The Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA) is an extensive safe inexpensive and reliable public transportation system, responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising the capital's public transport system (ETHEL-buses, ILPAP-trolleybuses, and Line 1 - ISAP-electrical railway).
With approximately 320 bus lines (ETHEL, ILPAP), the existing network in Attica is extensive, and covers adequately the entire basin, including several areas that lie outside it (Thriassio Pedio, Messogia etc.). The ETHEL network is structured as a hub network, with some 20 trunk lines with a high frequency of services extending from the Athens centre to suburban municipalities along key arteries. At their termination points, trunk lines feed into local lines, which serve neighbouring municipalities. There are also several bus lines that serve inter-municipal traffic, bypassing the Athens centre. ILPAP's network of trolley bus lines serves the Athens centre and the Piraeus centre, and links the centre of Athens with suburban municipalities.
Light Rail System (Tram)
The Light Rail System includes two lines. The first line links the centre of Athens with the coastal zone up to Helliniko (the former Athens international airport area) and the second line will connect Neo Faliro with Glyfada. The Tram is connected with Line 1 of the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways (known largely by its Greek initials ISAP) at the Faliro station, and with Line 2 of the Metro at Neos Kosmos station. It covers a total distance of about 24 kilometres, where 35 vehicles will travel daily.
From the Tram stations (at Faliro and Neos Kosmos) it is easy to transfer to other fixed-track transport means (ISAP and the Metro), thereby contributing in a substantial way to the improvement of traffic conditions and to the upgrading of services to passengers. It is noiseless, non-polluting (due to the fact that it is electrically-powered) and fully integrated within the urban environment. All these factors contribute effectively to a change in the general image of the municipalities through which it travels and significantly improves the quality of life of the inhabitants.
Line 2: Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) - Paleo Faliro - Helliniko - Glyfada.
The Metro
The Metro is by far the quickest mean of transportation. Its main line extends from Kifissia (in the northern suburbs) to Piraeus (south west of Athens). Line 1 (green line on the map) has 23 stations along a length of 27 km and passes through the centre of Athens and some of the most densely inhabited districts of the town.
The new underground Metro system consists of two more lines Line 2 and Line 3 radiating in four directions from Syntagma Square to the Athens International Airport, Ag.Dimitrios, Ag. Antonios and Monastiraki, Aigaleo. The two new lines connect with the old Metro line at Omonia, Monastiraki and Attiki Station.
A total of 21 stations were built and added to the existing ones, giving the Metro system the ability to serve approximately 780,000 passengers daily. Trains run every 3 minutes during rush hours, and every 5-10 minutes during non-rush hours.
The Athens Metro is equipped with facilities at stations and in trains to accommodate Persons with Special Needs (PSN).
The Metro runs to and from Eleftherios Venizelos international airport every half an hour and the journey between the airport and the city centre takes approximately thirty minutes.
Suburban Railway
The Suburban Railway is a new public transport means for Attica, which in combination with Line 1 - ISAP, the Metro and the tramway (fixed rail modes) enhances the quality of the transport services provided, since passengers are able to travel quickly, comfortably and reliably.
The Suburban Rail already serves the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos and provides reliable connections to the Athens suburbs where a considerable number of Olympic and Paralympic Games visitors were accommodated. It also offers an alternative means of transport for people who commute.
The new suburban train which is connected to the Athens Metro by 4 metro stations, transfers passengers from/to Athens Airport every half-an-hour by modern trains with capacity for 600 passengers. The train journey between the Athens City Centre and the Airport takes approximately 30 minutes.
Taxis - Hire Cars
Athens has one of the highest taxis to population ratios in the world. Approximately 15,000 taxis operate within the city limits. They are fitted with meters, are moderately priced - possibly the least expensive in Europe - and available either by hailing on the street or by telephone as most of them are organised into radio-linked groups. There are also a lot of Rent-a-Car companies (HERTZ, AVIS, EUROPECAR etc.), which have a large variety of cars to choose from.
