Getting from Athens airport to the city centre is easy by metro (Line 3 to Syntagma, about 40 minutes, €9), the X95 express bus (€5.50, 24/7), or a flat-fare taxi (€40 by day). Arrive ready to explore with guided tours and skip-the-line tickets booked through My Greece Tours.
Sorting your airport transfer is the first step in the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover the metro, bus, taxi, transfers and tips in full.
How do you get from Athens airport to the city centre?
You can get from Athens airport to the city centre by metro (Line 3, the blue line, to Syntagma in about 40 minutes for €9), the X95 express bus (€5.50, running 24/7), a flat-fare taxi (€40 by day, €55 at night), the suburban railway, or a pre-booked private transfer. The metro and taxi are the most popular options.
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) is well connected to the city centre, around 35 kilometres away, with several easy options to suit different budgets and needs. The fastest public transport is the metro, which runs directly into the heart of the city. The cheapest option is the dedicated X95 express airport bus, which runs around the clock. For door-to-door convenience, taxis charge a fixed flat fare to the central zone, and pre-booked private transfers offer a meet-and-greet service. The suburban railway (Proastiakos) also serves the airport for some destinations. The best choice depends on where you are staying, your budget, your luggage and the time of day. For most central hotels near Syntagma, the metro is fast and cheap, while a taxi or private transfer is the most comfortable, especially with luggage, late at night or in a group. Knowing the options lets you pick the right one for a smooth arrival, set out alongside the guide to getting around Athens. The metro is the fastest public option.
How does the airport metro work?
The airport metro runs on Line 3 (the blue line) directly into the city centre, reaching Syntagma Square in about 40 minutes for €9 one way (reduced for groups and round trips). It operates roughly every 30 minutes from early morning until late evening, around 6:30am to 11:30pm. Buy the special airport ticket, not the standard city fare.
The metro is the fastest and most reliable public way to travel from Athens airport to the centre, avoiding road traffic. The airport is the eastern terminus of Line 3, the blue line, which runs directly into the heart of the city, reaching central stations including Syntagma, the main square, in about 40 minutes, and continuing on towards Monastiraki and Piraeus on some services. A one-way airport metro ticket costs around 9 euros, with reduced fares for round trips and for groups of two or three travelling together, making it good value, especially for couples. Trains run roughly every half hour, operating from early morning until late at night, approximately 6:30am to 11:30pm, so check the times if your flight is very early or late. Note that you must buy the special, higher-priced airport ticket rather than the standard city transport ticket, available from the machines and ticket office at the airport station. The metro is ideal if you are staying centrally near a station and not weighed down by luggage. It is the smart, economical choice for many, set out alongside the guide to where to stay. The bus is the cheapest.
What about the airport bus and taxi?
The cheapest option is the X95 express bus at €5.50, running 24/7 between the airport and Syntagma Square, taking 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi charges a fixed flat fare of €40 to the central zone by day (5am to midnight) and €55 at night, taking around 30 to 45 minutes. Taxis wait outside the arrivals exit.
Beyond the metro, the airport bus and taxis are the other main ways into the city. The most economical option of all is the X95 express bus, costing just 5.50 euros, and runs 24 hours a day, every day, between the airport and Syntagma Square in the centre, making it especially useful for early-morning or late-night arrivals when the metro is not running. The journey takes around 60 minutes, but can stretch to 90 minutes or more in heavy traffic, so allow extra time. Taxis offer the most convenient, door-to-door option: there is a fixed flat fare to the central zone of around 40 euros during the day, from 5am to midnight, and around 55 euros at night, from midnight to 5am, regardless of traffic, so you know the cost upfront; the fare is based on your arrival time at the destination. Official taxis wait at the designated rank outside the arrivals exit, and ride-hailing apps also operate. Taxis take around 30 to 45 minutes in normal traffic and are ideal with luggage, in a group, or late at night. Choosing between them depends on your budget and comfort, set out alongside the guide to budget travel tips. Private transfers add comfort.
Are private transfers worth it from Athens airport?
A pre-booked private transfer is worth it for comfort and ease, offering a meet-and-greet driver, a fixed price and a direct ride to your hotel, ideal for families, groups, lots of luggage or late arrivals. It costs a little more than a regular taxi but removes any stress. For solo or budget travellers, the metro or bus is more economical.
