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.

Curiously, line 1 was the first to be built. Opened in February 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 Olympiakos soccer team, Omonia and Monastiraki.
• Line 2 (red): This line connects Athens Central Larissis 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 into the eastern side of Athens.

Metro station museums

While excavating the underground tunnels and stations to create Athens metro network, numerous ruins and historical objects were uncovered. To preserve these groundbreaking findings, Athens dedicated small museums in various stations to showcase these archeological treasures.

The most notable “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.

Frequency varies according to day and time. It ranges from 3-5 minutes during rush hour to 5 or 10 minutes during off-peak hours.

Fares

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