See Also
- Vehicle Rentals Near Athens` Airport
- Top-rated accommodations in the city of Athens, Greece
- Top Family Hotels in Athens
- Athens Airport Accommodations
- Accommodation Options in Athens
On This Page
- Athens Airport to Downtown Athens
- Transportation from downtown Athens to the ferry docks
- Travel between Athens international airport and ferry terminals
- Photographs of Getting Around Athens
- Suggested places to stay
Table of Contents
How do I get into Athens from the airport?
Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is 27km east of Downtown Athens and well-connected to Athens by public transportation. This is the sole airport near Athens and handles all international and domestic flights. If you’re leasing an automobile in Athens it’s best to pick it up from the Athens airport.
The city center is the ideal area to lodge in Athens for first-time visitors. It’s filled with good hotels in every price range and most of the top historical sites in Athens can be found there.
- Private Transport: We suggest Welcome Pickups car service over taking a taxi as the simplest way to get from the airport to central Athens. It costs about the same as a taxi, but their chauffeurs will monitor your flight and meet you at the arrivals gate, ensuring effective communication as they are guaranteed to speak English. There’s also no waiting in line for a taxi or navigating the airport terminals, and all rides are pre-booked and pre-paid for hassle-free transport. They have larger vehicles to suit groups larger than four people, and child seats are available upon request.
- Underground transportation – The metro Line 3 runs from the airport to central city stations like Syntagma and Monastiraki, departing every half hour from 5:30am until around midnight. The journey takes 45 minutes and costs €10 (€24 for groups of 3). The metro station is a 5 to 10-minute walk from baggage claim, with elevators available. There are both machines and staffed ticket windows. The metro trains and suburban trains use the same platforms but have separate ticket windows – be sure to get metro tickets and board metro trains if traveling downtown. Service runs from 5:30am to 11:30pm daily (though times may fluctuate seasonally). The airport ticket is valid for all transit in the city for up to 90 minutes. Validate upon first boarding, and again if transferring to a different train or bus in the city. ( Metro schedule)
- Coach transportation – If arriving or departing at night, the bus is a good metro alternative as it operates 24/7. It has several advantages over the metro: the bus is the most affordable option between airport and downtown plus offers more space for luggage. Its one drawback is dealing with Athens traffic during the day, which can stall completely. The bus can take 40 minutes with light traffic but up to 1.5 hours in heavy congestion. Heaviest traffic occurs 7:30am-9:30am and 4pm-6pm. All airport buses start with an “X”. Daytime requires pre-purchase tickets and onboard validation. Late night requires tickets from the driver. ( Airport-Downtown Athens Bus Schedule)
X95 – To Syntagma Square (€6) in 40 to 80 minutes. It also halts in front of Evangelismos Hospital, on the perimeter of Kolonaki. Every 15 to 30 minutes.
X96 – To Piraeus/Ferry Port (€6) in 45 to 90 minutes. Every 15 to 30 minutes.
X93 – To Kifissos Bus Terminal A (for buses to Peloponnese, Thessaloniki, Corfu) in an hour. Every half hour. - Taxi – A taxi from the airport to central Athens has a set fee and costs €40 during the day and €55 from midnight to 5am. From the airport to Piraeus by taxi is about €50 during the day and €70 at night (but this isn`t a fixed fee so watch the meter or pre-arrange the rate with your driver). Taxis are found at Exit 3 on the arrivals level. Taxi fares should cover all tolls and airport fees. If you’re asked to pay anything else tell them you’ll call the tourist police and they can help sort it out. Just dial 171 to contact the tourist police operator who should be fluent in multiple languages. (This number will work anywhere in Greece.) There is a limit of four passengers in all Greek taxis.
Many parts of Greece, like Athens and the airport area, experience public transportation strikes throughout the year. These strikes impact all forms of transit such as buses, trains, ferries, flights, and taxis. During strikes very few buses, ferries, and only a handful of trains and flights will leave on time (or at all); taxis tend to be the least affected mode of transport. While strikes can happen any time, there is always an enormous strike on May 1st. Avoid booking any flights, ferries, or trains for that day.
