Last Updated: January 3, 2024
Athens, like most large cities, can be rather complicated to find your bearings, but we’re here to answer the question “how do you get around in Athens, Greece?”. Athens is a very big city and it can get quite chaotic, particularly in certain areas, like the city center. Thankfully, the city offers many great options to get around stress-free. The truth is that the distances are long and the traffic can be horrid. Having said that, in the article below, we will go through all the options of how to get around in Athens, Greece that are affordable, reliable, and fast.
HOW DO YOU GET AROUND ATHENS GREECE
So, “how do you get around Athens, Greece?”. Athens is a fantastic city if you’re looking for a quick getaway holiday. The center of Athens is packed with remarkable historical sites with its crowning jewel being the Acropolis. However, the fun doesn’t stop there. You can learn about the history of the city by taking a walking tour, shop till you drop or if you’re a foodie, enjoy Athens’ rich food scene. In order to do all that, you’ll need to get a good understanding of how to get around Athens in Greece in order to save time and money.
Keep reading to find out how to get around in Athens, Greece.
HOW DO YOU GET AROUND ATHENS GREECE – METRO
Metro is one of the most reliable and affordable ways to get around Athens, Greece. Athens’ metro extensive routes offer access to most neighborhoods and it connects to the tram and the suburban railway. You can purchase your ticket at the entrance of the station at the cost of 1.20€ and it is valid for 90 minutes. You can use the same ticket for all public transport means. The tickets for Athens public transport are either paper or card (you’ll have to apply for the latter).
HELPFUL TIP – Metro is one of our top recommendations when we’re asked how to get around Athens, Greece. However, be extra cautious when you enter the metro as there is a disturbing amount of pickpockets lurking around. Athens metro gets very crowded and while you’re being pushed by other commuters into the carriage, the pickpockets take this opportunity to steal.
Avoid keeping anything of value in your pockets and keep your bag close to you, away from prying hands. Sadly, this happened to me years ago and it was an awful experience.
HOW DO YOU GET AROUND ATHENS GREECE – BUS, TROLLEYBUS & TRAM
All 3 options are reliable and cheap. Therefore, we highly suggest them when asked the question “how do you get around Athens, Greece. Buses, trolleybuses, and trams in Athens are very frequent and they can get you to pretty much any neighborhood you want. The great thing about these 3 public transport options is that they can get you to many areas of Athens where the metro doesn’t. Here you can find the real-time information for the tram and buses.
HOW DO YOU GET AROUND ATHENS GREECE – SUBURBAN RAILWAY
The suburban railway connects Piraeus (Athens main port) and Athens International Airport. This option is great if you’re returning from the Greek islands or from the suburbs and you need to get to the airport. The central station of the suburban railway is Stathmos Larissis. Therefore, we don’t recommend it if you’re based in the center of Athens, as then, you’ll need to change trains at Doukissis Plakentias station to reach the airport. Let’s face it, the last thing you want is to drag your luggage in between train stations.
If you’re looking to explore the suburban areas of Chalkida, Evia, and Corinth, then the railway is your best choice. This could be your opportunity to take a day trip from Athens.
ATHENS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TICKETS AND FARES
If you’re staying in Athens for many days, then you might want to consider getting a pass.
Here are a few options for Athens public transport that you might find useful:
- 90-minute ticket (excluding airport) – 1.20€
- 24 hours ticket (excluding airport) – 4.10€
- 5-day ticket (excluding airport) – 8.20€
- Airport bus ticket (one way) – 5.50€
- Airport metro ticket (one way) – 9€
- 3-day tourist ticket (including the airport) – 20€
Here you will find complete information on fares, tickets, and routes.
HOW DO YOU GET AROUND ATHENS GREECE – TAXI
There is a misconception that taxis are expensive in Athens. The truth is that if you use taxis frequently and for long distances, it’s not exactly pocket-friendly. However, if you need to cover short distances then taxis can be truly the best way to get around Athens, Greece. For example, the taxi fare from our home in the Kaisariani neighborhood to Syntagma Square is roughly 3.40€. The bus fare for 2 people is 2.40€, so you can see where I’m getting at. So when people ask us “how do you get around in Athens Greece?”, especially for short distances, then a taxi is the first option that comes to mind.
