An ISAP train (Green Line) passes by the Stoa of Attalus in central Athens.
Athens Metro map
The new Athens Metro system , opened in 2001 (and followed by a restoration of the old Line 1) and currently being extended, is a wonder to behold, and puts many better-known metro systems to shame. Many metro stations resemble museums as they exhibit artifacts found during excavations for the system (i.e. Syntagma). Greeks are very proud about the new subway system, so do not even think about littering and by all means avoid any urge for graffiti- you will be intercepted by security at once. You are also not allowed to consume food or drink in the subway system. During rush hour, it can become very crowded and you must leave personal space at the door. There are three lines:
Line 1 (Μ1 – ): Piraeus – Kifissia, connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens via the city centre. Note that during 2010 there is major disruption at the use of this line due to renovation works of the train tracks. Currently, only the Monastiraki station platform to Piraeus is closed but Monastiraki is also served by metro line 3. Be sure that you keep an eye on your personal stuff when using this line and be prepared for people getting in the train and asking for money. Note that line 1 is a rather old line (lines 2 & 3 are the new subway system of Athens).
Line 2 (M2 – Attiko Metro]): Agios Antonios – Agios Dimitrios connects western and southern Athens.
Line 3 (M3 – ): Egaleo – Doukissis Plakentias – International Airport connects the south-western suburbs with the northern suburbs (Halandri and Doukissis Plakentias stations) and the International Airport.
Validate your ticket at the validation machines upon entering the station. Failure to do so will entail a hefty fine if you are caught by ticket inspectors. The standard metro fare is €1.40 (as of May 2011) for trips between all stations except the Airport line, east of Doukissis Plakentias. This allows travel with all means of public transport and unlimited transfers for 90 minutes. If you validate your ticket a second time just before your last trip, you may finish this last trip even after the 90 minutes expired.
For €3 (price outdated), you can buy a 24-hour ticket for all public transport in Athens, apart from the Airport line. This needs to be validated only once, at the start of the first journey. The standard fare to or from the Airport is €8 (as of May 2011), €10 (price outdated) for a return trip within 48 hours, €14 (as of May 2011) for a one-way trip for a 2-person group and €15 (price outdated) for a one-way trip for a 3-person group.
Bear in mind that there are often multiple entrances to the stations and often they go straight to the platform, so remember which entrance is for which. It is open from 5am to midnight.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Athens
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Athens Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
