This Athens Airport (ATH, Eleftherios Venizelos) guide covers the terminals, the arrivals process and getting to the city by metro, bus, taxi or private transfer for a smooth start to your trip. Arrange a hassle-free arrival and book skip-the-line city sightseeing tickets and tours from My Greece Tours.
A smooth airport arrival sets up a great trip in the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover the airport, terminals, arrivals, transport to the city, metro and bus details, taxis and transfers, and tips.
What is Athens Airport?
Athens International Airport, named Eleftherios Venizelos and coded ATH, is the main airport of Greece, about 35 kilometres east of central Athens near Spata. It is a modern, efficient hub handling flights across Greece, Europe and beyond, and the gateway for most visitors. It connects to the city centre and the port of Piraeus directly by metro, bus, taxi and private transfer.
For the great majority of visitors, the journey to Greece begins at Athens International Airport, officially named Eleftherios Venizelos after the celebrated Greek statesman and commonly known by its code, ATH. Located around 35 kilometres east of the city centre, near the town of Spata in eastern Attica, it opened and has become a modern, efficient and well-regarded hub, regularly praised as one of the better airports in Europe for ease of use. The airport handles a large volume of domestic flights to the Greek islands and other cities, alongside international connections across Europe, the Middle East, North America and beyond, making it the principal gateway to the whole country. For travellers, the good news is that it is straightforward to navigate and exceptionally well connected to Athens and its port: a single metro line runs directly from the airport into the heart of the city and on to Piraeus, supported by express buses, the suburban railway, taxis with fixed fares and private transfers. Understanding the layout and the transport options in advance makes for a calm, confident arrival. This guide walks through everything you need for a smooth start. It pairs with the city-transport details in the Athens airport to city centre guide. The terminal layout is simple to grasp.
What are the terminals at Athens Airport?
Athens Airport has two adjacent buildings, the Main and Satellite Terminals, joined by an underground walkway fitted with travelators. The Main Terminal handles all check-in, arrivals and most departures, while the Satellite Terminal is used for some flights at busy times. All arriving passengers pass through the Main Terminal, so the layout is simple and clearly signposted.
One of the reasons Athens Airport is so easy to use is its compact, logical terminal layout. The airport consists of two terminal buildings standing right beside each other: the large Main Terminal, which is the heart of the airport, and the smaller Satellite Terminal, which supplements capacity during the busiest periods. The two buildings are joined by a short underground walkway fitted with travelators, so transferring between them on foot takes only a few minutes. The Main Terminal handles all of the airport’s check-in, all arrivals and the majority of departures, with the Satellite Terminal used as an overflow for certain departing flights, mainly at peak times, and reached via that underground link from the main building. This single-terminal-complex design means that, whatever your flight, the experience is unified and clearly signposted in both Greek and English, with no confusing transfers between distant terminals. The Main Terminal is organised over several levels, with arrivals and departures on different floors, and all the key facilities, transport links, car parks and services are gathered here. For most travellers, the practical takeaway is that everything you need on arrival is in the one Main Terminal building. This simplicity makes navigating the airport stress-free. The arrivals process is equally straightforward. The flow from plane to transport is quick.
What is the arrivals process at Athens Airport?
Arriving passengers land and proceed to Level 0 of the Main Terminal. Travellers from non-Schengen countries pass through passport control, while those from Schengen countries go straight to baggage claim. After collecting luggage and clearing any customs, you exit into the arrivals hall, where taxis, buses, the metro and car parks are all close by and clearly signposted, making the walk short.
The arrivals experience at Athens Airport is refreshingly smooth and quick, with a short, clearly signed route from your plane to your onward transport. Every arriving passenger follows essentially the same path through the single Main Terminal building, arriving at Level 0, the ground floor, where the immigration and baggage areas are located. The first step depends on where you have flown from: passengers arriving from non-Schengen countries, such as the UK, the US or other non-EU destinations, must first pass through passport control to have their documents checked, whereas those arriving from within the Schengen area proceed directly to baggage reclaim without passport checks. Once at the baggage claim hall you collect your luggage, then continue through any customs channel and out into the main arrivals hall. From the moment you land to the point where you board a train, bus or taxi, the walk is short and well signposted in Greek and English, so even first-time visitors find it easy. In the arrivals hall and just outside it you will find the taxi ranks, bus stops, the metro and suburban railway station, car-rental desks, ATMs, cafés and information points, all conveniently grouped. This efficient flow means you can be on your way into the city within minutes of clearing the formalities. Choosing your transport is the next step. Several good options connect to the city.
How do you get from the airport to central Athens?
From Athens Airport you can reach the city by metro line 3 directly to Syntagma and Piraeus in about 40 to 60 minutes, by express buses (X95 to Syntagma, X93 to the bus terminals, X96 to Piraeus) running 24 hours, by the suburban railway, by fixed-fare taxi, or by pre-booked private transfer. The metro and buses are cheapest, taxis and transfers the most convenient.
