Public Transport in Athens: Apps, Tickets & Tips 2026

Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" (ATH) is about 33 km east of the city centre. Four 24-hour express buses and Metro Line 3 (Blue) link the airport to the city — and all of them are faster and cheaper than a taxi outside rush hour.

Metro Line 3 (RECOMMENDED)

• Route: Airport → Doukissis Plakentias → Monastiraki → Syntagma → Nikaia (terminus)
• Time: 40 minutes direct to Syntagma; 50 min to Monastiraki
• Price: €9,00 one-way (adult) / €16,00 return valid 48 hours
• Frequency: Every 30–36 minutes; first ~06:30, last ~23:30 from airport (check stasy.gr for exact times)
• Note: NOT included in 24h or 5-day urban passes — only in the 3-Day Tourist Ticket

Express Bus X95 (24/7 budget option)

• Route: Airport → Doukissis Plakentias → Ethniki Amyna → Syntagma Square
• Price: €5,50 (single, all ages) — tap your bank card or buy from the airport bus stop kiosk
• Time: 40–60 min depending on traffic — can stretch to 90 min in rush hour
• Departures: Every 15–20 min, day and night — the only realistic option between 23:30 and 06:30 when the metro is closed

Connecting to Piraeus for the ferry?

• Bus X96 direct from airport to Piraeus port: €5,50, 60–90 min, 24/7
• This is the only option overnight when the metro is closed
• Daytime alternative: Metro Line 3 → transfer at Monastiraki → Line 1 to Piraeus (~75 min total)

How to pay

Athens uses a flat fare of €1,20 per ride, valid for 90 minutes across metro, buses and tram — no zone differences within the urban network. The easiest way to pay is Tap2Ride: tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard at any validator. The €4,10 daily cap activates automatically once you exceed three rides, making extra trips free for the rest of the day. The airport is not covered by urban passes — it requires a separate ticket or the 3-Day Tourist Ticket (€20,00).

Essential Info

Age Limits & Prices

Tips for Families

• Children under 6 travel free, no ticket needed — just walk through with an adult
• For children 7–18 the simplest option is a paper reduced 90-min ATH.ENA Ticket (€0,50) from any station vending machine — show the passport if an inspector asks
• Tap2Ride does NOT offer reduced fares — always buy a child ticket separately
• Strollers: lifts at every metro station; trolley-buses and modern buses are low-floor
• The historic ISAP line (M1) has older trains with a small step — use the ramp from staff if needed

🧮 Cost Estimate for a 3-day Family Trip

• Adults (2×): 3 × €4,10 daily cap (Tap2Ride) = €24,60 total
• Children 7–18 (2×): 3 × 4 reduced tickets ≈ €12,00 total
• Children under 6 (2×): FREE
• Plus airport: 2× Metro Line 3 return = €32,00 — OR 3-Day Tourist Ticket (€20,00) which includes airport for the adult; saves about €12 per adult vs separate airport tickets

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)

Athens has invested heavily in accessibility on the modern metro lines (M2 and M3) and the coastal tram. Lifts and tactile guidance are standard on those networks. The historic Line 1 (ISAP) and the bus fleet are more mixed — some older trams and steep streets in Plaka still pose real challenges. OASA runs a dedicated helpline for accessibility questions: +30 210 82 00 887 (weekdays 06:30–21:30, weekends 07:30–21:30).

Metro: Mostly Accessible

• Lines 2 (Red) and 3 (Blue): All stations have at least one lift, level boarding, tactile guidance paths, accessible toilets and audio announcements in Greek and English
• Line 1 (Green, ISAP): Older line — three central stations (Agios Nikolaos, Omonoia, Monastiraki) have a noticeable platform-to-train gap; ask staff for a ramp at the station information desk
• Wheelchair boarding: Easier in the first or last car on Lines 2 and 3; first door of the first car on Line 1
• All lifts have Braille buttons and voice output; floor announcements are bilingual

Tram: Fully Accessible

• T6 (Pikri-Voula) and T7 (Pikri-SEF) trams are 100% low-floor with level platform access
• Dedicated wheelchair spaces in every vehicle; audio + visual stop announcements

