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Athens is known for being a bit chaotic. This guide will walk you through the best and most affordable ways to get from Athens Airport to the city center.
I visit Athens a lot during the year, and even though I don’t live there, I transit in and out at least half a dozen times a year. The prices here are up to date for 2026 so you can known the best options for you.
🥳 FAST INFO
- Grab the 9€ metro ticket for fast and convenient
- Wait for X95 bus at €5.50 which runs 24hours
- Book a private transfer with Welcome Pickups which is equal to or cheaper than yellow cab but more convenient.
- Grab an e-sim from Superalink (use my code BACH20 for 20%) to stay connected.
- Grab the Athens City Pass if you plan on seeing a lot of museums. 3 day + Cruise Add-on is probably best value for money.
Metro from Airport to City Center
If you have just arrived at Athens Airport, the easiest way to get to the city center is to grab the metro.
Athens Airport is a very easy place to navigate around, since there is only one kind of “train” that connects the city with the airport, which is simply the metro.
You head outside through the main doors and either follow the signs for the metro or cross the road and make your way upstairs.
You can use lifts located on either side of the big vertical columns or the escalators that may or may not be working sometimes.
You’ll then head into the metro station which looks confusing but both sides (left and right) lead to the right metro station.
The white boxes in the middle are for tickets and here you’ll want to make sure to select Airport for 9€ (one way).
Since 2025, you can also tap and pay to get on the metro, so you just use your Apple Pay or credit card directly.
Once you go through the bars, make your way down the escalators and stay on the side of the blue line that heads towards the city center.
The other line (also known as the Green line or Proastiakos) is the Piraeus line which is only good if you want to reach the port area.
When does the metro operate?
While the metro is one of the best cost to value options, it runs only between 5 am and midnight. So if your flight lands past 11 PM or if you need to arrive at the airport before 5 AM you will not have this option.
Bus Route X95 – Airport to Athens City Center
While the metro is a great option, it is not the cheapest. The bus is the cheapest option and sometimes the most convenient.
Since it runs every 15–20 minutes 24 hours a day.
Without traffic the bus will take you from the city center to the airport or vice versa in about 45 minutes, which is actually pretty great.
The cost is also really good, only 5.50€ one-way.
In previous years, you had to queue to purchase a ticket for this bus or plan ahead to buy a transport card, however nowadays you can simply tap and pay directly when boarding the bus.
The only small issue with the bus is that luggage slots are limited so you might have to stand for a bit if no seats are open.
Should I take the bus or metro?
Considering that both bus and metro take about the same time, it really depends on the time of day and where in Athens you need to go.
If your hotel is near Syntagma, then the bus is the cheapest option and granted it’s not full when you arrive it also gives you the chance to check out the setting of Athens.
On the other side, the metro is more convenient if you need to transfer to get to another location.
How to get a taxi from Athens Airport
Taxis in Greece work through a system of priority queueing, which means the taxi lines need to be obeyed and you will wait your turn for a taxi driver.
The fare is fixed, 40€ during the day and 55€ between midnight and 4:59 in the morning.
All taxis are found at the departure area near Exit number 3.
In 2026, you don’t have to worry about cash, since they carry credit and debit card payment options.
Athens Airport Extra Taxi Fees
If only it was this easy, right?
Since I always try to keep it real I can’t say taxi experiences in Greece are always straightforward or pleasant.
In addition to the set fare, there are additional fees that some taxi drivers will add and some not. These include 1 euro per extra piece of luggage, toll fees, waiting time fees or app booking fees. The last one is a bit more complicated so let’s unpack.
How do app based taxis work in Athens?
Similar to a lot of EU countries, Uber or app taxi drivers need to be professional licensed taxi holders.
There is no difference between a taxi driver and an Uber driver in Greece.
The only thing that changes is that the taxi driver has signed up for and uses Uber to get rides instead of working with a radiotaxi company or waiting to pick up people off the street directly.
Can I call an Uber for Athens airport?
Yes, in 2026 you can still do that.
