Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos is at Spata, on the eastern plain of Attica, about 30 km from the centre. Opened in 2001 to replace the old Elliniko airport, it is a modern airport with one main terminal and a satellite terminal, and is the hub of Aegean Airlines and Sky Express. There are direct flights year-round from most European capitals and many other cities, operated by both full-service and low-cost airlines. See getting to Greece and Greek airports.
All the ways to the centre
| Transport | Destination | Time | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro line 3 (blue) | Syntagma, Monastiraki, Piraeus | 40 minutes to Syntagma | 9 euros (airport ticket) |
| Suburban railway | Central station, Piraeus, Corinth | 40-60 minutes | Same as metro |
| X95 bus | Syntagma | 60-90 minutes depending on traffic | 5.50 euros |
| X96 bus | Piraeus, along the coast | 90 minutes | 5.50 euros |
| X93 bus | Intercity bus stations (KTEL) | 60-80 minutes | 5.50 euros |
| X97 bus | Elliniko metro (line 2) | 60 minutes | 5.50 euros |
| Taxi | Central Athens | 30-50 minutes | Fixed fare, about 40 euros by day and 55 at night |
Prices are indicative and may change: check the official airport (aia.gr) and urban transport (oasa.gr) websites before you travel.
By metro
Blue line 3 leaves from the airport station, linked to the terminal by a covered bridge, and reaches Syntagma in about 40 minutes, continuing to Monastiraki and on to Piraeus. Trains run roughly every half hour from early morning to almost midnight. Note: not all line 3 trains go to the airport, as some terminate earlier at Doukissis Plakentias; airport trains are marked. The airport ticket differs from the normal city ticket. You can pay by contactless card directly at the gates.
For districts on line 2 (Akropoli, Koukaki, Omonia) change at Syntagma; for line 1 (Thissio, Kifissia) at Monastiraki.
By bus
Express buses leave from the arrivals exit and run 24 hours a day, even when the metro is closed: the answer for night flights. The most used is the X95, which arrives at Syntagma Square, next to Parliament. The X96 goes to the port of Piraeus, useful if you are catching a ferry; the X93 goes to the bus stations for the rest of Greece. Buy tickets at the kiosk next to the stop or on board by card.
By taxi
Yellow taxis wait at the arrivals exit in an orderly queue. A fixed fare applies to central Athens, including luggage and tolls, higher at night (roughly midnight to 5 am). Other destinations are metered. Taxis can also be booked with the FreeNow and Uber apps, which in Athens work with licensed taxis. A private transfer booked in advance costs little more and the driver waits with a name sign.
By car
The main car hire companies have desks in arrivals. The Attiki Odos toll motorway links the airport with the centre, Piraeus and the motorways to the Peloponnese and the north. Driving in central Athens is stressful and parking difficult: pick up your car only on the day you leave the city.
Tips
- If you arrive after 11 pm, check the time of the last metro or use the X95.
- With lots of luggage and two or more people, a taxi costs almost as much as the metro.
- For a dawn ferry from Piraeus, stay in Piraeus and use the X96 or the metro.
- During transport strikes, frequent but announced a few days ahead, metro and buses may stop: check the news.
See also getting around Athens and the port of Piraeus.