Buses in Athens

Chances are you won't need to use the Athens bus system except maybe to get to and from the airport, but even that is easier done by metro or taxi. But this page will help you to understand the Athens bus system just in case.

Yellow Trolleys and Blue Buses can take you anywhere in the city and in the suburbs.The Trolleys run on electricity and the stops are yellow. The Blue bus-stops are blue. Tickets cost .45 Euros and must be bought from a kiosk or at special stands in main squares and at some main bus terminals. They are sold individually or in bundles of 10 and must be validated by a machine on the bus. Buses and trolleys run every 10 to 30 minutes and can be stopped by waving your hand. There is a small blue bus that goes through central Athens. You can find maps on many of the bus stops and you can also get one from the Greek National Tourist Organization office on Amalias street by Syntagma Square. See the Airport page for bus routes from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport. For going to the beach check out Athens new Coastal Tram that goes from Syntagma Square all the way to Glyfada. It is slow but entertaining and it gets you there.

The Orange Buses take you to the countryside of Attiki outside Athens and it's suburbs. They leave from Pedhion Areas on Alexandras Ave and go to Marathon, Oropos, Lavrion, Sounion and Rafina (for ferries to Cyclades). Tickets are sold on board and don't need to be validated. Prices vary according to destination. The bus-stops are orange and have the initials KTEL. The final destination is written on the front of each bus.

The Green Bus leaves from Filellinon street near Syntagma and takes you to Pireaus and Kalithea. The tickets are the same as the blue bus and the Trolleys. They run 24 hours a day and leave every 6 minutes during the daytime. There are other light green KTEL buses that go long distance and leave from two bus stations in Athens that are kind of a pain to get to. You can find info on them under Practical Athens Info and Bus Schedules including how to reach the terminal.

Ask your travel agent or at your hotel about the day ticket for 2.90 euro which is excellent value and can be used for any 24 hour period from the validation time. From then on you can hop on and off without any further transactions. There is also a weekly pass available that can be used on all public transport except the train to the airport. Don't get rid of your ticket until you get off the bus. Sometimes they have inspectors who check. Most of the buses stoprunning at midnight but there are several lines that go for 24 hours including the airport buses, and the buses from Syntagma to Pireaus.