This article contains advertising. Some of the hotel, tour, activity, flight and transfer links in it are paid links: if you book through one, we get a commission from the booking company, and your price is the same either way. It never affects what we recommend. Affiliate disclosure
Beyond the metro, Athens has an extensive bus and trolleybus network (OASA’s 2023 report counted 258 bus lines and 20 trolleybus lines) and two tram lines connecting central Athens to the Athens Riviera and Piraeus. The buses fill the gaps the metro doesn’t reach (the Athens Riviera beaches, the KTEL intercity terminals, the Acropolis south slope, the National Garden surroundings), while the trams give one of the most scenic public-transport rides in Europe along the coast to Voula. This is the complete Athens bus and tram guide for 2026 with routes, prices, the 24-hour X-line express buses, and clear advice on which suits which type of journey.
The Athens Public Transport System (OASA)
The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) coordinates the metro, bus, trolleybus and tram network; OSY runs the buses and STASY the metro and trams. A single €1.20 ticket gives 90 minutes of unlimited travel across all four modes; a €4.10 day pass covers 24 hours unlimited. For visitors, the integrated system means a single ticket can combine a bus from your hotel to the metro, the metro to a tram terminal, and a tram to the beach, all on one €1.20 fare.
For broader transport context, see our Getting Around Athens pillar, our Athens Metro guide, and our airport transport guide.
Athens Bus Network
Regular Buses
OASA plans and coordinates the city bus network, and its subsidiary OSY runs the buses; OASA’s 2023 report counted 258 bus lines. Hours and frequency depend on the line, the day and the time: a few lines run around the clock, eleven more run all night on Saturdays, and most stop overnight. Check the line on OASA Telematics for live arrivals before you rely on a late bus.
X-Line 24-Hour Express Buses
Four airport express lines run 24 hours a day, connecting the airport with Piraeus port and other major transport hubs, and the seasonal X80 links Piraeus with the centre by day:
- X95: Athens Airport ↔ Syntagma Square (central Athens)
- X96: Athens Airport ↔ Piraeus port
- X97: Athens Airport ↔ Elliniko metro station (night journeys start from Dafni metro station)
- X93: Athens Airport ↔ KTEL Kifissos and KTEL Liosion (intercity bus terminals)
- X80: Piraeus cruise terminals ↔ Acropolis ↔ Syntagma (May to October only; departures from Piraeus 07:00-21:15)
X93, X95, X96 and X97 all need the €5.50 airport express ticket (€2.70 reduced). X80 takes the €4.10 daily ticket or the €20 three-day tourist ticket; the €1.20 single is not valid on it.
Trolleybuses
Around 20 trolleybus lines operate in central Athens using overhead electric wires (OASA’s 2023 count). The trolleybus network covers many central streets that buses cannot reach because of pedestrian zones. Same €1.20 ticket as buses.
Tourist-Useful Bus Routes
- Bus 040: Piraeus ↔ Syntagma (alternative to X80)
- Bus 224: Kaisariani ↔ El. Venizelou (it serves the suburb of Kaisariani, not the monastery)
- Bus 122: Argyroupoli metro station ↔ Saronida (Athens Riviera coastal route)
- KTEL X95 to Schinias/Marathon Beach (separate operator, see below)
Athens Tram Network
The Two Tram Lines
Tram T6: Syntagma Square ↔ Pikrodafni (Faliro). Runs from central Athens down to the coast, with 19 stops; Edem beach is about half an hour from Syntagma. Key stops: Syntagma, Fix (museum stop), Pikrodafni (transfer to T7 for the Riviera).
Tram T7: Asklipeio Voulas ↔ Piraeus (Akti Posidonos). About 16 km along the Athens Riviera, running from Voula up the coast through Glyfada and Faliro to Piraeus. Key stops: Pikrodafni (transfer to T6 for central Athens), Floisvos Marina, Glyfada centre, Asklipeio Voulas (southern terminus, in Voula).
Tram Operating Hours
Hours and frequency vary by line and day. Both lines run all night on Saturdays, and from 7 September 2026 T6 comes about every 7.5-8 minutes at peak times. For first and last departures from your stop, check STASY’s tram timetable.
Tram Ticket Prices
Same €1.20 single / €4.10 day pass as the metro and bus.
Tickets & Fares (2026)
Single Ticket
€1.20 90-minute ticket valid on metro + bus + tram + trolleybus combined. Buy from metro station machines, tram station machines, OASA kiosks, or many central Athens convenience stores.
Day Pass
€4.10 24-hour pass from first validation, covering urban metro, bus, trolleybus and tram travel, X80 included; airport express buses and the Koropi-Airport metro section are excluded. Excellent value if you take 4+ rides.
