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Tourist ticket for unlimited travel in Athens

June 29, 2009 at 17:30 ·


Athens airport station — Photo by Trowbridge Estate

Planning to spend a few days sightseeing in Athens?

Tourists may opt for an all-inclusive ticket, which has been relaunched and repriced for 2013.

  • 3 days for 20 euros
  • 7 days for 50 euros (discontinued as of August 2013)

There are no discounted tickets for children, students, seniors or other special groups.

*Article last updated August 7, 2013. Major update on April 18 with info from Athens Transport.

What tickets include

Each tourist ticket is valid for:

  • One round-trip (return trip) to/from the Athens airport by metro or express ‘X’ bus;
    and
  • Unlimited in-city travel on all lines of the metro/ISAP (1, 2, 3 or red/blue/green), suburban railway/proastiakos, tram, trolley and bus.

All travel must be completed before the ticket expires.

*Excludes suburban railway/proastiakos stations west of Magoula.

Where to buy

Tickets are available at the Athens airport metro station, as most people interested in purchasing this ticket will arrive and depart via Eleftherios Venizelos International.

They are also sold at Athens metro stations: Syntagma, Omonia, Akropoli, Thiseio, Monastiraki and Piraeus as of August 2013.

validate
© Copyrighted image from Greece: Instructions for Use

How to use

As with all public transport tickets, the three-day and seven-day ticket must be validated in a brightly colored machine at the entrance or platform of the metro, suburban railway or tram, or upon boarding a bus or trolley. The 72-hour or 168-hour countdown begins once the ticket is stamped, and there is no need to validate it again.

Passengers must keep tickets handy for random checks by agents. Those who cannot show a valid ticket will be requested to disembark and receive a fine. Immediate payment, or payment within 10 days at the relevant office, cuts the fine in half.

Price of other Athens transport tickets

To determine if this tourist ticket is a cost-effective options, estimate and multiply the number of rides by normal prices (below) to compare.

Athens, in-city transport
Single ticket for all modes, 90-minute validity, one direction: €1.40*
One-day ticket, all modes: €4.00
One-week ticket, all modes: €14.00

There is also a single ticket for €1.20*, but it’s only good on city buses, trolleys and the tram and is limited to one ride in one direction on one mode.

*Buy a pack of 10, get one free as of January 1, 2013

Athens airport transport
Express ‘X’ buses: €5.00 one way
Metro: €8.00 one way, €14.00 return/round-trip; €14.00 one-way, two people; €20.00 one way, three people
Suburban railway/proastiakos: €8.00 one way, €14.00 return/round-trip

For many travelers, this ticket does not present an obvious cost savings or convenience due to its small discount and limitations.

The transport authority announced the comeback and price of tickets on December 5, 2012 before they were for sale; made it appear as if they were “new” in August, though they had been for sale since January; and has done little to promote them or inform the public.

Previous to 2013

*For informational and archival purposes only.

A tourist ticket for unlimited travel on all modes of Athens transport including the Athens airport is no longer available as of February 1, 2011 due to ticket fare increases and the discontinuation of Athens Sightseeing Bus 400 on June 1, 2010.

Tourists and residents can purchase a three-day ticket for only 15 euros, which is valid for unlimited travel in Athens on the suburban railway (proastiakos), metro, and ‘X’ buses to/from the airport, the Athens Sightseeing Bus in the city center (line 400) and all lines of the metro, tram, trolley and bus.

A three-day ticket is perfect for those who plan to see the town and may be on their way to another destination within Greece, or are coming from a Greek island by ferry and want to spend a couple of days in Athens before heading to the airport.

The normal 24-hour (€3) and weekly tickets (€10) do not include the Athens Sightseeing Bus (€5) or transport to/from the airport (round trip €6.40-12.00). So the three-day ticket is versatile and convenient but may no longer be cost-efficient now that the Athens Sightseeing Bus 400 has been permanently discontinued as of June 1, 2010. It depends on your needs.

Where to buy tickets

Tickets are available at locations where visitors to Athens are most likely to begin their travels, including:

1. Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport of Athens: Airport ‘X’ buses or nearby kiosk

2. Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) Stations, “Larissis” and “Piraeus”

3. Athens Metro Station “Syntagma”

4. Athens Metro Stations (Green Line or ISAP) “Piraeus” and “Omonia”

The Athens Urban Transport Authority is distributing brochures from four information stands in the Arrivals Hall of the Athens airport and a booth in suburban railway stations, where tourists are most likely to start their travels in Athens.

Related posts

“KTEL buses of Greece”
“10 tips for flying with Olympic Airlines”
“Live your myth in Greece 2008”

Sources

“Eleven tickets for the price of 10 as of January 1” — Athens Transport
“Τουριστικό εισιτήριο 3 και 7 ημερών από τον ΟΑΣΑ” — To Vima
“Flat fare tickets” — STASY
“Τουριστικά εισιτήρια για μετακινήσεις στην Αθήνα” — Athens Transport
“Από 1η Ιουλίου το νέο τριήμερο τουριστικό εισιτήριο του ΟΑΣΑ”
“Organismos Astikon Sygkoinonion Athinon/Athens Urban Transport Authority“

http://bit.ly/ATHticket

18 Comments »

  Demetris wrote @ June 29th, 2009 at 22:25

Something smart for a change. From my own experience using public transportation in Athens has been mostly decent. I do feel that buying tickets for first-timers who land in Eleftherios Venizelos should be made easier to understand. There always seem to be confused tourists milling around the ticket booths where the buses leave from the airport. Same goes for Syntagma. I find I’m always having to help a tourist get on the right bus or tram who wants to get to the beach etc. I certainly don’t have a problem helping out these folks but it does show that certain things still need to be ironed to make the experience more pleasurable for tourists.

