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ATH · Airport & transit · 2026

Getting into Greece

Single-terminal modern airport ~30 km east of central Athens. Train and metro both serve the airport directly via the same station (Aerodromio). Connection to the islands is via Piraeus port — separate journey.

Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International (ATH)Live arrivals →

Your options, ranked

First option = the editor’s default sane choice for the average traveller.

  1. 1Metro Line 3 (Blue) to Syntagma / Monastiraki

    Cost
    €9 single, €18 return; €36 weekly pass (best value for >3 days).
    Door-to-centre
    40 minutes to Syntagma; trains every 30 minutes.
    Best for
    Default option for central Athens hotels.

    First train ~6:30am, last ~23:30. The €9 single fare is per traveller — group discounts and tourist tickets exist; check the kiosk.

  2. 2Suburban Rail (Proastiakos) to Larissa / Athens Central

    Cost
    €10 single.
    Door-to-centre
    40 minutes to Larissa station (long-distance trains).
    Best for
    Onward train connections to Thessaloniki or the Peloponnese.

  3. 3Express Bus X95 to Syntagma

    Cost
    €5.50 single.
    Door-to-centre
    60-75 minutes off-peak; can stretch to 90+ in rush hour.
    Best for
    Cheapest 24/7 option — runs every 15-30 minutes overnight.

  4. 4Taxi (yellow)

    Cost
    Flat fare €40 daytime (5am-midnight) / €55 night to central Athens — fixed by airport ordinance.
    Door-to-centre
    30-45 minutes off-peak; ~60 minutes in traffic.
    Best for
    Late arrivals after metro closes; group of 2-4 with bags.

    The flat fare is non-negotiable but only covers central destinations within the city ring. Outside, the meter applies.

Gotchas — what most people get wrong

  • If you're heading to the islands, you'll usually need to get to Piraeus port — that's a separate ~75-minute journey from the airport (metro Line 3 → change to Line 1 at Monastiraki).

  • ATH metro fare is higher than regular Athens metro tickets. A regular €1.20 single won't get you to the airport.

  • Larissa station has been renamed in maps to 'Athens Central' but locals still call it Larissa. Both refer to the same place.

  • The X80 bus (airport ↔ Piraeus) was discontinued in 2023. Don't follow old guides recommending it.

Last reviewed . Prices drift — check the airport site for live fares before travel day.

See also: visa & entry · currency & payments · weather & climate.