Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Athens' notorious traffic congestion, confusing signage, impatient/erratic drivers and
one-way streets make for occasionally nightmarish driving.
Contrary to what you see, parking is actually illegal alongside kerbs marked with yel-
low lines, on footpaths and in pedestrian malls. Paid parking areas require tickets avail-
able from kiosks.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Athens has an extensive and inexpensive integrated public transport network of buses,
metro, trolleybuses and trams. Get maps at tourist offices or online:
Athens Urban
Transport Organisation
(OASA;
185;
www.oasa.gr
;
6.30am-11.30pm Mon-Fri,
7.30am-10.30pm Sat & Sun)
.
TRAVEL PASS
For short-stay visitors, 24-hour/3-day tickets (€4/14) allow unlimited travel on all
public transport inside Athens, excluding airport services. Tourist passes (three
days/one week €20/50) also include one airport round trip and are only available
at the airport or bus stations.
Tickets
Tickets good for 90 minutes (€1.40), 24 hours (€4) and seven days (€14) are valid for all
forms of public transport except for airport services. Bus/trolleybus-only tickets (€1.20)
cannot be used on the metro. Children under six travel free; people under 18 and over 65
pay half-fare. Buy tickets in metro stations or transport kiosks or most
periptera
. Validate
the ticket in the machine as you board your transport of choice.
Bus & Trolleybus
Local express buses, regular buses and electric trolleybuses operate every 15 minutes
from 5am to midnight. The free OASA map shows most routes.
Piraeus Buses
Piraeus buses operate 24 hours (every 20 minutes from 6am to midnight, and then
hourly):
From Syntagma (bus 040)
At the corner of Syntagma and Filellinon to Akti Xaveri-
ou
From Omonia (bus 049)
At the Omonia end of Athinas to Plateia Themistokleous
