Athens International Airport (ATH) is Greece’s largest airport and your main gateway for reaching the country, whether you’re flying seasonally transatlantic on carriers like Air Canada, American, Delta and United, or connecting through European and Middle Eastern hubs. It’s the hub for national carrier Aegean Airlines and serves local carrier Sky Express, giving you plenty of options across both full-service and budget airlines.
The single-terminal-plus-satellite design makes it easy to navigate and it’s well connected to public transport, although in peak periods you’ll want to leave plenty of time to get through departures. Here are the rest of my expert tips for experiencing Athens International Airport.
Getting to and from Athens Airport
Figuring out how to get to and from the airport can be a headache, but ATH is well-connected, giving you plenty of options to fit your budget and schedule. Whether you prefer the speed of a train or the convenience of a taxi, here’s the breakdown.
By rail and metro
Athens International Airport offers two rail options just across the parking lot from the main terminal: the Proastiakos (Athens Suburban and Regional Railway) commuter train and the Athens Metro, connected via an elevated walkway. Both are excellent, modern systems that work much like in any other major global city.
The suburban railway connects to Piraeus via central Athens and also serves Ano Liosia with connections at stations including Kato Acharnai. Metro Line 3 (the Blue Line) also heads into central Athens and out towards Piraeus. If you’re heading into central Athens, my advice is to pick whichever one gets you closer to your final destination.
If you’re traveling to Piraeus, the Metro takes about 60 minutes while the Suburban Railway takes about 65 minutes - so just pick whichever option is leaving first. The stations are quite literally across the road from each other at the port. Piraeus has many cruise and ferry terminals, some quite a distance from the stations, so check yours carefully when planning your connection.
By bus
If you’re taking a cruise from Piraeus, most cruise lines will offer you a transfer bus from the airport for a substantial fee. It’s often more than a taxi would cost, but it can be a lower-stress option if you don’t want to handle your own luggage.
There are also four 24-hour express bus lines run by local operator OASA: X93, X95, X96 and X97. The X95 to Syntagma Square and X96 to Piraeus port are likely to be the most useful for visitors. You might also find the X93 to the Intercity Bus Stations (Kifissos and Liosion) or X97 to Elliniko metro station useful in a pinch. They’re a little cheaper than the metro or train, but traffic makes timing a lot less predictable.
By car, taxi and rideshare
Taxis are usually plentiful at the airport taxi stand on the arrivals level. Athens taxis are generally safe - usually sedan cars, station wagons or minivans - but credit card machines may be broken or “broken,” so I always confirm I can pay by card before getting in.
You can also use the FREENOW or Uber apps to summon a taxi, which can be very helpful for getting to the airport. I recommend setting up both accounts well in advance for ease of use. A variety of pre-booking apps, including the Athens-founded Welcome Pickups, also operate here. I’ve used them when arriving late at night to make sure I’m not left waiting.
Terminal and layout of ATH
Athens International Airport is relatively easy to navigate with a single main terminal handling all check-in, security, passport controls, customs and baggage claim. A satellite terminal with additional gates connects via an underground walkway. It’s a relatively recent space, but it can still get very crowded at peak times.
Your departure area depends on your destination: you’ll use area B for flights within the European Schengen Area (treated like domestic flights), while you’ll use area A for non-Schengen countries like the UK and US. You’ll need to walk quite a distance to reach the satellite terminal from the main terminal.
Most shops, restaurants and bars are in the main terminal, so I recommend stocking up before heading over to the satellite if you want anything. If you or anyone you’re traveling with has mobility restrictions, I’d certainly recommend asking for assistance from your airline if it uses the satellite terminal.
There’s one hotel within the airport area – the Sofitel, located just opposite the main terminal at arrivals level. It’s fine as far as airport hotels go, though a little dated. A few more options are outside the airport, but most are quite a distance away.
Arriving in Athens
Passengers arriving from a Schengen Area country simply proceed through the terminal to baggage claim. If you’re arriving from outside the Schengen Area, you’ll pass through passport control before proceeding to baggage reclaim and customs.
Passport control and baggage claim wait times can vary, especially during peak summer periods and particularly on summer weekends - something to keep in mind if you’re connecting internationally.
One practical note: Athens can get extremely hot in summer. If you’re sensitive to the heat, I’d recommend choosing flights that arrive in the early morning or late evening, when temperatures are relatively cooler but still hot.
Check-in, security lines and departures at ATH
Online check-in is available with many airlines departing from Athens - and note that for some airlines, it may be your only option. In fact, some carriers will charge you extra if you haven’t checked in online and need a boarding pass printed at the airport. If you do need to get a boarding pass or drop off checked baggage, verify your airline’s check-in area as you enter the terminal.
If you’re being dropped off by car, check which desks your airline uses on the airport website before you arrive so you can be delivered to the closest door.
Security rules follow standard EU regulations, with liquids restricted to containers of no more than 100ml, all placed in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag with a capacity of up to 1 liter. Lines can be long at peak times but tend to flow quickly. Check with your airline about any priority security options that might be available.
ATH lounges and free Wi-Fi
Athens airport has a lot of lounges for an airport this size. There are four in each of the two departure areas in the main terminal, plus another in the satellite building. Check with your airline for which ones you can use if you’re a business class passenger or a frequent flyer.
For non-Schengen departures (area A), you’ll find an Aegean Airlines Business Lounge and three third-party options: Skyserv Handling Services, Goldair Handling and Swissport. In the Schengen departures area (B), there are lounges from Aegean and Lufthansa, plus one each from Goldair Handling and Skyserv (the “Melina Merkouri” lounge). The satellite terminal has a lounge run by Goldair Handling.
Check which lounges accept your membership program - they can get very busy at peak times. In my opinion, the Aegean lounges are better than the others, especially the one for Schengen flights in area B.
Star Alliance business class passengers and frequent flyers should know they have access to the Aegean (and Lufthansa) lounges when traveling in International First or Business Class on a Star Alliance member flight. Star Alliance Gold status holders can also access these lounges and bring one guest on the same flight. Some Star Alliance airlines contract with the third-party lounges, too.
Free Wi-Fi is available across the airport terminal – just look for the “ATH Free Wi-Fi” network. The free service offers unlimited internet through 60-minute sessions, and you can reconnect if there’s still time before your flight.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
