List of bus routes in Athens

The trunk routes are lines that were created in 1995 as part of an attempt to create a bus rapid transit system in Athens. They actually were renamings of existing routes in order to have a common special numbering based letters and a common number when using the same street to exit the city centre. For example all lines using the number 8 (A8, B8, Γ8) are passing from Patission street with a common start at Polytechneio. There were also express route, whose name started with the letter E, that were special express rush-hour alterations of the A-lettered route of a certain line (for example line E7 followed the exact same path as line A7, but it was not calling on some stops). The main goal of these lines was to remove a vast number of bus routes from the Athens city center, which was heavily affected by traffic congestion at the time. With the creation of trunk routes most of the bus lines were relocated in suburbs. For example lines "538 Kanigos-Kifissia and "508 Kanigos-Agios Stefanos" used to have a common start at Kanigos Square and then followed Kifissias Avenue until Kifissia, where 538 was turning in Kifissia whilst 508 continued further north to Agios Stefanos. After the trunk route system these lines were renamed to "A7 Kanigos-Kifissia" and "508 Kifissia-Agios Stefanos". Many routes like 508 had their starts moved to suburbs where a trunk route finished. This scheme was created only for distant suburbs of Athens such as Agios Stefanos, Vouliagmeni, Paiania, Ano Liossia and Mandra. In suburbs near the city centre, such as Ilioupoli, Vyronas, Psychiko and Galatsi, there was not any factual change on the bus routes. The routes initially had a distinct colour for each line but after 1998-1999 they practically had no difference from a normal bus route. These lines were heavilly overshadowed by the metro system after its opening in 2000. In 2007, after the metro extension to Egaleo opened, the metro system had practically taken over the role of a trunk route. After 2011, when ETHEL (Athens Bus Company) and ILPAP (Athens Trolleybus Company) merged to avoid bankruptcy (both companies were heavily affected from the financial crisis) and formed OSY, many of these lines were discontinued and they were completely replaced by the metro system. Today only 19 of the 44 initial trunk routes are still in service (not counting the express routes).

These lines serve the Athens city centre.

These lines serve Agios Dimitrios, Alimos, Anavyssos, Argyroupoli, Elliniko, Glyfada, Nea Smyrni, Palea Fokea, Paleo Faliro, Saronida, Vari, Voula and Vouliagmeni. (Lines 100 and 150 are exceptions and serve the Athens city centre.)

These lines serve Dafni, Ilioupoli, Kesariani, Vyronas, Ymittos and Zografou. (Line 200 was an exception as it served the Athens city centre).

These lines serve Anthoussa, Artemis, Gerakas, Glyka Nera, Koropi, Marathonas, Nea Makri, Pallini, Peania, Pikermi, Rafina and Spata. (Line 300 is an exception as it serves Piraeus).

These lines serve Agia Paraskevi, Halandri, Holargos, Melissia, Nea Penteli, Papagou, Penteli and Vrilissia. (Line 400 was an exception as it served the Athens city centre).

These lines serve Agios Stefanos, Anixi, Dionysos, Drosia, Ekali, Kifissia, Kryoneri, Lykovrysi, Maroussi, Metamorfossi, Nea Erythrea, Pefki, Rodopoli and Stamata

These lines serve Filothei, Galatsi, Iraklio, Nea Halkidona, Nea Filadelfia, Nea Ionia and Psychiko

These lines serve Agii Anargyri, Acharnes, Ano Liossia, Fyli, Ilion, Kamatero, Peristeri, Petroupoli and Thrakomakedones

These lines serve Agia Varvara, Aspropyrgos, Drapetsona, Egaleo, Elefsina, Haidari, Keratsini, Korydallos, Magoula, Mandra, Nikea, Perama, Rentis and Tavros

These lines serve Kallithea, Moschato and Piraeus

These lines were operated by ILPAP until 2011. Most of these lines run on the same path as lines of the old Athens Tramway.