Athens International Airport (ATH) sits in the Mesogeia plain, 34 km by road east of Syntagma Square. Metro Line 3 reaches the centre without a change, and the X95 bus covers the hours when the trains stop.
Short answer: take metro Line 3 straight to Syntagma: about 40 minutes on the €9.00 airport ticket, with no change, and on to Monastiraki for Plaka. The cheapest option is the X95 express bus to Syntagma Square: €5.50, about 60 minutes, and it runs 24 hours a day. Taxis charge a state flat fare to the centre. By car it is 34 km, about 35 minutes without traffic. Our private transfer costs €50 per car (1–3 passengers) and €95 per van (4–8).
| Option | Travel time | Price | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 to Syntagma / Monastiraki | about 40 min to Syntagma | €9.00 | 0 | Most travellers, hotels near Syntagma and Plaka |
| X95 express bus to Syntagma Square | about 60 min | €5.50 | 0 | Lowest fare, arrivals at any hour |
| Suburban train to Athens (Larissa) station | 45 min, hourly | €9.00 | 0 (1 for the centre via metro Line 2) | Hotels near Larissa station or Omonia |
| Taxi from the airport rank | about 35 min | state flat fare to the centre (amount on aia.gr) | 0 | Door to door without booking |
| ShuttleHero private transfer | about 35 min (longer at rush hour) | €50 per car (1–3), €95 per van (4–8) | 0 | Families, groups, luggage, late flights |
Line 3 (blue) starts at the airport station, a covered walk from the terminal. It runs through Doukissis Plakentias and Evangelismos to Syntagma, where it meets Line 2. STASY gives about 40 minutes between the airport and Syntagma. The next stop is Monastiraki, for Plaka, the Acropolis area and Line 1. On the airport section STASY lists a train every 36 minutes, so check the departure board before you buy coffee.
The airport metro ticket costs €9.00 (reduced €4.50) and lasts 90 minutes, so you can change to Lines 1 or 2 on the same ticket. A return for €16.00 is valid for 30 days. The 3-day tourist ticket at €20.00 includes one trip to and one trip from the airport and is worth it if you stay a few days. The €1.20 city ticket does not work at the airport gates.
OASA's X95 runs from the arrivals level to Syntagma Square, connecting there with metro Lines 2 and 3. OASA estimates about 60 minutes, and Mesogeion and Vasilissis Sofias Avenues can add to that at rush hour. The line runs 24 hours a day. The fare is €5.50 (reduced €2.70), or tap a contactless bank card on the validator for the same amount. The ticket covers this one journey and is not valid on the metro.
Hellenic Train's suburban line from the airport stops at Athens (Larissa) railway station 45 minutes after leaving, with one train an hour at :32. Larissa station is north-west of Omonia and connects with metro Line 2 for Omonia and Syntagma. The €9.00 airport ticket is valid. It suits hotels around Larissa station or travellers with an onward train.
Taxis wait at Exit 3 of the arrivals level. Trips between the airport and the centre inside the inner ring have a flat fare set by the state, which includes the surcharges. The airport publishes the current amount on its taxi page; check it before you travel. By road the trip is about 34 km via the Attiki Odos toll motorway and Mesogeion Avenue, about 35 minutes without traffic. Plaka and the streets below the Acropolis are largely pedestrian, so cars stop at the nearest open street, usually around Syntagma or Amalias Avenue.
A private transfer Athens Airport → city centre costs €50 per car for 1–3 passengers and €95 per van for 4–8 passengers. The price is per vehicle, fixed and paid by card when you book, with luggage included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and a child seat costs +€10. In Plaka the driver stops at the nearest street open to traffic.
Athens Airport → city centre
Car, 1–3 passengers: €50 · Van, 4–8 passengers: €95
All flights at Athens International Airport arrive in the same main terminal building. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall, beyond baggage reclaim and the customs exit, with a sign showing your name. We track your flight and you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing.
Solo or as a couple heading for Syntagma, Plaka or Monastiraki: metro Line 3, about 40 minutes and simple. On a tight budget or landing after the trains stop: the X95 for €5.50, which runs 24 hours a day. Staying three days or more: the €20.00 tourist ticket covers both airport runs. With children, a lot of luggage or a group of four or more: a car to the door, where one van at €95 replaces several tickets and the last walk through pedestrian streets.
Metro Line 3 runs direct to Syntagma in about 40 minutes for €9.00. By car the trip takes about 35 minutes without traffic.
The X95 express bus costs €5.50 and runs 24 hours a day, taking about 60 minutes depending on traffic.
Yes. A state flat fare covers trips between the airport and the city centre inside the inner ring, tolls included. The airport lists the current amount on its taxi page.
No. You need the €9.00 airport ticket, the €16.00 return or the €20.00 3-day tourist ticket. The €1.20 ticket is not valid at the airport station.
Our transfer costs €50 per car for 1–3 passengers and €95 per van for 4–8 passengers, fixed when you book, luggage included.
Public transport times and fares were checked on 25 October 2026 on the operators' websites. Timetables and fares change, so check the operator before you travel.
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