Kyllini, where the workshop venue is located, lies on the west coast of the Peloponnese in mainland Greece. It is 55 km from Araxos International Airport, approximately 300 km from Athens International Airport and 150 km from Kalamata International Airport. Kyllini is connected by frequent boat trips to the island of Zakynthos (Zante, 1 hour trip), where another international airport is located.
Conference Bus transfers will be arranged for all participants at specific times from:
- ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Trip duration: 3.5 hrs
- ARAXOS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Trip duration: 45 min
- Port of Kyllini (for participants arriving at Zakynthos International Airport)
Trip duration: 10 min
This service cost is included in the registration fee only for specific dates (17.09 from airport to venue, 21.09 from venue to airport) and times, which will be announced when registrations are completed.
If you are arriving at Athens Airport please note that you should arrive at the airport before 13:00 on 17.09 and leave after 15:00 on 21.09.
How to get to the Venue
Driving Directions
A. From Araxos Airport, Patras to Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort
Distance 52.0 km, about 1 hour
1. Head south on the road to Araxou-Lapa toward Metochi -Kalogria (6.0 km)
2. Sharp right to stay on the road to Araxou-Lapa (0.8 km)
3. Continue on Araxo - Metochi -Kalogria (1.0 km)
4. Turn right at Route 9/E55/National Road Patron-Pyrgou (28.3 km)
5. Continue on the National Road to Pyrgos until Gastouni – Vartholomio – Loutra Kyllinis. Turn right and drive thought Gastouni – Vartholomio and follow the signs to Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort & Loutra Kyllinis (15.9 km)
B. From Athens International Airport to Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort
Distance 319 km, about 3.5 hours
1. Follow signs from airport to ATHENS (Route 62/Attiki Odos) (0.9 km)
2. Turn left to stay on Route 62/Attiki Odos (5.6 km)
3. Take exit K2 to merge onto Route 6/E94 toward Elefsina (Toll road 48.3 km)
4. Take the exit onto Route 8A/E94/Following signs for PATRAS (Toll road 58.8 km)
5. Continue on Route E65/ Following signs for PATRAS. (Toll Road123 km)
6. Continue on Route 9/E55 Patras-Pyrgos (66.5 km)
7. Continue on the National Road to Pyrgos until Gastouni – Vartholomio – Loutra Kyllinis.
Turn right and drive thought Gastouni – Vartholomio and follow the signs to Loutra Kyllinis. (15.9 km)
C. From Zakynthos airport to Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort
Trip duration approximately 2 hours
Zakynthos is the southernmost and third largest in both size and population of the Ionian Islands. It is situated 8,5 nautical miles south of Kefalonia, 9,5 nautical miles west of the Peloponese and approximately 300 kilometres west of the capital of Greece, Athens. During the tourist season (April to October) there are direct charter connections between Zakynthos and a number of European cities. The airport in Zakynthos is found in the area of Ampelokipi, 3 km from the city/port and the connection to the port is only by taxi. There are approximately six ferry boats per day connecting Zakynthos to Kyllini. Because the itineraries change often, please contact the ticket offices by phone a few weeks before your travel or check with us.
Further information :
Consortium of Zakynthian Boats
Zakynthos +30 26950, 22083, 48301
Kyllini +30 26230, 92294, 92422.
Shuttle bus service will operate from the Kyllini port to the venue at specific dates and times.
Public Transportation
Please find hereunder directions for the use of public transportation from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport to the Conference venue:
From Eleftherios Venizelos Airport to Kifissos Bus Station
Kifissos Bus Terminal (or Bus Terminal A) is one of the two main intercity bus terminals of Athens. From airport 'Eleftherios Venizelos' the bus line X93 takes you directly to Kifissos Bus Terminal and vice versa. Service is provided on a 24 hour basis, seven days a week. All buses disembark passengers at the Departures Level (inbound trips to airport) and depart from the Arrivals Level (outbound trips from airport). BUS tickets are sold at the info/ticket-kiosk (located outside the Arrivals between Exits 4 and 5), or onboard (ask operator) at no extra cost.
