Greece
Athens
Ancient and modern layers meet beneath the Acropolis. Three metro lines link most of the big sights.
Buses and trolleybuses (OSY)
Updated on August 5, 2026
How to ride
- 1Buy a ticket, or have your card readyNo machines at bus stops: buy ahead at a metro station, an OSY point or a kiosk (packs sold there), or tap a card, phone or watch.
- 2Tap the validator once on boardThere are no gates - you validate yourself by tapping the validator inside the vehicle once, as you board.
- 3Show inspectors the same cardInspections are random - if you tapped a bank card, show the inspector that exact card or device.
- 4Transfer on the same ticketA 90-minute ticket covers transfers - if the time left won't get you there, validate again before boarding.
Fares
Single fares1
Passes & multi-ride5
Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026
Payment
Quick facts
Fares
3-Day Tourist TicketAll OASA modes, the X80, and one airport round trip; suburban rail in part.
Daily fare capContactless caps at EUR 4.10 a day in the urban zone; airport lines are extra.
Transfer discountsOne 90-minute ticket covers unlimited transfers across every mode.
Facilities
Lifts (step-free)(Limited)Almost all buses have a kneeling system and most carry a ramp; every trolleybus has a kneeling system. Stops built with a precast concrete platform are the easiest to board from.
Suitcases & luggage(Limited)Up to 100x60x25cm and 25kg; other objects up to 1.70m long.
Rules
Eating & drinking on board(Banned)Eating and drinking on board is barred by the passenger regulation.
Smoking(Banned)No smoking on board.
Pets(Limited)Allowed in a carrier up to 70x40x50cm; assistance dogs need no carrier.
Fare evasion fine(Banned)EUR 100 without a valid ticket, EUR 50 for reduced-fare holders.
Apps & info
Journey planner app (Google Maps)Enough for routing - just remember it doesn't sell you the ticket you still need before boarding
English signage(Unverified)OASA says nothing about the language of stop signs or announcements.
Service info / card balance app (OASA Telematics)The official real-time arrivals app for buses and trolleybuses - pick a stop and see how long until the next one
Operating hours(Limited)Round-the-clock service runs on bus 040 (Piraeus-Syntagma), trolleybus 11 and the airport express lines X93, X95, X96 and X97. Lines 400, 500, 790 and X14 cover the late-night hours, and every Saturday 11 bus lines switch to 24-hour operation. OASA publishes no single table of first and last departures for ordinary lines, so times have to be checked line by line.
Heads-up
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Fake OASA texts fish for your card number
Fake text messages using the OASA name are circulating. They claim you owe a fine, failed to tap out, or that your card malfunctioned, and link to unofficial sites that ask for your bank card number. OASA never asks for personal or card details by SMS.
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A card that cannot be charged lands on the deny list
If you ride by tapping a bank card, watch the balance behind it. A card that cannot be charged goes onto OASA's deny list and is refused at the validator from then on - and at an inspection you have to present that same card.
Timetable
Editor Naotaka 