Public Transportation in Greece: A Tourist's Guide (2025)

1. General Tips for All Public Transportation in Greece

Before we go into specific modes of transport, let's cover some universal rules and tips that apply across Greece. Adhering to these will save you time, money, and potential headaches.

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• Buying Tickets: Where and How Unlike some countries where you can pay on board, in Greece, you must almost always buy your ticket before boarding any public bus, tram, or Metro. For trains and ferries, tickets are typically purchased at the station or port.

  • Kiosks: These are your best option for urban public transport tickets. Look for kiosks in the city center. They sell single tickets, day passes, and sometimes even multi-day passes for local buses, trams, and metros.

  • Automated Vending Machines: Found at all Metro and train stations. They usually offer multiple languages and accept cash and credit cards.

  • Online/Apps: For ferry and train services, booking online via the official company websites or apps is highly recommended, especially for popular routes. For urban transport, apps like Moovit or Google Maps can help you plan your journey.

• Don't Forget to Validate: This is perhaps the most important rule and a common pitfall for tourists. You must validate your ticket immediately upon boarding or entering a station. For buses and trams, look for small validation machines inside. For regional trains, use the machines on the platform before you board. Failure to validate can result in a hefty fine.

• Consequences: Failure to validate can result in a fine of over €60, plus the ticket price, even if you have a valid, unvalidated ticket. Inspectors are common and will not accept "I didn't know" as an excuse.

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2. City Public Transportation (Urban Networks)

Greek cities are generally very walkable, but public transport is essential for covering longer distances.

• Athens Metro: The Athens Metro is the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city. It has three lines that connect key tourist areas like the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, and the Piraeus port. It also provides a direct link to Athens International Airport.

• Buses and Trams: These are the backbones of urban transport in most Greek cities. Look for stops with route maps, but use apps like Google Maps or Moovit for real-time schedules.

• Taxis: Official taxis in Greece are typically yellow cars. They are metered and can be hailed on the street, at designated taxi stands, or booked via apps like Uber or Free Now.

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3. Inter-City & Island Transportation

Traveling between Greece's iconic cities and islands is best done by a combination of buses and ferries.

• Ferries: Greece's ferry system is a crucial part of the travel experience, connecting the mainland to hundreds of islands. Major operators include Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, and Seajets. Booking tickets in advance online is highly recommended, especially during the high season.

• Intercity Buses (KTEL): For travel on the mainland, KTEL buses are the most extensive and reliable network. They connect all major cities and towns and are a more affordable alternative to trains.

• High-Speed Trains: The national rail company, Hellenic Train, operates a limited network of inter-city routes, primarily connecting Athens and Thessaloniki. It is not as extensive as the rail networks in other European countries.

4. Greece Island Hopping: Ferries and Flights

Island hopping is a quintessential Greek experience, and you have two main options for getting between islands: ferries and domestic flights.

• By Ferry (The Classic Choice): The ferry system is the backbone of inter-island travel. There are two main types:

  • Conventional Ferries: Slower, more stable, and often have cabins and car decks. Perfect for longer overnight trips (e.g., from Athens to Crete). Prices for an economy seat typically start from €40-€50.

  • High-Speed Ferries: Faster but more expensive and can be rougher in bad weather. Best for shorter trips between islands (e.g., Mykonos to Santorini). Prices for a high-speed ferry start from €80-€90.

  • Ferry Costs for Popular Routes:

    • Athens to Santorini: Prices start from €46 for a conventional ferry (5-8 hours) and from €85 for a high-speed ferry (4-5 hours).

    • Athens to Mykonos: Prices start from €38 for a conventional ferry (4-5 hours) and from €85 for a high-speed ferry (2.5-3.5 hours).

    • Athens to Crete (Heraklion or Chania): Prices start from €41 for an overnight conventional ferry (8-10 hours). High-speed options are also available.

    • Mykonos to Santorini: This is a popular route with high-speed ferries only. Prices start from €82 and the trip takes about 2 hours.

• By Plane (The Faster Option): For travelers with limited time, domestic flights are a great alternative. Airlines like Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, and Sky Express operate frequent flights from Athens (ATH) to most major islands.

  • Flight Times: Flights are very short, often lasting less than an hour (e.g., Athens to Mykonos is ~40 minutes).

  • Cost: Prices can be comparable to high-speed ferries, especially if booked well in advance. One-way flights from Athens can start as low as €45 to Mykonos or €39 to Santorini.

5. Public means in Greece Cost Overview (General Averages)

Prices are approximate and can change, but this gives you a general idea:

• Single City Bus/Metro Ticket: ~€1.20 (valid for 90 minutes)

• Athens Airport Metro Ticket: ~€9 (one-way)

• Athens Day Pass: ~€4.10

• KTEL Bus (Athens to Thessaloniki): ~€40

• Ferry (Athens to Mykonos, economy): ~€40-€80+

• Domestic Flight (Athens to Mykonos): ~€45-€120+

• Taxi (Fixed Rate ATH to Athens city center): ~€40-€55 depending on the time of day.