5-Day Pass
€8.20 for 5 days (120 hours from first validation) of unlimited urban travel. It does not cover airport express buses, X80 or the Koropi-Airport metro section.
Tap-to-Ride
Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the blue readers; €1.20 per 90 minutes, capped at €4.10 a day as long as you use the same card or device.
Tourist 3-Day Pass
€20 for 3 days unlimited transport + one airport round trip. Best value for visitors arriving at the airport.
How to Use Athens Buses
Step 1: Find Your Stop
Bus stops display the route numbers stopping there. Google Maps and the OASA app give real-time arrival predictions for most routes.
Step 2: Buy Your Ticket Beforehand
Most buses do NOT sell tickets on board (except a few express routes). Buy at a metro station, kiosk, or convenience store. With a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or a phone, you can skip this step: tap-to-ride works on bus and trolleybus validators, with nothing bought in advance.
Step 3: Board and Validate
Enter through the front door. Validate your paper ticket at the on-board machine, or tap your contactless card at the reader.
Step 4: Signal Your Stop
Press the red “STOP” button when you want the bus to stop at the next station; otherwise it may skip if no one is waiting.
Step 5: Exit
Exit through the rear or middle doors. Tap-to-ride: tap again at exit gates if available.
How to Use Athens Trams
Identical to the metro: validate at the blue reader, board, ride. Trams have lower platforms than the metro and accommodate wheelchairs and strollers easily. Free Wi-Fi on most modern trams.
KTEL Intercity Buses (Different from OASA City Buses)
KTEL is the network of intercity bus operators that connect Athens to the rest of Greece. Important for day trips. Major Athens KTEL terminals:
- KTEL Kifissos terminal: buses to the Peloponnese (Nafplio, Mycenae, Olympia, Sparta), the Ionian islands, Patras, and western Greece. Reached by X93 24-hour bus from the airport, or by city bus from central Athens.
- KTEL Liosion terminal: buses to central and northern Greece (Delphi, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Larissa). Reached by city bus from Larissa metro station.
- KTEL Mavromateon terminal: buses to Attica destinations within day-trip distance (Marathon, Schinias, Sounion, Lavrio).
KTEL fares are separate from the €1.20 OASA city ticket, which covers only the urban network: each coach trip needs a ticket from the KTEL company that runs it. Fares and schedules at the operator websites (ktelfokidas.gr for Delphi, ktelargolidas.gr for Nafplio, etc.).
The Most Scenic Tram Ride in Athens
The full tram ride from Syntagma to Voula takes T6 down to Pikrodafni, then T7 along the Saronic Gulf coast. The southern section (T7 from Pikrodafni through Glyfada, Voula, and finishing at Asklipeio Voulas) gives the best views of the open Aegean. One €1.20 ticket covers both trams, provided you change within 90 minutes of first validating it. Particularly beautiful at sunset.
Athens Bus & Tram Practical Tips
Validate every ticket: travelling without a valid one means a €100 fine (€50 for reduced-fare passengers). Use the OASA app or Google Maps for real-time arrivals; printed timetables at bus stops are often outdated. Ticket machines take both coins and banknotes. Some older buses don’t have air conditioning; for long suburban routes in summer, choose newer vehicles when possible. Pickpockets exist on busy central buses and trolleybuses; standard precautions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Athens bus ticket cost?
€1.20 single 90-minute ticket valid on metro + bus + tram + trolleybus combined. €4.10 day pass. €20 tourist 3-day pass including airport round trip.
Do Athens buses run 24 hours?
Some do. The four airport express buses (X93, X95, X96, X97) run 24 hours a day, a few city lines such as 040 (Piraeus to Syntagma) run around the clock, and eleven more bus lines run all night on Saturdays. Most other routes have their own first and last departures, so check the line on OASA Telematics. The X80 is seasonal (May to October) and runs by day only. Lines connect the airport, Piraeus port, KTEL terminals, and Syntagma Square.
Where can I buy Athens bus tickets?
At metro station machines, OASA kiosks, many central Athens convenience stores, or via contactless tap-to-ride at the validators on board. Most buses do NOT sell tickets on board.
How many tram lines does Athens have?
Two tram lines: T6 (Syntagma to Pikrodafni in Faliro) and T7 (Asklipeio Voulas to Piraeus via the Athens Riviera coast). Both use the standard €1.20 ticket.
What is the Athens Riviera tram?
Tram line T7 runs for about 16 km along the Athens Riviera, from Asklipeio Voulas in Voula through Glyfada and Faliro to Akti Posidonos in Piraeus. The most scenic public transport ride in Athens; particularly beautiful at sunset.
Is the Athens bus the same as the KTEL bus?
