Higher fines planned for fare dodgers in Athens and Thessaloniki
Passengers travelling without a valid ticket on public transport in Athens and Thessaloniki may soon face substantially higher fines, as the Transport Ministry moves to strengthen penalties for fare evasion.
At present, fare dodgers in Athens are fined 60 times the cost of a ticket, which amounts to €72 for a standard fare and €30 for reduced tickets. Under proposals currently being examined, fines could rise to around €100 for regular ticket users and €50 for those entitled to reduced fares, although final figures have yet to be determined.
The ministry is also considering offering offenders a 50% discount on the fine if they purchase a travel card valid for at least 30 days within a specified timeframe.
Any changes to the penalty framework would require parliamentary approval following a public consultation process.
Between 260 and 300 fare inspectors are currently employed across the Athens public transport network. Inspections have increased significantly in recent years, with checks on fixed-track transport rising from 1.35 million in 2022 to more than 5.28 million in 2024, and reaching nearly 4 million by October 2025.