Kat Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 00:10

I’m a big supporter of public transport, so this ticket makes a lot of sense. It simplifies things greatly and offers good value. However, I agree that it could be easier to understand, starting with KTEL making schedules and maps more available for free, and OASA maps a bit easier to understand also. It did get better after Athens 2004, so just think how it was before that.

  rositta wrote @ June 30th, 2009 at 02:45

What a great idea. Should make things easier for the tourists that hopefully will come. I heard tourist travel is down just about worldwide this year…ciao

Kat Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 22:06

The minister of tourism is in denial, saying that the decrease in arrivals to Greece will not reach double digits. But stats for the first six months show at least a 10 percent drop.

  maria v wrote @ July 3rd, 2009 at 18:10

praise the lord
greece is finally doing something right for a change
i guarantee you i will be using this ticket with my family
thanks for letting us know about it

  tobias wrote @ July 4th, 2009 at 00:50

Will this be including Metro fares from and to the airport? They are 6 euros each way. Would be ideal if they were included. Still hoping that the metro will run again to the airport from October on as it quite a bit longer with the bus.

Kat Reply:
July 4th, 2009 at 21:03

It’s good on the metro. The proastiakos is a perfectly good alternative if one does not like the bus.

  tobias wrote @ July 5th, 2009 at 17:15

Thanks for the note, Kat. I did not know that the Proastiakos went to the center. I thought it stays in the peripherals of the city and one can’t avoid the bus. Will check it out though.

Kat Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 21:59

It can be boarded from the Larisis or Piraeus station in Athens, which are locations listed under “Where to Buy Tickets.” Passengers can easily transfer to/from the metro.

  Aris wrote @ May 14th, 2013 at 14:33

Hey Kat,

I have to say this is one of the best and better informed websites about Greece i have found on the web! Even with all the negative things that are said (rightly in my opinion) you maintain a positive attitude and it really shows that you care for this place.

I stumbled here while searching for the history surrounding Greek VAT and how it has changed over the years (something i couldn’t find ANYWHERE apart from here). You provided me with a clear, concise and accurate account. So i started snooping around the site to see what else i could uncover and have to say i fell in love.

Thus i am writing this comment just to let you know what a great job you are doing. As a Greek having lived here the biggest part of my life and continuing to live and work here till this day, i am fully aware of the time, effort and frustration you have gone through to compile something as neat and organized as this, in our completely unorganized (and yet somehow still afloat) country.

So keep up the good work and if you need any assistance with anything know that you have made another companion on your quest.

Kat Reply:
May 19th, 2013 at 10:14

Hi Aris,

Fell in love? Wow.

This website was born from frustration, and I believe I have a unique perspective/voice as an outsider who became an insider, so I can better anticipate what info people are looking for and how to present it. Also makes it easy to identify plagiarism. :\

I’m honored that you took the time to have a look around, then left a comment to share your thoughts. About 99% of comments are readers asking questions or giving criticism, so it’s refreshing to hear from someone with kind words and no agenda.

Thank you apo tin kardia mou, and hope to see you again :)

  Aileen wrote @ August 3rd, 2013 at 21:11

I travel to Greece with 2 teens and 2 under 8′s. They have to pay half price on the X bus and tram/ metro. Will this new tourist ticket be available for kids..at a cheaper rate??

Kat Reply:
August 4th, 2013 at 07:57

It is currently not available for children at a discounted rate, only the prices listed. If it changes, the article will be updated.

  James wrote @ September 20th, 2013 at 21:05

Your question was moved to, “Greek citizenship by origin, descent or ancestry.”

  deb wrote @ October 12th, 2013 at 08:42

hello, found your site very/most helpful. is there a multi ticket for the sites in greece? just been to rome last week and they have a rome pass that covers transport and sites. thank you deb mcg

Kat Reply:
October 12th, 2013 at 09:48

Hello, it’s a good question. Right now there’s a multi-ticket for Athens sites, which includes entrance to the Acropolis, ancient agora and museum, Roman agora, Kerameikos cemetery and museum, Hadrian’s library, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is not good for the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, which is 5 euros; I mention this because incorrect info is being disseminated by travel guides and so-called experts.

It costs 12 euros. If you go the Acropolis first, as most people do, this is the only ticket you can purchase and it’s worth it. It does not cover transport, unfortunately.

Having traveled a lot myself, I often purchase a city pass that’s all inclusive. However, Athens and other cities in Greece do not have them available at this time. There’s been discussion, but no action. If it changes, I’ll publish a new article and update the one above.

All best.

  Hend wrote @ November 25th, 2013 at 21:36

I would like to inquire about the 20 euros pass; the round trip to and from the aeroport is included in the price even if the return date is after the 3 days?!
Thank you

Kat Reply:
November 26th, 2013 at 09:50

No. As it says in sections ‘What tickets include’ and ‘How to use,’ the 72-hour countdown begins once the ticket is validated so you must finish all travel before it expires.

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