Athens Metro

The Athens Metro is the rapid transit subway network serving Athens and its suburbs. It has three lines: Line 1 (Green), Line 2 (Red), and Line 3 (Light Blue). Together, they cover most of the city.

Line 1 opened in 1869 as a steam railway and was electrified in 1904. Lines 2 and 3 began service in 2000. Today, the Athens metro system carries over 1.3 million passengers every day.

Many stations double as mini-museums. Excavation finds appear in station displays. The network is run by STASY S.A. under OASA.

Athens Metro at a Glance:

• Lines: 3 (Green, Red, Blue) linking central Athens with Piraeus port, the airport and major suburbs.
• Stations: 66 (as of 2025). Most have free Wi-Fi, elevators, ramps and signs in Greek and English.
• Hours: 05:00–00:00 on weekdays; until ~02:00 on weekends.
• Tickets: Flat fare €1.20 for 90 minutes. Tap2Ride with contactless cards or phones; daily cap €4.10.
• Connections: Easy transfer to trams, buses, trolleybuses and suburban rail. Direct airport and Piraeus links.
• Safety: Clean, CCTV-monitored, with staff onboard. Generally very safe.

The following sections cover the Athens subway map (2025), all lines and stations, transfers, airport links, schedules, fares, tips, rules and future expansions.

Athens Metro Map

Map of Athens Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Athens Metro map in PDF format.

Athens Metro Lines and Stations

The network map shows three color-coded lines:

Line 1 (Green): Kifissia → Piraeus port.

Line 2 (Red): Anthoupoli → Elliniko via city centre.

Line 3 (Light Blue): Agia Marina (Dimotiko Theatro) → Athens Airport.

In 2022, Line 3 was extended to Piraeus with three new stations. This update appears on every official Athens metro map PDF from OASA/STASY. You can also download a copy for offline use.

The map uses Greek and English names. Interchange stations show overlapping colors. For example, Syntagma is marked with red and blue circles. The airport end is marked with an airplane icon. Major hubs include Syntagma, Monastiraki, Omonia, Attiki and Piraeus.

Watch for service alerts. In mid-2025, tram Line 6 may skip Syntagma for construction. Check announcements or the app before you travel.

Athens metro lines use numbers and colors. Each line has its own route, key stops and transfers.

Green Line (Line 1)

The Green Line runs from Piraeus port to Kifissia (25.6 km, 24 stations). It follows the old Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway.

• Major stops: Piraeus, Faliro (Peace & Friendship Stadium), Petralona, Thissio (Acropolis view), Monastiraki (Line 3), Omonia (Line 2), Victoria (Archaeological Museum), Attiki (Line 2), Neratziotissa (mall & suburban rail), Kifissia.
• Transfers: Monastiraki & Piraeus (Line 3); Omonia & Attiki (Line 2); tram at Faliro; suburban rail at Piraeus & Neratziotissa.
• Frequency: Every 5–10 minutes.
• Travel time: 50–60 minutes end-to-end.

Red Line (Line 2)

The Red Line runs underground from Anthoupoli to Elliniko (17.5 km, 20 stations).

• Major stops: Anthoupoli, Peristeri, Sepolia, Metaxourgio, Omonia (Line 1), Panepistimio, Syntagma (Line 3), Akropoli (Acropolis), Syngrou-Fix (tram), Neos Kosmos, Dafni, Agios Dimitrios, Elliniko.
• Transfers: Omonia & Attiki (Line 1); Syntagma (Line 3); tram at Syntagma, Syngrou-Fix, Neos Kosmos.
• Frequency: 3–6 min peak; ~10 min off-peak.
• Travel time: ~35 minutes end-to-end.

Light Blue Line (Line 3)

Line 3 runs from Piraeus (Dimotiko Theatro) to Athens Airport (39 km, 27 stations).

• Major stops: Dimotiko Theatro, Piraeus (Line 1), Maniatika, Nikaia, Egaleo, Kerameikos, Monastiraki (Line 1), Syntagma (Line 2), Doukissis Plakentias (suburban rail), Koropi, Airport.
• Airport service: Trains every ~30 minutes; city section every 5–10 minutes.
• Transfers: Monastiraki (Line 1), Syntagma (Line 2), Piraeus (Line 1), tram at Syntagma, suburban rail at Doukissis Plakentias.
• Travel time: ~65 minutes end-to-end (Piraeus→Airport).

Athens Metro Connections and Transfers

All lines share one flat fare. You can transfer within 90 minutes on the same ticket.

