Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizatos (ATH) opened in March 2001 and replaced the former Hellinikon Airport. The airport sits 33 kilometers east of central Athens in the municipality of Spata. The single passenger terminal handles approximately 25 million passengers annually, making it the primary air gateway for Greece. The airport occupies 1,000 hectares and was built in 51 months by a consortium led by Hochtief. The runway measures 4,000 meters in length. The Greek government owns 55 percent of the airport through the state, while a private consortium holds 45 percent. In 2019, the airport served 25.6 million passengers before the COVID-19 pandemic reduced those numbers. The terminal features two connected buildings: the Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal, linked by an underground walkway. Non-Schengen flights typically use gates in the Satellite Terminal, while Schengen and domestic flights use the Main Terminal. The airport earned the Skytrax award for Best Regional Airport in Southern Europe multiple times between 2005 and 2019.
Immigration lines for non-EU passport holders can extend to 45 minutes during summer afternoon arrivals when multiple long-haul flights land simultaneously. The airport typically processes widebody aircraft from North America, the Middle East, and Asia between 13:00 and 17:00 local time. EU and Schengen passport holders use automated gates, which process travelers in approximately 20 seconds per person. The airport installed 26 automated border control e-gates in 2017. Non-EU travelers must present passports to border police officers at staffed booths. Greece requires passports valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure date from the Schengen Area. Visa requirements depend on nationality—travelers should consult https://www.mfa.gr for current rules specific to their citizenship. The arrivals hall includes 14 baggage carousels divided between Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Carousel assignments appear on overhead monitors approximately five minutes before bags begin delivery. Lost baggage claims go through airline-specific offices located on the arrivals level between carousels 1 and 4.
Currency exchange offices operate in the arrivals hall beyond baggage claim, but rates typically run 5 to 8 percent below mid-market rates found on interbank platforms. Eurobank, Alpha Bank, and National Bank of Greece maintain ATMs in the arrivals hall that dispense euros in denominations of 20 and 50. Greek banks typically charge non-customers a withdrawal fee of €3 to €4.50 per transaction. Greece uses the euro, adopted in 2001 when it became the twelfth member of the eurozone. ATMs generally offer better exchange rates than currency windows because they use wholesale interbank rates, though visitors should check their home bank's foreign transaction fees. Some Greek ATMs impose maximum withdrawal limits of €400 or €600 per transaction. The airport arrivals hall includes a Vodafone store, a Cosmote store, and a Wind Hellas store where travelers can purchase Greek SIM cards. Prepaid SIM packages with 10 to 20 gigabytes of data and domestic calls typically cost €15 to €25. Greece uses GSM 900/1800 MHz and 3G/4G LTE networks on standard European frequencies. EU visitors can use their home mobile plans without roaming charges under EU regulations implemented in June 2017.
The Metro Line 3 (blue line) connects the airport to central Athens with trains departing every 30 minutes throughout most of the day and hourly during early morning and late night. The metro station sits at the bottom level of the terminal, accessible by elevator or escalator. A one-way ticket to central Athens costs €9 and includes unlimited transfers within 90 minutes to other public transport modes. The journey to Syntagma Square station takes approximately 40 minutes. The first train departs the airport at 06:30 and the last train leaves at 23:30. From central Athens toward the airport, trains begin at 05:50 and run until 22:50. Tickets must be validated in the blue machines before descending to the platform—€60 fines apply for unvalidated tickets. The metro line opened in 2000 in preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Stations between the airport and the city center include Paiania-Kantza, Koropi, and Pallini before the line joins the main Athens metro network.
Express bus services provide an alternative to the metro, operating 24 hours. The X95 bus runs between the airport and Syntagma Square every 20 to 40 minutes depending on time of day, with a journey time of 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. The X93 bus connects to the Kifisos intercity bus station for travelers continuing to destinations outside Athens. The X96 bus serves Piraeus port for ferry connections. The X97 bus runs to the Elliniko metro station. All express buses cost €5.50 for a one-way ticket, purchased from ticket booths near the bus stops outside the arrivals hall or from the driver. The bus stops sit outside the arrivals level exit, marked with signs in Greek and English. Tickets for the express buses do not permit transfers to other public transport. The X95 operates approximately every 20 minutes during daytime hours and every 40 minutes during nighttime hours.
