See all the metro stations and tram stations in Athens on the map above. Choose full screen to explore our recommended stops for visitors in the city. This map was based on an official map of the city’s public transport from Urban Rail Transport S.A (STASY S.A.), published on December 21, 2021, including the new circular tram route in Piraeus.
Find our complete guide to Athens public transport, including ticket information, here.
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GREECE IS RECOMMENDED STOPS
1 Syntagma Metro & Tram station
While Google maps places the Athens city center at Omonia Square, Syntagma is the square that is the heart of the city in the minds of locals and visitors alike. Emerging from the underground, the metro’s main entrance and exit lead you directly into the square. Surrounding it are large office buildings, some of the city’s oldest and finest hotels, and, behind you, the impressive parliament building. In front of the parliament is the famous monument for Greece’s fallen war heroes, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Presidential Guard, or Evzones, who’s peculiar march can be seen every hour, on the hour, during the changing of the guard. A special Changing of the Guards ceremony takes place on Sundays at 11:00.
This is an excellent stop not just for sightseeing, but also for shopping. On the opposite side of the square from the parliament, you’ll find the beginning of Ermou Street, which runs from here to Thiseio, is partly pedestrianized and regarded as the main shopping street of Athens. A short walk north on Panepistimiou street will take you to the Attika department store. Meanwhile, in the other direction, to the left of the parliament, you’ll find the 15.8-hectare National Garden, a great place to unwind.
Within the metro station itself, passengers can view various modern art installations, as well as archeological finds discovered during its construction, including remains of a roman bath, a road, and a tomb, complete with a skeleton.
Metro lines 2 and 3 trains, and tram line 6 trams all stop here.
Read more:
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – the History of a Landmark
What to Eat at Syntagma – Petraki Street
Ancient Myths and Medicine: The Plants in the National Garden
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2 Monastiraki Metro station
Athens is a vibrant, fast-paced, multicultural and multifaceted tourist destination, and Monastiraki square is smack dab in the middle of the action. If you wanted to get a taste of Athens while staying in just one place, this is it. Stepping out of the main entrance of the station, you have the Stoa of Attalos, and a maze of streets lined with souvenir shops, leading into Plaka, as well as a view towards the Acropolis, on your left. To your right, you’ll find shops, hotels and several rooftop bars with spectacular views of the city, while straight ahead, you can enjoy a meal at two of the city’s most famous souvlaki joints. You can follow Mitropoleos or the Ermou street east from here to get back to Syntagma.
The square itself boasts not just fruit vendors and street artist, but also one of the city’s oldest churches, the Church of the Virgin Pantanassa, formerly part of a 10th c. monastery for which square is named, and the archeological excavations of the Eridanos river and ancient buildings, which can be viewed from the square and within the station.
Metro line 1 and 3 trains stop here.
Read more:
Where to Go in Plaka: A Guide to the Neighborhood of the Gods
© Dionysis Kouris
3 Thissio Metro station
In the Thiseio neighborhood, time seems to slow down some, compared to in other parts of the city center. Even if you’re headed to the sights closer to the Akropoli station (the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum), it is worth getting off the train here and taking a walk there via the pedestrianized Apostolou Pavlou and Dionysiou Areopagitou streets. The area is especially popular on the weekends, and a great place to people watch, listen to street musicians, or strike up a conversation with the locals who come here every day to sit on the stone wall separating Areopagitou from the green slopes of the Acropolis hill, and feed the cats. It’s also a great starting point for discovering the less-frequented hills of Athens.
As you exit the station, take a right upwards on Apostolou Pavlou, lined with the tables of salespeople selling jewelry, handcrafted home décor and toys, and secondhand items. Keep to the right, and soon you’ll be rewarded with a clear view of the Acropolis above. Continue on Areopagitou street to get to the Acropolis main entrance, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Acropolis Museum, or turn off Apostolou Pavlou onto Otrineon street, heading up to the Hill of the Nyphs and the National Observatory of Athens. Nearby is the Filopappou Hill, with the Filopappou Monument and incredible views of the city.
Metro line 1 trains stop here.
Read more:
Athens Walks: Exploring the City’s Heart in Thiseio and Petralona
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4 Akropoli Metro station
The main reason to get off at this stop is evident by the name of the station; while it isn’t situated right on the doorstep of the ancient citadel, it is the station closest to its entrances, and is located only a stone’s throw from the famous Acropolis Museum. To get from the station to the entrance of the museum, the Acropolis, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, walk a few steps on Makrigianni street to Dionisiou Aeropagitou street, and turn left. At the corner of these streets, you’ll also find the Athens Tourist Information Center, where you can get help with anything from directions to inquiries about ticket prices and other sights.
Another reason to get off here is the many fun things on offer on the streets of the Koukaki neighborhood. Located “behind” the Acropolis Museum, to the south, this area is popular among locals for its many quaint design shops and small, quirky bars and eateries. It is also full of Airbnbs.
Metro line 2 trains stop here.
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5 Evangelismos Metro Station
Upon emerging from Evangelismos station, a great stopping point for visiting several of the city’s key cultural attractions, including the National Gallery, the War Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, and Costas Varotsos’ “Runner” statue, you’ll find yourself on busy avenues. Within a brief stroll in either direction, however, are the museums, parks and one of the city’s most important under-the-radar archaeological sites.
