Big Bus Athens Hop-On Hop-Off with optional Piraeus & Riviera
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Explore the ancient city of Athens, the cradle of Western civilization and birthplace of democracy, on a hop-on, hop-off, open-top sightseeing tour. Discover the city's 3,000-year history from the vantage point of the top deck of a double-decker bus. Marvel at Athens' ancient ruins, including iconic landmarks like the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Theatre of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the Ancient Agora.
Experience Athens at your own pace with a choice of 24, 48, or 72-hour hop-on, hop-off travel passes. Travel across three routes, each featuring onboard audio commentary in 14 languages.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
May be operated by a multi-lingual audio guide
What To Expect
Duration:1 hour 50 minutes
Operating Schedule:Buses depart every 20 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 1: Syntagma Square - 1 Ermou St. (in front of the Nike Store) at 8:30 AM and the last bus departs at 6:00 PM. The full tour route lasts approx. 1 hour, 50 minutes. For the most up-to-date bus stop locations and departure timings, we recommend visiting the Big Bus website or downloading the Big Bus app. To access live bus tracking on the day of your travel, please download the Big Bus app in advance of your arrival.
Stop 4 - Acropolis - 69 Rovertou Galli St. (next to Dionysos Restaurant)
Stop 5 - Temple of Zeus (Next to the entrance of the temple)
Stop 6 - Parliament (Next to the Parliament)
Stop 7 - Benaki Museum (Opposite the Benaki Museum)
Stop 8 - Panathenaic Stadium (Opposite the Panathenaic Stadium)
Stop 9 - National Library (In front of the Library)
Stop 10 - National Archaeological Museum (In front of the Archaeological Museum)
Stop 11 - Omonia Square (In front of Hondos Center store)
Stop 12 - Karaiskaki Square (In front of Wyndham Athens Residence)
Stop 13 - Monastiraki Square (In front of Nike store)
Stop 14 - Kotzia Square (Opposite the City Hall)
Stop 15 - Old Parliament
Stop 1 - Syntagma Square - 1 Ermou St.
Stop 2 - Plaka & South Entrance Acropolis
Stop 3 - New Acropolis Museum
Duration:1 hour 20 minutes
Operating Schedule:The Piraeus Line is available with selected 48- and 72-hour tickets. Please check your confirmation for details. Buses depart every 40 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 2: Plaka & South Entrance Acropolis at 9:40 AM and the last bus departs at 5:00 PM. The full tour route lasts approx. 1 hour, 20 minutes. For the most up-to-date bus stop locations and departure timings, we recommend visiting the Big Bus website or downloading the Big Bus app. To access live bus tracking on the day of your travel, please download the Big Bus app in advance of your arrival.
Stop 2: Plaka & South Entrance Acropolis (In front of Melina's statue)
Stop 16: Pantion - Leof. Andrea Siggrou 136-138 (In front of Pantios University)
Stop 17: Stavros Niarchos (In front of Onassio Hospital)
Stop 18: Municipal Theatre (Next to the Theatre, on Korai Square)
Stop 19: 1st Cruise Ships Terminal (Outside Gate 11 at the cruise ships terminals)
Stop 20: 2nd Cruise Ships Terminal (Outside Gate 12 at the cruise ships terminals)
Stop 21: Pasalimani (Opposite the statue of the "Clock")
Stop 22: Mikrolimano (Opposite "The Alex" Hotel)
Stop 23: Planetarium/Athens Marriott (In front of Athens Marriott Hotel)
Stop 24: Intercontinental (to Acropolis)
Stop 5: Temple of Zeus (Next to the entrance of the temple)
Stop 6: Parliament - 13-15, Vasilisis Amalias Av. (Next to the Parliament)
Stop 1: Syntagma Square (In front of Nike store)
Duration:2 hours
Operating Schedule:The Riviera Line is available with selected 48- and 72-hour tickets. Please check your confirmation for details. Buses depart every 60 mins. The first bus departs from Stop 2: Plaka & South Entrance Acropolis at 9:00 AM and the last bus departs at 5:00 PM. The full tour route lasts approx. 2 hours. For the most up-to-date bus stop locations and departure timings, we recommend visiting the Big Bus website or downloading the Big Bus app. To access live bus tracking on the day of your travel, please download the Big Bus app in advance of your arrival.
Stop 2: Plaka & South Entrance Acropolis (In front of Melina's statue)
Pantion: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 136-138 (In front of Pantios University)
Stop 17: Stavros Niarchos (In front of Onassio Hospital)
Stop 25: Flisvos Marina - Leof.Poseidonos, P.Faliro (Next to public bus stop Oulen, out of Flisvos Marina)
Stop 26: Alimos Marina (Next to public bus stop 2nd Kalamakiou in Alimos)
Stop 27: Ag.Kosmas Beach (Next to public bus stop 2nd Ag.Kosma in Ag.Kosmas)
Stop 28: 3rd Glyfada Marina (Opposite Glyfada Square (sea side))
Stop 29: Divani Apollon (Next to Divani Apollon Hotel)
Stop 30: Kavouri Beach (next to the public bus stop Litous)
Stop 31: Astir Beach (In front of Okeanis restaurant)
Stop 32: Vouliagmeni Lake
Stop 33: Voula Park (In front of Galini Hotel)
Stop 34: Glyfada City Center (On Glyfada square, next to the public bus stop Pl.Glyfadas)
Stop 35: Glyfada Beach (In front of Oasis Hotel)
Stop 36: Hellinikon Airport (Next to public bus stop 2nd Ellinikou in Hellinikon)
Stop 37: War Cemetery (In front of the Cemetery)
Stop 38: Edem (In front of Posidon Hotel)
Stop 23: Athens Marriott (In front of Athens Marriott Hotel)
Stop 24: Intercontinental & Grand Hayatt (to Acropolis)
Stop 5: Temple of Zeus
Stop 6: Parliament - 13-15, Vasilisis Amalias Av.