Athens Airport offers an excellent choice of transport into the city and beyond, suiting every budget and need. The most popular option is the metro: line 3, the blue line, runs directly from the airport station into the centre, calling at Syntagma Square in around forty minutes and continuing to Monastiraki and on to the port of Piraeus in about an hour, with no change required, all for a flat airport fare. For those travelling at night or to specific destinations, the express airport buses are a great alternative, operating around the clock: the X95 runs to Syntagma Square in the centre, the X93 to the intercity (KTEL) bus terminals, and the X96 directly to the port of Piraeus, all at a low flat fare. The suburban railway also links the airport to the wider rail network. For door-to-door convenience, especially with luggage, late at night or in a group, taxis wait at the rank outside arrivals and charge a fixed, regulated flat fare into the central zone, while pre-booked private transfers offer a driver waiting with your name, a comfortable choice for a stress-free arrival. Weighing cost against convenience, the metro and buses are the budget champions, while taxis and transfers win on ease. The detailed options appear in the Athens airport to city centre guide. A few tips ensure a smooth journey.
What about taxis, transfers and car hire?
Taxis at Athens Airport use fixed flat fares into the central zone, displayed at the rank, making them simple and predictable. Pre-booked private transfers provide a driver waiting in arrivals, ideal with luggage or for groups. Car-rental desks in the arrivals area let you pick up a vehicle directly, useful for touring beyond Athens, with the airport just off the main motorways.
For travellers who prefer door-to-door comfort over public transport, the airport offers reliable taxi, transfer and car-hire services, all accessed from the arrivals area. Official taxis wait at a dedicated rank directly outside the arrivals hall and operate on fixed, regulated flat fares for journeys into the central Athens zone, with the daytime and higher night-time rates clearly displayed, so there are no surprises and no need to negotiate; this makes the taxi a simple, predictable choice, particularly with heavy luggage, late at night or when travelling as a small group, when the cost split makes it good value. For an even smoother arrival, many visitors pre-book a private transfer, where a driver meets you in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name and takes you straight to your accommodation, removing all uncertainty after a long flight. Those planning to explore beyond the city, perhaps touring the Peloponnese or Attica, can collect a hire car directly from the rental desks in the arrivals area, with the airport conveniently positioned just off the main motorways heading into Athens and out across the country. Each of these options trades a higher price for greater convenience and comfort. Choosing the right one depends on your budget, luggage and plans. The wider network is explained in the getting around Athens guide. A final set of tips smooths arrival and departure.
What tips help at Athens Airport?
Top tips: in peak summer, arrive early and pre-book transport and parking; check gate displays, as gates can switch between the Main and Satellite terminals; after the metro stops late at night, use the 24-hour express buses or a taxi; agree a clear meeting point when collecting someone; carry small cash for tickets; and allow extra time for security and passport control on busy departure days.
A few practical pointers will help your time at Athens Airport go smoothly, whether arriving or departing. In the peak summer season, when the airport is at its busiest with island-bound travellers, it pays to arrive in good time for departures and to pre-book your transport or parking in advance to avoid queues and delays. When flying out, keep an eye on the gate information displays, as gates can change and may switch between the Main and Satellite Terminals, the latter reached via the underground walkway, so leave enough time to walk there. For late-night arrivals, remember that the metro stops running before midnight, so after it closes your reliable options are the 24-hour express buses or a taxi, which is worth planning for in advance. If you are meeting someone, agree on a clear, specific meeting point such as the information desk rather than a vague “near the doors”, as the arrivals hall is large. It is wise to carry a little cash for transport tickets and small purchases, even though cards are widely accepted, and to allow extra time for security and passport control on busy days. The terminals are fully accessible, with clear signage in Greek and English throughout. With these simple precautions, your airport experience will be calm and efficient. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Athens Airport to the city centre?
From Athens Airport you can take metro line 3 directly to Syntagma in about 40 minutes and on to Piraeus, express buses such as the X95 to Syntagma running 24 hours, the suburban railway, a fixed-fare taxi, or a pre-booked private transfer. The metro and buses are cheapest, while taxis and transfers are the most convenient.
How many terminals does Athens Airport have?
Athens Airport has two adjacent buildings, the Main and Satellite Terminals, joined by an underground walkway with travelators. The Main Terminal handles all check-in, arrivals and most departures, while the Satellite Terminal is used for some departing flights at busy times. All arrivals pass through the Main Terminal.
How far is Athens Airport from the city centre?
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) is about 35 kilometres east of central Athens, near Spata. The metro line 3 reaches Syntagma Square in around 40 minutes, express buses and taxis take roughly 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, and the airport sits conveniently just off the main motorways into the city.