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Athens Metro Guide for Tourists: Lines, Tickets and Tips
The Athens Metro is clean, safe and surprisingly easy to use. Three lines cover the city centre, port and airport. Here's everything a visitor needs to know.
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The Three Lines
Line 1 (Green / ISAP) is the oldest — it runs north-south from Kifissia to Piraeus port, stopping at Thissio, Monastiraki and Petralona along the way. Most of it is above ground with city views. Line 2 (Red) runs from Anthoupoli in the northwest to Elliniko in the south, serving Syntagma, Acropolis, Syngrou-Fix and Neos Kosmos. Line 3 (Blue) is the airport line — it runs from the Airport to Dimotiko Theatro (Piraeus), stopping at Syntagma and Monastiraki in the centre.
Tickets & Fares
A 90-minute single ticket costs €1.20 and covers all metro, bus and tram rides within that window. A 24-hour pass is €4.10. The airport trip costs €9 one-way (or €16 return). Children under 6 travel free. Buy tickets at station machines (English menu available) — you must validate them at the gates before boarding.
Airport Connections
Metro Line 3 runs from Athens Airport to Syntagma (40 min) and Monastiraki (45 min) every 30 minutes, from 6:30am to 11:30pm. If your flight arrives after 11:30pm, the X95 express bus runs 24/7 from the airport to Syntagma (€5.50, about 60 minutes). Taxis from the airport to central Athens cost a flat €40 during the day, €55 at night (midnight-5am).
Which Station for Which Neighbourhood
Acropolis or Syngrou-Fix for Koukaki. Petralona for Petralona. Monastiraki for Monastiraki, Psyrri (west exit). Thissio for Thissio. Syntagma for Syntagma, Plaka (northeast exit) and Kolonaki (uphill walk). Kerameikos for Gazi. Neos Kosmos for Neos Kosmos. Evangelismos for Pangrati and the Panathenaic Stadium. Panepistimio or Omonia for Exarchia.
Local Tips
Trains run from roughly 5:30am to midnight (12:30am on Fridays and Saturdays). The metro is reliable and air-conditioned — a blessing in summer. Keep your ticket until you exit; inspectors do random checks and fines are steep. Avoid using the metro during rush hour (8-9am, 5-6pm) if you can — it gets very crowded. The metro is generally safe, but watch your belongings at Monastiraki and Syntagma, especially on crowded platforms.
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