Buses & Trolley-Buses: Mixed

• Most modern buses are low-floor with a fold-out ramp at the second door — but the network still includes older non-accessible vehicles, especially on suburban routes
• Drivers will deploy the ramp on request — ring the buzzer or signal at the stop
• Express airport buses (X95, X96, X93, X97) are wheelchair-accessible

Assistance & Support

• Personalised ATH.ENA Card available free of charge to disabled travellers registered in Greece — visitors should bring an EU disability card if eligible
• Companions of registered disabled travellers ride free
• OASA accessibility helpline: +30 210 82 00 887 for advance route planning

Visual Impairment

• Tactile paths: Installed at all Line 2 and Line 3 metro stations and on tram platforms
• Audio announcements: Bilingual (Greek + English) on Lines 2 and 3, in lifts and at platform level. Line 1 has Greek announcements only on most stations.
• Braille: On all lift buttons and tactile maps at station entrances on Lines 2 and 3
• Guide dogs travel free on all OASA services

Best Accessible Tourist Routes

When does the metro stop?

On weekdays the Athens metro runs roughly 05:30 until 00:30 (Friday and Saturday until 02:30 on Lines 2 and 3). The historic Line 1 closes a little earlier. From Friday 22:00 to Saturday 10:00 and again from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 10:00, Lines 2 and 3 and Tram T6/T7 run 24 hours continuously — Athens nightlife depends on it.

Permanent 24-hour bus lines (every day)

• 040 — Piraeus port ↔ Syntagma (the night lifeline for the ferry connection)
• 11 — Patissia ↔ Pangrati via central Athens
• X95 — Syntagma ↔ Airport (24/7)
• X96 — Piraeus ↔ Airport (24/7)
• X93 — Kifissos coach station ↔ Airport (24/7)
• X97 — Elliniko Metro ↔ Airport (24/7)

Permanent night lines (every night, year-round)

• 400 — Sightseeing night loop around central Athens
• 500 — Piraeus ↔ Kifissia (north suburbs)
• 790 — Voula ↔ Kifissia along the coast
• X14 — Syntagma ↔ Glyfada (Athens Riviera)

All night buses accept the same €1,20 ticket or Tap2Ride contactless tap.

Taxis

Athens taxis are yellow, metered and relatively affordable by European standards. Most legitimate drivers will use the meter without being asked — but tourist hotspots and the airport see plenty of overcharging attempts. The rules:

• Flag fall: €1,29 (daytime) / €1,80 (00:00–05:00)
• Per km: €0,74 inside the city; €1,29 outside the city limit
• Minimum fare: €4,00
• Airport flat rate: €40 day / €55 night — confirm this BEFORE getting in
• Port / station surcharge: €1,32 (Piraeus, train stations)
• Luggage: €0,43 per piece over 10 kg

🚗 Ride-hailing apps

• Uber: Active in Athens but only offers Uber Taxi (regular licensed taxis booked through the app) — no UberX private cars. Useful for getting an English-speaking driver and a digital receipt.
• Bolt: Same model as Uber — taxi booking only. Often slightly cheaper than Uber at peak times.
• Beat: The dominant local app, also licensed taxis only. Largest fleet in Athens.
• FreeNow: Also available, mostly used by business travellers.

Bike & E-Scooter Sharing

Athens is hilly and the traffic is intense — cycling in the city is for the confident only. There are flat coastal routes between Faliro and Voula that are far more enjoyable.

• Lime: E-scooters and e-bikes across the city centre — €1,00 unlock + €0,25/min
• Bolt: Same app as ride-hailing — e-scooters in central Athens
• Hopin: Local Greek operator with e-bikes near coastal districts

Athens has solid 4G/5G coverage across the city centre and most tourist areas. Free Wi-Fi works at the airport, in most cafés and at major squares like Syntagma and Monastiraki. An eSIM is the cheapest way to stay online for navigation, real-time arrivals and Tap2Ride alerts.

Don't drag your suitcases through Plaka's cobbled streets or up the steps to the Acropolis. Athens Airport has long-term lockers, and dozens of staffed luggage drop-off points cluster around Syntagma, Monastiraki and Piraeus port.