Athens Airport to City Centre: Metro, Bus, Taxi & Transfer Prices 2026

The easiest way to get from Athens Airport to the city centre is an official taxi at the flat fare of €50 by day (€65 between midnight and 05:00) to Syntagma, Plaka and the rest of the inner centre, taking around 35–60 minutes. The fastest public option is metro line 3: €9, about 40 minutes to Syntagma. The cheapest is the 24-hour X95 express bus at €5.50, roughly an hour to Syntagma Square. If you would rather have a driver waiting with your name, compare operators on our Athens Airport transfers page.

Athens Airport to the city centre: quick comparison

Option	Price	Journey time	Runs	Best for
Metro line 3 (blue line)	€9 single, €16 return	About 40 min to Syntagma	Every 36 min, about 06:10–23:34 from the airport	Syntagma, Monastiraki, Plaka hotels
Suburban railway (Proastiakos)	Check at the station	About 65 min to Piraeus	Hourly	Athens (Larissis) station, Piraeus
X95 express bus	€5.50	About 60 min to Syntagma	24 hours a day	Budgets, night arrivals
Official taxi	€50 day / €65 night (flat)	Around 35–60 min	24/7, Exit 3	Families, luggage, door-to-door
Uber (taxi via app)	Same flat fares as taxis	Around 35–60 min	24/7, opposite Exit 4	App users
Pre-booked private transfer	Fixed price agreed in advance	Around 35–60 min	24/7	Groups, late arrivals, child seats

Metro and bus fares are per person; taxi and transfer prices are per vehicle, so a taxi often works out cheaper than the metro for three or four people travelling together.

Athens Airport metro to the city: line 3

Metro line 3, the blue line, runs from the airport through central Athens to Piraeus, ending at Dimotiko Theatro. The airport station is directly opposite the terminal: leave arrivals, cross the road and follow the covered walkway signed for trains. Metro and suburban trains share the same station building, so check which platform and which ticket you need.

Airport trains run every 36 minutes, every day. According to STASY, the metro operator, the first train leaves the airport at 06:10 and the last at 23:34 on the standard timetable, and the trip to Syntagma takes about 40 minutes. Get off at Syntagma for Plaka, Kolonaki and the Parliament area, or stay on to Monastiraki for the old town and Psyrri. Line 3 continues to Piraeus port, around 60 minutes from the airport.

Engineering works in autumn 2026: from 16 September 2026, on Sunday to Thursday nights, late airport trains run only between the airport and Syntagma. The last through trains are listed at 21:10 from the airport, followed by airport–Syntagma shuttles at 21:46, 22:22, 22:58 and 23:34. If you are heading beyond Syntagma late in the evening, change there or allow extra time.

Metro airport ticket prices

The airport is outside the normal fare zone, so the standard €1.20 90-minute ticket is not valid. Current OASA prices are:

• Metro airport single: €9 (reduced €4.50), valid for 90 minutes from validation.
• Metro airport return: €16, one trip each way within 30 days.
• 3-day tourist ticket: €20, including one return airport trip and unlimited city transport for three 24-hour periods.

Buy tickets from the machines or ticket office at the airport station and validate before going through the gates. If you are staying three days or more and using public transport in town, the tourist ticket usually beats buying a return plus daily tickets. The current timetable, including any temporary changes, is on the STASY line 3 page.

Athens Airport suburban railway (Proastiakos)

Hellenic Train’s suburban railway leaves from the same station as the metro. It runs roughly hourly to Athens railway station (Larissis), where you can change to long-distance trains such as Athens–Thessaloniki, and on to Piraeus, about 65 minutes from the airport. Some trains run to Ano Liosia instead, with connections towards Kiato. For most visitors heading to Syntagma or Plaka the metro is more direct; the suburban train is mainly useful for Larissis station, onward rail journeys or a quieter ride to Piraeus. Check the Hellenic Train timetable and buy your ticket for the right destination before boarding.

X95 bus: Athens Airport to Syntagma by bus

OASA runs four airport express bus lines, all operating 24 hours a day:

• X95 to Syntagma Square (for metro lines 2 and 3) – about 60 minutes.
• X96 to Piraeus port along the coast road – about 90 minutes.
• X97 to Elliniko metro station (from Dafni metro station between 00:00 and 04:55) – about 45 minutes.
• X93 to the Kifissos and Liosion intercity bus stations – about 65 minutes.

The fare is €5.50 (reduced €2.70) for one journey. You can tap a contactless bank card or phone on board instead of buying a paper ticket, and validate once. Buses leave from the arrivals level; follow the bus signs. Journey times depend heavily on traffic, and the X95 can take well over an hour at rush hour or on Friday evenings. Departing buses from the airport only pick up passengers there, so you cannot use them for short hops on the way. Route maps and live arrivals are on the OASA airport express page.