No. OASA buses are the city network (€1.20 standard fare). KTEL buses are the separate intercity network for trips to other Greek cities or out-of-Athens day trips. Different terminals, different ticket prices, different schedules.
Are Athens buses wheelchair accessible?
All newer Athens buses are low-floor and accessible. Some older buses on lesser-used routes are not. All trams are fully accessible.
The Athens Bus Network: Scope & Operators
Athens has an extensive urban bus network covering Greater Athens, the Athens Riviera, and the suburbs: OASA’s 2023 report counted 258 bus lines and 20 trolleybus lines. OASA plans and coordinates the network, and its subsidiary OSY (Odikes Sygkoinonies SA) runs the buses and the trolleybuses (electric overhead-line buses operating in the city centre). The tram is operated by STASY, the urban rail company in the OASA group.
Bus hours depend on the line: most stop overnight, while a handful run all night every day and more join them on Saturday nights. Frequency varies just as much, by route, day and time. The OASA Telematics app (free, in English) shows real-time arrivals at every stop, which makes it far more useful than printed timetables.
Useful Bus Lines for Tourists
Airport Express Buses
X95: airport ↔ Syntagma Square. 24-hour service. €5.50; OASA allows about 60 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day. The recommended airport bus for central Athens travellers.
X96: airport ↔ Piraeus port. 24-hour; €5.50; about 90 minutes, traffic permitting.
X93: airport ↔ KTEL Kifissos and KTEL Liosion (intercity bus terminals). €5.50.
X97: airport ↔ Elliniko metro station (night journeys start from Dafni). €5.50.
Tourist Beach Buses
Bus 122: Argyroupoli Metro ↔ Vouliagmeni/Saronida. The essential bus for reaching Lake Vouliagmeni and Astir Beach.
Bus 171: Argyroupoli Metro ↔ Varkiza. For Cape Sounion, take the KTEL Attica coach instead (see below).
Central Athens Trolleybuses
Trolley 11: Patission ↔ Pagrati. Useful for visiting the National Archaeological Museum.
Lykavittos Bus
Bus 060: serves the Lykavittos area, below the hill.
Museum & Site Buses
Bus 224: Kaisariani ↔ El. Venizelou. Check its stop list on OASA Telematics for the museum you want before you board.
The Tram Network: T6 and T7
Athens Tram opened on 19 July 2004 ahead of the Olympics, and 25 new Alstom trams entered passenger service in December 2021. Two lines currently operate:
T6 and T7 (Syntagma ↔ Asklipieio Voulas)
The coastal route. T6 runs from Syntagma down to the sea at Faliro, past Edem, and ends at Pikrodafni; change there to T7 for Alimos, Kalamaki, Glyfada, Voula and the Asklipieio Voulas terminus. The single most-useful Athens tram ride for visitors (beach access).
Tram Operating Hours
Daily: first and last trams vary by stop and direction; see STASY’s tram timetable.
Friday-Saturday: later running on Friday nights; on Saturdays T6 and T7 run all night.
Frequency: varies by line and time of day. Since September 2026 the morning peak on T6 has a tram every 7 minutes 30 seconds.
The Suburban Railway (Proastiakos)
The Suburban Railway connects central Athens with the airport, Kiato (for connections to the Peloponnese), and Chalkis on Evia island. Within the central Athens zone, the Proastiakos uses the same ticket system as the Metro and bus. From Athens Central Station (Larissa) the Proastiakos runs:
To the airport: direct trains from the city; check current fares and journey times on Hellenic Train’s site (hellenictrain.gr).
To Piraeus port: alternative route to the Metro Line 1.
To Kiato: useful for Peloponnese day trips (Corinth, Nemea wine country, on to Olympia).
To Chalkis (Evia island): the line north to Evia, with fares and times on the same Hellenic Train timetable.
Ticket Inspection Reality
Athens bus and tram ticket inspectors are active. Random inspections occur on all lines, especially the popular tourist routes (X95 airport bus, T6 and T7 trams, central trolleybuses). Travelling without a valid ticket costs a €100 fine, or €50 for reduced-fare passengers. Validate every time you board a bus, trolleybus or tram, at the blue electronic reader, and at the metro gates on the way in and out.
Bus & Tram Etiquette
Athenians give up seats for the elderly, pregnant women, and parents with young children, which is expected. Loud music or video without headphones is discouraged. Eating and drinking on board is technically allowed but rare. Pickpocketing is the main practical concern in crowded buses; keep wallets in front pockets.
Trolleybus System (Athens-Only)
Athens is one of the few European cities still operating a major trolleybus network. The electric trolleys operate on about 20 lines in central Athens (OASA’s 2023 count); they’re slightly slower than diesel buses but quieter and zero-emission at point of use. The historic Patission Avenue trolley routes are particularly worth experiencing for the late-20th-century-Athens-streetscape feel.