Taxis in Athens are yellow and all of them (should) have a taximeter. Be sure that the meter is on when you enter the taxi. If you feel more comfortable with the option of using a taxi service app, then Taxi Beat is our favorite in Athens. Their service is fast and their rates are usually slightly cheaper than the normal yellow cabs. Download the app as soon as you arrive in Athens and avoid the stress of not knowing in advance how much your taxi ride will cost. Uber does not operate in Athens and so, Taxi Beat is the best way to get around Athens, Greece.
HOW TO GET FROM ATHENS AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER
There are 3 best ways to get from Athens airport to the city center; by bus, metro or taxi.
BUS
This option is likely our most recommended when asked what are the best ways to get from Athens airport to the city center. The bus X95 runs directly to Athens downtown with frequent routes from Athens International Airport. The ticket costs only 5.50€ per person, making this one of the cheapest and best ways to get from Athens airport to the city center. The most central stop on the bus route is Syntagma Square.
The airport express bus operates 24 hours. Here you can find the departure times.
METRO
Metro is another great way to get from Athens airport to the city center. All you have to do is cross the street when you exit the arrivals and walk to the opposite building where you can purchase your ticket. From there, decent the flight of stairs to the ground floor to reach the platform. The ticket is slightly more expensive than the bus one, 9€ per person, one way. This is our go-to recommendation for getting around Athens airport.
TAXI
This may be the fastest and most comfortable way to get from Athens airport to the city center but it’s also the most expensive. We’ve taken a taxi 3 times from the airport to downtown Athens and each time the rate was different but no less than 50€. If you book it via the Taxi Beat app it might be slightly cheaper but don’t count less than 35€. Also, it is worth taking into consideration that if you travel during rush hour, it will affect the fare.
HOW TO GET FROM PIRAEUS PORT TO ATHENS CITY CENTER
Piraeus port is one of the largest in Europe and as such, you might get the feeling that you’re lost as soon as you arrive. Fear not, however, because below you will find our top recommendations on how to get from Piraeus port to Athens city center.
METRO
Metro is your fastest and cheapest way to get from Piraeus port to Athens city center. Piraeus port has many gates and 2 port terminals; Terminal A and Terminal B.
Terminal A is much closer to the metro station. If you have arrived at Terminal B, be sure to catch one of the free shuttle buses that transport passengers between the 2 terminals. The free shuttle bus runs every 10-15 minutes so don’t worry if you don’t catch the first one you see. Once at Terminal A, walk towards the main street and as soon as you reach it, you should be able to see a suspending bridge for pedestrians. Cross the large intersection and the entrance to the metro will be on your left-hand side. You can purchase your ticket at the entrance of the metro station at the price of 1.20€. If you don’t have cash on you, do not worry because you have the option to pay either by cash or card.
TAXI
As mentioned above, taxis are a good option if you’re wondering how to get around in Athens, Greece. With that said, they are worth it only if you’re looking to cover short distances. The Pireaus Port is roughly 30 minutes (depending on traffic) from the center of Athens. So taxis might offer comfort but it comes at a price. If despite all that, you prefer taxi to metro, then you have 2 options. You can grab a taxi from the stand at the entrance of the port. Alternatively, you can download the Beat app and order one. If you choose Beat, then keep in mind that your driver most likely won’t be able to enter the port but rather pick you up from the main street. The difference in the fare between these two options will be within the range of 5-10€.
CONCLUSION
As you can see, there are plenty of easy ways to get around Athens. We hope we have helped answer your question “how do you get around in Athens, Greece?”. Now, you won’t have to worry about how to get around in Athens and instead focus all your energy and time on making wonderful memories in this amazing city.