• Syntagma: Line 2↔3; tram lines.
• Monastiraki: Line 1↔3.
• Omonia: Line 1↔2.
• Attiki: Line 1↔2 (less crowded).
• Piraeus: Line 1↔3 (indoor corridor).
• Doukissis Plakentias: Metro↔suburban rail.
• Neratziotissa: Metro↔suburban rail.

Follow the “Transfer” signs and stay inside the paid area. Listen to Greek and English announcements.

Athens Metro to Airport Connection Guide

The metro is the fastest way to the airport on Line 3.

Schedule: Trains every 30 min (05:30–22:30 city→airport).

Travel time: ~40 min to Syntagma; ~65 min to Piraeus.

Ticket: €9 one-way; €16 round-trip; reduced €4.50.

Use: Valid for 90 min on all modes after validation.

Other options:

Bus X95: 24/7 to Syntagma; €5.50; ~60 min.

Bus X96: to Piraeus; €5.50; ~90 min.

Taxi: Flat €40 (05:00–00:00) or €55 (00:00–05:00).

Tourist pass: €20 for 3 days + airport round-trip.

Athens Metro Schedule, Timetable, and Calendar

Use this Athens metro timetable to plan your day. The Athens metro timings are reliable and frequent.

Metro Operating Hours & Timings Today

• Line 1 (Green): 05:00–00:15
• Line 2 (Red): 05:30–00:05 (Fri/Sat until ~02:00)
• Line 3 (Blue): 05:30–00:00 (Airport until 23:35; city until ~02:00 Fri/Sat)

Metro Frequency and Train Intervals

• Peak hours: 5–6 min (Lines 2 & 3), 6 min (Line 1)
• Off-peak: 7–10 min
• Evenings: 10–15 min
• Early morning: 10–15 min
• Weekends: ~10 min all day

Athens Metro Starting & Closing Times

Line	First Train	Last Train (Weekdays)	Last Train (Fri/Sat)
Line 1 (Green)	05:00	00:15	00:15
Line 2 (Red)	05:30	00:05	01:40
Line 3 (Blue)	05:30	00:00 (Airport 23:35)	02:00 (city only)

Metro Calendar Notes

The metro runs daily, including holidays. Only strikes or major events change the schedule. Check station notices before you travel.

Athens Metro Prices, Tickets, and Travel Cards

Ticket Prices – How Much Does It Cost?

The Athens metro ticket price is €1.20. This Athens metro fare grants 90 minutes of travel on metro, bus, tram and trolleybus.

• Standard: €1.20 – 90 min on all city transport
• Reduced: €0.50 – children (6–18), seniors (65+), students
• Airport one-way: €9.00 – metro to/from Athens Airport

Ticket Type	Price (EUR)	Validity
Single (Adult)	€1.20	90 min, all modes
Single (Reduced)	€0.50	90 min, all modes
Airport (one-way)	€9.00	Airport metro only
24-hour pass	€4.10	24 hrs, all modes
5-day pass	€8.20	5×24 hrs, all modes
3-day tourist	€20.00	72 hrs + airport round-trip

Fare Calculator

Count your rides to pick the best option. Two single tickets cost €2.40. A 24-hour pass is €4.10. If you plan 3 + rides, the pass or contactless daily cap saves money. For airport return, a €16 round-trip ticket beats two one-ways (€18).

Passes & Day Pass Options

The 24-hour pass (€4.10) covers unlimited rides for one day. The 5-day pass (€8.20) works for five consecutive days. The 3-day tourist ticket (€20) includes unlimited city travel plus two airport trips. Monthly passes start at €27 (locals only).

Buying & Using the Card

Use an Ath.ena Ticket (paper) or Ath.ena Card (plastic). Buy or reload at any metro machine or kiosk. Tap in/out at metro gates and tap once on buses or trams. You can also tap a contactless bank card; it will cap at the daily maximum automatically.

Station Parking Charges Per Day

Park-and-ride facilities are secure and affordable. Check opening hours before you leave your car.

Station	Spots	Day Rate	Hours
Syngrou-Fix (Line 2)	642	€8 (weekdays), €4 (weekends)	24 / 7
Nomismatokopio (Line 3)	604	€4	24 / 7
Halandri (Line 3)	280	€3–4	06:00–01:00 (Sun closed)
Aghia Marina (Line 3)	383	€4	05:15–01:00 (Sun closed)

How to Navigate Easily

• Follow signs: Look for colored line numbers and bilingual maps.
• Check train labels: They show the final station (e.g., “Airport” or “Kifissia”).
• Listen to announcements: They’re clear in English and Greek.
• Mind escalator etiquette: Stand on the right, walk on the left.
• Tap in and out: Always use your card at gates and on buses/trams.
• Use apps like Google Maps or OASA Telematics for real-time updates. Grab a free pocket map at major stations.

