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ATHENS - New payment system for public transport

Posted by (France Southwest) on

Athens has a new contactless payment system (Tap2Ride) for public transportation.
It is available on all transportation services: metro, tram, bus, and trolleybus.

No need to buy tickets or queue at points of sale or vending machines. You can use your physical Visa or Mastercard or digital Apple Pay, Google Pay, or smartwatch (provided your wallet is linked to a Visa or Mastercard) without having to buy a paper ticket.

How does it work?

Simply present your contactless Visa or Mastercard to the validator to pay for your ticket.

How much does it cost?

You pay the same adult fare as with a standard paper ticket:

  • €1.20 for a 90-minute one-way trip
  • €5.50 for express buses to/from the airport
  • €9.00 for the metro line to/from the airport

Regardless of the number of single €1.20 journeys you make in a day (excluding express or airport buses), you will never be charged more than €4.10, which is the price of the 24-hour ticket.

It is, of course, necessary to use the same device or card throughout the day (entering or exiting the metro, boarding buses, trolleybuses, or trams).

Use your contactless card or device just like a ticket by presenting it to the validator and wait for the audible and visual confirmation signal.

  • Only full-fare tickets are compatible with contactless payment.
  • Each passenger must use a separate contactless card or device.

In case of inspection, present the card or device used for validation. The inspector is equipped with a terminal to verify that your trip has been validated.

Posted by
1781 posts

This system was instituted in January of this year. Perhaps the word "new" in the title made some think this was a scam post? At least I thought it was going to turn into one before I recognized the language from official websites.

In any case, the info is accurate and could be helpful for those who haven't done research on current transit payment options.

Posted by
3107 posts

I already made a post about this on January 27th.

It was just a reminder with a little more information, particularly about accepted credit cards.

Posted by
12830 posts

Each passenger must use a separate contactless card or device.

Can you still buy tickets, to avoid having to use different/multiple credit cards?

Posted by
3107 posts

Of course, you can still buy tickets at booths or machines.
You can also keep your original ticket and reload it at the machines with the same or another travel product.

Passes are available in ticket form (Ath.ena ticket or Ath.ena Card)

https://www.oasa.gr/en/visit-athens/

Posted by
9 posts

Thanks for the reminder post. I will be in Athens in late October and I hope the contactless payment system works as well as it does in other European cities. It really is a huge time saver.

Posted by
361 posts

Thanks for posting this. We'll be in Athens in mid-October for four nights and don't really plan on using public transport.

This makes is so much easier though if we decide to use the metro for something.

Posted by
3187 posts

I was in Athens in July and used the contactless system. Very easy. I hate those machines!!

Posted by
3 posts

I tried the new Tap2Ride system in Athens recently and it works really well. No need to queue at machines or buy paper tickets – just use your contactless Visa/Mastercard, or even Apple Pay/Google Pay on your phone or watch.

Every passenger needs their own card or device, and in case of inspection you simply show the card/phone you used – inspectors have scanners to verify it. Honestly, it’s much faster and less stressful than dealing with ticket machines.

Posted by
21 posts

As I get on in age, I get confused easily on crowded areas. I look forward to using this next year.
Thanks much!

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