Taxis queue outside the arrivals exit in a designated area managed by airport staff. The flat rate to central Athens is €38 during daytime (05:00 to 24:00) and €54 during nighttime (24:00 to 05:00). These flat rates apply to destinations within the Athens city center ring road. Additional charges include €1.20 per piece of luggage over 10 kilograms, €4 for pickups from the airport, and tolls if using the Attiki Odos highway (€2.80 per toll station). The journey to central Athens takes 35 to 50 minutes with no traffic, but can extend to 90 minutes during weekday morning (07:30 to 09:30) and evening (17:00 to 20:00) rush hours. Greek taxis are yellow for Athens and various colors in other regions. Meters must run for all trips—the flat rate to central Athens is an exception established by regulation. Ride-sharing services including Uber, Beat, and Free Now operate at the airport, with pickup points in the departures level to avoid airport taxi fees. App-based rides to central Athens typically cost €25 to €40 depending on surge pricing and time of day.
Car rental agencies occupy the arrivals hall with desks for Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt, Enterprise, and local Greek companies including Surprice and AutoUnion. Greece requires drivers to be at least 21 years old for most rental categories, with some companies imposing a minimum age of 23 for larger vehicles. Drivers under 25 typically pay a young driver surcharge of €5 to €15 per day. An International Driving Permit is recommended for non-EU license holders, though not strictly mandatory for tourists from many countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Rental rates for a compact manual transmission car start around €25 to €35 per day for weekly rentals booked in advance. Greece drives on the right side of the road. The airport access road connects directly to the Attiki Odos highway (A6), which rings Athens and links to major routes including the A1 toward Thessaloniki and the A8 toward Patras.
Private transfer services can be pre-booked through hotel concierges or online platforms including Welcome Pickups and Athens Transfer. These services typically cost €45 to €60 for a sedan to central Athens and include meet-and-greet service in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Drivers usually monitor flight arrival times and adjust pickup timing accordingly. Private transfers eliminate the taxi queue wait, which can reach 20 to 30 minutes during peak afternoon arrival periods. Some luxury hotels including Hotel Grande Bretagne, King George Athens, and Electra Metropolis offer their own car service for guests at rates typically ranging from €70 to €100 depending on vehicle class.
Mobile phone signal reaches the airport through all three major Greek carriers. Public WiFi is available free throughout the terminal for unlimited duration—users connect to the "Athens Airport Free WiFi" network and register with an email address or social media account. The WiFi network supports basic browsing and messaging but may slow during peak times. The terminal includes approximately 200 seats with integrated USB charging ports concentrated in gate areas and the departures lounge. Standard European two-pin outlets (Type C and Type F, 230V/50Hz) are available at various locations. Travelers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom need plug adapters.
The arrivals hall includes a Goody's Burger House, a Grigoris restaurant serving Greek food, a Starbucks, and a Mikel Coffee Company location. Food pricing in the airport runs approximately 30 to 50 percent above Athens city center rates. A Greek coffee at the airport costs around €3.50 compared to €2.50 in central Athens. Full meal options including moussaka, souvlaki, or gyros cost €12 to €16 in airport restaurants compared to €8 to €12 in city tavernas. The McDonald's in the departures area (accessible from arrivals through the terminal interior) offers Big Mac meals for approximately €7. Supermarkets are not present in the terminal, but a small convenience store near the arrivals hall sells bottled water for €2 to €2.50 per 500ml bottle compared to €0.50 in city supermarkets.
The airport medical center operates 24 hours on the arrivals level near carousel 4. The facility handles minor medical issues, basic first aid, and can coordinate ambulance transport to Athens hospitals if needed. Pharmacies in the terminal are located airside in the departures area—arrivals passengers would need to access city pharmacies. The closest hospital with emergency services is Attikon University Hospital, located approximately 15 kilometers from the airport. For serious medical situations, airport staff coordinate with the National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB), which operates ambulance services throughout Greece.
Luggage storage services operate through Pacific Travel Services, located in the arrivals hall near the exit. Storage costs approximately €6 to €10 per bag per day depending on size. The facility accepts bags for periods from a few hours to several days. Operating hours typically run from 06:00 to 22:00. The service requires presentation of identification matching the name on the storage receipt for pickup. Some travelers use luggage storage when arriving on early morning flights before hotel check-in times or during same-day transit situations requiring Athens exploration.
