In most cases, I would choose metro line 3 to get to the centre of Athens. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Syntagma, costs 9 eur and isn’t affected by traffic jams.

The cheaper X95 bus costs 5,50 eur and, unlike the metro, runs overnight. However, if there are three or four of you, a taxi makes sense too – during the day, the fixed fare to the city centre is 40 eur for the whole car.

Where are you heading?	What I’d choose	Journey time	Price
City centre during the day	Metro 3	40 minutes	9 eur
City centre at night	Bus X95	60 minutes	5,50 eur
City centre with 3–4 people	Taxi	40–60 minutes	40 eur per car
Piraeus during the day	Metro 3	60 minutes	9 eur
Piraeus at night	Bus X96	90 minutes	5,50 eur
Kifissos or Liosion	X93 bus	65 minutes	5,50 eur
Rafina	KTEL regional bus	35 minutes	4 eur

Still looking for accommodation? Hotels near Syntagma Square, Monastiraki or other stations on Line 3 offer direct metro connections from the airport.

Find a hotel in the centre of Athens

Which ticket to buy

The easiest way is to pay with your own contactless card directly when entering the metro or after boarding the bus. It is not always necessary to buy an ATH.ENA Ticket.

Situation	The best value ticket
A single metro journey	contactless card or ticket for 9 eur
Single bus journey	contactless card or ticket for 5,50 eur
Metro to the airport and back	return ticket for 16 eur valid for 30 days
Stays of up to 72 hours and frequent use of public transport	3-day tourist ticket for 20 eur
Stays of 4–5 days	5-day city pass for 8,20 eur and a separate fare to/from the airport

When is a 3-day ticket worth it?

The tourist pass, costing 20 eur is valid for 72 hours from the first validation on all public transport in Athens and also includes one journey from the airport and one journey to the airport by metro or airport bus.

However, both journeys to and from the airport must take place within its 72-hour validity period.

If you would otherwise be travelling by metro twice, the 3-day pass pays for itself from around four additional journeys on public transport in Athens. For longer stays, it is better value to buy the airport transport separately and add a standard 5-day pass.

Neither the standard 24-hour nor the 5-day tickets are valid for journeys to the airport.

Contactless card payment

Contactless payments are accepted on the underground, buses, trams and trolleybuses. Visa and Mastercard are accepted, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

On the underground, always use the same card or device when entering and exiting. If you tap your phone when entering and use a physical card when exiting, the system will treat them as two different payment methods.

You can find the current fares on the oasa.gr website. We provide more information about city travel cards in our guide to transport in Athens.

The metro to the centre of Athens

The fastest way to get to the city centre by public transport is via Metro Line 3. Without changing trains, you can travel to stations such as Syntagma and Monastiraki, and on as far as Piraeus.

• Journey time to Syntagma: 40 minutes
• Journey time to Piraeus: 60 minutes
• Frequency: every 36 minutes
• Single ticket: 9 eur
• Return ticket: 16 eur
• 3-day tourist ticket: 20 eur

A one-way airport ticket is valid for 90 minutes, during which time you may also change to other metro lines, regular buses, trams or trolleybuses. However, it is not valid on airport buses X93 to X97.

You can buy a ticket from a ticket machine or at the ticket office at the station. You can pay by cash or card.

If you do not need a return or multi-day ticket, simply tap your own payment card when passing through the ticket barrier.

You enter the underground via the turnstiles. Please tap your ticket or payment card when entering and exiting the station.

First and last metro services

• First metro from the airport: 6.10
• Last metro from the airport: 23:34
• First metro from Syntagma to the airport: 5.53
• Last metro from Syntagma to the airport: 23:18
• 👉 Tip for a budget hotel near Syntagma station: Omiros Hotel ***

Saturday night services on lines 2 and 3 do not run as far as the airport. At night, take the X95 or X96 buses.

You can find the latest timetables on the stasy.gr website.

Where can I find a metro station?

The station is located about 200 metres from the terminal. From the arrivals hall, follow the signs for ‘ "Trains". ’ You can reach the station via a covered footbridge.

The platform is shared by Metro Line 3 and the suburban train. The track closer to the terminal is used by the metro, whilst the track further away from the terminal is used by the train. Everything is clearly signposted.

When travelling from the city centre, pay attention to your destination station. A large number of Line 3 services terminate at Doukissis Plakentias station and do not continue to the airport.

Only board trains marked with the destination ‘Airport / Αεροδρόμιο’. Airport services are also listed on the information boards on the platform.

Bus to the centre of Athens

Airport buses are the cheapest direct transport between the airport, central Athens, Piraeus and the main coach stations.

All four routes run non-stop 24 hours a day and are the best option after the last metro has left.

A single ticket costs 5,50 eur. You can buy it from a kiosk or ticket machine at the stop, but the easiest way is to pay with your own contactless card at the blue validator inside the bus.

Tap your ticket or card just once after boarding. The airport ticket is only valid on that particular bus and does not include any onward journey on other public transport.

A concessionary ticket for students and senior citizens costs 2,70 eur, but is only available with a personalised ATH.ENA Card.

Buses also provide night-time services to the city centre.

