The best ways to get from Athens airport to the city center
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (IATA code ATH) is the central airport in Greece serving the capital and Attica. This major airport is one of the most modern in Europe and the world as a whole.
More than 16 million passengers are served at the airport annually; regular, charter and cargo flights are accepted here. The airport is becoming increasingly popular as a hub for Southeast and East Asia, it is the largest airport in Europe that receives flights from the Middle East (due to its proximity to the region).
Athens airport terminals
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos) consists of two terminals: the main terminal and a small satellite terminal, which is connected to the main underpass.
- The main terminal receives flights from Schengen countries, as well as many flights from other countries. All check-in counters are located in the main building.
- The satellite terminal accepts aircraft flying outside the Schengen area. It consists of two levels. The “baggage carousel” is not so easy to find, you have to follow the signs. It can be found 10 minutes walk from gate A8. For a wheelchair for transporting luggage, they will take 1 euro.
Athens airport hotel
How to get from Athens airport to the city center
Athens International Airport is located about 30 km from the city center, so upon arrival at this airport, the first question is “how to get from the airport to the city”.
There are three main ways to get from the airport to Athens. The main thing is to understand the inscriptions in Greek, which are quite difficult to read.
Metro
The metro is the easiest way to get to the city center. When traveling from the airport to the city, you need metro line 3 (blue) “Aghia Marina – Athens International Airport” (airport – terminus). Trains of this branch will take you to the very center of Athens, to Syntagma or Monastiraki stations (this is next to the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis).
Finding a metro station at Athens Airport is very simple – from the arrivals area, follow the signs that show an electric train and say “To trains”. Following the signs, you must exit the terminal building, cross the road and take the escalator up one floor. Numerous pointers will not let you get lost. The whole journey will take about 5 or 10 minutes.
Metro operating hours: The first train to the city center leaves at 6.30 and runs every 30 minutes. The last train in this direction is at 23.30. If the task is the opposite – to get from the city to the airport, then the first train from the Monastiraki station leaves at 5.50, the last – at 22.58. The trip takes about 50 minutes.
A one-way ticket from Athens Airport to the city center costs 10 euros, and a round-trip ticket costs 18 euros. Children under 6 can use the metro for free.
You can view and download the Athens metro map here.
By suburban train
Another way to get there is the Proastiakos commuter train. On the map, it is marked in yellow – line P2.
It is especially convenient that at the airport the Proastiakos station and the metro are paired, that is, both trains stop on the same platform (from different sides). Trains leave every 15 minutes. Estimated travel time to Larissa is about 40 minutes.
The train goes to Larissa Station (Central Railway Station) with stops at Koropi, Kantza, Pallini, Doukissis Plakentias (Metro Line 3), Kifisias, Nerantziotisa (Line 1), Iraklio, Aharnes Railway Junction (S.K.A) and , finally, Larissa (Transfer to Metro – Line 2 or station with trains to Northern Greece). You can view and download the Athens metro map here.
Electric train operating hours: trains start running from the Airport at 6:48 and end at 20:14. From Athens to the airport, the first train leaves at 6:06, and the last at 19:36.
By Bus Services (OSY) bus
In addition to the railway connection, the airport is also connected to the city by bus routes. In general, everything is simple with them – as soon as you leave the building of the Athens International Airport, immediately turn right without crossing the road and without leaving anywhere. After walking a couple of meters, you will notice buses and bright ticket offices.
There are 4 bus routes from the airport to the city:
X95 bus is the most popular route. It goes from the airport to Syntagma Square (the center of Athens).
The bus operates 24 hours a day: every 10 – 30 minutes.
Bus X96 – The bus goes to the port of Piraeus. It will come in handy if you are in Athens by flight and are going to get to one of the islands of Greece by ferry.
The bus operates 24 hours a day: every 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes after midnight.
Bus X93 – The bus goes to the Kifisos Intercity bus station. Buses leave from this bus station to Thessaloniki, to the cities of the Peloponnese peninsula and to Greek Macedonia.
Bus X97 – The bus runs from the airport to the Elliniko metro station, red metro line M2.
You can learn more about the routes and all bus stops online here.
Fare: 6 euros for adults, and 3 euros for children or schoolchildren aged 7 to 18, as well as people over 65 years old. Children under 6 travel free. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket kiosk near the bus stop, outside the airport.
Travel time: 45 – 90 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic jams.
Traffic interval: every 10 – 60 minutes depending on the route.
Shuttles from Athens airport to city center
Another option for transfer from the airport to the center of Athens is to use the shuttle. The shuttle service is used by cars, minivans, minibuses and even buses. Travel time will take from 35 to 50 minutes, and the cost of the trip will be from 38 euros.
[cabGridPro]See details here by entering your departure and arrival points.