How to Get from Artemida to Athens? Route, Tickets and Prices
- Travel from Artemida to central Athens via buses 304/305 and the M3 metro line at Nomismatokopio station.
- Contactless payment (Tap2Ride) is available on buses for €1.20, but does not support reduced fares.
- Regular 90-minute tickets cost €1.20, reduced fares for ages 7-18 are €0.50.
- Children under 7 travel free; reduced-fare tickets must be purchased at ticket machines or sales points.
- Options to Athens International Airport include regional KTEL Attikis bus, taxi, or ride-sharing services.
You can get from Artemida (Loutsa) to central Athens by public transportation using buses 304 or 305 and transferring to the metro. One of the most convenient options is to take the bus to Nomismatokopio station and then continue toward central Athens on the blue M3 metro line.
What does the journey look like in practice? In this guide, we explain step by step where to board, where to transfer, how to buy a ticket, whether you can pay by card, and how much the journey costs. We also explain the rules for children's and youth tickets and show you the most convenient ways to get from Artemida to Athens International Airport.
If you are traveling with children, pay particular attention to the section about reduced-fare tickets and contactless payments - this is where it is easiest to choose the wrong way to purchase a ticket.
How to Pay for a Bus Ticket from Artemida
OASA buses offer several ways to pay for your ride. For tourists, the easiest option is usually contactless payment with a bank card or phone.
Tap2Ride Contactless Payment
On the bus, you can tap the reader with:
- a physical Visa or Mastercard,
- a phone using Apple Pay or Google Pay,
- a smartwatch that supports contactless payments.
With contactless payment, you do not need to purchase a paper ticket or an ATH.ENA Ticket in advance. The system automatically charges the appropriate fare. OASA states that the 90-minute urban transit ticket purchased through Tap2Ride costs €1.20.
When using Tap2Ride, you should also use the same card or device for subsequent validations. This is especially important when using the metro, where your card or device is used to enter and exit through the gates.
How Much Does a Regular Ticket Cost?
The current price of the 90-minute urban transit ticket is:
- €1.20 – regular fare
- €0.50 – reduced fare
The ticket is valid for 90 minutes from the first validation. During this time, you can use the transportation services covered by the fare and transfer between them.
The 90-minute ticket covers buses, trolleybuses, trams, and metro lines 1, 2, and 3 as far as Koropi station. It does not cover the metro section between Koropi and the Airport, Airport Express buses, or the X80 line.
When and How Much Do Children Pay? (Important Note About Contactless Readers)
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Children under 7 years old: They travel completely free of charge. They do not need a ticket or card and can pass through the metro gates together with a parent.
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Children and teenagers ages 7 to 18: They are eligible for a reduced-fare ticket costing €0.50, valid for 90 minutes, based on an identity document showing their date of birth, such as a passport or national ID card.
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Important note about bus readers: The Tap & Pay contactless system does not recognize reduced fares and automatically charges the full €1.20 fare. To use the €0.50 reduced fare for a child, do not tap a bank card on the vehicle — purchase a reduced-fare ticket at a ticket sales point.
Where to Buy Paper ATH.ENA Tickets? (Airport, Metro Stations and Points of Sale in Artemida)
If you need reduced-fare tickets for children, multi-ride ticket packages, or a 5-day ticket:
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At Athens Airport or metro stations (the best and most reliable option): It is worth getting urban transit tickets, especially if you are traveling with children, from the 24-hour, multilingual OASA ticket machines at the metro station at the airport or at any other metro station in Athens, such as Nomismatokopio. Buying tickets in advance means you do not have to look for an open sales point in Artemida.
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Mini Market “O Βίκτωρας” (Address: Leoforos Artemidos 30, 190 16 Artemida, tel. 2294 082200): A well-known store in central Artemida offering, among other things, Eastern European products, including Polish and Russian products. It regularly sells OASA paper transit tickets in person.
- Kiosks (periptero) and selected mini-markets.
Step-by-Step Route: From Artemida to Central Athens
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1. Take the city bus: Catch bus 304 or 305 along the main route in Artemida, including Leoforos Artemidos / Leoforos Vravronos.
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2. Get to the metro: Get off at the terminal near Nomismatokopio metro station on the blue M3 line.
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3. Validate your ticket at the metro: Tap the same payment card or paper ticket at the gate — the system will recognize the active 90-minute ticket and allow you through.
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4. Get off in central Athens: Take the metro toward Dimotiko Theatro and reach some of the city's main attractions without changing trains:
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Syntagma: Syntagma Square, the changing of the guard at the Parliament, and a walk toward the Acropolis.
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Monastiraki: a historic neighborhood, flea market, and tavernas with views of the Acropolis.
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How to Get from Artemida to the Airport
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Taxi: The fastest and most convenient option, taking approximately 15–20 minutes and costing around €20.
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Regional KTEL Attikis bus: A direct regional bus connection linking selected locations in Artemida with the airport. Regional KTEL Attikis buses operate between Athens Airport and Rafina and also stop at several locations in Artemida. The official KTEL Attikis schedule is seasonal, so it is best to check the current departure times before traveling. In 2026, separate summer and winter schedules apply.
KTEL gives an approximate travel time of about 15 minutes from the airport to Artemida, although the actual journey time depends on the stop and traffic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I pay by card on buses 304 or 305 in Artemida?
Yes. The vehicles have contactless readers that accept Visa and Mastercard, as well as phone payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Can I use one card to pay for the whole family?
When using contactless payment, the safest approach is to assume that each passenger should use their own payment card or device. You should not tap the same card or phone several times expecting the system to charge multiple passengers. For a family, a more convenient option may be to purchase the appropriate tickets or ATH.ENA Cards for each passenger.
Why is it worth buying paper tickets at the airport or a metro station?
Ticket machines at the airport and metro stations are available 24 hours a day, operate in English, and allow you to conveniently purchase regular and reduced-fare tickets for your stay.
How much does it cost to travel from Artemida all the way to the Acropolis?
The journey costs €1.20 with a regular fare or €0.50 with a reduced fare for children ages 7 to 18, because the 90-minute urban transit ticket covers both the bus journey and the transfer to the metro.
Will the bus reader apply a reduced fare for a child?
No. Contactless readers charge only the standard fare of €1.20. A reduced-fare ticket for a child should be purchased at a ticket machine at the airport or metro station, or at selected sales points such as kiosks and mini-markets.
What age qualifies for a reduced-fare ticket?
The reduced fare for children and teenagers applies to passengers ages 7-18. OASA divides this group into children ages 7-12 and teenagers ages 13-18.
Getting from Artemida to central Athens by public transportation is possible by combining buses 304/305 with the metro at Nomismatokopio station. For most tourists, the simplest option is the regular 90-minute ticket costing €1.20, which allows transfers within the urban transportation network.
If you are traveling with children, remember the most important rule: children under 7 travel free, while passengers ages 7–18 may qualify for a reduced fare, but reduced-fare trips cannot be purchased through Tap2Ride. A personalized ATH.ENA Card is required for the reduced fare. To get to the airport, you can take the regional KTEL Attikis bus, or use Uber or FreeNow.
