Editing Transport for Athens (section)

== Fare collection system ==
Up until the 80s, fare collectors were commonplace in all means of mass transport in Athens. Their replacement was a money box placed at the front end of the vehicles, next to the driver, where passengers would deposit their fare in cash, usually coinage. A decade later, they were replaced with validation machines and paper tickets. The end of the single-use paper ticket came in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |last=IEFIMERIDA.GR |first=NEWSROOM |date=2017-11-07 |title=Εως τις 15 Νοεμβρίου η χρήση των χάρτινων εισιτηρίων -Πότε θα κλείσουν οι μπάρες |url=https://www.iefimerida.gr/news/374204/eos-tis-15-noemvrioy-i-hrisi-ton-hartinon-eisitirion-pote-tha-kleisoyn-oi-mpares |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=iefimerida.gr |language=el}}</ref> when it was succeeded by the ATH.ENA electronic [[Stored-value card|stored-value]] cards and tickets (stylized as ATH.ENA CARD and ATH.ENA TICKET respectively). Tickets are now rechargeable and can be loaded with up to 5-day unlimited ticket, but not with long term fare products, discount tickets (support discontinued in January 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATH.ENA Card |url=https://www.athenacard.gr/jsp/smartafc/general/customers/multiple.jsp |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=www.athenacard.gr}}</ref> or monetary value. Cards (personalised and anonymised) can hold all fare types and a maximum of €50, with the exception of discount tickets which are tied to personalised cards.

Tickets and cards are validated [[Contactless payment|contaclessly]] in validation machines inside buses, trolleybuses and trams. Suburban railway trains and the [[Athens Metro]] utilize [[turnstile]]s.

The ATH.ENA ticket and ATH.ENA card can also be used in suburban railway trains starting from Magoula or Dhekelia and onwards.

{{Main|Contactless payments}}
In addition to ATH.ENA Ticket and ATH.ENA Card, OASA introduced the [[contactless payment]] system in Athens and surrounding areas, which is codenamed '''tap2ride'''.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://ypodomes.com/erchetai-to-telos-ton-chartinon-eisitirion-ston-oasa-to-2024-pos-tha-agorazoyme-eisitirio-mono-me-karta-i-to-kinito/|title = Έρχεται το 100% ηλεκτρονικό εισιτήριο στον ΟΑΣΑ το 2024 – Πώς θα αγοράζουμε εισιτήριο μόνο με κάρτα ή το κινητό|date = 12 January 2024 |website = ypodomes.com |language = el |access-date = 11 January 2025}}</ref>It was introduced on a pilot basis in Athens International Airport Express buses (Χ93, Χ95, Χ96, Χ97) on 24 April 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://ypodomes.com/xekinise-apo-simera-to-tap-amp-pay-se-epilegmena-leoforeia-pote-tha-epektathei-se-ola-ta-mesa-mazikis-metaforas-tis-athinas/|title = Ξεκίνησε από σήμερα το tap & pay σε επιλεγμένα λεωφορεία – Πότε θα επεκταθεί σε όλα τα Μέσα Μαζικής Μεταφοράς της Αθήνας|date = 24 April 2024 |website = ypodomes.com |language = el |access-date = 11 January 2025}}</ref> It was fully implemented on 15 January 2025 on all means of transport.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://ypodomes.com/xekinise-apo-simera-to-tap2ride-sta-mesa-mazikis-metaforas-tis-athinas-pos-kartes-kai-wallets-ginontai-eisitirio/ |title = Ξεκίνησε από σήμερα το tap2ride στα μέσα μαζικής μεταφοράς της Αθήνας – Πώς κάρτες και wallets γίνονται εισιτήριο |date = 15 January 2025 |website = ypodomes.com |language = el |access-date = 16 January 2025}}</ref>

All contactless debit and credit cards issued in Greece and also most international cards supporting contactless payment, are accepted for travel on all means of transport (Buses, Trolleybuses, Metro, Tram and Suburban Railway). This works in the same way for the passenger as an ATH.ENA Ticket and ATH.ENA Card, including the use of [[Fare capping]].<ref>{{Cite web |date = 11 January 2025 |title = Σε “ψηφιακή” εποχή οι αστικές συγκοινωνίες στην Αθήνα από τον ΟΑΣΑ – Πότε ξεκινούν οι ανέπαφες πληρωμές σε όλα τα μέσα|url = https://ypodomes.com/se-quot-psifiaki-quot-epochi-oi-astikes-sygkoinonies-stin-athina-apo-ton-oasa-pote-xekinoyn-oi-anepafes-pliromes-se-ola-ta-mesa/|access-date = 11 January 2025 |website = ypodomes.com|language = el}}</ref> Mobile payments - such as [[Apple Pay]] and [[Google Wallet|Google Pay]] - are also accepted in the same way as contactless payment cards. The fares are the same as those charged on a debit or credit card, including the same daily capping. Paid rides from and to the Athens International Airport are not counted towards the daily fare cap which is 4.10€ or 4 rides per day. Each paid ride towards the daily fare cap includes 90 minutes of free transfers.