Tap2Ride for Public Transport Launches in Athens

• tap2ride means that bank cards, smartphones, and smartwatches now work as tickets for public transport in Athens.
• Starting January 15, 2025, passengers will no longer need paper tickets or cards.
• The system ensures the lowest daily fare is applied automatically.
• Current ATH.ENA tickets and cards remain available but may be used less.
• The official launch event occurs tomorrow at Syntagma Metro Station.
• The system is already being tested on select express bus lines.

Athens Streamlines Public Transport

Starting January 15, 2025, Athens will make public transport more convenient with the tap2ride system. Forget paper tickets or traditional travel cards. Passengers can now tap a bank card, phone, or smartwatch to pay for rides across the Transport for Athens (OASA Group) network, including metro, buses, trolleys, and trams.

This modern option caters especially to tourists and occasional riders unfamiliar with local ticketing systems. No more searching for kiosks—just tap and go.

How It Works

Using tap2ride is straightforward. Here’s what passengers need to do:

• Approach a contactless card reader at any station or vehicle.
• Tap your bank card, smartphone, or smartwatch.
• The system charges your account for the journey.

By day’s end, the system calculates total travel. It automatically applies the lowest fare based on the OASA’s pricing rules.

This means the system guarantees the best deal even if you ride repeatedly throughout the day.

Official Launch Event

The Transport for Athens (OASA Group), the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations, and project coordinators will officially unveil tap2ride in a public event. The showcase happens on January 15, 2025, at the event space in Syntagma Metro Station.

Athens transport officials expressed optimism about the change, noting it will make life easier for locals and visitors.

Current Testing and Future Plans

Tap2Ride is already being tested on select express bus routes servicing Athens International Airport (X93, X95, X96, X97). These pilot operations are ironing out kinks before the full rollout in 2025.

Rest assured, paper and plastic tickets like the ATH.ENA Ticket and ATH.ENA Card are here to stay—for now. However, with the ease of contactless payments, their use is expected to drop substantially over time.

Say goodbye to ticket kiosks and fumbling for exact change. Thanks to tap2ride, Athens edges closer to a faster, stress-free transit experience. Visitors, in particular, will find it handy—no setup, no stress. Just tap your card and explore everything Athens has to offer.