Athens public transport authority OASA (Organisation of Urban Public Transport) has announced a network expansion taking effect from 18 September 2026. The changes bring scheduled bus service to Megara and the Lavreotiki municipality for the first time, connecting two previously underserved areas to the Attica public transport network.
What Changes on 18 September
Megara route: A new express bus service operates between Athens Kifissos terminal (central Athens) and Megara town centre. Journey time is approximately 55 minutes. Services run hourly from 06:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, with a reduced Sunday timetable. Megara, located 45 kilometres west of Athens on the Saronic Gulf coast, is home to ancient remains including the archaeological site at Minoa and is a base for visiting nearby Cape Kiafa.
Lavreotiki extension: The existing regional bus route serving Lavrio Port and the Lavrion Archaeological Museum now extends to cover additional stops within Lavreotiki municipality, including the coastal communities at Keratea and Kalivia Thorikion. This improvement benefits travellers using Lavrio Port as a departure point for ferries to Kea and Kythnos in the Western Cyclades.
Why This Matters for Visitors
Until now, reaching Megara or the eastern Lavreotiki coast from Athens without a rental car required navigating infrequent regional KTEL services with poorly signposted stops. The OASA integration means these routes can now be booked and boarded on the standard OASA tap-and-go card (used across Athens metro, tram, and existing bus network).
For travellers island-hopping from Athens, the Lavreotiki extension reduces the logistics of reaching Lavrio Port - an alternative to the busier Piraeus and Rafina ports - for ferries to the northern Cyclades.
Fares and Integration
OASA tickets and passes are valid on the new routes. A standard single-journey ticket costs €1.40. The OASA 90-minute transfer ticket (€1.40) allows onward connections to metro and other bus lines. Monthly travel cards (€30 for unlimited Athens zone travel) will also be valid from 18 September.
Top-up and purchase are available at Athens Metro stations and at OASA kiosks at Kifissos and other major termini.
Athens Transport for Visitors
Athens has one of the most visitor-friendly city transit systems in southern Europe. The Metro connects Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) directly to Syntagma Square and Monastiraki in 40 minutes, and the tram serves the coastal suburbs from Syntagma down to Piraeus.
For a full breakdown of getting around Athens and reaching the islands, see our practical guide to Greece. Our island-hopping guide covers ferry routes, port logistics, and which islands work well as short breaks from the capital.
If you are spending time in the city before heading to the islands, our Athens food tour guide and the Athens things to do section cover the major sites and neighbourhoods from the Acropolis to the National Archaeological Museum. For tours in Athens - including Acropolis guided visits, food walks, and day trips to Cape Sounion - the expanded OASA network makes reaching departure points from outer suburbs easier.