Transportation in Athens
The city centre lies between the hills of the Acropolis and Lykavittos, with the parliament building on Syntagma Square smack bang in the middle. The main transport hub is Syntagma. From here, most of the main sights are within 20 minutes' walking distance. The city's two highest points, Lykavittos and the Acropolis, are visible from many places, making excellent orientation references. The coast lies 8km south of the centre. From Syntagma, the pedestrian street of Ermou leads west to Monastiraki and then continues to Gazi. Quaint, touristy Plaka lies at the foot of the Acropolis, south of Ermou, and the popular night-time district of Psirri lies north of Ermou. Moneyed Kolonaki lies northeast of Syntagma, at the foot of Lykavittos.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Foot
Walking is often the quickest way to get about in the city centre, as well as being a great way to discover the unexpected. Start from the Acropolis metro station and wander along the 4km of the tree-lined, pedestrianised Archaeological Promenade. It links all the city's main archaeological sites.
Bus & trolleybus
Athens' white-and-blue buses are cheap, frequent, and cover an extensive network, but they are also crowded, which is why many people opt for a taxi instead. The yellow trolley buses link all the main points such as Syntagma and Omonia.
Taxi
Athens' yellow taxis are among the cheapest in Europe, and their drivers among the most erratic. If you hail one from the street, it is not unusual to share the ride (but not the cost) with other passengers.
Metro
The metro provides the quickest way to reach the outlying suburbs - the port at Piraeus to the south, smart Kifissia to the north, and the airport to the east. There are just three lines, and the stations are clean and modern thanks to the 2004 Olympics renovation work.
Tram
Inaugurated for the 2004 Olympics, the new tram line from Syntagma in the city centre to Glyfada on the coast offers a fast, cheap and comfortable way of getting to the beach.
Rent your car
You’ll need patience to face erratic driving and honking horns as you navigate your way through Athens’ tangle of one-way streets. The city has attempted to ease congestion with colour-coded parking. Visitors can park for a maximum of three hours in the areas marked with white lines for €6.
Transportation Tips
A Day Ticket covers one trip to or from Athens airport and gives unlimited travel on public transport (bus, trolleybus and metro, but not the tram) in the city centre for 24 hours after validation.
