Athens Airport Guide (ATH) — Transport, Facilities, and Tips

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (IATA: ATH) is Greece’s main gateway and one of the better-designed airports in southern Europe. Understanding how it works — particularly the transport options and overnight/early departure logistics — will save time and reduce stress at both ends of your trip.

Airport Overview

The airport operates as a single main terminal with a satellite pier (connected airside). Check-in and departures are on the upper level. Arrivals are on the ground level. The terminal is compact enough to navigate easily — walk times from check-in to most gates are under 15 minutes.

The airport handles approximately 30 million passengers per year. In peak summer months (July–August), the terminal is extremely busy — allow extra time for security queues, particularly at morning departure banks.

Airport website: aia.gr
IATA code: ATH
Location: Spata, approximately 35km east of Athens city centre

Transport to Athens City Centre

Metro Line 3 (Blue Line)

The most reliable and comfortable option. The metro station is directly below the main terminal building, connected via a walkway from the arrivals hall. Trains run every 30 minutes, 6am to midnight. Journey time to Syntagma Square (central Athens): approximately 40 minutes.

Single ticket: approximately €9 per person.
Return ticket: approximately €16.
72-hour tourist pass: approximately €22 — covers all Athens urban transport including all metro lines, buses, and tram, plus the airport link. Good value for stays of 2–3 nights with multiple journeys.

Validated tickets can also be used on a single bus or tram journey within a 90-minute window after validation.

Express Bus X95

Runs from the bus stop outside the arrivals hall to Syntagma Square. Operates 24 hours a day. Slower than the metro (approximately 60–90 minutes depending on traffic) but useful for early morning or late-night arrivals when the metro is not running, or when travelling with large luggage that would be awkward on a crowded train.

Cost: approximately €6 per person.

Express Bus X96 (to Piraeus)

Direct service from the airport to Piraeus port — the main ferry terminal for island connections. Does not go through central Athens. Runs 24 hours. Journey approximately 60–90 minutes.

Cost: approximately €6 per person.
Useful for: connecting to overnight ferries to Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, or Rhodes without a night in Athens.

Express Bus X93 (to Kifissos Coach Station)

Connects the airport to Kifissos intercity bus terminal, where KTEL coaches to northern Greece, the Peloponnese, and Thessaloniki depart. Useful for bypassing central Athens if heading directly to another region.

Licensed Taxi

Taxis are available from the official rank outside the arrivals hall (follow the yellow taxi signs). Fixed rates apply by law:

• City centre (central Athens, within the ring road): approximately €38 during the day (06:00–midnight), approximately €54 at night (midnight–06:00)
• Piraeus port: approximately €50 daytime, €65–70 at night

The fixed rate is legally set — you do not need to negotiate. Drivers cannot charge extra (beyond any highway toll on the Attiki Odos, which may be added separately). Do not accept any offer to drive you from inside the terminal.

Booking a pre-arranged taxi or transfer: Pre-booked airport transfers via licensed services are available and can be useful when arriving late at night with heavy luggage. Book through reputable platforms — your hotel can usually arrange this too.

Car Rental

All major brands (Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Sixt) plus local Greek operators have desks in the arrivals hall. Useful if you are driving directly to the Peloponnese, Thessaloniki, or another mainland destination. Book in advance for peak season — car availability at the airport is limited in July and August.

Suburban Rail (Proastiakos)

The airport also connects to the Greek suburban rail network (Proastiakos). This connects the airport to Larissa Station in Athens and onward to Corinth and Kiato in the Peloponnese. Less used by tourists, but an option for those heading directly west.

Terminal Facilities

Departures Level

• Check-in desks for all airlines (open 3 hours before departure for most carriers; confirm with your airline)
• Security checkpoint — allow at least 45 minutes in peak season
• Duty-free shopping (post-security) — substantial selection of spirits, cosmetics, food
• Several dining options including a food court, coffee chains, and sit-down restaurants
• Currency exchange and ATMs (post-security rates are typically worse than city centre banks; use an ATM if you need cash)

Arrivals Level

• Baggage claim carousels (typically 20–40 minutes from touchdown)
• Customs
• Left luggage storage: approximately €5–7 per bag per day, open extended hours
• SIM card kiosks (Cosmote, Vodafone, Wind/Nova) — tourist SIMs from approximately €10–15
• Currency exchange desks — better than nothing but not the best rates
• ATMs
• Ground transport desk
• Hotel accommodation desk
• Information desk (staffed in English)
• Car rental desks
• Café and convenience shops

Lounges

The Goldair Handling Premier Lounge and No1 Lounges by Swissport are available for business class passengers and eligible Priority Pass, Diners Club, and Lounge Key members. Both lounges are post-security. Food, drinks, showers, and quiet seating. Worth investigating if you have a long connection.

Connections to Rafina Port

Rafina port (departure point for many Cyclades ferries, often faster than Piraeus for Mykonos, Paros, and Naxos) is reachable from the airport by dedicated KTEL bus. The service runs approximately 5–6 times per day. Journey time approximately 30–40 minutes.

Why use this: If you arrive at Athens Airport and want to catch a morning high-speed ferry from Rafina to Mykonos or Santorini, this direct bus avoids going into Athens city centre entirely. Check KTEL Attica (ktela.com) for current timetables.

Early Morning and Late Night

Athens Airport is open 24 hours. However, several practical points for off-hours travel:

Metro stops at midnight. After midnight, the metro no longer serves the airport — use bus X95 or X96 (24-hour service), or a taxi.

Early morning departures: For flights departing before 07:00, the departures area and check-in hall are open but some dining outlets may not be. The airport café in the pre-security arrivals hall opens around 04:30; the larger food court post-security is typically open by 05:00.

Overnight stay at the airport: Seating in the departures hall is not comfortable for long sleeps. The nearest hotels with airport shuttles are located in the Markopoulo and Paiania areas (approximately 10 minutes by taxi). The Sofitel Athens Airport is the only hotel directly attached to the terminal (connected airside via walkway) — prices are premium but convenience is unmatched for very early departures.

Wi-Fi and Connectivity

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal — no registration required. The signal is reliable in the main terminal building. Coverage in the satellite pier can be weaker.

SIM card purchase at arrival is recommended if you are spending more than a day or two in Greece. Greek data SIMs offer better roaming rates within Greece than many EU roaming plans. Cosmote, Vodafone Greece, and Wind/Nova all have kiosks in arrivals. Tourist packages start from approximately €10–15 for 5–15GB of data. Prices are approximate as of 2026.