Athens International Airport ground transportation
Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" is Greece's largest, about 33 km east of the centre in the Attica plain. It's unusually well connected: Metro Line 3 runs from the terminal straight to Syntagma in the heart of the city, the X95/X96/X97 express buses fan out 24/7 to the centre, Piraeus port and the Riviera, and a flat-fare taxi (€40 by day, €55 overnight) covers the whole city ring. This guide compares price, time and frequency for every popular destination.
Athens International Airport to Athens city centre
Syntagma & Plaka is 33 km from ATH, about 40 min at the quickest. Athens Airport to Syntagma is about 33 km; Metro Line 3 runs direct to the square, or take the 24/7 X95 express bus or a flat-fare taxi.
| Option | Time | Fare | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Metro (Line 3) Fastest | 40 min | €9 | Every ~30–40 min · ~06:30–23:30 |
| OASA Airport Express X95 Cheapest | 1h 5m | €5.5 | Every ~15–30 min · 24/7 |
| Athens licensed taxi (flat tariff) | 40 min | €40–55 | 24/7 on demand |
| Welcome Pickups · Kiwitaxi | 40 min | €45–60 | 24/7 · pre-booked |
| Hertz · Avis · Sixt | 40 min | €30–60 | Desks in arrivals |
Where are you heading?
Every destination from ATH: cheapest way and taxi fare
| Destination | Distance | Cheapest way | Taxi | Fastest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syntagma & Plaka | 33 km | OASA Airport Express X95 · €5.5 | €40–55 | 40 min |
| Acropolis & Koukaki | 35 km | OASA Airport Express X95 + walk · €5.5 | €40–55 | 45 min |
| Piraeus Port | 50 km | OASA Airport Express X96 · €5.5 | €55–70 | 55 min |
| Monastiraki & Thissio | 34 km | OASA Airport Express X95 + walk · €5.5 | €40–55 | 45 min |
| Glyfada | 25 km | OASA Airport Express X96 · €5.5 | €35–50 | 35 min |
| Vouliagmeni | 30 km | OASA Airport Express X96 (to Voula) · €5.5 | €40–55 | 40 min |
| Cape Sounion | 40 km | Hertz · Avis · Sixt · €30 | €60–90 | 50 min |
| Kifissia | 35 km | Metro Line 3 + Line 1 · €9 | €40–55 | 55 min |
Buying tickets in Athens
Athens uses the ATH.ENA fare system. For the city centre take Metro Line 3 (blue) or the X95 express bus. The airport metro ticket is about €9 one-way (€16 return); the X95 bus is around €5.50. Buy at the staffed ticket booths or vending machines at the airport station and the bus stop (Exits 4-5), both taking cash and card. Validate before boarding and keep the ticket: inspectors check often and fine anyone without a valid, validated ticket.
Taxi scams & safety in Athens
The official taxi rank is outside Arrivals Exit 3. The airport-to-central-Athens fare is a fixed flat rate, roughly €40 daytime and €55 at night (00:00-05:00), tolls and luggage included. Ignore anyone approaching you inside the hall offering a ride; these are usually unlicensed and overcharge. Confirm the flat fare before departing. Greece does not allow private-car ride-hailing, so apps like FreeNow (formerly Beat), Uber and Bolt only dispatch licensed metered taxis, which is a safe alternative.
Step-free access in Athens
Both the metro and the express bus into central Athens are accessible, which gives you a genuine choice rather than one fallback.
- Metro Line 3 runs from the airport into the centre. Stations have lifts and ramps, and trains carry marked wheelchair spaces. Board from the first or last car.
- Syntagma station is step-free, but note that of its several exits only the Syntagma Square exit has a lift — leaving by another exit means stairs.
- X95 express bus to Syntagma has boarding ramps and reserved wheelchair areas, and is a good alternative when the metro is crowded with luggage.
Athens International Airport transport — FAQ
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Other airports in Greece
Flying into a different gateway? These hubs are covered too.
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Every option compared
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Real prices & times
Indicative fares, journey times and how often each service runs — so there are no surprises at arrivals.
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