Rules and Regulations

Using the Athens Metro is simple if you follow a few common-sense rules. They keep the system safe, clean and efficient for everyone.

Validate your ticket: Always tap in and out. Inspectors can check at any time and fines start at €72.

No smoking or eating: Smoking and eating are prohibited. Keep trains and stations clean. Sealed water bottles and covered coffee cups are allowed.

Mind your luggage: Don’t block doors or aisles. Walk bicycles during off-peak hours and keep suitcases close.

Respect others: Give up priority seats when needed, follow “keep right” on escalators and let passengers exit before boarding.

Emergency procedures: In case of fire, medical issue or drill, follow staff instructions or use the emergency intercom.

Photography: Casual photos of stations and art are allowed, but professional gear or flash may draw security attention.

Pets: Small pets in carriers are welcome and guide dogs ride free. Large pets need a muzzle, leash and usually go in the last car.

Cleanliness & damage: Do not litter, vandalize or graffiti. Report spills or broken fixtures to staff.

Fun Facts

Oldest Line: The Green Line (Line 1) began as a steam railway in 1869 and was electrified in 1904. You’re riding over 150 years of history.

Archaeological Discoveries: Building Lines 2 and 3 in the 1990s uncovered over 50,000 artifacts. Stations like Monastiraki and Syntagma display these finds, turning platforms into mini-museums.

Moving Museum: Syntagma’s “metro museum” wall shows soil layers with pottery and pipes. Evangelismos features modern sculpture, and Monastiraki reveals an ancient riverbed under your feet.

Cultural Exhibits: Panepistimio sports the “MetroClock” mural. Larissa Station has red bench sculptures shaped like bowler-hatted figures. The system doubles as an art gallery.

Deepest Station: Panepistimio sits 28 m underground to protect university foundations. Akropoli is almost as deep, tunneling beneath the Acropolis.

Hidden Shells: Athens has no true ghost stations, but Line 1 holds two unfinished station shells. In Piraeus, planned stops became street-level archaeological displays instead.

Name Origins: “Nomismatokopio” means “Mint.” “Evangelismos” means “Annunciation.” “Monastiraki” means “little monastery”—all nods to local history.

Future Lines: Line 4 is under construction. Plans mention a Line 5, but today only Lines 1–3 run.

Ridership: The network carries about 1.3 million passengers daily. Syntagma is the busiest hub, handling crowds like an airport terminal.

Olympic Upgrade: For the 2004 Olympics, Line 3 was extended to the airport and new trains were added. Neratziotissa station served the Olympic Stadium.

In Pop Culture: The film “The Two Faces of January” (2014) features Monastiraki station. Gamers even compare Athens’ underground secrets to video-game metro worlds.

Next time you ride, remember you’re passing through layers of history and art. Every station hides a story.

Public Transportation in Athens

Athens has a unified network under OASA. Metro, buses, trolleybuses, trams and suburban trains all use the same ticket. You can reach the airport, port and suburbs without hassle.

Athens Local Transport Overview

• Metro: Three lines across the city and to the airport.
• Buses: Hundreds of routes link every neighborhood.
• Trolleybuses: Quiet electric buses on fixed wires.
• Tram: Two lines along the coast from Syntagma to Piraeus.
• Suburban Railway: Commuter trains to the airport, Larissa Station and beyond.
• Taxis: Yellow cabs and apps fill gaps at any hour.

All modes share the €1.20 ticket for 90 minutes (airport and express buses need special fares). Most services run 05:00–24:00. A few night buses run 24h. Trams run until about midnight (later on weekends).

Athens City Transport Connections

Major hubs tie everything together. Syntagma links Metro Lines 2 & 3, many buses and the tram. Omonia and Attiki connect Lines 1 & 2 with local buses. Neratziotissa joins Metro Line 1 and suburban rail. Piraeus brings together Lines 1 & 3, suburban trains, trams, ferries and buses. Larissa Station on Line 2 connects to national trains. Intercity bus terminals at Kifissos and Liosion link to metro via short bus routes.

Athens Metro Bus Integration

Bus routes feed metro ends and run parallel on key roads. Feeder buses bring riders from suburbs to stations like Elliniko and Doukissis Plakentias. Dedicated bus lanes on main avenues speed up journeys. Real-time displays and apps show arrivals at stops. If a metro section closes, replacement buses run on the same tickets.

Now, let’s focus specifically on the Athens Tram, which is an important part of the network, especially for reaching the coastal areas.

