COCO-MAT Hotel Athens BC
A convenient option close to the conference venue.
Promo code: CTP
Conference Venue
Royal Olympic Hotel
28–34 Athanasiou Diakou Street, Makrygianni, 117 43 Athens, Greece
The venue is in the historic Makrygianni district, directly opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and a short walk from the Acropolis Museum and the pedestrian promenade of Dionysiou Areopagitou.
- Metro: Acropoli station (Line 2 / Red Line) — approximately 5 minutes on foot.
- Also within walking distance: Syngrou–Fix (Line 2) and Syntagma (Lines 2 and 3).
- Bus and trolley routes serve Athanasiou Diakou and Amalias Avenue.
Share the Conference
#ConnectToProtect2026 · #CTP2026 · #ChildProtection · #PreventingViolence · #ChildRights · #IASIS
Tag IASIS NGO on LinkedIn, @iasis_gr on Instagram and /iasis.ngo on Facebook.
Privacy reminder: Please respect the privacy of other participants, and never photograph or share images of children.
Travel & Accommodation
The conference registration fee does not include travel or accommodation. Participants are asked to arrange these independently.
Royal Olympic Hotel — Conference Venue
The conference arrangement applies to stays from 5–9 October, for Deluxe and Panorama rooms.
Booking code: ctpconference
No availability is included under the conference arrangement for the nights of 3–4 October.
Rates include the environmental tax of €15 per day.
Airotel Stratos Vassilikos Hotel
15% discount on the available dynamic rate for stays between 3–8 October 2026.
Booking code: CTP
Airotel Alexandros Hotel
The same 15% discount applies for stays between 3–8 October 2026, subject to availability.
Booking code: CTP
Getting to Athens & the Venue
Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH) lies approximately 33 km east of the city centre and is served by direct flights from major European hubs and a number of intercontinental destinations.
From the Airport to the City Centre
| Option | Fare | Journey time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 | €9 single · €16 return · €4.50 reduced | Approx. 40 min to Syntagma | Change at Syntagma for Line 2 to Acropoli. |
| Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) | Same airport fare | Approx. 40 min | Departs from the same platform as Line 3; convenient for Larissa Station. |
| Express bus X93, X95, X96, X97 | €5.50 · €2.70 reduced | 60–90 min | X95 serves Syntagma Square and runs 24 hours — useful for late arrivals. |
| Official taxi (yellow) | €40 day · €55 night | 35–60 min | Flat fare to central Athens; includes luggage and tolls. Taxi ranks are outside Arrivals. |
| Private transfer / ride-hailing | Approx. €40–55 | 35–60 min | Convenient for groups or delegates travelling with equipment. |
Airport fares and tickets are set by OASA; timetables and first/last train times are published by STASY. Please check before travelling, as fares are periodically revised.
Getting Around the City
| Ticket | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Single 90-minute ticket | €1.20 | All OASA services with unlimited transfers for 90 minutes. Airport express buses and the Koropi–Airport metro section are excluded. |
| 24-hour ticket | €4.10 | Unlimited travel on all OASA services for 24 hours from first validation. Also valid on line X80. |
| 5-day ticket | €8.20 | Unlimited travel for five full days. Airport services excluded. |
| 3-day tourist ticket | €20.00 | Three full days of unlimited travel, plus one journey to and one journey from the airport by metro or express bus. |
Practical transport points
- Tickets are sold at staffed ticket offices and automatic machines in every metro station and can be loaded onto an ATH.ENA Ticket or ATH.ENA Card.
- Contactless payment with a bank card, phone or smartwatch is accepted across the network for standard full-price fares.
- Validate once when boarding a bus, trolley or tram and twice on the metro: on entering and again on leaving the station gates.
- If carrying luggage or accompanying a child under six, use the wide accessible gates.
- Line X80 (Piraeus – Syntagma – Acropolis) operates seasonally from May to October.
STASY maps, timetables and lift availability · OASA fares and ticket products · OASA information centre: 11185
Visa & Entry Requirements
Greece is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
- EU/EEA and Schengen nationals may travel to Greece with a valid national identity card or passport.
- Nationals of other countries should check whether a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa is required and apply at the Greek Embassy, Consulate or authorised visa centre in their country of residence.
