Routes and stations
Line 1 is the old above-ground line from Kifissia to Piraeus port. Line 2 serves Syntagma, Omonia and Akropoli, the station for the Acropolis Museum. Line 3 runs from the west through Monastiraki and Syntagma to Doukissis Plakentias and on to the airport.
Lines meet at Syntagma (2 and 3), Omonia and Attiki (1 and 2), and Monastiraki (1 and 3).
Tickets and fares
A 90-minute ticket costs €1.20 and is valid on metro, buses, trolleys and trams with transfers. A 24-hour ticket costs €4.10 and a 5-day ticket €8.20. None of these are valid on the airport section or airport buses.
The airport metro ticket costs €9 one way or €16 return. The 3-day tourist ticket costs €20 and includes unlimited city travel plus one trip to and one from the airport, so it is usually the best choice for a short stay.
Children under 6 travel free. Reduced fares need a personal card, so most visitors pay full fare.
How to buy
Buy tickets at machines and ticket offices in metro stations. They are loaded on the paper or plastic Athena card, which you tap at the gates.
Recent guides report that contactless Visa and Mastercard can be tapped at validators for the standard fare with a daily cap. If your card is refused, buy a ticket at the machine.
Tips for travellers
The airport metro takes about 40 minutes to Syntagma, and trains on the airport section run less often than in the city, so check the timetable. The suburban railway also links the airport with Piraeus.
Express buses run 24 hours: X95 to Syntagma, X96 to Piraeus and X93 to the intercity bus station. They take longer in traffic.
The metro runs from about 5:00 to midnight, and lines 2 and 3 until about 2:00 on Friday and Saturday nights. Summer heat makes stations hot, so carry water.
Last checked: October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so confirm on the official website before you travel.