• X93 – Kifissos Main Bus Station and Liosion Bus Station
  • Frequency: every 25–30 minutes; every 40 minutes at night
  • Journey time: 65 minutes
  • Last service from the airport: runs non-stop 24/7
  • First service from the city centre: runs non-stop 24/7
  X95– Syntagma Square
  • Frequency: 15–20 minutes
  • Journey time: 65 minutes
  • Last service from the airport: runs non-stop 24/7
  • First service to the city centre: runs non-stop 24/7
• X96 – Piraeus Port + the entire Athens coastline
  • Frequency: every 30 minutes
  • Journey time: 95 minutes
  • Last service from the airport: runs non-stop 24/7
  • First service from the city centre: runs non-stop 24/7
• X97 – southern part of the city, Elliniko district
  • Frequency: every 60 minutes
  • Journey time: 45 minutes
  • Last service from the airport: 22:15
  • First service from the city centre: 04:00

Official website of Athens buses:oasa.gr/en

The bus stops are located directly outside exits 4 and 5 of the arrivals hall. Follow the signs "Public Bus".

Read more detailed information about transport in Athens.

If you’re arriving late in the evening and don’t want to travel into the city, take a look at our guide to hotels near Athens Airport.

Commuter train

The commuter train departs from the same station as the metro. You’ll mainly use it for a direct journey to Athens’ main railway station, Larissis Station.

From there, long-distance trains continue to other parts of Greece. When travelling towards Corinth, Kiato or Aigio, you will need to change at Ano Liosia or Kato Acharnai, depending on your specific connection.

The second direct route runs from the airport to Piraeus. However, the train only runs once an hour and the journey takes about 65 minutes, so the metro is a more practical option for most passengers.

• Journey time to Piraeus: 65 minutes
• Frequency: every 60 minutes
• Fare to Piraeus: 9 eur
• First train from Piraeus to the airport: 5.43
• Last train from the airport to Piraeus: 22:32

You can find the latest timetables on the Hellenic Train website and buy tickets via newtickets.hellenictrain.gr.

Taxis, Uber and private transfers

A taxi is the most convenient way to get directly to your hotel. It makes the most sense if there are 3 to 4 of you, if you have a lot of luggage, or if you’re arriving at night.

Fixed fares apply to the central part of Athens:

• 40 eur during the day from 5.00 am to midnight
• 55 eur at night from 00:00 to 05:00

The time of arrival at your destination is what counts, not the time of departure from the airport. So if you get in the taxi before midnight but do not arrive in the city centre until after midnight, the night-time fare will apply.

The fixed price includes standard surcharges and applies to journeys between the airport and the central zone of Athens. Outside this area, the fare is calculated according to the taximeter.

For four people, a daytime taxi costs 10 eur per person, which is only 1 eur more expensive than the metro. If you would also have to change at a metro station or continue on foot with your luggage, a taxi may well be the most sensible option.

You’ll find the taxi rank by Exit 3 of the arrivals hall.

Uber, Bolt and FREENOW apps are also available in Athens.

Uber works in partnership with standard licensed taxis and applies the same fixed fares for journeys between the airport and the city centre. The Uber pick-up point is opposite Exit 4.

If you’d like to book a ride in advance, know the price and be picked up by a driver upon arrival, use a private transfer. This is particularly suitable for families, larger groups or travellers who need a child seat.

• 👉 Compare airport transfer prices

Transport from the airport to the ports

Athens is served by three main ports. Piraeus is accessible by direct metro, train and bus; there is a regional bus service to Rafina; and the journey to Lavrio requires a change.

Piraeus

During the day, I’d choose metro line 3. It runs directly without a change, the journey takes about 60 minutes and costs 9 eur.

Connection	Journey time	Frequency	Fare
Metro 3	60 minutes	36 minutes	9 eur
Commuter train	65 minutes	60 minutes	9 eur
X96 bus	90 minutes	about 30 minutes	5,50 eur

The X96 bus is slower, but runs non-stop. It is therefore useful if you arrive after the last underground train has left.

Piraeus is a very large port. Arriving at the metro station does not necessarily mean you are right next to your ship. Check your gate number in advance and allow extra time to get around the port. It can take more than 30 minutes to walk to the furthest gates.

• 👉Compare prices and times for ferries from Piraeus

If your ferry is leaving early in the morning, it may be more convenient to spend the night before in Piraeus itself. This will save you a night-time journey across the whole of Athens and the stress of any potential delays.

• 👉Search for hotels near the port of Piraeus

Rafina

Direct regional buses operated by KTEL Attikis run from the airport to Rafina Harbour.

The journey takes about 35 minutes and a ticket costs around 4 eur. You pay the driver, so it’s best to have cash ready.

The timetable is not regular and changes frequently throughout the year. Some services run in quick succession, whilst there may be a gap of several hours between others. Always check the latest departure times on the website ktelattikis.gr.

The bus stop is located in the area opposite the Sofitel Hotel. It isn’t well signposted from the terminal, so once you’ve left the arrivals hall, head towards the hotel.

Ferries depart from Rafina mainly to Mykonos, Tinos, Andros and other islands in the Aegean Sea.

• 👉Compare ferries from Rafina

Lavrio

There is no direct bus service from the airport to the port of Lavrio.

First, take a KTEL regional bus to the town of Markopoulo, where you will change to another bus to Lavrio. Services are infrequent and run only during the day.

If you have a tight schedule between your arrival and the ferry’s departure, I would recommend taking a taxi or booking a transfer in advance.

Artemida and Porto Rafti

Some buses between the airport and Rafina pass through the coastal town of Artemida. Look for services marked with the Greek word "Παραλία".

To get to Porto Rafti by bus, you’ll need to travel via Markopoulo, where you’ll usually have to change buses. Check the KTEL Attikis website for the latest timetable information.

Car hire

If you’re heading straight from the airport to explore the Greek coast or the interior, travelling by car is the best option.

Most major international car hire companies, as well as many smaller local ones, are based at the airport. You can compare prices across all hire companies using a search engine such as Rentalcars.com.

• Compare prices and book a car