Here, you’re also within close walking distance of the upscale Kolonaki neighborhood, with its excellent boutique shops.
Metro line 3 stops here.
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6 Airport Metro station
It can be tempting to grab a cab to and from the airport. However, the fastest way to the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos is often the metro. A terminal station, trains run from here via the Suburban Railway every half hour from 06:32 in the morning until 23:32 in the evening, and the trip between the airport and Syntagma station, in central Athens, takes 38 minutes.
Metro line 3 trains stop here.
Read more about how to get to and from the airport, and what tickets to get, here.
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7 Piraeus Metro & Tram stations
One of the terminal stations of Line 1, known as the ISAP electric railway, lies in the port of Piraeus. As of October 2022, Line 3 also stops here, connecting the port to the Athens International Airport. If you’re heading to the islands, this is where you need to go. Stepping out of the station and turning towards the sea, across the street you’ll find Gate E6. From this section of the port (E6-E8) many ferries take off for the Cyclades. Keeping to the right, you’ll find gates E1-E3, from where many ferries head to Crete and the Dodecanese, while if you go right, you’ll quickly find yourself at Gate 9, from where ferries and hydrofoils take passengers to the nearby Saronic islands.
But while many tourists only ever see the port of Piraeus, there are many other reasons to take the train to Piraeus. As a city, it offers a plethora of options for entertainment, dining and shopping. There’s also lots to see: museums, historic sights, and a string of lovely harbors along the seashore.
The old electric railway station itself, is a wonderful example of interwar architecture, a miniature of Milan’s central rail station with a dome and a glass ceiling, which was completed in 1929.
Metro line 1 trains, Metro line 3 trains and Tram line 7 trams stop here.
Read more:
Piraeus for Beginners: Where to Go in the Great Port of Athens
© Orestis Seferoglou
8 Kifissia Metro station
At the northern end of Metro line 1 is the upscale neighborhood of Kifissia. While few tourists come here, the area has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, much thanks to its large mansions surrounded by green gardens and tall, lush trees. This is a wonderful place to come for a day of high-end shopping, fine dining and leisurely strolls.
While many homes here were originally the holiday homes of Athenians, back when you needed a carriage and over an hour to reach this far from the city center, you now only need 35 minutes on the metro between Kifissia and Monastiraki.
Metro line 1 trains stop here.
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9 Zappeio Tram station
Stepping off the tram at Zappeion, you find yourself at the famous Panathenaic Stadium, known as Kallimarmaro in Greek. Used for the first time in 330/329 BC, you might recognize this ancient stadium as the finish line for the Athens Marathon, and the only stadium in the world that has hosted three Olympics (including the inaugural modern Olympic Games in 1896).
Across Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, you’ll find the Zappeio Hall, the Zappeion Garden and the National Garden, which stretches from here to Syntagma Square.
This is also a good stop to get off at for those who’d like to explore the elegant Mets neighborhood, or venture into the very happening neighborhood of Pangrati, to hang with locals at bars and restaurants.
Tram line 6 trams stop here.
Read more:
The Panathenaic Stadium, Miracle in Marble
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10 Tzitzifies Tram station
Get off at this station for a visit to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). While this giant, multipurpose cultural and recreational center is a hugely popular destination for Athenians on weekends and afternoons, it can swallow so many people, it never really seems too busy.
This is a great place to spend a day, especially if you’re traveling with kids, who will love playing in the park, featuring an educational “sound garden,” a dancing fountain, a playground, and a football field, and around the little canal, where one can skate in the winter and learn to sail in the summer. There are also vegetable gardens, an outdoor gym, bike rental, cafés and kiosks, and much more, while various art installations are usually on display around the property as well. The central building, designed by Renzo Piano, contains the Greek National Opera, the National Library of Greece, a fine dining restaurant, and more.
Tram line 7 trams stop here.
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© Perikles Merakos
11 Trokantero Tram station
One of Athens’ biggest advantages is its long riviera. While much of it was neglected for a long time, large sections are now undergoing major construction to make it accessible and beautiful, while other parts of it are already bustling stretches of seaside sidewalks, beaches, and marinas. You can technically see most of it in a day by bicycle or by hopping on and off the tram or the buses which run along the coast, but for a taste of it, Trokantero, by the Flisvos Marina in the Palio Faliro neighborhood, is a good stop.
Here you’ll find a stretch of the coast which you can comfortably explore on foot or by bicycle. In the marina itself is a good place to dine or have coffee, and check out the luxury yachts. You can visit to the nearby Battleship Georgios Averoff, which has been turned into a museum. If you feel like a long walk, following the coast south, you’ll pass through the Flisvos Park, which features playgrounds and a dog park, and then several swimming spots. Pass the Alimos Marina, and you’ll reach a long sandy stretch with beach bars operating in the summer.
Tram line 7 trams stop here.
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© Perikles Merakos
12 Platia Esperidon Tram station
Glyfada is the Kifissia of the riviera. In other words, one of the glossiest parts of Athens. Located by the sea, you’ll find beaches here of course, but the main reasons to get off at this stop could be said to be the shopping, the dining, and the people watching.
Stepping off the tram just past Esperidon Square, you find yourself right in the middle of the commercial center, with options for shopping in high-end stores as well as chain-stores, and numerous restaurants and cafés left and right.
Tram line 7 trams stop here.
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