If you found accommodation in the center of Athens, you might not even need to use the Athens public transport network. However, if the place where you’re staying in Athens is farther away or you wish to explore more than the center of the Greek Capital, using Athens public transport is a great and affordable option!
Athens public transport tickets and fares
Types of tickets for Athens public transport
- The Athena Ticket is a rechargeable paper ticket, which allows you to use Athens public transport between 90 minutes to 5 days.
- The Anonymous Athena Card is a rechargeable plastic card, valid for a duration from 90 minutes to 5 days. It can also be used for getting to and from the airport by using the public transport network.
- The Personal Athena Card is more suitable for people who are planning a longer stay in Athens. It is a rechargeable plastic card with the owner’s photo, valid for a duration from 90 minutes to one year.
Athens public transport ticket prices
Below are the prices for the most commonly used tickets:
- 90-minute ticket for € 1.40
- 24-hour ticket for € 4.50
- 5-day ticket for € 9.00.
(There is also a 3-day tourist ticket at € 22.00, but I personally don’t find the logic in buying it, considering the cheaper options listed above.)
50% discounts are offered to:
- Children with ages between 7 and 12 years
- Teenagers with ages between 13 and 18 years, on the basis of passport or ID card
- Students under the age of 25 years, on the basis of their Student Card and passport / ID card.
- Seniors over the age of 65 years, on the basis of passport or ID card.
Children under the age of 7 can travel for free.
Where can I buy tickets for Athens public transport?
The Athens public transport tickets can be bought in subway stations, tram stations, and bus ticket stalls. You can also find them in train stations at newspaper stands, as well.
Please note that the Anonymous Athena Card can only be bought from Athens Transport ticket offices. You can find them in subway stations.
Also, if you are interested in obtaining a Personal Athena Card, you have to present your passport when requesting one at an Athens Transport ticket office.
Taking the subway in Athens
The subway of Athens is available between 05.30 to 00.30. On Fridays and Saturdays, the last train departs at 02.00.
Subways run with a frequency of 5-10 minutes. However, the duration between two subways lowers to 3 minutes during peak times.
There are three subway lines in Athens:
Line 1 (Green line)
Runs from the north to the south of Athens. It connects Kifissia to Piraeus.
Subway stations on Line 1 (Green Line):
Kifissia – Kat – Maroussi – Neratziotissa – Irini – Iraklio – Nea Ionias – Pefkakia – Perissos – Ano Patisia – Agios Eleftherios – Kato Patisia – Agios Nikolaos – Attiki (connection to Red Line) – Victoria – Omonia (connection to Red Line) – Monastiraki (connection to Blue Line) – Thissio (connection to Blue Line) – Petralona – Tavros – Kalithea – Moschato – Faliro – Piraeus
Line 2 (Red line)
Runs from northwest to southeast.
It connects Agios Antonios to Agios Dimitrios.
It passes through the Acropolis Railway Station, Syntagma Square, and the Acropolis Area.
Subway stations on Line 2 (Red Line):
Agios Antonios – Sepolia – Attiki (connection to Green Line) – St. Larissis – Metaxourgiou – Omonia (connection to Green Line) – Panepistimio – Syntagma (connection to Blue Line) – Acropolis – Syngrou-Fix – Neos Kosmos – Agios Ioannis – Dafni – Agios Dimitrios
Line 3 (Blue line)
Runs from northeast to southwest.
It connects Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International Airport to Aigaleo.
Subway stations on Line 3 (Blue Line):
Doukissis Plakendias – Halandri – Agia Paraskevi – Nomismatokopeio – Holargos – Ethniki – Katehaki – Panormou – Ambelokipi – Megaro Moussikis – Evangelismos – Syntagma (connection to Red Line) – Monastiraki (connection to Green Line) – Thissio (connection to Green Line) – Kerameikos – Eleonas – Aigaleo
Riding the tram in Athens
Trams are available between 05.30 and 01.00. On weekends, the final tram departs from Syntagma Square at 02.15.
There are three tramway lines with a total of 48 stations, connecting Athens to the seashore:
Line 1, from Syntagma Square to Piraeus
Athens tram stations on Line 1:
Syntagma – Zappeio – Leoforos Vouliagmenis – Syngrou-Fix – Kosamouli – Neos Kosmos – Mpaknana – Aigaio – Agias Foteinis – Megalou Alexandrou – Agia Paraskevi – Medeias Mykalis – Evangeliki Scholi – Achilleos – Amphitheas – Panagitsa – Mousson – Mpatis – Phloisbos – Parko Phloisbou – Trocadero – Agia Skepi – Delta Phalirou – Tzitziphies – Kallithea – Moschato – Nea Phaliro – Stadio Irinis-Philias (SEF)
Line 2, from Syntagma Square to Glyfada (Athens Riviera)
Athens tram stations on Line 2:
Syntagma – Zappeio – Leoforos Vouliagmenis – Syngrou-Fix – Kosamouli – Neos Kosmos – Mpaknana – Aigaio – Agias Foteinis – Megalou Alexandrou – Agia Paraskevi – Medeias Mykalis – Evangeliki Scholi – Achilleos – Amphitheas – Panagitsa – Mousson – Edem – Pikrodaphni – Marina Alimou – Kalamaki – Zephyros – Loura Alimou – Elleniko – 1st Agia Kosma – 2nd Agia Kosma – Agios Alexandros – Ellinon Olympionikon – Kentro Istiploias – Paralia Glyphadas – Palaio Dimarheio – Plateia Katraki – Aggelou Metaxa – Plateia Esperidon – Kolimpitirio – Asklipieio Voulas
Line 3, from Glyfada to Piraeus
Athens tram stations on Line 3:
Asklipieio Voulas – Kolimpitirio – Plateia Esperidon – Aggelou Metaxa – Plateia Katraki – Palaio Dimarheio – Paralia Glyphadas – Kentro Istiploias – Ellinon Olympionikon – Agios Alexandros – 2nd Agia Kosma – 1st Agia Kosma – Elleniko – Loura Alimou – Zephyros – Kalamaki – Marina Alimou – Kalamaki – Pikrodaphni – Edem – Mpatis – Phloisbos – Parko Phloisbou – Trocadero – Agia Skepi – Delta Phalirou – Tzitziphies – Kallithea – Moschato – Nea Phaliro – Stadio Irinis-Philias (SEF)
Going on a bus ride in Athens
The bus network is very large and traveling in this manner is quite cheap. This is why buses are also very crowded.
Buses and trolleybuses are available between 05.30 to 00.30. The frequency is not predetermined, it depends on the bus line and the time of the day.
There are no special night buses running in Athens, but some routes actually have buses non-stop.
Remember when you use the Athens public transport
Make sure you validate your transport ticket for every ride and keep each trip under 90 minutes.
In trams, buses, and trolleybuses you can validate your ticket after you get on your ride, at the orange machines inside. For the subway, you must validate the ticket before getting on the train.
If you happen to get caught using the Athens public transport without a ticket, you are subject to a fine of 60 times the price of the 90-minute ticket. That is € 84.00, so better make sure you always have a valid ticket!
Athens public transport map
If you click on the icon on the left on the Athens map online below, you can select to view only the subway, tram or suburban railway. The icons for the subway are colored to correspond to the three lines: green, red, and blue.
How to get around Athens
Private transport in Athens
Riding the tram on the Athens Riviera