Athens Public Transportation: Everything You Need to Know About the Metro & More

Public Transit in Athens: Our Overview

The public transportation system in Athens is seriously well developed — you can get pretty much anywhere by transit, and it’s easy to figure out even on your first day.

Athens public transportation at a glance

• Metro: 3 lines connecting the city center, the airport, and suburbs.
• Tram: 2 lines connecting Athens to seaside destinations.
• Buses: Around 450 bus routes running throughout all of Athens.
• Suburban rail: Connects the city center with the suburbs.

The official website for Athens public transit is OASA. There’s also an app — but honestly, we don’t find it particularly useful.

Tickets for Public Transit in Athens

All tickets for Athens public transportation are valid across every mode of transit (bus, tram, metro, suburban rail).

You only need a separate ticket for the trip to the airport.

How much does public transportation in Athens cost?

Those are the most important ticket options for getting around Athens. There are plenty more — a 2-ride ticket, monthly passes, and others.

You can find the full breakdown on the OASA website.

Single ticket

The single ticket is your best bet if you only use public transit occasionally.

• Ticket price: €1.20
• Ride for 90 minutes including transfers
• Trip to the airport is not included
• Once you exit the metro network, you cannot re-enter

24-hour ticket

The day ticket is worth it if you plan to use public transit at least four times within 24 hours.

• Ticket price: €4.10
• Unlimited use of all Athens public transit for 24 hours
• Trip to the airport is not included

3-day tourist ticket

The 3-day tourist ticket is the smart pick if you’re spending 3 days in Athens and flying in and out.

• Ticket price: €20
• Round trip to the airport included (normally costs €18)
• Unlimited use of all Athens public transit for 3 days

5-day ticket

The 5-day ticket makes sense if you’re in Athens for four or five days and expect to use public transit at least seven times.

• Ticket price: €8.20
• Unlimited use of all Athens public transit for 5 days
• Trip to the airport is not included

Buying tickets for public transit in Athens

You can buy tickets at the counters in all metro stations. There are two types of tickets: the Ath.ena Ticket and the Ath.ena Card.

For most visitors, the Ath.ena Ticket is the one you want.

• ATH.ENA Ticket: When you buy any of the tickets above at the counter, you automatically get the Ath.ena Ticket. It’s a paper ticket — hold onto it after your ride, because you can reload it.
• ATH.ENA Card: The Ath.ena Card is a rechargeable plastic card, which is especially handy if you’re staying in Athens for a longer stretch. Locals typically have a personalized version, but an anonymous Ath.ena Card is also available.

Public Transportation in Athens

Here’s a rundown of the different modes of transportation that make up Athens’s public transit network.

Metro in Athens

• Number of lines: 3 metro lines
• Frequency: Every 5–10 minutes
• Operating hours: 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM

For sightseeing in Athens, the metro is hands-down the most important way to get around. It connects major highlights like the Acropolis, Monastiraki, and the Old Town.

Metro connections show up in Google Maps, which makes navigation easy. To enter the metro network, hold your ticket up to the card reader at the station gates.

Once inside, lines and directions are clearly signposted and you can transfer as many times as you like within your ticket’s validity.

Important: You need to hold your ticket up to the card reader again when you exit the metro network. Don’t throw it away!
Athens Metro timetable

Tram in Athens

• Number of lines: 2 tram lines
• Frequency: Every 10–25 minutes
• Operating hours: 5:30 AM – 12:00 AM

The tram runs from the city center out to the coast. You’ll really only need it if you’re heading to Piraeus or the beaches. Both lines depart from Syntagma Square.

Just validate your ticket at the card reader when you board — no need to tap out when you exit.

Athens Tram timetable

Buses in Athens

• Number of lines: Around 450 bus routes
• Frequency: Varies by route
• Operating hours: Vary by route

Athens runs both trolleybuses (electric overhead wire buses) and regular buses. Same deal as the tram — tap your ticket at the card reader when you board.

For classic sightseeing, you probably won’t need the bus much, since the metro is almost always the faster, easier option.

Suburban rail in Athens

• Number of lines: 4 rail lines
• Frequency: Varies by line
• Operating hours: Approximately 4:30 AM – 11:00 PM

The suburban rail in Athens is called the Proastiakos. Since it mainly serves the outskirts, you probably won’t need it for a standard city trip.

It does come in handy if you want to take a day trip from Athens by train or travel to another city — the Proastiakos network connects to the long-distance rail service of Greece.

Getting from Athens Airport to the City Center

The metro (line M3) connects the city center directly with Athens Airport. The ticket costs 9 euros.

Alternatively, Airport Express buses run from the airport to Syntagma Square for just 5.50 euros.

In our article on Athens Airport, we go into more detail about all your options for getting from the airport to the city center.

Extra tip: Hop-on/Hop-off Buses in Athens

A great alternative to standard public transit in Athens are the hop-on/hop-off buses — they run routes designed specifically for tourists.

Tickets cost a bit more than regular Athens public transportation, but you get audio commentary and a much better view of the city from the open top deck.

There are three hop-on/hop-off providers in Athens, all running the same routes. Our pick is the red buses from City Sightseeing Athens.

Get tickets for the red hop-on/hop-off bus in Athens

Frequently Asked Questions About Public Transit in Athens