Night Buses
Limited night bus service operates after the Metro and tram stop running. The main night routes:
X95 airport bus: 24-hour operation.
X96 airport-Piraeus: 24-hour.
Round-the-clock city lines such as bus 040 (Piraeus to Syntagma), plus eleven more bus lines that run all night on Saturdays, when metro lines 2 and 3 and both tram lines also keep going.
Most central Athens nightlife is within walking distance of the central core; for late-night returns from Gazi, Psyri, or Plaka to your hotel, taxi (FREENOW and Uber Taxi both work in Athens) is usually more-practical than waiting for the limited night buses.
KTEL Intercity Buses
For day trips and longer-distance travel within Attica and beyond Athens, the KTEL bus network is essential. KTEL is the national network of regional bus operators; each prefecture has its own KTEL company. From Athens, the main terminals are:
KTEL Attica (Pedion tou Areos / Mavromateon Street): serves Marathon, Schinias, Cape Sounion, Anavyssos, Lavrio, and other Attica destinations.
KTEL Kifisos Bus Station (Liosion): long-distance buses to Delphi, Meteora, Thessaloniki, Patras, and the western/northern Greece destinations.
KTEL Liosion: intermediate destinations.
KTEL fares depend on the operator and destination, so check them when you plan the trip. Tickets sold at the terminal kiosks or on the bus (cash preferred). Book in advance for popular peak-season destinations.
Real-Time Information & Apps
OASA Telematics (free, English available): the official Athens public transport app. Shows real-time arrivals at every stop, route planning, service updates, and disruption alerts. Essential for any visitor planning to use the bus or tram extensively.
Google Maps: includes Athens public transport routing and real-time data. The user interface is more-familiar for non-Greek-speakers.
Citymapper: available for Athens; excellent multi-modal routing.
Recommended Strategy by Trip Type
3-day visit (mostly walking the historic centre): 5-day urban ticket (€8.20) for occasional Metro and tram; it doesn’t cover the airport buses or X80. Walk most distances.
5-day visit with one beach day: 5-day urban ticket (€8.20). For the beach day, take tram T6 to the coast and change to T7 at Pikrodafni for the beaches further south.
7-day visit with multiple Riviera days: 5-day urban ticket, then €1.20 singles (90 minutes each) once its 120 hours run out.
14+ day visit: the reloadable Ath.ena Card, topped up with credit, for the most-convenient cashless transit; ask at the ticket office about any fee for the card itself.
Athens Bus Lines for Specific Destinations
National Archaeological Museum: Trolley 11; or walk from Omonia or Victoria Metro.
Athens Concert Hall (Megaron Mousikis): Metro Line 3 to Megaro Mousikis station (more reliable than bus).
Panathenaic Stadium: Trolley 2 or 11; or walk from Syntagma through the National Garden.
EMST contemporary art museum: Bus from Syngrou Avenue.
Hellenic Maritime Museum (Piraeus): Metro Line 1 to Piraeus, then bus 904 to Plateia Freattidos, the museum’s stop.
Mikrolimano (Piraeus): Metro Line 1 to Piraeus, then walk south of Piraeus port.
Trams T6 and T7: The Key Stops for Visitors
The most useful tram ride for visitors starts on T6 at Syntagma and heads for the beach suburbs, with a change to T7 at Pikrodafni for everything south of it. Key stops on the two lines, with what’s at each:
Syntagma: the T6 terminus; transfer to Metro Lines 2 and 3.
Zappeio: the National Garden and Zappeion park area; pleasant walk back to central.
Fix: the EMST contemporary art museum area; Koukaki hotels and restaurants. For the Acropolis Museum, the nearest tram stop is Leoforos Vouliagmenis.
SNFCC (Stavros Niarchos Park): the Renzo Piano-designed cultural centre with the Greek National Opera, the National Library of Greece and the 21-hectare Stavros Niarchos Park, one of the largest green areas in Athens.
Faliro: the Faliro Olympic Stadium area; some Olympic-era facilities.
Edem: the closest free public beach to central Athens.
Alimos: the Akti tou Iliou family-friendly organised beach.
Kalamaki: quieter free beach section.
Glyfada: the major Athens Riviera town; shopping, restaurants, beaches, nightlife.
Voula: upmarket family beach suburb.
Asklipieio Voulas: the southern terminus of T7. For Vouliagmeni, bus 122 runs from Argyroupoli metro station.
Plan the Rest of Your Athens Trip
For more transport content, see our pillar guide to Getting Around Athens, our Athens Metro guide, our airport transport guide, and our things to do guide.