- Applications should be submitted at least 6–8 weeks before travel.
Letters of invitation: Email conference@iasismed.eu with your full name as shown in your passport, date of birth, passport number, nationality, institutional affiliation and travel dates.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
The EES has been fully operational at Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026. Non-EU nationals should expect biometric registration, including a facial image and fingerprints, on entry and should allow extra time at passport control.
Participants are encouraged to consult their national travel advice, ensure they hold appropriate travel insurance and carry the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) where applicable. Refundable travel and accommodation bookings are recommended where possible.
Practical Information
Electricity & Plugs
230 V / 50 Hz. Greece uses Type C and Type F plugs. Delegates travelling from the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia or Asia will need an adapter.
Weather in October
Early October is warm and usually sunny, with daytime highs around 24–27 °C and evening lows around 16–19 °C. Short rain showers are possible.
Currency
Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted. Some cash is useful for kiosks, small tavernas and bus fares. Tipping 5–10% in restaurants is customary but discretionary.
Time Zone
Eastern European Summer Time (UTC+3). Greece moves to winter time after the conference, on the last Sunday of October.
Language
Greek is the official language. English is very widely spoken in central Athens, hotels, restaurants and public services.
Tap Water
Tap water in Athens is safe to drink.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in all indoor public spaces, including conference rooms and hotel interiors.
Connectivity
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the conference venue. Mobile coverage is extensive, and prepaid Greek SIM cards and eSIMs are readily available.
Safety
Athens is a safe city for visitors. Take normal precautions against pickpocketing, particularly on the metro and in crowded areas such as Monastiraki, Omonia and Syntagma.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible, and all metro stations on Lines 2 and 3 have lifts. Delegates with accessibility or dietary requirements are invited to contact conference@iasismed.eu in advance.
Health & Emergencies
European emergency number — all services112
Ambulance / EKAB166
Police100
Fire service199
Tourist Police1571
On-duty hospitals, clinics, doctors & pharmacies14944
SOS Doctors1016
National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA)197
Hospitals near the conference venue
- “Evangelismos” General Hospital — 45–47 Ypsilantou Street, Kolonaki (approx. 2 km).
- “Ippokrateio” General Hospital — Vasilissis Sofias Avenue (approx. 3 km).
- “Georgios Gennimatas” General Hospital — Mesogeion Avenue.
- Paediatric care: “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital and “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, both in Goudi.
Emergency departments in Greece operate on a rota. Calling 112 or 14944 will direct you to the hospital on duty. EU citizens should present their EHIC; all other delegates should rely on travel or private health insurance.
Child Safeguarding
No photography or recording of children is permitted at any point.
The Connect to Protect conference operates under the IASIS child safeguarding policy. No unaccompanied children take part in the conference programme.
Conference child safeguarding focal person
Dr Stefanos Alevizos
stefanos.alevizos@iasismed.eu
Any safeguarding concern arising during the conference — including concerns about content, conduct or disclosures made in sessions — should be raised with the focal person immediately and in confidence.
National & European child protection helplines — Greece
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| National Line for Child Protection (EKKA) | 1107 |
| European hotline for missing children | 116 000 |
| SOS line for women survivors of violence | 15900 |
| Social emergency line (EKKA) | 197 |
Discovering Athens
Within Walking Distance
- Acropolis & Acropolis Museum
- Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian’s Arch
- Panathenaic Stadium
- National Garden
- Plaka & Anafiotika
- Monastiraki & Ancient Agora
- Filopappou Hill
A Short Metro Ride Away
- National Archaeological Museum
- Benaki Museum
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre
- Lycabettus Hill
- Coastal tram to Glyfada
Day Trips
- Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon — approx. 1.5 hours
- Delphi — approx. 2.5 hours
- Nafplio & Epidaurus — approx. 2 hours
- Aegina and Hydra by ferry from Piraeus
Eating Nearby
Makrygianni, Koukaki and Pangrati — all within 10–20 minutes’ walk of the venue — offer some of the city’s best neighbourhood cooking, from traditional tavernas to contemporary Greek kitchens. Restaurants typically serve dinner from 20:00 onwards.
Philip D. Jaffé
Professor Emeritus, Vice-chair UN Committee on the Rights of the Child