However, you will have to meet your taxi elsewhere and not near the Exit 3 taxi lines.
The Uber app or other similar app (FREE NOW is also very popular) will provide details on where to go to meet the driver.
Skip the taxi and go with Welcome Pickups
If this is your first time in Athens and you prefer to skip the hassle or just like a bit of quality service, then go with Welcome Pickups instead. The price is pretty much the same but with less hassle and better service.
For starters, Welcome Pickups drivers will meet you at arrivals, carry your bags and walk you to the car or van.
You’ll also probably get a nice bottle of water, a comfortable ride, a polite English speaking driver and a set price you won’t have to worry about.
It is an excellent service and very convenient if you are travelling as a group or family as well.
At the moment, the rate for a private transfer from Athens Airport to Syntagma for 2 adults, 2 small bags and 2 large bags is 45€.
What to Do During a Long Layover at Athens Airport
If you have a long layover at Athens Airport, you don’t necessarily need to stay inside the terminal.
One of the closest places you can go is Porto Rafti, a seaside town only about 10–15 minutes away by car.
It’s a great spot if you want to:
grab a coffee by the sea
have a quick seafood lunch at a taverna
stretch your legs after a long flight
Because it’s so close to the airport, it’s one of the easiest places to visit if you have 4–6 hours between flights.
Just keep in mind that you will need to go through security again when returning to the airport, so leave enough time.
Just check out the weather on a random Thursday morning in March… just the perfect setting to relax between flights.
If you are planning to sleep at Athens Airport, there are actually a few spots that experienced travelers use that are surprisingly comfortable, even if you’re not accessing a lounge.
I’ve written a full guide here: 👉 Sleeping at Athens Airport
And if you are set on getting some rest in a proper bed, then the Sofitel just across the road is very convenient.
I’ve stayed here a few times due to flight changes or long layovers and I particularly enjoy and pool and gym at the top of the building.
FAQ for transport options at Athens Airport
⭐ Do taxis use the meter?
Yes, they are legally required to use the meters. Even though I’m Greek and take taxis all the time, I’d be pressed to explain exactly how their calculations work. There is always some base rate, plus a fee plus something else on top. Which is why I prefer to book through apps and have it all make sense or be set from before I get in.
⭐ Can I pay with card?
Yes, the Greek government has mandated that all businesses everywhere in Greece need to accept credit, debit and bank transfers (a system we call IRIS). No more scamming tourists with cash only purchases. If you do get forced into a cash transaction, you can decline but keep the information of the driver. It makes me very mad to see people get scammed in Greece but also 9.9/10 of my frequent taxi usage experiences are very positive.
⭐ Should we get a taxi if we are a group of 5–6?
For larger groups, I would always recommend a Welcome Pickups service or other private transfer service to get the best rates. Instead of two yellow taxis, you can book a larger van for about 80 euro.
⭐ Does the METRO have escalators?
Yes, almost all stations will have escalators. I hate to say it though… they sometimes won’t work. This is very hard to judge and you might not have to deal with it, but if you have mobility issues and can’t see yourself having to carry your suitcase, I would opt for a taxi or transfer service.
⭐ Does Athens Airport have a shared shuttle service?
Not in the way you might expect. The closest thing to a shuttle is the bus, and the next option is a private van transfer that is however per group of travelers. So if there are multiple people in your group it works out well.
Withdrawing cash and ATMs at the Athens Airport
I also want to briefly touch on whether or not you need to worry about exchanging money or withdrawing cash, since that is another to-do list item for the airport.
You will find plenty of ATM machines at the airport from different banks. These all charge between 2–4 euro for a transaction fee.
One thing to avoid at all costs is the Euronet ATMs which are super common in all tourist areas in Greece. These are from private companies and charge much higher fees but are often located in very convenient locations.
In terms of exchanging cash, I would say that airports always have worse exchange rates than if you were to go into Syntagma Square.
Unless you absolutely need to exchange cash I would not worry.
Pretty much every business now is required to accept card payments, so you’ll probably need far less cash on you in 2026 than in previous years visiting the country.
