General
Overview
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) is located 33 kilometres southeast of the city centre. It operates as a single integrated hub — a main terminal building and a satellite terminal connected by a covered air-bridge walkway.
Transfer Options
The following transport options connect Athens International Airport to the city centre:
Greece experiences regular nationwide general strikes that suspend or severely reduce OASA bus services and STASY Metro and Tram services — sometimes announced only days in advance. On strike days, Metro typically operates reduced hours (09:00-17:00), buses run limited schedules or not at all, and ferries dock. Check STASY Urgent Announcements before travel, and keep Freenow or Uber as a backup option.
Luggage Storage
Third-party baggage storage and wrapping service inside the terminal. Also handles sporting equipment and oversized items. Confirm current rates and opening hours at the counter on arrival.
Visitor Cards & Passes
Athens uses the Ath.ena ticketing system — paper tickets (Ath.ena Ticket) or plastic smart cards (Ath.ena Card) loaded with any fare. For most visitors, the contactless tap-to-pay option is the simplest entry point.
Purchase tickets at the OASA kiosk between Exits 4 and 5 in the Arrivals hall, or from automatic machines at the Metro station inside the terminal building. The 3-Day Tourist Ticket is available at the airport kiosk.
Day Pass (€4.10)
Valid for 24 hours from first validation. Covers all city buses, trolleybuses, tram, and Metro (Lines 1–3, urban section only). Also valid for the seasonal X80 Piraeus express bus. Not valid for airport express buses (X93, X95, X96, X97) or Metro travel to/from Athens Airport.
Source: OASA Ticket Prices5-Day Ticket (€8.20)
Valid for 5 × 24 hours. Covers city buses, trolleybuses, tram, and Metro (Lines 1–3, urban section only). Not valid for the Metro Line 3 Koropi–Airport section, airport express buses (X93, X95, X96, X97), or the seasonal X80 Piraeus express bus.
Source: OASA Ticket Prices3-Day Tourist Ticket (€20)
The most practical option for most short visits. Valid for 3 × 24 hours on all city buses, tram, Metro, and suburban railway (urban section). Also includes one round trip to/from Athens International Airport by Metro or express bus. Both airport journeys must be completed within the 72-hour window.
Source: OASA Ticket PricesTap2Ride (Contactless)
Tap any Visa or Mastercard contactless card, phone, or watch (Apple Pay / Google Pay) directly at Metro gates, bus, tram, and trolleybus validators. The standard fare is €1.20 per 90-minute journey, with a daily cap of €4.10 — once reached, all further city rides that day are free.
The €9 airport fare is charged separately when tapping at the designated airport gates and does not count toward the daily cap.
Tap2Ride accepts Visa and Mastercard only (physical or digital wallet). AMEX, Maestro, JCB, and UnionPay are not supported. Use an Ath.ena Ticket or Card if your card is not accepted.
Children’s Fares
- Under-6s travel free on all Metro, bus, tram, and trolleybus services — no ticket or card required.
- Children aged 7-18 are eligible for a discounted single fare of €0.50 (vs €1.20 full price), but only with a personalised ATH.ENA CARD — not practical for short tourist visits.
- Day Pass, 5-Day, and 3-Day Tourist Tickets have no discounted child version; visitors travelling with children aged 7-18 pay adult fares for those passes.
Use the OASA Telematics app to track live bus arrivals and plan routes across the Metro, bus, and tram network.
Public Transit
Metro Line 3 (Blue Line)
The fastest link from Athens Airport to the city centre. Metro Line 3 runs directly from the airport to Syntagma Square (40 min) and Monastiraki (42 min). Trains run every 36 minutes, from 6:10 am to 11:30 pm daily. The airport ticket costs €9.00 one-way; a return ticket valid within 48 hours costs €16.00. Standard city tickets are not valid for the airport section.
Source: STASY Line 3 TimetablesExpress Airport Buses
Express buses depart from the Arrivals level outside the terminal (between Exits 4 and 5) and operate 24 hours a day. Single tickets cost €5.50 (€2.70 discounted) and are sold at the kiosk beside the bus stop or paid contactlessly on board.
- X95: Airport → Syntagma Square (~60 min)
- X96: Airport → Piraeus Port (~90 min, 24/7)
- X93: Airport → Kifissos Bus Terminal (~65 min)
- X97: Airport → Elliniko (~45 min)
Accessibility & Safety
Accessibility
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos provides free on-ground assistance to passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility (PRM) under EU Regulation 1107/2006. Notify your airline at least 48 hours before departure. The Assistance Services Coordination Office is staffed 24/7 at the Departures Level next to Entrance 1. Designated contact points are located at Entrance 2 (Departures), Entrance 4 (Arrivals), and at the Suburban Railway Station inside the terminal. All public areas are wheelchair accessible; elevators feature Braille floor-selection buttons and tactile paths guide visually impaired passengers from drop-off to the check-in hall.
A sign language video relay service (powered by the EVENLY platform, in partnership with the Union of Deaf People) is available at the Coordination Office and central Information Desks — Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00.
AIA Assisted TravelSafety
Unofficial Taxi: The legal fixed rates from the airport to central Athens are €40 (day, 05:00–24:00) and €55 (night, 00:00–05:00) — posted on signs at the official taxi queue outside Exit 3. Ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal or quoting a different rate. Never share a taxi with a stranger who offers to split the cost.