Time estimate: 65 min. Ticket cost 5 €
The national bus company KTEL is located at Kiffisos providing a daily coach service. Take the bus from Kifissos Bus Station to Gastouni
- Athens - Gastouni 07.00 (07.30 only on Sundays) - 09.00 – 11.00 - 13.00 - 15.00 - 17.05 - 19.00 - 22.00
- Gastouni - Athens 5.20 (except Sundays) - 07.50 - 10.20 - 12.50 - 15.00 – 17.00 - 19.20 (except Saturdays) - 00.50
Time estimate: 4 hours. Ticket cost 24.70 €
For more information or confirmation for the above departure times please call: Bus Station Athens: (+30) 210 5134110-111 Bus Station Gastouni: (+30) 26230 35115
From Gastouni to Grecotel Olympia Riviera
From Gastouni you can reach the Conference Venue by taxi. Taxis are available at the Bus Station area.
Time estimate: 10 min. Cost 20€
ANCIENT OLYMPIA
During classical times, Olympia was the city of Ilia best known as the area where the Olympic Games took place, the greatest athletic event of the then-Greek world. Today, Ancient Olympia is a village and a municipality of Ilia, built in the valley of river Alpheus. Nearby lies the archaeological site, one of the most popular ones in Greece!
VLACHERNA MONASTERY
The monastery is located near Kyllini in a sensational landscape that strikes the visitor with its simplicity. It was built during the 12th century and the origins of its name derive from the famous Monastery of Vlacherna in Constantinople, to which it was dependant. However, time and disasters have destroyed important records of the monastery, a fact that provokes a dispute about the details of its establishment. The temple of the monastery is a blend of western as well as eastern architectural elements.
RIVER NEDA
River Neda is one of the few rivers of Greece that still offer an environment so virgin and untouched by human activity. Besides, it is—perhaps—the only Greek river that has been given a female name, in honour of the nymph Neda, a deity of the waters. Neda, according to the Greek Mythology, had bathed the infant Zeus in the river Gortynios (Lousios), together with the nymphs Theisoa and Agno. The river crosses a narrow canyon of unimaginable beauty, creating an almost mystical landscape, with waterfalls and natural pools spread between wooded hill slopes, under the shade of huge plane-trees, oaks, fig-trees, and thick bushy vegetation
THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO EPICURUS
Almost hidden in a wild and imposing landscape, on a narrow terrace of Mt. Kotilion, at 3710 ft., 14 km southwest of Andritsena, is the magnificent temple of Apollo Epicurus. At this site called Bassae during ancient times, in the 7th century B.C., the citizens of the small state of Figaleia (Arcadia Peloponnese) had established the temple of Apollo, whom they worshiped with the title “Epicurus”—helper and deliverer in sickness or war. The title was given during the war with the Spartans, around 650 B.C. The temple is considered one of the best preserved classic monuments all over Greece, together with the temple of Ifestos in the ancient Agora of Athens, and easily takes the first place in the Peloponnese, for the beauty and harmony of its structure.
THE FOLOI FOREST (CENTAURIAN FOREST)
Moving east, towards Olympia, you will meet the River Alfios, from where you will continue the course towards Lala and the high plateau of Foloi (or Pholoi), on Mt. Erymanthos. The vast forest of Foloi is a fabulous place, famous for the myths and legends that are connected with it in local legend. This is the site of the kingdom of Pholus—son of Silenos and the nymph Melia—the kind and virtuous Centaur that gave shelter to Hercules, when he was hunting the Erymanthian Bore. It is considered the oldest European self planted beech and oak forest and the biggest of the Balkans. It spreads for almost 33,000 square meters, on Mt. Foloi, at 688 m altitude, while the rivers Erymanthos and Ladon create a unique and enchanting environment. The area is recognized as protected parkland by the NATURA 2000 network.
