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by bus
Buses in Athens and Greece are colour-coded, and include blue, orange and green varieties. Blue buses go pretty much everywhere within the city and suburbs, while the other coloured lines travel long distance. Blue buses run between every 10 - 30 minutes, depending on the time of day and the location of the stop. Most buses stop running at midnight, but some lines go all night, including the one to the airport. Bus tickets cost 45 cents, but cannot be bought on the bus. Instead, you can get them from kiosks throughout the city and from bus stands located in main squares and at stations. They are sold individually or in groups of 10, and you can also buy tickets for €2.90 that are valid for 24 hours. Once you get on the bus, you have to validate your ticket in the machine. It is generally easy to tell how to get where you are going by bus, and most stops have a map and a schedule. A complete bus map is available from the Greek National Tourist Organization offices.
Athens
by tram
Athens has trams/trolleys, which will take you to most locations within the city. These are electric and are called “Yellow Trolleys,” and take the same tickets as buses. You can buy tickets individually, in packs of ten, or get special tickets that are valid for the whole day. The main tram lines both run from Syntagma Square to Palaio Faliro and then split in two directions, one toward Glyfada and one toward Neo Faliro. More detailed information about the tram is available at www.tram.gr.
Athens
by metro
Athens’ well-established metro system has multiple lines and has been around since the 19th century. Line 1 runs from Piraeus in the south to the northen suburb Kifissia, and stops all through the city on the way. Tickets for the metro and subway can be bought at every station. There are also 24 hour tickets available and monthly passes. Lines 2 and 3 have been only recently added in 2000, and mostly cover the downtown area. The metro is now being expanded to cover all of the suburban areas as well. Trains run between 5.30 am and 11.30 pm. Make sure to validate your ticket before you board. More information can be found at www.amentro.gr.
Athens
Taxis
There are many taxis in Athens, and in the centre and other busy areas, it is easy to find empty ones on the street. It is not uncommon to share taxis, though, and if you see one carrying passengers, you can call out your destination to the driver. If he’s going in that direction, he’ll stop and pick you up. If you enter the taxi first, the driver should ask your permission first before picking up additional passengers. Whether or not taxis are shared, each passenger pays the same price for the distance travelled. Fares are usually quite reasonable, especially compared with other places in Europe, but you do have to be on the lookout for dishonest ones who will overcharge you. Make sure the meter is functioning when you enter a taxi. You can find out from your hotel what the fares usually are. Tipping is not a general rule, but if your driver has been unusually good or done something extra for you, a tip of 10% is appropriate. Most taxi drivers in Athens have at least some knowledge of English, so communication is usually not a problem.
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Public Transport
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