Karaiskakis Stadium away guide

Athens has direct flights from Manchester and London, so there is no hub detour: fly into Athens International (ATH), then take Metro Line 3 changing to Line 1 for Faliro, the station at the ground, roughly 50 minutes all in [Athens Airport metro]. Away fans sit in Blocks 26 and 27 in the south-west corner, an allocation of around 1,600 [Football Ground Guide].

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Athens flies direct from both Manchester and London, so there is no hub detour. The flight is a shade over four hours and the metro drops you at the ground, which means the only real decision is budget airport versus full-service, and how far you want to schlep across London to save on the fare. Here are the ways there and roughly what each costs and takes.

Getting there from the airport

Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) links to the ground by metro in roughly 50 minutes: take Metro Line 3 (Blue), then change to Line 1 (Green) for Faliro [Athens Airport metro]. Note the airport leg is a separate fare zone: the airport single is around 9 euros, whereas a standard 90-minute city ticket is 1.20 euros [Public Transport Guide].

The X95 express bus runs from the airport towards central Athens and connects onward to the coast. A taxi from the airport takes about 40 minutes and costs around 40 euros in the day, more at night [FAI guide].

Getting there from the city centre and by metro

The nearest station is Faliro (Neo Faliro), which sits right at the stadium on Athens Metro Line 1, the Green line [Wikipedia]. It is less than five minutes from Piraeus and about 15 minutes from central Athens [Wikipedia]. The match ticket does not cover local transport, so tap in or buy a ticket as normal [Public Transport Guide].

For high-risk European fixtures, Olympiacos and the police often run mandatory coach travel to and from the ground from a meeting point at the Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens, with a police escort. Where that applies, there is no independent access on foot, and it is usually a paid add-on to the ticket [West Ham United Supporters Trust].

Where to stay

Base yourself in central Athens rather than Piraeus. The Plaka, Monastiraki and Syntagma areas put you on the metro line to the ground, near the sights and away from the matchday flashpoints around the stadium [West Ham United Supporters Trust]. Piraeus itself is a working port and is not the place to be wandering in colours on a matchday.

Away section, turnstiles and entry

Away fans are put in Blocks 26 and 27 in the south-west corner, entering through Gate 26 or Gate 27, with Gate 27 the one most often used [Football Ground Guide]. You cannot move between the two blocks once inside [FAI guide].

Coming out of Faliro metro station next to the stadium, away fans turn left for the away entrance. From the station to the stand can mean walking most of the way round the ground, about 15 minutes [Football Ground Guide].

You must carry your original passport or ID alongside your ticket, as photocopies are not accepted [FAI guide]. Small bags no larger than A4 are allowed and searched, there is no bag storage, and pyrotechnics are banned and illegal to possess in Greece [FAI guide]. No alcohol is sold in the away section [FAI guide].

Inside the ground

The current stadium was rebuilt for the 2004 Athens Olympics on the site of the old Neo Phaliron Velodrome [Football Tripper]. The North Stand holds the loudest support and carries a permanent tribute of 21 black seats forming the number 7, remembering the fans who died in the 1981 Gate 7 disaster [Football Tripper].

Where to drink

Drink in central Athens before heading down, not around the ground. Piraeus is not welcoming on matchdays and there is little safe custom around the stadium [West Ham United Supporters Trust].

• James Joyce Irish Pub, central Athens: the standard away-fan meeting point, English-speaking, screens on, a safe first port of call [Forza Garibaldi].
• Athens Sports Bar, near Syntagma: another visiting-fan favourite, football on the walls, easy to find [Forza Garibaldi].
• Monastiraki flea-market bars: a cluster of relaxed bars around Monastiraki metro where travelling fans tend to gather, good value and central [Forza Garibaldi].
• Plaka tavernas and bars: the old-town streets under the Acropolis are full of pavement tables, fine for a steady pre-match beer with food.
• Psyri, next to Monastiraki: buzzy little bars and mezze spots, lively into the evening and walkable from the centre.

Reckon on around 5 to 6 euros for a beer in a central bar, less for a bottle in a taverna [Expatistan]. Avoid the streets immediately around Karaiskakis in colours, and give known Gate 7 ultra haunts in Piraeus a wide berth [West Ham United Supporters Trust].

Where to eat

Greek food is cheap and good, and Piraeus is the best fish quarter in the city if you make a day of it.

• Souvlaki and gyros stands, everywhere: the go-to quick feed, a wrap for a few euros, ideal before the game.
• Margaro, Piraeus: a legendary no-frills fish taverna near the port, fried prawns and mullet, popular with locals [This is Athens].
• Jimmy's Fish, Mikrolimano harbour: well-known seafood spot on the water, sit-down, roughly 30 to 50 euros a head [This is Athens].
• Palio Limani, Mikrolimano: harbourside dining with fishing-boat views, a proper sit-down evening [This is Athens].
• Varoulko Seaside, Mikrolimano: Michelin-level seafood from chef Lefteris Lazarou if you want to push the boat out [This is Athens].
• Plaka tavernas, central Athens: reliable moussaka, souvlaki and grilled meats near the sights.

