Athens is two hours ahead of the UK. The currency
(at the time of writing) is the euro, currently £1 = 1.17
euros. No visa is required. General travel information
can be found at www.visitgreece.gr.

Compiled by Alan Orbell

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