Getting around Athens
Μετρό, λεωφορεία, ταξί και όταν χρειάζεστε Piraeus για τα νησιά.
From the airport into town
Ο Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος (ATH) απέχει 33 χλμ από το κέντρο. X95 express bus costs €5.50 προς Σύνταγμα (~60 λεπτά, 24 ώρες). Η γραμμή 3 του μετρό κοστίζει €9 (~40 min) — separate tickets (oasa.gr / aia.gr, Aug 2026).
After baggage claim, follow signs to the airport metro station for Line 3 (blue) toward Athens — alight at Syntagma or Monastiraki for Plaka hotels. The X95 stop is signed outside arrivals; it also serves the 24-hour express link to Syntagma Square.
Taxis queue at the official rank with a regulated flat fare of €40 by day (05:00–24:00) and €55 from 00:00–05:00, tolls included (aia.gr, checked Aug 2026). Confirm the flat rate before luggage goes in the boot. FREE NOW αναγράφεται στη σελίδα μεταφοράς αεροδρομίου για κράτηση εφαρμογής.
Μεταφορά από αεροδρόμιο compares metro, bus and taxi with late-night options.
Fares, passes and where to buy
| Ticket | Τιμή | Πηγή |
|---|---|---|
| Αστικό single 90 λεπτών (μετρό, λεωφορείο, τραμ) | €1.20 | oasa.gr, Aug 2026 |
| 24-hour day pass | €4.10 | oasa.gr, Aug 2026 |
| Airport express X95 (Syntagma) | €5.50 | oasa.gr, Aug 2026 |
| Metro Line 3 airport single | €9 | oasa.gr, Aug 2026 |
| Metro Line 3 airport return | €16 | oasa.gr, Aug 2026 |
Buy urban tickets at metro station machines, selected kiosks and the OASA app before boarding. Airport metro and X95 fares are not καλύπτεται από το αστικό εισιτήριο 1,20 € — χρειάζεστε τα ειδικά προϊόντα αεροδρομίου παραπάνω. Επικύρωση κάθε φορά. επιθεωρητές πρόστιμο ακύρων εισιτηρίων.
Metro, tram and suburban rail
OASA runs Athens metro (STASY), buses (OSY) and tram under one tariff. Three metro lines cover the centre: Line 1 (πράσινοι) σύνδεσμοι Piraeus λιμάνι, Θησείο και Monastiraki. Line 2 (κόκκινο) διασχίζει τους σταθμούς Σύνταγμα και Acropolis. Γραμμή 3 (blue) includes the airport branch (oasa.gr, checked Aug 2026).
A €1.20 ticket buys 90 minutes across urban modes — enough for Plaka to the National Archaeological Museum via Line 1. The €4.10 day pass pays off after four rides. Line 3 airport tickets (€9 single / €16 return) are separate products sold at the airport station.
City buses and the routes that matter
X95 τρέχει 24 ώρες μεταξύ ATH και Συντάγματος (5,50€, ~60 λεπτά, oasa.gr). Χ96 links the airport with Piraeus port for ferry connections. Urban buses use the same €1.20/90-minute ticket as the metro — buy before boarding at a kiosk or machine.
Διαδρομή 040 serves Glyfada and the Athens Riviera coast (notable_routes, oasa.gr). Bus lanes are often stuck in traffic; metro is usually faster for cross-city hops. Download current PDF timetables from oasa.gr before early or late travel.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Yellow taxis are plentiful in the centre. Airport flat fares are €40 by day and €55 at night (00:00–05:00), tolls included — confirm before departure (aia.gr, Aug 2026). Urban rides use the meter; short hops from Syntagma to Plaka are inexpensive in normal traffic.
FREE NOW is the app listed on the airport private-transport page (aia.gr). Avoid unmarked drivers at Monastiraki and Piraeus port who quote inflated flat rates — use the official rank or app. Keep small euro notes; card acceptance varies by driver.
Πούλμαν, τρένα και φέρι έξω από την πόλη
KTEL Attikis coaches serve Delphi (~2.5 h from Liosion), Cape Sounion (~90 min coastal bus), Nafplio & Mycenae (~2 h from Kifissos) and other mainland routes (ktelattikis.gr). There is no passenger train to Delphi — the train to Kalambaka (~4.5 h) is the base for Meteora day trips.
Ferries προς τα νησιά του Σαρωνικού, τις Κυκλάδες και την Κρήτη αναχωρούν Piraeus port — φτάστε στη γραμμή 1 του μετρό (~20 λεπτά από Monastiraki). Η μετάβαση στην Ύδρα διαρκεί περίπου 90 λεπτά. επιβεβαιώστε τα δρομολόγια στο opensea.gr και στις ιστοσελίδες των χειριστών πριν από την ημέρα του ταξιδιού. Η Ραφήνα εξυπηρετεί ορισμένα δρομολόγια των Κυκλάδων — ελέγξτε τοπικά.
What is genuinely walkable
OASA and the city brief list Plaka, Monastiraki and the Acropolis slopes as walkable (oasa.gr). Allow 15–20 minutes on foot between Syntagma and Monastiraki; the Ancient Agora sits between them. Koukaki south of the museum quarter connects to the Acropolis south entrance in 10 minutes.
Kolonaki, the National Archaeological Museum, Piraeus port and the airport need metro or bus. Cobbles and heat make summer walking tiring — plan hill visits for morning, shade breaks at the Acropolis Museum, and metro for longer hops. See Χάρτης πόλης for four self-guided walks.
Step-free travel and accessibility
Οι νεότεροι σταθμοί του μετρό (Σύνταγμα, Monastiraki, Acropolis) διαθέτουν ανελκυστήρες — ελέγξτε το oasa.gr για την τρέχουσα κατάσταση του σταθμού πριν ταξιδέψετε. Ο ίδιος ο λόφος Acropolis είναι απότομος με ανώμαλο μάρμαρο. δεν υπάρχει διαδρομή χωρίς βήματα προς το Parthenon. Τα λεωφορεία είναι χαμηλού ορόφου σε πολλές διαδρομές, αλλά τα κράσπεδα ποικίλλουν.
Plaka and Monastiraki lanes are cobbled and stepped — difficult with heavy luggage or wheelchairs. Contact sites directly for reduced-mobility access at the Acropolis Museum (theacropolismuseum.gr), which is largely lift-served inside.
Transport questions
How much is a ticket in Athens?
A 90-minute urban ticket costs €1.20 on metro, bus and tram; a 24-hour pass is €4.10 (oasa.gr, checked Aug 2026). Airport X95 bus is €5.50 and Metro Line 3 from ATH is €9 single or €16 return — separate products not covered by the urban fare.
Do I need a car in Athens?
No for the centre — Plaka, Monastiraki and the Acropolis slopes are walkable and OASA metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 cover the main sights (oasa.gr). Use KTEL coaches or ferries from Piraeus for day trips. A car helps for Cape Sounion at your own pace but parking in the centre is scarce.
Είναι ασφαλείς οι δημόσιες συγκοινωνίες στο Athens τη νύχτα;
Metro and X95 bus run through the night on key routes — X95 is 24h between ATH and Syntagma (oasa.gr, Aug 2026). Stick to well-lit stations and licensed taxis after midnight; confirm the €55 airport flat fare before departure between 00:00 and 05:00 (aia.gr).