Transportation
//ATHENS AIRPORT
The Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” began operation on 29 March 2001 and is the primary airport that serves the city of Athens and the region of Attica. It’s a nice new airport with great and efficient services, with flights to everywhere around the world!
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION to and from Airport.
You can take the Athens Metro from the Airport and go straight to downtown – Syntagma Square!
-METRO: The airport is accessible via Metro Line 3 “Aghia Marina – Athens International Airport”.
-SUBURBAN RAIL: The airport is connected via the Suburban Rail with:
-Athens Central Railway Station (Larissis Station)
-Port of Pireaus (change at Monastiraki to Metro line 1)
-BUS SERVICES: Four bus routes (X93, X95, X96, X97) connect directly Athens and Piraeus with the airport. All buses set down passengers at the Departures Level and depart from the Arrivals Level, between Exits 4 and 5.
The intercity bus stations (KTEL Kifissos Bus Terminal and Liosion bus terminal) and Piraeus.
Regional bus services by KTEL Express operate to the airport, currently connecting the airport to Rafina, Markopoulo, Lavrio, Kalyvia, and Keratea.
-TAXI
Taxis are available at the designated Taxi waiting area located by exit 3 of the arrivals level. Limousine service is also available upon request by the inner curbside of the arrivals level between exits 3 and 4.
NOTE: Ticket prices of the Metro, Tram, Buses and Trolleys are fairly cheap. Right now the price is 1.40 Euro*. You can use the same ticket for all 4 means of transportation. Each ticket lasts 70 minutes. Which means you can use the same ticket to go toward one direction, and then come back, if the duration of your trip is less than 70 mins.
* There are also daily and weekly tickets available. Ticket to the Airport is 8 Euros.
//ATHENS METRO
The Athens Metro has 3 lines (Blue-Red-Green).
-The Green line [1] (25.6 km in length and 24 stations) is the former Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways which opened as a conventional steam railway in 1869, and which was electrified in 1904. It is primarily open, with a tunnel section in central Athens.
The construction of the Red and Blue lines started in 2000 in order to be ready for the Summer Olympics of 2004. The both continue to expand as years go by.
-The Red Line [2] (17.9 km in length and 20 stations) expands from
Anthoupoli to the West of Attica to Elliniko.
-The Blue Line [3] (41 km in length and 41 stations) expands from Agia Marina to Doukissis Plakentias/Airport.
The During construction of the metro tunnels, artifacts of archaeological interest were discovered and rescue archaeology was employed. Exhibitions of ancient artifacts or replicas are found at a number of metro stations, including Monastiraki and Syntagma
Connected to the Athens Metro is also the Suburban Railway that you can use to get around, but this is mostly used to get to the airport.
//TAXI
Taxis are fairly cheap in Athens and they take you everywhere, no matter what time it is. You can go straight to the taxi stands that exist in different places around the city, usually near busy spots, but you can also waive taxis down on the street as they drive-by. Be aware that taxi drivers might “pick up” other customers while you are inside if they are going in the same direction with you.
Note: Taxi fares are double after 12 midnight until 5:00 am. For taxi prices click here
//TRAM
Athens also has a 3-line Tram system that starts from Syntagma Square and heads North of the city towards Faliro. It then goes East towards Glyfada-Voula and West towards the port of Pireas.
The Tram travels on the coast of the Athens Riviera and has stops at all the Athens beaches. It’s 27km route length and has 48 Stops.
Apart from Syntagma Square, the Tram also connects with the Metro at stations Fix and Neos Kosmos.
//BUS AND TROLLEY SYSTEM
Apart from the Metro, Tram and taxis, the city of Athens also has an extensive Bus and Trolley system that go everywhere! Yellow Trolleys and Blue Buses can take you anywhere in the city and in the suburbs. The Trolleys run on electricity and the stops are usually yellow, the Blue bus-stops are blue. If the Metro or tram does not go somewhere, the Busses or Trolleys surely will get you there!