Tourist Police: Call 171 (English-speaking, 24/7) for taxi overcharges, restaurant disputes, or any tourist-related incident. They can mediate and assist with police reports.
The historic centre of Athens has extensive uneven cobblestone surfaces. Use luggage with larger wheels and wear sturdy shoes when walking from the station to nearby accommodation.
Essential Services
Lost & Found
Terminal items: The Lost Property Office — operated by the Hellenic Police — is on the Arrivals Level, directly across from Exit 3, open 24 hours a day. If you cannot collect in person, the Deliverback service can retrieve and ship your item to your door for a fee (submit a claim via the AIA website).
Items forgotten on the aircraft: Contact your airline’s own Lost & Found counter in the Baggage Reclaim Area.
AIA Lost PropertyFirst Aid
First Aid Station at Gate 8 — fully equipped, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
AIA Assisted TravelPharmacy
Full pharmacy on the Arrivals Level of the Main Terminal Building, between Entrances 4 and 5.
AIA Assisted TravelArrival
Official Taxi
Official Athens taxis are yellow and display a “TAXI” sign on the rooftop.
The taxi rank is located at Exit 3 of the Arrivals level and operates 24/7.
Fixed fare to Athens city centre:
| Time window | Fare |
|---|---|
| Day — Mon–Sun 05:00–24:00 | €40 |
| Night — Mon–Sun 00:00–05:00 | €55 |
The fare includes all surcharges. The tariff that applies is determined by the time of arrival at the destination, not departure.
AIA – Taxi & Private TransportationTaxi drivers are legally required to accept card payments, but some claim their POS terminal is broken to pressure passengers into paying cash. Confirm card acceptance before loading luggage. Always ask for a printed receipt.
Rideshare
Head to Exit 4 on the Arrivals level. The designated Uber controlled pick-up zone is directly opposite the exit. Follow directions in the Uber app after requesting a ride.
In Greece, Uber, FreeNow and Bolt all operate exclusively through local licensed taxi drivers. Prices match official regulated rates — the main benefit is cashless payment and in-app tracking.
Use FreeNow (formerly Beat) for the widest driver availability in Athens — it has the largest fleet of licensed taxis in the city. Bolt launched in Athens in January 2025 and often runs new-user promotions. Uber is the best choice at the airport itself, with a dedicated pickup zone opposite Exit 4.
ATMs and Currency
Greece uses the Euro (EUR). Avoid Euronet and standalone kiosks — they apply unfavourable exchange rates and high fees.
ATMs are available throughout both the Arrivals and Departures areas and operate 24/7. Prefer Alpha Bank (near Exit 3 in the Arrivals area) or National Bank of Greece ATMs.
AIA – Currency ExchangeWhen an ATM offers to convert the amount to your home currency, always decline and choose to be charged in Euros (EUR). Let your home bank handle the conversion to avoid fees of up to 10–13%.
Departure
Arrival & Check-In
Arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure for Schengen and domestic flights, and 3 hours for non-Schengen and long-haul routes. Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” has one main terminal and a connected satellite terminal — check your boarding pass for the correct area.
Self-service kiosks (CUSS) are available at the main terminal for printing boarding passes and baggage tags. If you checked in online and have no hold baggage, proceed directly to security. After dropping bags, move through to security promptly — queues grow fast during peak summer season.
July and August are extremely busy. Budget an extra 30 minutes above the standard lead times, especially for early morning and evening departure banks.
Security Controls
Security & Screening
Athens International Airport uses traditional X-ray screening — CT next-generation scanners are not yet deployed. Standard rules apply:
- Liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less, placed in a single transparent resealable bag (max 1 L capacity, sealed flat).
- Laptops and tablets must be removed from your bag and placed in a tray separately.
- Remove your coat, jacket, and belt and place them in a separate tray.
- Loose items (keys, coins, phone) go in a basket before the metal detector.
Fast Lane is available at the main terminal security checkpoints for eligible passengers — access requires it to be printed on your boarding pass. Fast Lane is personal and does not extend to accompanying passengers.
ATH Security Control ProcedurePassport Control
Greece is in the Schengen Area. Passengers on Schengen and domestic routes do not pass through passport control.
For non-Schengen departures (e.g. flights to the UK, US, or other non-Schengen countries), non-EU and non-Schengen nationals are subject to the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), fully operational at Athens airport since April 2026. EES records biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) digitally — passport stamps are no longer used.
- First-time registration adds processing time. Allow an extra 15–20 minutes if this is your first EES check.
- EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens are exempt from EES checks.
VAT Refunds
Non-EU residents departing to a destination outside the European Union can claim a VAT refund on purchases made at participating Greek stores.
Before check-in: Bring your purchased items (unpacked and accessible for inspection) and the Tax Refund form to the Customs office, located opposite Check-in Counter 61 in the public access area. The stamp is only accepted after the check-in counters for your flight have opened. Items in hold baggage must be inspected here before you drop your bags.
After security: Collect your refund at a Global Blue or Planet desk inside the terminal:
- ONExchange desks in the Non-Schengen Departures area
- ONExchange desks in the Schengen Departures area
- Departures level of the Satellite terminal
If your final destination is outside the EU but you have a connecting flight through another EU country, you can only get the Customs stamp at the last EU airport before leaving the EU — not at Athens.