Beloved by British tourists, the major European city is set to transform its late-night trips with its first-ever 24-hour metro service.
Athens will try this Saturday with the 24-hour metropolitan area, expanding public transport and improving safety for those who enjoy the city's legendary nightlife.
Deputy Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis confirmed that a full-scale test run that had not taken passengers last weekend was successful.
If the trial on Saturday runs smoothly, authorities will deploy a 24-hour metro service every Saturday from September onwards. 19 major bus routes across the Greek capital will also take part in the overnight schedule, creating a wide network of safe and reliable late-night options.
Officials hope that the change will help reduce car accidents, especially among young Athenians returning home from bars and clubs early. The lively summer scene of the Greek capital, popular with British and other international visitors, is known for continuing until dawn. Demand for safe transportation options is steadily increasing.
However, there are still challenges. Kiranakis acknowledged the continued public frustration over the inadequate presence of air conditioning across parts of the metro network.
Of the system's 52 trains, 20 people do not have A/C working, leaving commuters to belt on the hottest days.
The minister promised that these trains would gradually be pulled out of service and received upgrades, but he warned that this could temporarily affect the frequency of trains on some lines.
As Athens continues to modernize its network of public transport that serves millions of passengers each year, demanding permanent 24-hour weekend services will happen.
This could mark a major change for the city. There, subways have been closed since late at night, leaving drinkers and night workers who rely on expensive taxis and rare night buses.
As trial approaches, authorities are urging passengers to share feedback on how overnight service actually works. If successful, the move can set new standards for weekend trips in Athens, further welcoming both locals and tourists to the vibrant ancient city.
