Metro, Athens

On 29/1/2000 Athenians met for the first day their metro system, a big project which was finally true after enough years of patience... The reconstructions brought to light parts of the city that had been hidden, most of the stations are mini-museums!
Two new lines were added to the old one, Piraeus-Kifisia: line 2 (Anthoupoli - Helliniko) and line 3 (Airport - Haidari). There will be all the time new extensions in the future.
Smoking, eating and drinking are forbidden at all the metro stations (breathing... is allowed).
At the picture, you see a work by George Zongolopoulos at Syntagma station atrium (the biggest one). Art is so visible at the modern and pleasant metro stations...

Going around Athens is very accessible with the trains.Every stops is announce and written in english as well so dont worry of getting lost,just learn where you are going down,hop in & relax then wait till your stop is announce.And its a cheap transportation,one single purchase of ticket is valid for one(1) hour even how many times you used it.

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We found the Athens subway system perhaps one of the nicest in the world and a pleasure to take. It was very clean, user-friendly, efficient, and aesthetically appealing. We first took it when we arrived from the airport. Actually, first we had to catch a bus and then transfer to the metro to get to our hotel, which was near the foot of the Acropolis. It definitely saved us money as a taxi would've undoubtedly gotten stuck in city traffic and thus, the bill high from the meter. However, even if you don't actually take the Metro (although that would be a crime in such a city), the stations are worth checking out as there are permanent exhibits of archeological remains and displays of art by modern and classical Greek artists.

We bought the full day Metro pass and went to Piraeus and jumped on a Hellenic Seaways ferry to the island of Aegina.Spent the day shopping and playing and touring the Temple of Apollo,then ferried home and took the tram back to Athens.
There are a number of ferries at the port- I believe we counted 9 different shps while we were there. We bought a round trip ticket so we got a discount. The ferries run all day so we had plenty of time to explore and then catch the Metro back to Athens.

To reach the Acropolis from Pireus, I recommend you take the train... the station is about 20 minuteson foor from the port - turn left once you exit the port and follow the water. TRains run roughly every 20 minutes and allow you to reach Athens in a quarter of an our. There are two stops that people recommend: Thisio and Monastiraki .

Thisio is on the green metro line, you don't need to change train and the station is about 15 minutes from the Acropolis. It's all uphill, but the good thing is that the entire area is traffic-free. Monastiraki is another station on the samel ine and is right in the busiest heart of the Plaka, but the Acropolis is a bit farther off.

To reach central Athens you can take a bus (X95) located at the arrival end of the building. It costs only 5 Euro and the duration is about 45 minutes. The end point is Syntagma Square.

The other way of doing it is by taking Metro (blue line). Strangely, it cost more; i.e. 8 Euros. It's crowded after some 6 stops and the frequency is worst than bus. If from Athens to the airport, it's even worse as the local also use it to travel to nearby points. I tried this and had to wait very long and had to stand all the way until the final three stops. Paid more than the bus and get poorer services; just avoid metro for transportation to/fro the airport.

THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING PICKPOCKETD ON THE METRO IN ATHENS EVERY DAY. I WAS A VICTIM AND YOU WILL BE TOO. IF YOU WANT TO GO ON, TAKE A DUMMY WALLET OR NO VAUABLES WHATSOEVER. NO ONE WILL HELP YOU IF THIS HAPPENS. EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS HAPPENING AND SAYS NOTHING. THEY WILL CROWD YOU IN, SEPARATE YOU AND TAKE YOUR MONEY. STAY OUT OF THE METRO IF YOU ARE A TOURIST. IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT THEN HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLET IF IT IS IN YOUR POCKET. WOMEN HOLD ON YOUR PURSE AND KEEP YOUR HAND OVER YOUR ZIPPER. KEEP THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC. PASS IT ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW THAT IS TRAVELING TO GREECE. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN ANY CROWDED AREA, BUT IT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU TAKE THE METRO. TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND LET'S CHANGE THE METRO AND GREECES POLICY ON KEEPING THIS FROM THE PUBLIC!

Athens has very good public transportation. You buy a ticket from a machine, time-stamp it as you enter a station, and it is good for 1 ½ hour on any form of transportation—tram, metro, or bus. You can transfer from one to another.

Be sure to validate (time stamp) your ticket before getting on. It’s an honor system and nobody takes your ticket, but they do random spot checks and ticketless people pay a huge fine.

The Metro stations are really nice, and their staff was helpful in sending us to the right platform, etc.

1.40 Euro (0.70 for seniors)

Attico metro operate since 2000 and it is the best transportation in Athens(fast and easy). 23 modern stations that serve more than 600000 passengers every day.There are archeological finds during the making of metro in Panepistimio Syntagma Acropolis and Dafni station and it is also connected with El. Venizelos airport (proastiakos)

Athens, just like numberous European cities have built great metro's around there great cities. The metro in Athens is the cheapest European one yet ... each fare is 1 Euro, and a all day pass is 3 Euro ... machines are everywhere and they have several different languages you can choose from, very easy to buy.

Make sure you validate your ticket as you enter, just like many European cities, the metro is on the honor system, but if you get caught it's a 60 Euro fine.....

From the Airport it cost 6 euro's to get into town very easy to use, as you leave the airport just follow the signs, they are all marked in English !!!!