Luggage space on the X95 is limited at busy times. With large suitcases, the metro or a taxi is usually more comfortable.

Athens Airport taxi fare to the city centre

Licensed Athens taxis are yellow and wait 24/7 at the taxi rank outside Exit 3 on the arrivals level. Trips between the airport and the inner city centre are charged at flat fares, in both directions:

• €50 from 05:00 to 24:00.
• €65 from 00:00 to 05:00.

The airport states that the flat fare includes all surcharges and extras, and that the rate is set by the time you arrive at your destination, not when you leave. Outside the inner ring – for example the southern suburbs, Glyfada or Piraeus – the taximeter applies. Confirm the flat fare with the driver before you set off, and ask for a receipt.

The ride normally takes around 35–60 minutes depending on traffic on Attiki Odos and in the centre. Taxis are standard saloons, so a family of four with large cases may struggle for boot space; a pre-booked minivan is the safer choice in that case.

Uber and taxi apps at Athens Airport

Uber in Athens books licensed taxis rather than private drivers. The airport pick-up point is on the arrivals level opposite Exit 4. Uber trips are charged by the taximeter, except that the same €50 / €65 flat fares apply between the airport and the city centre. The main advantages are card payment in the app and a fixed pick-up point; the price is the same as a taxi from the rank.

Pre-booked private transfers from Athens Airport

A taxi from the rank works well for two people with normal luggage. A pre-booked transfer is often worth it when:

• You are a group of five or more and need a minivan or minibus.
• You land late, especially after midnight, and want someone waiting at arrivals.
• You are travelling with children and need child seats fitted in advance.
• You are going beyond the flat-fare area – to Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, a coastal resort or the Peloponnese – and want a fixed price.
• You want meet and greet with a name sign, help with bags and flight tracking if you are delayed.

Pre-booked drivers meet passengers in the arrivals hall and use the pick-up areas next to Short Term 1 parking or the arrivals pick-up and drop-off zone. Limousines and licensed chauffeur cars wait on the arrivals level between Exits 3 and 4. See the airport’s taxi and private transport page for the latest pick-up arrangements.

Compare companies serving the airport on our Athens Airport (ATH) transfers hub, or browse operators across the city on the Athens transfers page. Local companies listed include Athens Transfer Service, Athens Minibus, Chauffeur Greece, George’s Taxi Athens and Athens Taxi Hub. You book directly with the company, so confirm the price, vehicle size, child seats and waiting time in writing.

Getting from Athens Airport to Piraeus, Rafina and the islands

Athens Airport to Piraeus port

Piraeus is the main ferry port for the Cyclades, Crete and the Saronic islands. From the airport you can take metro line 3 straight through (about 60 minutes, €9), the suburban railway (about 65 minutes) or the 24-hour X96 bus (about 90 minutes, €5.50). A taxi is charged by the meter rather than the city-centre flat fare. Piraeus is large, so check which gate your ferry leaves from and allow time to walk or take the port shuttle.

Athens Airport to Rafina and Lavrio

Rafina, on the east coast, is much closer to the airport than Piraeus and has ferries and fast boats to Mykonos, Tinos, Andros and other Cyclades. KTEL Attikis regional buses run from the airport arrivals level to Rafina. For Lavrio, which serves Kea and some Cyclades routes, take the KTEL bus to Markopoulo and change; services are sparse and daytime only, so a taxi or transfer is often simpler.

Mykonos and Santorini

Ferries to Mykonos leave from both Piraeus and Rafina, while most ferries to Santorini leave from Piraeus. Both islands also have direct flights from Athens Airport. If you are connecting straight from a flight to an early ferry, book a transfer to the port in advance and check the ferry operator’s timetable for the day.

Tips for arriving at Athens Airport

• Night arrivals: the metro stops before midnight and, on Sunday–Thursday nights during the autumn 2026 works, runs only to Syntagma late in the evening. After that, your choices are the X95 bus (24 hours), a taxi at the €65 night flat fare, or a pre-booked transfer.
• Use the official rank: take taxis only from the rank at Exit 3 or a car you have booked. Ignore offers of rides inside the terminal.
• Know the flat fare: €50 by day and €65 at night to the city centre, all-inclusive. A driver should not add luggage or toll supplements on top.
• Paying by card: contactless works on the airport buses and Uber charges your card in the app. Many taxis accept cards, but carry some cash in case the terminal is not working, and ask before you get in.
• Tipping: not expected. Rounding up or leaving a couple of euros for help with heavy bags is common.
• Peak traffic: weekday rush hours and Friday afternoons can add 20–30 minutes by road. The metro is the most predictable option at these times.
• Return trip: buying the €16 metro return or the €20 3-day tourist ticket on arrival saves queuing at the machines on the day you fly out.