Public transport that exists in Athens is quite convenient. It helps to carry out almost all the necessary internal movements by trolleybuses, trams, buses and taxis. But the life of a big city is hard to imagine without the metro, which is one of the fastest and most reliable types of public transport in almost any metropolis on the planet. Athens also has its own subway lines. At the same time, the metro stations of the Greek capital are considered the most beautiful in the world.
Stations
The construction of the subway in the capital of Greece was associated with the largest in size (on the territory of almost 8 hectares) archaeological excavations. Museums and historians were donated about 50,000 exhibits, partly decorating the new metro stations, similar to museums in miniature. In addition to artifacts, the Iridan River, which is considered to be completely lost, was discovered during excavations and construction at the same time.
Today, the city metro scheme has three branches:
- "Green branch" -elevated, with a small number of stations located underground. In the people, most often the transport that runs here is called trains or electric trains. Historically, this branch serves as the successor to the first railway line, which passed steam locomotives on its own. She was launched in 1869. Later, in 1904, it was electrified. On the "green line" subway trains do not go as fast as on the underground. The travel time along the route from the beginning of the journey to the final station "Piraeus-Kifissia" is 51 minutes. Some trains do not reach here - they go only to the Irini station, where the Olympic Stadium is located. To know exactly where you can get to, you need to pay attention to the sign placed on the first car.
- "Red branch". It leads from Peristeri to Agios Dimitrios.
- "Blue branch". Will take you from Egaleo to the airport. At the same time, here, too, part of the trains go only to the station "Dukissas Plakendias", and among those going to the airport, the interval is 30 minutes.
The photo below shows the metro map (Athens). Note that all trains are equipped with handrails and elevators for the disabled. Even at rush hour, there is no pandemonium in the Athens subway.
Metro map
Athens is a big city. If you are going to travel on it by metro, it would be more correct to prepare a printed train schedule in advance. Although it is at all stations. But in the trains themselves, the scheme is not very reliable for tourists. Besides, sometimes shedoes not even correspond to the geographical location, so it can confuse the guests of the Greek capital.
From the airport
Separately, we note that you can easily get to the airport - this will help the local metro scheme. Athens in terms of accessibility for independent tourists is very convenient - you can save on transfers and taxis. To get to the metro, when leaving the airport and after crossing the roadway, you need to follow the signs To trains ("to the trains"), hung on the stands.
If you had to go down the escalator when leaving the airport, then from the level of the second floor (departure tier) the entrance to the metro will be opposite the 2nd exit from the building. The station will be called Airport. You can move along the long corridor to it on transport belts. Airport station is the terminus of the "blue line" that includes the metro map. Athens meets travelers on trains that follow strictly at intervals of half an hour. However, train departure times may vary.
Fare
A single ticket can be purchased for any public transport in Athens, except for express buses, trains and metros outside the city. Its cost is 1.40 euros. Children under 6 years old accompanied by adults can ride for free. For children from 6 to 18 years old and persons over 65, upon presentation of a document confirming age, the ticket price is 0.70 euros. The duration of the purchased single travel card is exactly 90 minutes. Whereindirection, number of trips and transfers is not limited. Such a ticket is stamped at the time of boarding the first mode of transport. If the pass expires, but the passenger is still on the way, you need to validate it again.
Tickets are sold through a network of special kiosks from the Athens transport organization OASA. They are located exclusively at the final stops of public transport. But novice tourists should not despair if such a station is far away. Tickets for the metro in Athens are also sold at newsstands (so-called peripters), and from hawkers, and through vending machines placed in the metro and at tram stops. In addition, there are regular ticket offices with sellers in the subway. But at tram stops, tickets are bought only from vending machines.
Public transport tickets are not sold on city buses themselves, with the exception of express trains running from the city center to the airport. Therefore, it is best to buy the necessary coupons in advance. Moreover, the fine for traveling as a hare is very severe - 60 times the cost of the ticket. Coupons are made of cardboard or thick paper. They are watermarked. They must be extinguished independently in the validator at the entrance to the metro station. It is a yellow box, into the slot of which the ticket is inserted with the inscription up and the arrows forward so that the date and time are imprinted on it. Reusable passes are only valid on the first ride.
Metro operating hours
Athens Metro opens in5.30 am and open until midnight Monday through Thursday and also on Sunday. But on Friday and Saturday, the metro carries passengers until 2.00. The interval in the movement of trains during busy working hours does not exceed 4 minutes. But in the evening and on weekends, the train will have to wait from 7 to 15 minutes. When he arrives, a special board installed on each platform will tell you. The frequency of trains on the route, as well as the departure time of the first morning and last night trains, can be found on the official website of the Athens Metro.
