The Athens Ring or Δακτύλιος Αθηνών (Daktylios Athinon) is an area of central Athens controlled by an odd/even system, originally designed and intermittently implemented from July 1979 to save fuel during the oil crisis. It was later imposed as a permanent solution to control traffic congestion and pollution in 1982.

Unfortunately, the number of cars in modern-day Athens has more than quadrupled since 1982 and legislation has not been revised to reflect this, though there has been discussion of banning aging diesel vehicles and charging drivers a fee to enter the center (κέντρο/kentro).

In the near future, the Kathimerini reports that downtown Thessaloniki will also be subject to ring restrictions as traffic worsens.

*Article last updated April 1, 2012. However, there are updates pending for this article.

How does it work?

The odd/even restrictions correspond the last number of a vehicle’s license plate number to the calendar date.

• All vehicles with license plate numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 can legally be in the Athens Ring on all odd dates, i.e., September 19, October 27.

• All vehicles with license plate numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 can legally be in the Athens Ring on all even dates, i.e., June 10, February 28.

*Households with two or more cars should have been asked to designate one car and not be using multiple cars to drive in the center every day.

When does it apply?

Athens Ring restrictions apply from early September to mid-July. For the 2011-2012 period, the ministry has announced these dates as September 5, 2011 to July 13, 2012.

It is in effect:

• Monday to Thursday: 7:00 to 20:00
• Friday: 7:00 to 15:00

It does not apply on:

• Saturdays, Sundays
• Official holidays
• Days on which Athens public transport has called a 24-hour strike (also known as hell)
• Summer, between mid-July and early September.

Restrictions may also be lifted during Holy Week and Christmas to accommodate shoppers and families, as announced by the ministry via Greek media.

*Note that the area around Syntagma Square is closed every Sunday from 10:45 to 11:05, when evzones (Presidential guards) in traditional dress parade down Vas. Sofias for the official changing. A must-see.

Big Ring, Small Ring

There are two rings in Athens, not to be confused with highway Attiki Odo (Attica Road/Highway) that many English speakers have dubbed the Athens ring road.

Big Ring or Μεγάλο Δακτύλιο (Megalo Daktylio): The Big Ring encompasses the majority of greater Athens and is only (and rarely) used on high-pollution days at the discretion of the ministry.

It comprises: Ag. Anargyroi, Ag. Paraskevi, Aigaleo, Alimos, Drapetsona, Filothei, Halandri, Ilioupoli, Kaisariani, Kallithea, Keratsini, Moschato, Nea Filadelfeia, Nea Ionia, Neo Psychiko, Nikaia, Paleo Faliro, Peristeri, Piraeus, Rentis, Vyrona, Ymittos, Zografou

Small Ring or Μικρό Δακτύλιο (Mikro Daktylio): The Small Ring is what most people know as the Athens Ring or “The Ring.”

Where is it?

An excellent map of the Athens Ring via ΕΜΒΕΛΕΙΑ. Click to enlarge:

The streets outlining the ring are (from top, clockwise):
Leof. Alexandras, Leof. Vas. Sofias, Messogeion, Michalakopoulou, Merkouri Spyrou, Vryaxidos, Ymittou, Ilia Iliou, Frantzi Am., Kallirrois, Tsaldari Pan., Hamosternas, Tsaldari Pan., Peiraios, Iera Odos, Leof. Konstantinoupoleos, Achilleos, Karolou, Marni.

A map may also be found inside the Attica map book, available for sale at any kiosk (periptero).

Daktylios Athinon from tanea.gr

Drivers can identify when they’re in, near or about to enter the ring by looking at these signs posted around Athens with a capital Delta or ‘Δ,‘ which of course stands for Δακτύλιο or ring.

Fines

Vehicles in violation of the odd/even rules can be stopped by police and fined 200 euros. See “Tickets and fines in Greece” for more information.

Exemptions

Odd/even restrictions in the center of Athens do not apply to the following:

– Rental cars for the first 40 days
– Hybrid vehicles (added 2003)
– Cars with foreign plates owned by newly arrived Greek/EU/non-EU residents in Greece for the first 40 days
– Vehicles belonging to residents within the ring who hold a special card from the City of Athens can be in the ring one hour before the start of work and return within two hours after ending work (if you live in the ring and need a card, see below, “Where Athens Ring residents can get a card”).
– Cars with a disabled person as the driver or passenger, designated by the appropriate license plate or certificate
– Public buses and school buses
– Cars belonging to Parliament, and state, municipal and public utility employees with the appropriate license plate
– Vehicles belonging to the foreign consulates and embassies
– Ambulances, plus vehicles transporting patients requiring frequent medical treatment, with the appropriate certificate
– Vehicles transporting medical supplies and organs
– Drivers education cars belonging to businesses within the ring
– Limited number of cars belonging to employees of daily and weekly newspapers and magazines, foreign correspondents, photojournalists, NET, ET1, radio station, TV channel workers, POESY and ESIEA, National Bank of Greece, active judges, airlines registered with the CAA, members of the Olympic Committee, doctors rushing to an emergency, certain IKA and Athens metro employees.

Where “Athens Ring” residents can get a card

Those who reside within the Athens Ring had until September 30, 2011 for apply for a special card granting them access without penalty at:

Traffic Division of Athens
or Διεύθυνση Τροχαίας Αττικής (Dievthysi Trochaias Attikis)
Th. Diliyianni 24-26, 5th Floor / Θ.Δηλιγιάννη 24-26, 5ος όροφος
Fax: (210) 528-4013

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 to 14:00; Saturday 8:00 to 12:00

You need:

– Greek ID, national ID card from an EU country, passport from any country
– Proof of residence: Usually a utility (OTE, DEH, EYDAP) bill in your name, lease/rental contract or last tax statement
– Car registration

The card/permit is valid for two (2) years, unless a notice has been sent or announced to revoke it sooner.

Sources

“Αιτήσεις για άδειες εισόδου στον Δακτύλιο” — To Vima
“Ο δακτύλιος επιστρέφει τη Δευτέρα” — Ta Nea
“Επανέρχεται ο «δακτύλιος» στις 6 Σεπτεμβρίου” — Eleftherotypia
“Τη Δευτέρα επιστρέφει ο δακτύλιος” — Ta Nea
“Ερχεται Δακτύλιος για τα Ι.Χ. στο κέντρο της Θεσσαλονίκης” — Kathimerini
“Όρια Μεγάλου Δακτυλίου” and “Εξαιρέσεις του Δακτυλίου Αθηνών” — livebetter.gr (Website removed)
“ΥΠΕΚΑ: Νέο «πράσινο» δακτύλιο θα φέρει η πετρελαιοκίνηση” — To Vima

Related posts

“How to convert to a Greek driver’s license”
“The first time I drove in Athens”
“Price of petrol/gas in Greece”

About

Kat is a well-traveled American journalist and author. To learn more, see “About Me.”

• Livingingreece.gr was created in 2007 to present meticulously researched original articles that fill a gap left by traditional media, government portals and commercial websites/forums run by people without credentials.
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Updates Pending
http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=324870
http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=429589
http://www.tanea.gr/latestnews/article/?aid=4672014
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_10/11/2011_414260
http://www.tanea.gr/ellada/article/?aid=4676656
http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.ecoenet&id=331800
http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=434834
http://www.tanea.gr/ellada/article/?aid=4700617
http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=447579
http://government.gov.gr/2012/05/03/29537/
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_03/05/2012_440493