Travels in Greece

Athens sightseeing bus, see Athens on a budget!

In the summer of 2005, OASA (The Athens public bus company) started a pilot scheme for a hop-on hop-off tourist bus service doing the rounds of central Athens. A five euro ticket gets you 24 hour access to the bus and all other public transportation in Athens (excluding the metro run out to the airport). The pilot scheme was a resounding success, so much so that we now have reasonably priced sightseeing buses whizzing around central Athens throughout the year.

Athens sightseeing bus (Bus 400) – what sights?

The line (officially the number 400 Athens public bus) starts and ends at the Athens Archaeological Museum on Vas. Irakleiou Street (to the left of the museum as you look at the entrance). The route has 20 official stops which include all the major sites of central Athens, several of the most important museums and of course shopping areas for those must have gifts to take back home with you. The complete list of the stops is:

  1. NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
  2. OMONIA
  3. PSYRRI
  4. KERAMEIKOS
  5. THISSIO
  6. MONASTIRAKI
  7. MARKET (VARVAKEIOS AGORA)
  8. KLAFTHMONOS SQUARE
  9. SYNTAGMA
  10. BENAKI MUSEUM
  11. NATIONAL GALLERY
  12. AMPELOKIPI
  13. NATIONAL GALLERY
  14. PANATHINAIKON STADIUM
  15. PLAKA
  16. AKROPOLI
  17. OLYMPIC ZEUS TEMPLE
  18. GREEK PARLIAMENT (VOULI TON ELLINON
  19. UNIVERSITY (PANEPISTIMIO)
  20. OMONIA

Athens sightseeing bus schedule

The sightseeing bus runs throughout the year with the following schedule, a round trip takes approximately 80-90 minutes.

Athens sightseeing bus schedule 2009
PERIOD TIME TABLE FREQUENCY
JUNE – SEPTEMBER 07:30 – 21:00 30’
OCTOBER & MAY 09:00 – 18:00 30’
NOVEMBER – APRIL 10:00 – 16:00 60’

Athens sightseeing by public bus, good for locals too!

The truth is that we have used this bus more than once to show visiting friends around town without the hassle of parking the car or popping in and out of metro stations all day. For 5 euros the deal really can’t be beat. Be forewarned though, this bus is a normal everyday city bus, not red, not a double decker, not anything like the famous hop-on hop-off buses doing the rounds of central London. What you get here is a cheap affordable way to get to most of the main sites of central Athens in one easy(ish) to do trip. For those interested in it, the Athens sightseeing bus company (or something like that) has imported a few of those lovely red double deckers, they do more or less the same route, and it will only set you back 18 euros for the 90 minutes it takes to complete. Bit too steep for my liking, but to each their own.

Athens Sightseeing Bus Map – click here for a printable pdf version.
Athens sightseeing by Public Bus 400

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