Transport and the shape of the city in Athens

The fare, and four ways to pay

The standard fare is a 90-minute unified ticket at €1.20 full price or €0.50 reduced, valid across metro, bus, trolley and tram, with the airport excluded. Four payment methods run in parallel: the rechargeable ATH.ENA TICKET, the reusable ATH.ENA CARD in personalised or anonymous form, the ATH.ENA GO mobile version, and a Visa or Mastercard tapped straight at the validator. For a short stay the contactless card removes the need for any ticket at all.

• Bundles: 2 tickets for €2.30, 5 for €5.70, and 10+1 for €12.00.
• Short stays: 24 hours €4.10, 5 days €8.20, and a 3-day tourist ticket at €20.00 that includes one airport round trip.
• Reduced-price bundles are sold only on a personalised card.

The pass to buy if you are staying

The 30-day urban-zone card is €27 full price or €13.50 reduced, with longer terms at €78 for 90 days, €155 for 180 days and €300 for 365 days. All of those are issued on a personalised ATH.ENA card, so the registration has to happen first. For that card OASA asks for an identity card or passport, a photograph, and a document showing your social security number, plus supporting proof if you are claiming a reduced fare — which is one more reason the AMKA matters early. Whether a given reduced fare reaches foreign residents, students or over-65s who are not Greek pensioners is worth confirming at a metro station ticket office.

The airport is priced separately

Athens International Airport sits outside the urban zone. The metro to or from it is €9.00 full price or €4.50 reduced, and €16.00 for a return, while the express bus lines are €5.50 or €2.70 reduced. From the outer eastern stations at Pallini, Kantza and Koropi the airport trip costs €5.50 rather than the full fare. If you fly often, the pass that includes airport travel is €45 for 30 days against €27 for the urban card, a premium that two airport trips already cover.

The network, and what is being built

The Line 3 extension to Piraeus is complete and in service. Line 4 is under construction between Alsos Veikou and Goudi with expropriations still in progress and no published opening date, so treat it as a reason to check rather than a reason to choose a flat. Athens also operates a ring restriction on driving into the centre, and its area, hours and plate rule are not something to take from an old forum post, so confirm the current terms before you plan on driving in.