Athens
Athens airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs
Take the metro Line 3 or the suburban rail from Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) to the centre: about 40 minutes, roughly €9–10 in 2026. Take a taxi only if you have luggage, arrive after midnight, or are heading to Piraeus — fixed daytime fare about €40 (check).
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GuideAthens
Key facts
- Airport
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH), 27 km east of the centre
- Fastest to centre
- Metro Line 3 or suburban rail, about 40 min
- Rail fare
- About €9–10 one way, 2026 estimate
- Taxi to centre
- Fixed daytime fare about €40; night rate higher
- Bus
- Express buses X93 (Piraeus), X95 (Syntagma), X96 (Piraeus coast) — about €5.50, 2026 estimate
- First and last trainscheck
- Roughly 06:30–23:30; check the day's timetable
- Tickets
- Buy at the airport station or from machines; validate before boarding
Options at a glance
Four ways cover almost every arrival: metro or suburban rail, the express buses, a taxi, or a pre-booked transfer. Rail and bus both leave from the airport terminal side; taxis wait at the arrivals exit.
Rail is the default for a solo traveller or a couple with light bags heading anywhere near Syntagma or Monastiraki. Buses are slower but cheaper and run through the night. Taxis win when you are three or four people with luggage, or landing after the last train.
| Option | Time to centre | Cost (2026 estimate) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 / suburban rail | About 40 min | €9–10 | Solo travellers, light bags, Syntagma or Monastiraki |
| Express bus X95 to Syntagma | About 50–70 min | About €5.50 | Cheapest daytime option; late arrivals |
| Express bus X93 / X96 to Piraeus | About 60–90 min | About €5.50 | Ferry connections from Piraeus |
| Taxi | About 30–45 min | Fixed fare about €40 day | Groups, heavy luggage, late landings |
| Pre-booked transfer | About 30–45 min | €45–70 | Fixed price, meet-and-greet, families |
Times assume normal traffic; the Attiki Odos motorway can slow sharply at rush hour.
Metro and suburban rail
Line 3 of the metro and the suburban rail share the airport branch and both run into the centre. The metro is the simpler choice: it stops at Syntagma and Monastiraki, which puts you within walking distance of most of the hotel districts. The suburban rail also serves Piraeus and Larissa station, useful if you are connecting onward.
Trains run roughly every 30 minutes, from about 06:30 to about 23:30 (check). The trip takes about 40 minutes to Syntagma. Buy a ticket at the airport station or from the machines; validate it before you board, because inspectors do fine passengers.
One thing to know: the airport line is a single branch, so a disruption anywhere on it affects both metro and rail. If the line is closed, the express buses still run.
- Buy and validate your ticket before boarding.
- Keep bags with you; there is space near the doors.
- Syntagma and Monastiraki are the handiest stops for central hotels.
Express buses
The express buses are the cheapest way in and the only public transport that runs through the night. X95 goes to Syntagma in the centre, X93 to Piraeus, and X96 along the coast to Piraeus. They leave from outside the arrivals level.
Journey times depend entirely on traffic: 50–70 minutes to Syntagma in normal conditions, longer at rush hour. Tickets cost about €5.50 (2026 estimate) and can be bought at the stop or on board. Buses are frequent, roughly every 20–30 minutes, and run around the clock.
| Route | Destination | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| X95 | Syntagma, city centre | 50–70 min | About €5.50 |
| X93 | Piraeus port | 60–90 min | About €5.50 |
| X96 | Piraeus via the coast | 60–90 min | About €5.50 |
Taxis and transfers
Taxis from ATH to the centre run on a fixed fare rather than the meter: about €40 in the daytime, higher at night. The fare covers the car, not per person, so a group of three or four pays the same as one. The drive takes 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
Book through a taxi rank at the exit or a licensed app rather than accepting an offer inside the terminal. For a fixed price and a driver waiting with a name sign, a pre-booked transfer costs roughly €45–70 and is the easiest option with children or a lot of luggage.
If you are heading straight to a ferry at Piraeus, a taxi is usually worth it: the port is a detour from the centre and the bus takes 60–90 minutes.
- Agree the fare or confirm the fixed price before you get in.
- Keep the receipt; it helps if you need to trace a lost item.
- Late-night arrivals: the taxi rank is the reliable option once trains stop.
What it costs
For one person, rail at about €9–10 is the cheapest comfortable option. For two, the bus at about €5.50 each is cheaper still but slower. For three or four with luggage, the fixed taxi fare of about €40 works out cheaper per person than four rail tickets, and it drops you at the door.
Add the cost of getting around once you arrive: a day pass or multi-ride ticket for the Athens network is worth it if you plan more than two metro trips. See the Athens guide for what to do once you are in.
| Party | Cheapest sensible choice | Approximate cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller, light bag | Metro or rail | €9–10 |
| 2 travellers | Rail, or bus if time is not tight | €18–20 by rail |
| 3–4 travellers with luggage | Taxi | About €40 total |
| Arriving after 23:30 | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | €40–70 |
Practical tips
The airport is 27 km east of the centre on the Attiki Odos motorway, so build in buffer time for the return leg — rush hour can add 20 minutes or more. For an early flight, the first trains leave the centre around 05:30 (check), which is tight for a 07:00 departure; take a taxi instead.
Buy a return or multi-ride ticket if you are coming back through the airport within a few days. Keep your luggage with you on the metro rather than in the racks by the door, and watch for pickpockets at Syntagma and Monastiraki, which are busy interchanges.
If your trip continues by ferry, plan the airport-to-Piraeus leg separately: the port is west of the centre, and the X96 bus or a taxi are the direct options.
- Allow 45–60 minutes to reach the airport for a return flight.
- Validate your ticket; fines apply on the spot.
- Download an offline map before you land.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do I get from Athens airport to the city centre?
Take metro Line 3 or the suburban rail from the airport station to Syntagma or Monastiraki: about 40 minutes, roughly €9–10 in 2026. The X95 express bus to Syntagma is cheaper at about €5.50 but takes 50–70 minutes. A taxi costs a fixed fare of about €40 in the daytime.
How much is a taxi from Athens airport?
The fare to the centre is fixed rather than metered: about €40 in the daytime, higher at night. It covers the car, not each passenger, so it suits groups of three or four with luggage. Pre-booked transfers run about €45–70.
Is there a train from Athens airport?
Yes. Metro Line 3 and the suburban rail both serve the airport and run into the centre, roughly every 30 minutes from about 06:30 to about 23:30 (check). The trip to Syntagma takes about 40 minutes and costs about €9–10.
What is the cheapest way from Athens airport to the centre?
The express buses, at about €5.50 (2026 estimate). X95 goes to Syntagma, X93 and X96 to Piraeus. They run around the clock but take 50–90 minutes depending on traffic.
How do I get from Athens airport to Piraeus for a ferry?
Take the X93 or X96 express bus (about €5.50, 60–90 minutes), the suburban rail, or a taxi. A taxi is the quickest and simplest with luggage, especially if you are catching a timed ferry.
Deep dive
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