Local dishes to try: souvlaki and gyros, moussaka, grilled octopus and fresh fish, saganaki (fried cheese), and a plate of mezze with an ouzo.

What to do

Two days is plenty to see the highlights [Discover Greece].

• The Acropolis and Parthenon: the city's iconic hilltop citadel, the one unmissable sight [Discover Greece].
• Acropolis Museum: modern museum below the rock housing the sculptures and finds [Discover Greece].
• Plaka and Monastiraki: the oldest neighbourhoods, pedestrian streets, tavernas and the flea market [Discover Greece].
• Panathenaic Stadium: the all-marble stadium of the first modern Olympics, and the away-coach meeting point on European nights [Discover Greece].
• National Archaeological Museum: one of the great collections of ancient Greek artefacts [Discover Greece].
• Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Ancient Agora: major ruins within a short walk of the centre [Discover Greece].
• Mikrolimano and Piraeus harbour: a pretty yacht marina lined with fish tavernas, and the ferry gateway to the Saronic islands [This is Athens].

Common questions

How do you get to the stadium from Athens airport?

By metro in roughly 50 minutes: take Metro Line 3 (Blue) from the airport, then change to Line 1 (Green) for Faliro, the station at the ground [Athens Airport metro]. The airport leg is a separate fare zone with a single around 9 euros, so budget for that rather than a standard city ticket [Public Transport Guide].

Which airport do I fly to, and is there a direct flight?

Athens International (ATH), and yes, both Manchester and London fly direct with the likes of easyJet, Jet2, Aegean, BA and Wizz, so no hub or connection is needed [FlightsFrom]. The flight is a little over four hours. That direct link is what makes Olympiacos an easier away day than most Greek trips.

Where do away fans sit?

In Blocks 26 and 27 in the south-west corner of the ground, entering through Gate 26 or Gate 27, with Gate 27 the usual one [Football Ground Guide]. You cannot move between the two blocks once inside, and coming out of Faliro station you turn left and walk round to the away entrance [FAI guide].

What is the away allocation?

Around 1,600 tickets in a typical European fixture, though the exact figure varies with the competition and the specific match [Football Ground Guide]. The stadium holds 33,334 in total [Wikipedia], so the away end is a small pocket in the south-west corner.

What time should I arrive?

Get to the ground early. Police searches are rigorous and can be repeated, and where mandatory coaches run they leave the Panathenaic Stadium meeting point on a fixed schedule with an escort [West Ham United Supporters Trust]. Allow well over an hour before kick-off to clear the searches and reach your seat without a rush.

Can you drink in the ground?

No, no alcohol is sold in the away section [FAI guide]. Do your drinking in central Athens beforehand, because there is nothing safe or worthwhile to drink around the stadium itself [West Ham United Supporters Trust].

How much is a beer?

Reckon on around 5 to 6 euros for a beer in a central Athens bar, and a bit less for a bottle in a taverna or a supermarket can [Expatistan]. Prices in the tourist areas of Plaka and Monastiraki sit at the higher end of that.

Is Athens safe for away fans?

Central Athens is fine and touristy. The problem is Piraeus and the streets around the stadium on matchdays, which can be hostile to visiting supporters [West Ham United Supporters Trust]. Stay in the centre, keep colours covered around the ground, watch for laser pointers, and follow police instructions.

Which areas are away-friendly?

Stick to central Athens: Syntagma, Monastiraki, Plaka and Psyri, all on or near the metro line to the ground [Forza Garibaldi]. The James Joyce Irish Pub and the Athens Sports Bar are the usual travelling-fan meeting points [Forza Garibaldi].

Does the match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some European cities, the Athens match ticket does not cover the metro or bus, so buy a transport ticket or tap in separately [Public Transport Guide]. A standard 90-minute city ticket is 1.20 euros, with a daily tap-and-go cap around 4.10 euros [Public Transport Guide].

How far is the ground from the centre?

Not far. Faliro station is about 15 minutes from central Athens and under five minutes from Piraeus on Metro Line 1, and the station is right at the stadium [Wikipedia]. On foot from the station to the away stand is about 15 minutes once you walk round the ground [Football Ground Guide].

Where should I stay?

In central Athens, not Piraeus. The Plaka, Monastiraki and Syntagma areas keep you near the sights, on the metro line to the ground, and away from the matchday trouble spots [West Ham United Supporters Trust]. After the game, away fans are typically held in the stadium for around 25 minutes and, on escorted nights, returned by coach to the central meeting point [Football Ground Guide].

What is the Gate 7 tribute?

The North Stand carries 21 black seats forming the number 7, a permanent memorial to the fans who died in a crush at Gate 7 in 1981 [Football Tripper]. It is a serious piece of the club's identity, so treat it with respect.