Athens Airport
General information
Athens Airport opened in 2001, it replaced the old Ellinikon Airport. It’s nowadays the busiest airport in Greece, mainly used by Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Sky Express and Ryanair. The airport is modern and easy to reach by public transport (metro and bus). Opposite the airport terminal is Hotel Sofitel Athens Airport, ideal for an early departure from Athens Airport.
Location
Where is Athens Airport situated?
Athens Airport is located east of the capital in the municipality of Spata-Artemida. The busiest airport in Greece is easily accessible via the A6/E94 motorway (Attiki Odos).
How many terminals does Athens Airport have?
The airport consist of one main terminal building and a satellite terminal. In the main terminal you will find all check-in desks, Hall A and Hall B. Hall A is used for flights to non-Schengen countries and destinations outside Europe. Hall B is intended for flights to Schengen countries and domestic destinations, e.g. the Greek islands. The terminal consists of two floors, check-in desks 1 to 160 and the security check are on the top floor, the Arrivals hall is on the ground floor. The pedestrian bridge to the Athens Airport metro station is found at the same level as the Departures hall.
TIP: Many well-known museums, sights and attractions require online reservations. If you plan to visit the Acropolis (combined ticket, valid for 5 days) and Acropolis Museum during your stay in Athens, the convenient Athens Digital Pass is highly recommended!
Airport Map
Nearby airports
A good alternative for flying to or from Athens Airport are the following airports, sorted by distance from the airport. You can also take a look at the complete list of airports in Greece.
| Airport | Distance |
|---|---|
| Mykonos Airport | 135km |
Transportation
Car
The distance from Athens Airport to the centre of Athens is 34 kilometres. By car, it takes 45 minutes to get to the centre of Athens.
From ATH Airport to Athens City centre by Car
Public transport
It is possible to travel to and from Athens Airport by public transport. If you opt for public transport to and from Athens Airport you can travel by bus and metro. Visit the Athens Airport transportation page for the possibilities.
Taxi transfer
A taxi is the quickest and most comfortable way to get to and from Athens Airport. The price for a taxi ride from the airport to the centre of Athens is about € 40.-. Book your taxi at Athens Airport and discover the comfort of pre-booked taxis.
From ATH Airport to Athens City centre by Taxi
Car rental
At Athens Airport you can rent a car from car rental companies Thrifty (The Hertz Corporation), Hertz, National (Enterprise Holdings), Enterprise, Alamo (Enterprise Holdings), Budget, Avis, Sixt and local providers. It is most convenient to find and book a car well in advance. By doing so, you can save money and time at the airport.
Airport parking
Athens Airport offers various official parking options, from premium to low cost. In addition, alternative parking options are available near the airport. If you want to park as cheaply as possible, it's wise to book online!
At the airport
Do you want more information about facilities, currency exchange, services, free Wi-Fi, lounges, etc. at Athens Airport? Check our at the airport page for a complete overview of all facilities and services at Athens Airport.
Flights
Departures and arrivals
Looking for departure times and/or arrival times? Find the latest flight status information for flights departing from and arriving at Athens Airport.
Flight tickets
Looking for a cheap flight? Use our flight search engine to find and book cheap flights from and to the airport.
Which airlines fly from and to Athens Airport?
We offer you a list of airlines at Athens Airport. The main airlines at the airport are:
- Aegean Airlines
- Olympic Air
- Ryanair
- Sky Express
- Wizz Air
Accommodations
Hotels near the airport
Looking for the best hotels near Athens Airport? We have selected the best hotels near the airport in different price ranges. Take a look at our accommodations page for more information.
Hotels in Athens
Looking for the best hotels in Athens? We have selected the best hotels in the city in different price ranges. Take a look at our accommodations page for more information.
Things to do
It is possible to book tickets, activities and tours in the city and near Athens Airport. You can avoid queues and save money by buying your tickets online. Planning a trip and wondering what to do, we give you some inspiration!
Reviews
Have you visited Athens Airport lately? So far, 3 airport passengers have written an airport review about Athens Airport. This airport has an average score of 2 out of 5. Provide other airport travellers with essential airport information and tell us about your airport experience.
Latest airport reviews
My checked suitcase was crashed at the airport. I claimed the damage, received all the necessary documentation and was promised replacement in a week. However, when I was leaving Greece the airport service took advantage of the situation and refused to reimburse or replace my damaged luggage. They lied that I haven't submitted the damaged suitcase dimensions. When I began to insist they simply ignored my messages. This was shameful behavior.
The pros of Athens Airport is that it has good and reasonably priced food and beverage options (the food at the self service before passport control on the departure level is decent and you can buy water and toast for subsidised prices even after the security and passport control near the departure gates, i.e a bottle of water for only half a euro!).
There is a baggage storage facility on the arrivals level which is especially useful for those flying to the islands or other destinations for a few days and don't want to carry their suitcases with them.
The cons are that the airport is relatively far. It takes 60 to 90 minutes to reach most destinations on the metro line from the airport. The ticket is for 90 minutes and the train frequencies are less than in the past (perhaps due to covid-19) so it often happens that a traveler buys a 90 minute drive ticket but finds the ticket has expired once he/she reaches his/her destination despite it not being his/her fault the train was delayed at arriving and he/she waited at the platform an extra ten to twenty minutes...
Another disadvantage is that the only accommodation option within walking distance of the airport is the Sofitel Hotel which charges daily rates starting from 180 EUR and has no hourly facilities (or four to six hour slots to freshen up and power sleep) which is an option many other airport hotels in Europe provide.
On the bright side the staff at the airport are all professional with excellent English speaking skills.