Big Bus Athens FAQ: routes, stops and tickets answered

For a first day it is a useful orientation tool. The Red Route loop takes about 1 hour 40 minutes and passes the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Parliament and the Panathenaic Stadium, so you see how the central sights sit against each other. It is less useful if you plan to spend hours inside one site, because the bus gives you the layout rather than extra time. Compare the ticket options on the ticket page before you decide.

The Red Route loop takes about 1 hour 40 minutes and has fifteen stops. The Purple Route takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and has thirteen stops. Both are loops, so the stop list runs round rather than having a finish line, and you should add time for any stop where you get off.

Syntagma Square is first on the Red Route's stop list, but because the route is a loop there is no fixed origin to aim for. It sits near the centre of the city, so it is simple to find on a map.

Yes. Both routes call at the Plaka & South Entrance Acropolis stop, and the Red Route also calls at a separate Acropolis stop. From that Acropolis stop, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion are roughly 50 metres away and the Temple of Athena Nike is about 100 metres away. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysus are about 200 metres from the Acropolis stop.

The Purple Route does. It calls at the Cruise Terminal A (Gate 11) and Cruise Terminal B & C (Gate 12) stops, then Pasalimani and Mikrolimano, before returning through the Temple of Zeus and Parliament. If you are not heading to the port or Mikrolimano, the Red Route will serve the central sights better.

It passes the Acropolis Museum, Panathenaic Stadium and Monastiraki, so there are plenty of places with something to see close to the stops. Check the ticket page for age rules and child tickets before you buy.

The routes are hop-on hop-off products, so you can plan to leave the bus at stops near the sights you want. Check the ticket page for the rules on leaving and rejoining. Read them before you plan a stop, especially if you want to visit the Acropolis and continue on the same day.

Validity is set by each individual ticket, and the ticket page states it. Compare two or three options side by side against the number of days you plan to use.

Vehicle accessibility details are not covered in this guide, so check the ticket page for what is provided before booking. The sites themselves are the bigger challenge, because the Acropolis and its approaches involve steep slopes and uneven stone.

Across the city's hop-on hop-off products, languages include Greek, English, German, French, Italian, Turkish, Hebrew and several others, 18 in total. Which languages a particular ticket provides is set by that ticket, so check the ticket page. Choose the language you will understand most easily, especially if you are travelling with children.

Yes, a separate night tour is available alongside the daytime routes. It is a different experience from the Red and Purple loops, so decide which you want before comparing tickets. Check the ticket page for the route and the length of the night option.

Walking suits the Acropolis area. The Acropolis, Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Panathenaic Stadium, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Plaka, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Monastiraki and Theatre of Dionysus are close enough to combine in one half-day on foot. The bus earns its place for the spread-out stops, such as the National Archaeological Museum and the Piraeus cruise terminals, and for resting between sights.

Spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant times for open-top riding. Summer afternoons are hot, so take the earliest rides you can and find shade between stops. Winter is mild, but rain is possible, so pack a waterproof layer.

Yes, the Red Route covers the central sights, while the Purple Route links the centre with the Piraeus port. The Red Route includes Syntagma Square, Omonia Square and Monastiraki Square, and the Purple Route covers the cruise terminals and Mikrolimano. Compare the two routes against your plans before choosing a ticket.