Athens Transport Information

With an urban population of around 4 million people, it goes without saying that Athens offers a large, modern public transport system that serves the needs of the city.

Residents and visitors in Athens move around the city using city buses, electric trolley-buses, Athens metro, Athens tram, and the Athens suburban railway.

 

It's important to note that in 2017 the Athens transport ticket system changed from paper tickets to modern electronic tickets. With the new system, the paper tickets have been replaced by paper and plastic smartcards. Riders of the metro system go through turnstiles which have been installed in all stations.

Athens is connected to even the remotest destinations via the Athens International Airport, the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio, the TRAINOSE national railway network and, the KTEL long-distance bus network.

 

The Athens Transport authority operates four 24-hour express bus lines to the airport. A special fare costing 6 euros is needed to board the buses (or 3 euros for a reduced price ticket).

• Χ93 : Kifissos KTEL (long-distance buses) Station – Airport
• Χ95 : Syntagma – Airport
• Χ96 : Port of Piraeus – Airport
• Χ97 : Eliniko Metro Station – Airport

All buses run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with frequency varying according to day, time and season.

One-way travel time estimates: X93 (65 min), X95 (70 min), X96 (90 min), X97 (100 min). Allow sufficient time to travel as traffic conditions may cause delays.

• Metro: Take Metro Line 3 (Aghia Marina – Douk. Plakentias – Airport), which connects the Athens airport with the city center. Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The trip from/to the Airport to Syntagma station (Athens center) lasts 40 minutes. 
  
  
• Proastiakos: The Suburban railway connects the Athens airport with the Athens Central Railway Station and Acharnai Railway Center, and through them to the National Railway network. Trains run 7 days a week from 5:26 am to 21:44 pm. Current timetables: Airport – Kiato and Kiato – Airport, Kiato – Patra bus connections, Piraeus – Athens – Halkida line.
  
  The Suburban railway departs every 15-25 minutes from the Athens Airport railway station to Plakentias station, where you can change trains (platforms are on different levels) and continue to the city center (Metro Line 3 to Egaleo), using the same ticket.

City buses and electrical trolley-buses serve Athens and its suburbs. Special schedules apply during summer months of July-September.

Operating hours vary according to line/day/season, but generally they run between 5:00 a.m. – midnight.

There are also five 24-hour lines, 4 airport lines (see above section), and 8 Express lines.

The Athens Metro has 3 lines. All stations are fully accessible to disabled persons with elevators in every level and platform and most of the trains are air-conditioned.

• Line 1 (green line): Kifisia – Piraeus
• Line 2 (red line): Anthoupoli – Eliniko
• Line 3 (blue line): Airport – Douk. Plakentias – Aghia Marina
  
  

Operating hours are 5:30 a.m. to 00:30 a.m., and every Friday and Saturday night, lines 2 & 3 stay open until 2:30 a.m.

Starting operation on the eve of Athens’ Olympics, the Athens Tram connects the city center with the southern seaside.

If you wish to find real time information for buses and trolley schedules you can download the OASA Telematics App on your smartphone.

• Line 1 'Kasomouli – SEF' linking downtown Athens to the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
• Line 2 'Kasomouli – Voula' which runs between the city center and southern suburb of Voula and
• Line 3 'Voula – SEF' running along the coastal zone.

Important: The tram stops between Syntagma and Kasomouli have been closed indefinitely. Therefore, there is no connection with the Tram at Syntagma and Sygrou-Fix Metro stations. Nearest Metro station with connection to the Tram is Neos Kosmos of line 2.the summer, many Athenians choose the tram to visit nearby beaches, seaside cafes and clubs.

Operating hours are 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays it operates approximately from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Suburban Railway

The Suburban Railway, or “Proastiakos“, is part of the national railway network of Greece. Its main route is Athens Airport – Kiato, while other routes travel up to Ano Liosia. There is also a route that connects Ano Liosia with the Athens Central Station as well as a route that connects the town of Halkida (Chalkis) with the Acharnai Station (S.K.A.), the Athens Central Station and Piraeus Station.

Be aware that different fares may apply: Piraeus to Acharnai Station (S.K.A.) and Magoula to Koropi stations use the 90-minute ticket for all modes, while different fares are charged for more distant stations. Current Suburban Railway timetables: Airport – Kiato and Kiato – Airport, Kiato – Patra bus connections, Piraeus – Athens – Halkida line. See also: Suburban Railway Discount Policy.

Tickets for the suburban railway (other than the 90-minute ticket for all modes) can be bought at all suburban railway stations.

For information about tickets and timetables, please visit: OASA.gr