How do I get from Athens Airport to the Ferry Port?
- Car Service: Welcome Pickups is similarly priced to a taxi, but their drivers will monitor your flight and meet you at the arrivals gate, and all rides are pre-booked and pre-paid. They have larger vehicles to accommodate groups of more than four, and child car-seats are available by request. Welcome Pickups is the simplest way to get from the Athens Airport to Piraeus or Rafina ferry ports.
- Travel by bus to Piraeus harbour: The X96 bus travels directly from Athens International Airport to Piraeus port. The journey takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. The cost is €6. Buses run every 15 to 30 minutes, 24 hours every day. Exit the terminal building on the arrivals level and turn right. Purchase tickets from the kiosk next to the buses before boarding. ( Airport-Piraeus Bus Timetable) More details about traveling from Athens airport to Piraeus harbour can be found on our Piraeus Ferry Port Guide.
- Train to Piraeus Port: Departing the airport once per hour, the suburban railway connects to Piraeus from 6:09am until 10:09pm. The suburban train station at the airport utilizes the same terminal as the metro but is located across the platform, a 10-15 minute walk after disembarking. The schedule of Airport-Piraeus trains is available here.)
- Bus to Rafina Port: From Athens International Airport to the ferry port of Rafina takes about 30 minutes by bus and costs €4. The bus departs just across from the Sofitel Hotel rather than from the marked bus area where the X93, X95, and X96 leave from. You do not buy tickets from the kiosk booth next to the X buses but instead pay the €3 fare on the bus. A taxi from the airport to Rafina port will cost €25 and take 20 to 30 minutes. ( Airport-Rafina Bus Timetable)
How do I get from Downtown Athens to the Ferry Port?
There are 2 ferry ports near Athens that provide access: Piraeus and Rafina. Piraeus is easier to access from downtown Athens and offers more daily ferries to the Greek Islands. We usually suggest using Piraeus Port, particularly for travelers who will be staying in central Athens.
- Traveling to Piraeus takes approximately 30 minutes by metro from Syntagma or 20 minutes by taxi assuming there is no heavy traffic. The metro costs around €1 while a taxi is €15 to €20. For the metro, the Green Line goes to Piraeus with the station located right across from the port. If staying near Syntagma, Plaka, or Kolonaki, a transfer is needed at Monastiraki to board the Green Line. The metro operates from 5am to midnight. Many ferries depart Piraeus between 7am and 8am so the metro schedule allows for making these sailings. More details about Piraeus Port and transportation options there can be found on our Piraeus Ferry Port Guide.
- The most direct way from downtown Athens to the Rafina ferry dock is by taxi. It costs approximately €50 and takes around 45 minutes. There are daily coach services that travel from Athens to Rafina (1 hour and 15 minutes, €5), but due to potential shifts in bus schedules, we do not advise solely relying on a bus for travels to the Rafina ferry dock. Using the Rafina port is a good selection if arriving from the airport and not planning to spend any time in Athens, but if already in Athens then Piraeus is much easier to access from central Athens and usually a better choice for most travelers.
As referenced earlier, public transportation strikes arise every May 1 and at other random dates throughout the year. Stay clear of scheduling any flights, ferries, or trains on that day. Taxis have a tendency to be the least impacted mode of travel, though even taxis periodically partake in strikes.
Photos of Getting Around Athens
Recommended Hotels
The sole airport hotel is the Sofitel Airport Hotel located at the Athens Airport. 
A for Athens Hotel located in central Athens near the subway connecting to the ferry port and airport (with trains travelling in opposite directions). 
The Mad Cat hostel in Osaka can be reached at +81 80 9976 4079.
Read More
- Hotels in Los Angeles appropriate for families with children
- Recommended hotels along the coast near Athens
- Top-rated hotels located in Athens, the capital city of Greece