⚠️ A friendly reminder for anyone not aware: when paying with card with a foreign card, you’ll be asked to select “euros or your currency (i.e. $). Always pick euros or the local currency of the country you’re in to avoid the extra conversion fees.
What about sim cards at Athens Airport?
Lastly, you might be wondering about staying connected. If you’ve just arrived, Athens Airport provides FREE unlimited WiFi internet, which is great and much more convenient than a lot of other airports which make the whole process unnecessarily complicated (okay rant over).
But you’ll need a long term solution for your duration in the country.
If you’re not roaming, which is often pricey, you’ll want to consider an eSIM.
eSIMs are a virtual SIM card that is activated on your phone and functions like a normal SIM.
Some are for data only (internet) while others provide a local phone number as well.
I’ve used a lot of different companies in my travels and have a list of go-to companies I recommend depending on the country.
Check out Superalink and grab 20% off with my code BACH20. Very solid new company out of South Korea that has great prices and speeds, plus support and user navigation of the process is excellent.
Athens City Pass
Get your Athens City Pass here.
The Athens City Pass which you see listed here has over 6 different options to pick from, which ends up being confusing, so I’ve tried to break it down in a way that makes sense.
There are:
- 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 day passes plus
- Public transportation add on for unlimited metro, bus and tram travel
- One day island cruise add on to Hydra, Poros and Aegina which includes transfer and a lunch buffet
Benefits of the pass:
- unlimited public transport (with public transport add on)
- entrance to museums and attractions
- special discounts
- hop on hop off bus ticket tour with audio guide
Museums included:
- Parthenon / Acropolis
- New Acropolis Museum incl. audio guide
- Herakleidon Museum
- Kotsanas Museum: Ancient Greece – The Origins of Technologies
- Kotsanas Museum: Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Games
- Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
- Museum of Illusions
- Hellenic Motor Museum
- Athens War Museum
1 Day Pass – 79€ (with public transportation 83€)
This is a great option in high season only in my opinion. If you are travelling in the winter time it might not make as much sense depending on how much you plan on doing in one day. A ticket to the Acropolis in high season (April – October) is 30€ and 15€ during the off season. The pass also includes a skip-the-line pass but that doesn’t change the price.
Apart from the Parthenon you’ll have to see the New Acropolis Museum which is 20€. Just make sure you read the fine print on time slots since both the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum now operate with strict time slots for each ticket.
⚠️ The public transportation add on does not include the 9 euro ticket on the metro to and from the airport.
If it did, it would be a very obvious yes for me.
The Hop on Hop off bus ticket on its own is 22€.
If you only do Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and Hop on Hop off Bus in peak season, you will have spent 79€ for 72€ worth of tickets.
Which means you need to make sure to grab some of the other offers like a visit to the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology which is insanely interesting. Usually priced at 7€, so you break even.
3 Day City Pass with 1 Day Cruise & Public Transportation 218€
From all the options, this seems like the biggest value for money. The cruise on its own is usually about 130€ and you have metro tickets for the whole 3 days as well.
You can spend one day doing the highlights near Acropolis/Parthenon and Acropolis Museum which can easily take 3 hours each and a full day of cruising and exploring with private transfers.
That still leaves a day for some of the other museums and the Hop on Hop off bus. Let’s see if the math is mathing here:
- 24 hour pass for all public transport 4.10€ x 3
- Hop on hop off bus x 1 adult (48 hours) 25€
- Acropolis and Museum tickets 50€
- Cruise average price for full day tour with lunch and transfer in the Saronic Gulf 130€
Total: 215€
To make it break even or be worth it you’ll want to visit some of the other museums as well:
- Herakleidon Museum 7€
- Kotsanas Museum: Ancient Greece – The Origins of Technologies 12€ (for both Kotsanas collections)
- Kotsanas Museum: Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Games
- Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum 10€
- Museum of Illusions 13€
- Hellenic Motor Museum 12€
- Athens War Museum 6€
The great thing with a 3 day pass instead of just 2 is that you get more days to check out more places.
