Arrival
Getting from Athens Airport to the city
Three easy options from Athens International Airport (ATH) to the centre: Metro Line 3 (the blue line) straight to Syntagma in about 40 minutes, the 24-hour X95 express bus to Syntagma, or a fixed-fare taxi. Pick the metro unless you land overnight or have heavy bags.
Metro Line 3 — simplest for most arrivals
The blue Metro Line 3 runs directly from the airport to Syntagma and Monastiraki in roughly 40 minutes, with no traffic to worry about. The airport leg uses a special airport ticket (about €9 one way as of mid-2026), which is more than a normal city ticket — normal 90-minute tickets are not valid on the airport section.
Trains run roughly from early morning to late evening, so this is the default for daytime arrivals heading to the historic centre.
X95 express bus — cheapest and runs all night
The X95 express bus goes from the airport to Syntagma Square around the clock, every day, for about €5.50 (mid-2026). It is the cheapest option and the one to use when the metro is closed, but it shares the road, so allow 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.
Taxi — fixed flat fare, best with luggage or at night
Licensed taxis from the airport to central Athens charge a fixed flat fare — roughly €40 by day and €55 at night (midnight–05:00) as of mid-2026, regardless of traffic. Use the official taxi rank, agree it is the flat fare, and a ride-hail app such as FREENOW can also book a licensed taxi. The trip is usually 35–45 minutes.
Which to choose
Daytime, light bags, staying central: take the metro. Overnight landing or metro closed: take the X95. Heavy luggage, a group, or a door-to-door drop: take the fixed-fare taxi. Always confirm current fares and metro hours on the official sources below before you travel.
Rent a car at the airport instead (optional)
Metro, bus, or the flat-fare taxi covers almost every arrival. A rental only earns its keep when the wider trip needs your own wheels from day one.
This is a partner link to Booking.com Cars, a third-party car-rental comparison service — not a rental desk and not an official transport source. It opens the general Booking.com Cars search, so set your own pick-up location and dates, and confirm licence, driver-age, insurance, deposit, and fuel rules with the rental company before booking.
Own wheels option
Compare rental cars for the trip
If your plan needs your own wheels — Sounion at your own pace, coast stops, or a flexible arrival — compare live rental prices and pick-up points on Booking.com Cars.
Best for:Visitors who decided a rental fits their route better than tours and transfers.
A partner link to the general Booking.com Cars search, not a pre-filtered Athens results page and not a rental desk. Set your own pick-up location and dates, and check licence, driver-age, insurance, and deposit terms before booking.
Compare rental cars on Booking.comVia Booking.com
Reviewed source trail
- This Is Athens (official city visitor guide) — Coming from the airport - checked 2026-06-11
- Athens International Airport — to/from the airport - checked 2026-06-11
Last reviewed June 11, 2026