Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH) sits about 35 km from the center. There are three main options: Metro Line 3 (Blue Line) in 40 min for $10; the X95 express bus in 60-90 min for $6; or a fixed-tariff taxi in 35-50 min for $44.
🚇 Ways into the center
- Metro Line 3 → Syntagma / Monastiraki: 40-45 min, $10 (€9)
- X95 express bus → Syntagma: 60-90 min, $6 (€5.50)
- Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) → Larissa Station: 35-45 min, $10 (€9)
- X96 bus → Piraeus port: 60-90 min, $6 (€5.50)
- Fixed-tariff taxi: 35-50 min, $44 (€40) day, $61 (€55) night
- Bolt / FREE NOW: $28-44 (€25-40)
🚆 Metro Line 3 (Blue Line) — fastest
Line 3 (Blue) is the only line serving the airport. The Airport station sits right next to arrivals — third-floor walkway.
Central stops: Syntagma (Parliament), Monastiraki (heart of Plaka), Egaleo. Tickets via the Athena Card — $10 single, $19 round-trip valid 48 hours (good for a short stay).
Athena Card 3-Day Tourist Ticket: $24 (€22) — covers one round-trip to/from the airport plus three days of city transit.
🚌 X95 express — budget option
X95 is OASA's official express, 24/7, every 15-30 min.
Route: ATH → Mesogeion → Syntagma. Full trip 60-90 min, up to 2 hours in heavy traffic.
- X95 → Syntagma (center): $6 (€5.50)
- X96 → Piraeus port: $6 (€5.50) — for cruises
- X93 → Kifissos Bus Terminal: $6 (€5.50)
- X97 → Elliniko Metro Line 2
🚖 Fixed-tariff taxi
A fixed tariff applies from ATH to central Athens — you can't be overcharged.
- Daytime (05:00-24:00): $44 (€40)
- Night (00:00-05:00): $61 (€55)
- To Piraeus port: $66 (€60) daytime
The fixed tariff only applies between ATH and central Athens. For other destinations it's the meter — sometimes inflated.
📱 Bolt and FREE NOW
Bolt is popular in Greece — ATH to Syntagma runs $28-44. FREE NOW (formerly myTaxi) hails official taxis and is 10-20% pricier.
Pickup zone: Exit 1, Exit 4 at arrivals level.
💡 Tips
- Buy an Athena Card on arrival — the physical card is ~$4 and only needs buying once
- In summer (July-August) the metro is air-conditioned but often crowded
- For late-night flights, Bolt beats the X95 — the X95 thins out after 23:00
- For the Acropolis Museum, get off at Acropoli (Line 2), one change from Syntagma
Full Athens guide on Travel365's Tbilisi → Athens article.
Tags
