Bus & Tram Travel in Athens

Athens and its suburbs are covered by a good network of buses, with express buses running between central Athens and major neighborhoods, including nearby beaches. During the day, buses tend to run every 15-30 minutes, with reduced service at night and on weekends. Buses run from about 5 AM to midnight. Main bus stations are at Akadimias and Sina and at Kaningos Square. Bus and trolley tickets cost EUR 0.45. No transfers are issued; you validate a new ticket every time you change vehicles. If you're making several short stops, a 90-minute ticket (EUR 1 for all modes of public transport and EUR 0.70 for bus, trolley, and tram only) may be cheaper. Day passes for EUR 3, weekly passes for EUR 10, and monthly passes for EUR 38 (EUR 35 for metro, trolleys, and buses only and EUR 17.50 for buses only) are sold at special booths at the main terminals. (Passes are not valid for travel to the airport or on the E22 Saronida Express.) Purchase individual tickets at terminal booths or at kiosks.

Maps of bus routes (in Greek) are available at terminal booths or from EOT. KTEL (Greece's regional bus system, made up of local operators) has an English-language Web site. The Web site of the Organization for Urban Public Transportation has an excellent English-language section. You can type in your starting point and destination and get a list of public transportation options for making the journey.

Orange-and-white KTEL buses provide efficient service throughout the Attica basin. Most buses to the east Attica coast, including those for Sounion (EUR 3.70 for inland route and EUR 4.10 on coastal road) and Marathon (EUR 2.40), leave from the KTEL terminal.

A tram link between downtown Athens and the coastal suburbs was introduced in 2004. Line A runs from Syntagma to Glyfada; Line B traces the shoreline from Glyfada to the Peace & Friendship Stadium on the outskirts of Piraeus. Single tickets cost EUR 0.60 or EUR 0.40 for five stops and are sold at machines on the tram platforms.

Information

City trams. KTEL Buses. Organization for Urban Public Transportation.