Athens Tram – Tramway System

The Athens Tram is a modern light-rail network serving the southern coast. It links central Athens to seaside suburbs and the Athenian Riviera. The ride is scenic, with sea views and air-conditioned cars.

Trams in Athens – Routes & Timetable

• Line T6: Syntagma → Syngrou-Fix → SEF (Peace & Friendship) → Pikrodafni
• Line T7: Asklipieio Voulas → Glyfada → Alimos → Pikrodafni → Agia Triada (Piraeus)

These two lines meet at Pikrodafni, where many trams switch designation. The network has 59 stops over 27 km. A full trip from Syntagma to Voula takes about an hour at ~20 km/h.

Service runs roughly 05:30–24:00 daily, extending to ~01:40 on Fri/Sat. Peak trams come every 6 minutes on shared sections; off-peak intervals are 12–15 minutes. Validation is by proof-of-payment—tap your metro ticket on board.

The tram stops at beaches (Edem, Alimos, Glyfada) and landmarks (SNFCC, Flisvos Marina, Karaiskakis Stadium). Transfers to metro exist at Syntagma, Neos Kosmos, Syngrou-Fix and near Piraeus port.

Future Expansions

A major project is Metro Line 4, a U-shaped route under construction. Phase 1 will open around 2030 with 15 new stations (Alsos Veikou, Kypseli, Exarchia, Akadimia, Kolonaki, Evangelismos, Panepistimioupoli, Zografou, Ilissia, Goudi, etc.). It will relieve lines 2 and 3 and link new neighborhoods.

Line 2 will extend west from Anthoupoli to Ilion by 2028 and may reach Glyfada on the coast by 2030. Line 1 is getting new trains and upgrades, with long-term ideas to push north past Kifissia or branch to the SNFCC.

The suburban railway may gain dedicated tracks to Rafina and Lavrio by 2030, tying in at Doukissis Plakentias. The tram’s latest extension to Piraeus opened in 2021; further routes remain in planning.

By the mid-2030s, Athens could have four metro lines and over 110 stations. Ongoing works around the city hint at a much larger, more connected network in the years ahead.

Nearby Attractions

Many great sights are within a short walk of metro stations:

• Acropolis & Parthenon: Acropoli station (Line 2), 5 min walk. Monastiraki (Lines 1/3) via Plaka is also scenic.
• Ancient Agora: Monastiraki station, exit onto the site. Thissio station (Line 1) overlooks the ruins.
• Plaka & Anafiotika: Monastiraki, Acropoli or Syntagma stations form a triangle around old town.
• Syntagma Square: Lines 2/3. Watch the hourly guard change at the Parliament steps.
• Museums: Omonia or Victoria (Line 1/2) for Archaeological Museum; Evangelismos (Line 3) for Cycladic & Benaki Museums.
• Beaches & Riviera: Tram from Syntagma or Syngrou-Fix to Edem, Alimos or Glyfada stops.

History

The first line opened in 1869 as a steam railway between Piraeus and Thissio. It was electrified in 1904 and extended to Omonia by 1895, then to Kifissia by 1958.

Modern metro construction began in 1991. Lines 2 and 3 opened in 2000, linking Sepolia, Syntagma and Ethniki Amyna. Extensions reached Monastiraki, the Airport (2004), Egaleo (2007), Anthoupoli and Elliniko (2013), and Piraeus (2022).

Building the metro uncovered over 50,000 artifacts. Stations now display finds, blending transit with archaeology. The system handled huge crowds during the 2004 Olympics and continues to upgrade with new trains, signaling and ticketing.

Athens Metro Station Museums & Exhibits

Syntagma station features a glass-walled excavation display showing layers of Athens’ past, from ancient graves to Roman pipes. The “Umbrellas” art installation adds modern flair.

Acropoli station walls hold plaster casts of Parthenon sculptures. Monastiraki reveals part of the ancient Eridanos River behind glass. Egaleo offers showcases of pottery and sarcophagi along its corridors.

Other stations like Panepistimio, Evangelismos and Dafni house murals, neon art and archaeological fragments. Piraeus Dimotiko Theatro station highlights finds from the ancient port and maritime history.

Hotel Deals Near Athens Metro Stations

Staying close to a station saves time and often money. In the city center, Syntagma and Monastiraki host luxury to budget hotels within a 5-min walk.

Omonia and Victoria areas offer mid-range and budget options just 2-3 stops from key sights. Syngrou-Fix and Acropoli neighborhoods have boutique stays near Lines 2 and 6.

For a quieter stay, consider Kolonaki near Evangelismos (Line 3) or suburban Kifissia on the Green Line. Piraeus and airport hotels suit early departures. Look for “breakfast included” deals off-peak and book direct for extra perks.