Discover Athens by bus > Line 400

  It may be one of the world’s oldest cities, but it’s got its sightseeing bus.

Athens’ public bus company has launched its first-ever sightseeing bus tour, offering tourists a chance to see sights ranging from the 2500-year-old Acropolis to the local flea market. The Sights of Athens bus stops at 20 cultural landmarks and shopping areas. As well as tourists, locals can also use the bus. The aim is for Athenians and foreign visitors alike to learn about the city, the monuments and the museums.

The service, run on regular Athens blue buses, is operated by the Athens Urban Transport Organisation, or OASA, which says it may purchase a batch of open-top double-decker buses to use for the tour. Stops are marked by two-metre tall blue signs and are close to the attractions, which range from archaeological sites and museums to the city’s Omonia Square.

Each stop is pre-announced by a recorded message in Greek and English, followed by a brief description in English. The buses will also have a guide on board to answer visitors’ questions. They run every 30 minutes from 7.30am to 9pm.

A nonstop trip, subject to Athens’ notoriously bad traffic, lasts from 80 to 90 minutes, OASA says. Tickets cost 5 euro and are purchased from the driver. They are valid for other forms of public transport, except for journeys to and from Athens International Airport.

Visit the Athens Urban Transport Organisation website > http://www.oasa.gr/index.asp?pageid=105

http://www.oasa.gr/index.asp?asp=routes/bus_stop.asp&route_id=+400&rvariant_id=1&medium=0&s_t=ola

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