Stop 1: Syntagma Square
Options
48 Hours Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
Duration: 2 days: 48 Hour Hop-on, Hop-off Tour 3 central routes: Unlimited Hop on Hop off access for the duration of your ticket, over 3 routes.
24 + 24 Hours Hop-on, Hop-off
Duration: 2 days: 24-hour Hop-on , Hop-off Tour plus an extra 24-hours free. 1 central route : Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-off travel on our the Athens Line (Grey Route)
72 Hour Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
Duration: 3 days: 72 Hour Hop-on, Hop-off Tour 3 central route : Unlimited Hop on Hop off access for the duration of your ticket, over 3 routes.
What‘s Included
Explore 3 Incredible Routes: Athens, Piraeus, and the Riviera
Free Wi-Fi on board
Headphones
48 or 72-Hour Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Ticket
Audio commentary in a choice of 14 languages
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
715 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Athens in a day!
Christina F,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful way to see the high points of Athens with little time. Highly recommend easy to navigate and hits all the high points. If you arrive with luggage and can't check into your hotel or Airbnb use syntagma lockers to store it and you can pick up the bus right from there.
There must be an easier way to see Athens!
Rose C,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We booked a Big Bus from the cruise ship.it was ok getting onto the bus from the ship but after that the bus provided little help. The audio was poor quality and commentary scarce It was far from clear which route the bus wouid take which meant we didn’t get to the acropolis till afternoon when it was too late to climb it. The chaos trying to board the shuttle big bus back to the ship was appalling. Cruisers from other ships in port thought they had priority and so did our cruise line. Luckily two buses arrived straight after each other. So we were all able to board. There was a lack of big bus staff at the main stops to help passengers. Understood that Athens traffic and several cruise ships in port make things difficult but it was a wasted day from our point of view.
AWFUL SERVICE. Total Fraud
helenad800,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The bus picks you up at the port and says it will give you a 45-minute tour, but upon reaching the fifth stop, they drop you off and tell you that you must wait for the next one. Imagine being in the full sun at noon IN JUNE waiting half an hour or more, watching bus after bus pass by and none picking up passengers for who knows what reason, and opting to continue on your own, losing what you paid... IT'S A FRAUD. If you want a reliable tour in Athens, DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!
Unprofessional staff, live bus tracking not accurate
mihaelacG3408QT,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Host at stop no. 2 in Athems rude and with an attitude. Stopped people on queue boarding the bus until the persons he wanted boarded the bus. The bus live tracking system is not working properly. Buses and routes are mixed (Piraeus bus took Athens bus route, another Piraeus bus disspapeared from map).
When we attempted to board the person was angry, even somewhat hostile. I was concerned for my family’s safety.
Michael K,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We bought our tickets a day in advance at the main office near the Plaka. Next day when we attempted to board at the Omonia stop, the person who asked for our purchase receipt said we could not board. He said the person who sold the tickets did not do it correctly. There was not a problem with payment, just paperwork. He was rude and angry. I was becoming concerned for my family’s safety. We missed several busses while standing in the sun. Eventually he had us walk a couple of blocks to get on at an intersection. The whole time he was saying it wasn’t his fault and was being very angry and rude.
Great way to see Athens
Frankie N,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Easy on off. Driver very nice and helpful. I recommend this to anyone on a time crunch. 3 different busses covering various areas of the city
Don’t Bother
RKHOOKER,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Don’t bother if you are only in Athens for 10 hours or less on a cruise ship. Too much time wasted waiting for buses. Wifi didn’t work on a couple of buses. Headphones didn’t work on many seats & audio through the headphones was poor making it extremely difficult to hear. Last bus back to the cruise terminal leaves Athens at 4pm. Why???? Not good when you don’t have to be back on the ship until 6:30pm & it’s only a 40 minute trip. Our bus stopped between bus stop 14 & 15, & the driver told us all to get off & get on the next bus. We feel it’s unorganised chaos! No value in paying €29 each for a trip into Athens from Piraeus Cruise Terminal. Cheaper to use a taxi to maximise your own precious time. We did find the official Big Bus staff at the designated bus stops to be very helpful with all our questions.
Great tour on three routes through and around Athens.
Stefanie G,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour through Athens, made even better by the friendly Natascha, who gave us great tips.
Bad experience
Flyer384750,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Rude driver Bad driving No WiFi as advertised
Good, but dated
Mickey P,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00A great way to get the ‘lay of the land’ — but probably time for some updates! Old technology, audio a bit garbled at times. Interface options with smart phones etc. could help this be amazing once again!
Related Experiences
Operated by Big Bus Tours Athens