A Brief History Of The Athens Metro
Covering more than 135 kilometers with 61 stations and 4 interchanges, the Athens Metro network serves the Athenian agglomeration and parts of East Attica. Since its inauguration, the Athens Metro has provided passengers with shorter commute times and removed more than 375,000 cars per day from the congested streets while curbing pollution. Its construction, with works started in 1992, was much-needed and has resulted in the discovery of no less than 30,000 artifacts buried in the ground.
In the wake of the 2004 Olympic Games, the Greek capital was relying heavily on individual cars, buses, trolleys, and the former railway line (built in 1869) connecting the port of Piraeus to the city center to accommodate the transportation needs of its population. But this made Athens one of the most highly polluted and congested cities on the continent.
Digging works for two underground lines had begun in 1992. But it wasn’t easy considering the fact that Athens is more than 3,000 years old and, therefore, many unearthed treasures lie beneath the city. As such, more than 50 archaeologists were commissioned to help with excavation works. Every time construction workers found artifacts, digging was suspended and archaeologists took over until all the finds were safely extracted. Today, most of the unique discoveries are displayed in the major metro stations and at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, and are accessible to anyone.
Two of the metro’s main lines, Line 2 (red) and Line 3 (blue), were inaugurated in 2000. Line 3 was extended to the airport in 2004 and to Agia Marina in 2013, while Line 2 was extended to Anthoupoli in 2013 as well. Plans for a fourth line are underway with an expected opening set for 2025. Expanding over 33 kilometers, the new line would add 30 new stations to the network.
Though Athenians suffered with the major traffic jams and deviations caused by the metro works, the pristine marble metro stations (marble is as common in Greece as concrete is elsewhere) today make Athenians very proud of the metro and thankful for its existence.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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