Getting Around AthensOct 29, 2026 · 7 min read

How to Get from Athens Airport to the City Center

Athens International Airport sits at Spata, in the east of Attica, so every visitor needs a train, a bus or a car to reach the center. You have four real choices: the metro, the X95 express bus, a taxi from the rank, or a car you book before you fly. This guide sets out the official fares and where each one leaves from. If you would rather skip the queues, our private airport transfer meets you inside the terminal and drives you straight to your hotel.

Your four options at a glance

Option	Where it leaves from	Official price	Best for
Metro Line 3	Airport railway station, follow the train signs	€9 one way, €16 return	Light luggage, daytime arrivals
X95 express bus	Arrivals level, bus stops outside the terminal	€5.50	Budget travel at any hour
Taxi or Uber	Taxi rank at Exit 3, Uber pick-up opposite Exit 4	€50 day, €65 night to the inner ring	Two or three people with bags
Pre-booked car	Your driver waits for you at arrivals	Fixed price shown when you book	Families, groups, late flights, hotels in side streets

Sources: OASA ticket prices, Athens International Airport, private transportation.

Metro Line 3, the fastest way to Syntagma on a budget

The blue Line 3 starts at the airport station and runs through the center to Piraeus. It stops at Syntagma, the main square opposite Parliament, and at Monastiraki, at the edge of Plaka. Not every Line 3 train goes to the airport, so check that the sign on the platform says Airport when you come back.

A full price Metro Airport ticket costs €9 and a reduced one costs €4.50. A return ticket costs €16 and stays valid for 30 days. Your ticket also covers 90 minutes on buses, trams and the other metro lines after you first validate it, so a change at Syntagma to reach your hotel is included (OASA).

The X95 express bus, cheap and running all night

The X95 links the airport with Syntagma. OASA runs the airport express lines 24 hours a day, and the ticket costs €5.50 full price or €2.70 reduced. You can buy it at the kiosk or tap a contactless bank card or phone on the blue validator when you board (OASA express lines).

Traffic sets the journey time. It is the cheapest way into Athens and the only public option after the metro closes.

Taxi and Uber from the rank

Taxis wait around the clock at the rank at Exit 3 of the arrivals level. The trip to the city center inner ring has a flat fare: €50 from 05:00 to 24:00 and €65 from 00:00 to 05:00. The fare includes every surcharge, and the time you arrive at your destination decides which fare applies. Drivers must give you a receipt (Athens International Airport).

Uber in Athens works with licensed taxi drivers, so the same flat fares apply. The Uber pick-up point is opposite Exit 4. Outside the inner ring the meter runs. We compare both in detail in our guide to the Athens airport taxi.

A pre-booked car with a chauffeur

Black Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan of Unique Transfers & Tours outside an airport terminal — One of our Mercedes-Benz sedans at the airport.

With a pre-booked car, your English-speaking chauffeur waits for you in the arrivals hall and walks you to the car. One guest, Gila Svirsky, wrote that our driver met them at the airport, took them to the luggage storage office and then drove them to their hotel. Pre-booked vehicles collect passengers next to Short Term 1 parking or at the pick-up and drop-off zone on the arrivals level (AIA).

In our online booking form you pick Athens International Airport and Athens City Center or your hotel address, then the number of people and the number of small and large bags. You choose the vehicle type, from a private car or a limousine to a van, a minibus or a full size coach, so a family of five does not squeeze into one taxi. You see the price before you pay. Our fleet is Mercedes-Benz, and you can see the cars in our gallery.

Which option fits your trip

Solo traveller, cabin bag, daytime landing. Take Metro Line 3 to Syntagma or Monastiraki.
Tight budget and a night flight. The X95 runs all night for €5.50.
Family with children or four or more suitcases. Book a van so everyone rides together.
Hotel in a pedestrian lane of Plaka or on a hill in Koukaki. A local driver knows the closest drop-off point and helps with your bags.

Going on to a ferry or a cruise straight away? Read our guide from Piraeus port to Athens airport for the same options in the other direction.

Reaching Plaka, Syntagma and the Acropolis

Syntagma is a stop on Lines 2 and 3. Monastiraki, on Lines 1 and 3, puts you at the edge of Plaka and a short walk from the Ancient Agora. For the Acropolis, change at Syntagma to Line 2 and get off at Akropoli, next to the Acropolis Museum.

Many lanes in Plaka are pedestrian, so a car stops at the nearest open street. If you want to see the sights with a driver on your first day, our Athens half-day tour covers the Acropolis, the Panathenaic Stadium and Plaka in about 4 hours.

Arriving late at night

The metro does not run all night. On Fridays and Saturdays, Lines 2 and 3 run later, with the last trains leaving Syntagma at 02:00 (STASY). On other nights, plan on the X95, a taxi at the €65 night fare, or a driver booked in advance who is already waiting when you walk out.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get from Athens airport to city?

The X95 bus costs €5.50 and the airport metro ticket costs €9 one way (OASA). A taxi to the city center inner ring has a flat fare of €50 from 05:00 to 24:00 and €65 from 00:00 to 05:00, surcharges included (Athens International Airport). A pre-booked car with Unique Transfers & Tours shows its fixed price in the booking form before you pay.

Is Athens Metro 24 hours?

No. The Athens metro closes at night. On Fridays and Saturdays, Lines 2 and 3 run later, and the last trains leave Syntagma at 02:00 (STASY). If you land in the early hours, the X95 express bus runs 24 hours, taxis wait at Exit 3, or you can book a car so a driver is waiting for you.

How can I get a shuttle from Athens Airport to the city?

The public shuttle is the X95 express bus to Syntagma, which runs 24 hours and costs €5.50 (OASA). For a door to door ride, Unique Transfers & Tours runs shared transfers by car or minibus with other passengers, as well as private cars and vans only for your group. Contact us or use our booking form.

How to pay for metro in Athens?

Buy a ticket at the machines or ticket offices in the station, or skip the ticket and tap a contactless bank card or phone wallet on the gate reader. OASA accepts contactless payment for full fares, including the €9 airport metro ticket and the €1.20 90 minute ticket. Validate once when you enter.

Can you get the metro from Athens Airport?

Yes. Metro Line 3, the blue line, starts at the airport station and runs through Syntagma and Monastiraki to Piraeus (Athens International Airport). Follow the train signs from arrivals. A full price airport ticket costs €9, and it also covers 90 minutes on buses, trams and the other metro lines.

How do I get to Plaka Athens?

Take Metro Line 3 from the airport to Monastiraki or Syntagma, both a short walk from Plaka. Many Plaka lanes are pedestrian, so taxis and cars stop at the nearest open street. If you book a car with Unique Transfers & Tours, your driver drops you as close to your hotel as the street allows.

What is the best way to get to the Acropolis?

From the center, take Metro Line 2 to Akropoli station, next to the Acropolis Museum, or walk up from Plaka. From the airport, ride Line 3 to Syntagma and change to Line 2. To see the Acropolis with a driver, our Athens half-day tour includes it along with the Panathenaic Stadium and Plaka.