Athens International Airport

Inaugurated in 2001, the Athens International Airport, also known as Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, is the most important airport in Greece with over 21 million passengers a year.

If you have to drive back to the airport from Athens, follow the direction signs marked “Markopoulo Airport”, as Athens Airport is known locally, because it is located near the town of Markopoulo, to the southeast of Athens.

How to get to Athens from the airport

Metro

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to the city center from the airport is by metro. The ticket costs € 10 (US$ 10.50), and it allows you to transfer lines or take another means of transportation for 90 minutes

There are special rates for two persons (€ 18 (US$ 19)), 3 persons (€ 24 (US$ 25.20)) and seniors over 65, under 18 or university students under 25 (€ 5 (US$ 5.30)).

A 3-day tourist ticket (€ 22 (US$ 23.10)) also includes one round-trip journey between the city centre and the airport.

The first train departs from the airport at 6:35am and the last at 11:35pm. The journey from the airport to the Syntagma Square takes approximately 40 minutes.

Bus

There are four express bus lines that connect Athens Airport with the city center and Piraeus port.

• X95: The final stop is Syntagma Square, in the city center. Most travelers use this line to get to Athens.
• X93: This line runs to the northeast of the city, to Kifissos Bus Terminal.
• X97: The X97 terminates at Elliniko metro station.
• X96: Bus X96 connects the airport with Piraeus.

The first three bus lines take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to Athens, and the X96 takes 90 minutes to get to the city’s port. Keep in mind that the times may vary depending if there is traffic or not. 

All buses cost € 6 (US$ 6.30) and the ticket is only valid for that specific journey. Seniors over 65 years old, youth under 18 years old and university students under 25 only pay € 3 (US$ 3.20).

As well as being cheaper, it is also very agreeable to discover the city while you drive to central Athens, although not all areas of the capital are picturesque. Moreover, the bus platforms are closer to the arrival terminals than the metro station.

Taxi

The journey in taxi from Athens International Airport to the heart of Athens costs € 38 (US$ 40) during the day. Between midnight and 5am, the rate is € 53 (US$ 55.80). The fares are fixed and are per vehicle.

Transfer services

If you hire a transfer service, a professional chauffeur will be waiting for you at the arrival terminal with a sign with your name on it. This arrangement is the most comfortable and fastest way to get to your hotel, especially if you do not speak Greek. You can book a transfer here.

Train

If you prefer to take the train to the city center or to Piraeus, the airport is also connected to the Athens railway station and to the city’s major port.

The train is the least comfortable way to travel to the city center, since this means of transport is not at all regular, and most of the time you’ll have to change trains. The only journey worthwhile taking is to Corinth. A train ticket is € 8 (US$ 8.40).