Arrival
Getting from Athens Airport to the city
Choose Metro Line 3 for a daytime arrival with light bags, the 24-hour X95 bus when the metro is closed, or a licensed taxi for a door-to-door trip. Check service alerts before an evening metro journey.
Metro Line 3 — simplest for most arrivals
Under normal service, Metro Line 3 connects the airport with Syntagma and Monastiraki in about 40 minutes. The airport section requires a separate €9 single ticket; ordinary 90-minute city tickets do not cover it. Evening engineering work can interrupt through service, so check the current STASY and OASA notices for your travel date.
Trains run roughly from early morning to late evening, so this is the default for daytime arrivals heading to the historic centre.
Check STASY’s current airport timetable before travelling: not every Line 3 train serves the airport, and the Saturday 24-hour metro service excludes the airport section.
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 airport taxis charge €40 to destinations inside the central Athens inner ring from 05:00 to midnight, or €55 from midnight to 05:00. The fare is determined by the arrival time at your destination and includes applicable charges. Use the official rank at Arrivals Exit 3; destinations outside the ring use different pricing. Allow for traffic rather than relying on a fixed journey time.
A ride-hail app such as FREENOW can also arrange a licensed taxi; check its quoted fare and any app terms before confirming.
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.
Reviewed source trail
- This Is Athens (official city visitor guide) — Coming from the airport - checked 2026-09-15
- Athens International Airport — taxis and private transport - checked 2026-09-12
- OASA — ticket prices - checked 2026-09-12
- STASY — Line 3 and airport timetable - checked 2026-09-12
Last reviewed September 15, 2026