A pre-booked private airport transfer is a popular option for travellers who value comfort and a stress-free arrival. With a private transfer, you arrange a driver in advance who meets you in the arrivals hall, often holding a name sign, helps with your luggage, and drives you directly to your hotel or accommodation in a comfortable vehicle for a fixed, agreed price with no surprises. This is especially worthwhile for families with children, larger groups who can share the cost, travellers with a lot of luggage, or those arriving late at night or early in the morning when navigating public transport is harder and you simply want an easy ride. The cost is typically a little more than a standard flat-fare taxi, but the convenience, reliability and peace of mind can be well worth it after a long flight. For solo travellers or those on a tight budget, however, the metro or the X95 bus remains far more economical for the same journey. Weighing comfort against cost helps you decide, and a transfer can be booked alongside your tours. For an easy arrival, a transfer is a fine choice, set out alongside the guide to a first-timer’s itinerary. A few tips help your transfer.
What tips help for the Athens airport transfer?
Match the option to your arrival: use the metro or X95 bus to save money if staying centrally, and a taxi or transfer for comfort, luggage, groups or late arrivals. Buy the special airport metro ticket, agree taxi fares are the fixed flat rate, allow extra time in traffic, and keep some euro cash handy for tickets and tips.
A few practical tips ensure a smooth journey from Athens airport to the city. First, match the transport to your situation: if you are staying centrally near a metro station and travelling light, the metro is fast and cheap; if you want comfort, are carrying lots of luggage, travelling as a family or group, or arriving late at night, a taxi or pre-booked private transfer is easier; and if budget is the priority, the X95 bus is the cheapest and runs all night. When using the metro, remember to buy the special airport ticket, not the standard city fare, and keep it for the exit gates. For taxis, confirm the driver is charging the fixed flat fare to the central zone rather than the meter, to avoid being overcharged. Allow plenty of extra time for the bus and taxi during rush hour, as Athens traffic can be heavy. Carry some euro cash for tickets, the bus and tipping, even though cards are widely accepted. Finally, for departures, plan to arrive at the airport in good time. With these tips, your transfer will be hassle-free, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
How do you get from Athens airport to the port of Piraeus?
From Athens airport to the port of Piraeus, for ferries to the islands, take the metro Line 3 changing to Line 1, the X96 express bus direct to the port (around €5.50), or a flat-fare taxi (around €55-€60). The X96 bus and a taxi are the most direct, taking roughly 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic.
Many travellers arriving at Athens airport are heading not to the city centre but straight to the port of Piraeus to catch a ferry to the Greek islands, and there are several ways to make this connection. The dedicated X96 express airport bus runs directly between the airport and Piraeus port around the clock, costing about 5.50 euros and taking roughly 60 to 90 minutes or more depending on traffic, making it a cheap, convenient option that drops you near the ferry terminals. By metro, you can take Line 3, the blue line, from the airport and change at Monastiraki or another interchange onto Line 1, the green line, which terminates at Piraeus, though this involves a change and a walk with luggage and takes over an hour. A taxi offers the most direct, comfortable option, charging a fixed flat fare of roughly 55 to 60 euros to Piraeus and taking around an hour in normal traffic, ideal if you have a ferry to catch, lots of luggage or are travelling as a group. Whichever you choose, allow generous extra time for traffic and for finding your ferry, as the large port can be confusing, and aim to arrive well before your sailing. Planning this connection avoids stress, set out alongside the guide to getting around Athens. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way from Athens airport to the city?
The cheapest way from Athens airport to the city centre is the X95 express bus, costing just €5.50 and running 24/7 to Syntagma Square in 60 to 90 minutes. The metro is also good value at €9 (less for round trips and groups), reaching Syntagma in about 40 minutes, while taxis cost a flat €40 by day.
How long does it take from Athens airport to the centre?
From Athens airport, the metro reaches Syntagma in the centre in about 40 minutes, a taxi takes around 30 to 45 minutes in normal traffic, and the X95 express bus takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. The airport is about 35 km from the city centre, so allow extra time during rush hour.
What does an airport taxi to central Athens cost?
A taxi from Athens airport to the central zone charges a fixed flat fare of around €40 during the day (5am to midnight) and around €55 at night (midnight to 5am), regardless of traffic. Official taxis wait outside the arrivals exit, and the journey takes about 30 to 45 minutes in normal traffic.