Athens Metro

The Athens Metro is not very extensive, but it is contemporary and runs smoothly. The subway’s three lines are run by two companies, although they share tariffs, travel cards and tickets.

Athens metro map

Curiously, line 1 was the first to be built. Opened in 1869, the line connected Athens and Piraeus port and was run by a steam train until 1904, when the state introduced electric trains. The other two lines were introduced in 2000.

Lines

The lines are not only identifiable by numbers, but also by color:

• Line 1 (green): The major stations on line 1 are Piraeus (the city’s main port), Peace and Friendship Stadium, Karaiskakis Stadium, home to Olympiacos soccer team, and Omonia and Monastiraki.
• Line 2 (red): This line connects Athens railway station with Omonia Square, Syntagma Square and the Acropolis.
• Line 3 (blue): Links Athens International Airport with the city center, stopping at Syntagma Square and Monastiraki.

Extension of Athens Metro

Athens is currently working on the fourth line of the metro system which will open in 2026 and will extend from Petroupoli to Ethniki Odos.

Metro station museums

While excavating the underground tunnels and stations, numerous buildings and items that had been buried for centuries were uncovered. To preserve these interesting findings, Athens dedicated part of the stations to display them.

The most imposing “metro station museums” are: Acropolis, Dafni, Evangelismos, Monastiraki, Panepistimio and Syntagma.

Timetable and frequency

Athens Metro runs approximately from 5:30am till 12:30am (midnight). On Fridays and Saturdays, the last train departs at 2am.

During peak hours, the metro runs every 3 minutes, and during the slowest hours, they run every 5 to 10 minutes.

Fares

For information on the various tickets, travel cards and fares, check out our article: Athens transport tickets