Metro Travel in Athens

Line 1 of the city's metro (subway) system, which dates from the 19th century, runs from Piraeus to the northern suburb of Kifissia, with several downtown stops. Downtown stations on Line 1 most handy to tourists include Platia Victorias, near the National Archaeological Museum; Omonia Square; Monastiraki, in the old Turkish bazaar; and Thission, near the ancient Agora and the nightlife districts of Psirri and Thission. Line 1 also has a stop at Irini, site of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex.

In 2000, the city opened Lines 2 and 3 of the metro, many of whose gleaming stations function as minimuseums, displaying ancient artifacts found on site. These lines are safe and fast but cover limited territory, mostly downtown. Line 2 cuts northwest across the city, starting from Syntagma Square station and passing through such useful stops as Panepistimiou (near the Old University complex and the Numismatic Museum); Omonia Square; the Stathmos Larissis stop next to Athens's train stations, and Acropolis, at the foot of the famous site. Line 3 runs from Monastiraki northeast to the Greek "Pentagon" (Ethnikis Aminas). The stops of most interest for visitors are Evangelismos, near the Byzantine Museum, Hilton Hotel, and National Gallery of Art, and Megaro Mousikis, next to the United States Embassy and concert hall. Extensions will eventually reach all the main suburbs; work will continue through 2007.

Fares & Schedules

The fare is EUR 0.60 if you stay only on Line 1; otherwise, it's EUR 0.70. A daily travel pass, valid for use on all forms of public transportation, is EUR 3; it's good for 24 hours after you validate it. You must validate all tickets at the machines in metro stations before you board. Trains run between 5:30 AM and 11:30 PM. Maps of the metro, including planned extensions, are available in stations. There is no phone number for information about the system, so check the Web site, which has updates on planned extensions.

Information

Metro Information.