Metro Tickets - Athens

There is a metro station right at the airport. Cross the road from arrivals and follow the signs. I believe there is a train every half hour. There is a ticket booth at the end of the walkway to the station. I have not done this in a few years but there used to be a one way ticket for two people at a very good price. I believe they still offer this but I don't know the current price. It was 14 euros last time we used it. It will be about a 45 minute trip. Be aware the train has pick pockets. Take precautions money papers and valuables need to be protected. There is no personal danger just crafty pickpockets. They are in the stations as well.

Second option is to take the X95 express bus. Its cheaper 4 euros each last time we were there and there are no pickpockets. Its slower and less comfortable but thats the way we choose to go now.

To the port. Metro is convenient. There is also a bus to the cruise terminal the X80. You can find it near the Macdonalds in Syntagma square. Cost is 4>50 for a 24 hour tourist pass or 20 euros for a three day pass.

If you are going to the ferry port either way works. However if you are going to the cruise ship port its at least a 20 minute walk from the metro station so you will end up taking a taxi.

A little more on how to get to the Metro Station at the airport. Cross the road, GO UP stairs to causeway and walk or take moving walk way to ticket area. Buy ticket (either 10 euros for one or 5 euros for senior citizen. I'm not sure on ticket for two, etc. Go downstairs and wait for train. There's only one so you won't be confused which one to take.

The run from the airport will usually be pretty empty so you'll have choice of seats. Keep all luggage/bags near you and as stanbr stated there are pickpockets and bag snatchers but use common sense and you'll be OK.

I haven't taken the Metro to Piraeus, only a taxi which will be around 20 euros from central Athens. The taxi will drop you off right at the ticket booth you need to buy a ticket for a particular island which makes it easy. The ferry should be near by, walk in, put your luggage on one of the racks (perfectly safe), take personal bags with you and enjoy the ride.

There's only one so you won't be confused which one to take. There are actually 2, so make sure you take the one that has the Metro logo on the side. The other one is the Suburban Railway train and takes a totally different route into Athens.

Hi All

Thank you for the reply and advise.
How long does the bus take from the Airport to Acropolis?

And last question, the Blue Star Ferry from Piraeus - is this from the cruise terminal?

Thanks,

How long does the bus take from the Airport to Acropolis? There is no bus from the Airport to the Acropolis. The airport bus goes to Syntagma Square. From Syntagma the Acropolis is about a 30-minute walk.

And last question, the Blue Star Ferry from Piraeus - is this from the cruise terminal? No, not from the cruise terminal. The docks for the Blue Star ferries are about 1/2 mile from the cruise ship dock.

http://ontheworldmap.com/greece/city/piraeus/piraeus-port-map.jpg

The cruise terminal is E11. The Blue Star ferries depart from E1, E6 and E7 depending on your destination.

Hi Lee - thanks for reply.
Okay thanks, so just to confirm - the train also only goes to Syntagma Square? (we are staying 1 km from Square).

No, the metro line continues. There are also other lines that you can transfer to at Syntagma. If you give us the address of your hotel, we can give you better information. Buses and taxis can get bogged down in the molasses-in-winter pace of city traffic. It depends on the time of day.

We are staying at the Lotus Inn Hotel. So from Airport to Hotel and then from Hotel to Piraeus Port.

Natasha

The Lotus Inn is very close (3 minutes?) to Monastiraki metro station, the next stop on from Syntagma. Monastiraki is also the stop for the green line down to Piraeus.

Alan

Thanks All for the information and help :-)

There's only one so you won't be confused which one to take. There are actually 2, so make sure you take the one that has the Metro logo on the side. The other one is the Suburban Railway train and takes a totally different route into Athens.

The metro airport train is directly in front of you after the escalator down. It is obvious, the suburban train is on a different platform and one has to deliberately look for it.

To clear up about what train to take from the airport read the below from another forum:

A pic is worth a thousand words

http://cdn1.bbend.net/media/com_news/story/2015/05/06/583883/main/metro.jpg

the white train is the suburban train that will NOT take you to monastiraki (it has "proastiakos" on it)

the gray/orange train is the metro train (blue line) that you need.

both have clearly marked access points to reach them,you absolutely can't mix them and take the one or the other by mistake .