Note: As of April 2018, the UberX service is suspended in Athens, while the UberTAXI service remains in place.
International ride-sharing (or ride-sharing) company Uber offers three versions of its service in Greece’s largest city, Athens. You can ride with a driver in your own vehicle using the Uber X service or have a more taxi-like experience with UberTAXI.
How does Uber work?
Uber is a downloadable smartphone app that allows users to reserve a car and pay for it, so no cash is exchanged between the driver and the driver, and the driver never has access to the driver’s credit card or other driver information. pay. In its most popular version, Uber X, drivers use their own cars. For other services like Uber Black, a luxury car service or UberTAXI, passengers can choose more professional vehicles and drivers.
The idea of a ‘private’ car used to transport people is the image promoted by Uber, but in many cities, a good percentage of drivers are former taxi drivers or experienced drivers who consider this to be a more income stream. convenient.
Rules for riding with Uber
The rules that govern Uber vary from city to city. Some cities require drivers to undergo driving and background tests beyond those performed by Uber. Elsewhere, entirely new categories of transportation have been introduced to cover Uber and other ride-sharing services, to ensure that drivers and passengers are protected by some form of insurance.
Uber’s expansion has been rapid, and it has run into regulatory hurdles in almost every city where it expands by circumventing or avoiding transportation laws that cover taxis and other rental car services.
And particularly in European cities, taxi driver protests have received further expansions from Uber; Their argument is that by not following the same licensing and training rules, Uber has introduced unfair competition.
Cities in Greece where Uber operates
Uber launched in Athens in 2014. At the time of writing, the service is restricted to the Athens metropolitan area, with Uber X, Uber X Plus and UberTAXI available for trips from Athens to nearby points, and the Athens International Airport.
Advantages of Uber in Greece
Uber bridged the gap between the “public” taxis and the “private” or “radio” taxis that previously dominated the landscape. It costs more to call a taxi in Greece, rather than relying on your ability to hail a vacant taxi on the street. And vacant or partially full public taxis may stop to pick up additional passengers along a route, something that can distress tourists.
How to use Uber
You need a smartphone to access the Uber app. While you can access Uber via the web (or in some cities by phone call), to initially activate the service, you need a smartphone connection.
If you’re using your cell phone abroad, make sure you have a package that allows for international use at a reasonable price, or any savings you might get from using Uber can be eliminated.
Plan your trip to Athens, Greece
The Greek airport code for Athens International Airport is ATH. Find and compare hotel prices in Athens and the Greek islands.