The Sofitel Athens Airport hotel connects directly to the terminal via an enclosed walkway accessible from the arrivals and departures levels. The 345-room property opened in 2001 alongside the airport. Rooms typically cost €120 to €200 per night depending on season and booking timing. The hotel serves travelers with early departures, late arrivals, or short Athens layovers. Day rooms can sometimes be booked for shorter periods at reduced rates. Several hotels operate shuttle services from the airport area including the Holiday Inn Athens Airport (3 kilometers away), Dolce Attica Riviera (15 kilometers), and Avra Collection Rafina (25 kilometers toward the coast).
Tourist information desks operated by the Greek National Tourism Organization appear in the arrivals hall near the exit doors. Staff provide maps, public transport guidance, and basic Athens orientation information. The desks stock free city maps and pamphlets for major archaeological sites. Hours typically run from 09:00 to 21:00 daily, with reduced hours during winter months (November through March). The information desk staff speak English and usually French and German.
Banking facilities beyond ATMs include a Eurobank branch on the arrivals level that handles currency exchange, cash advances on credit cards, and basic banking services for account holders. Operating hours run approximately 08:00 to 14:00 Monday through Friday, closed on weekends. The bank maintains longer hours during summer peak season (June through September) including some weekend coverage.
Car parking at Athens International Airport includes short-term parking (P1) directly opposite the terminal entrance, charging €3 for the first hour and €1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum of €20. Long-term parking (P3) costs €10 per day with discounts for weekly parking (€60 per week). A free shuttle bus connects long-term parking to the terminal every 10 minutes. Electric vehicle charging stations operate in P1 parking with 22kW AC chargers and 50kW DC fast chargers. The airport installed 40 charging points in 2020.
Public transport options from the airport extend beyond Athens to other regions. The KTEL intercity bus network connects through the X93 bus to Kifisos bus station, where services reach destinations including Delphi, Meteora, Thessaloniki, and Patras. Some private bus companies including KTEL Attikis operate direct airport services to destinations including Nafplio (2.5 hours, €20), scheduled to coordinate with common flight arrival times. These services typically require advance booking through the bus company websites or ticket offices in the arrivals hall.
Thessaloniki Airport Macedonia (SKG) serves as the secondary international gateway, located 15 kilometers southeast of Thessaloniki city center. The airport handled approximately 7 million passengers in 2019. Fraport Greece operates Thessaloniki Airport under a 40-year concession that began in 2017 covering 14 regional Greek airports. The terminal underwent expansion and renovation completed in 2021, increasing capacity to 10 million passengers annually. Public bus line 78 connects the airport to the Thessaloniki city center for €2, operating every 30 minutes during daytime hours. Taxis to central Thessaloniki cost approximately €20 to €25 and take 20 to 30 minutes. The airport serves international flights from European cities, Middle Eastern hubs, and seasonal charter operations, plus domestic flights to Athens (seven to ten flights daily on Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines, flight time 55 minutes).
Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis (HER) in Crete handles approximately 8 million passengers annually, primarily during the April through October tourist season. The airport sits 5 kilometers east of Heraklion city center. Buses operate to the city center for €1.20, while taxis cost approximately €15 to €20 for the 15-minute journey. The airport serves international seasonal flights from across Europe and year-round connections to Athens. A new airport for Heraklion (Kasteli Airport) is under construction 35 kilometers southeast of the city with projected opening in 2025 or 2026.
Rhodes International Airport Diagoras (RHO) processed approximately 5.5 million passengers in 2019, located 14 kilometers southwest of Rhodes Town. Public buses connect to Rhodes Town for €2.50, operating every 30 to 60 minutes depending on season. Taxis cost approximately €25 to €30 to Rhodes Town. The airport operates primarily seasonal international flights from April through October, plus year-round Athens connections.
Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias (CFU) sits 3 kilometers south of Corfu Town on the island's east coast. The airport handled approximately 3 million passengers in 2019. Local bus line 15 connects to Corfu Town for €1.50. Taxis to Corfu Town cost approximately €10 to €15. The airport primarily operates during the April through October season with European charter and scheduled flights, plus year-round Athens service.
Other regional airports include Chania International Airport Daskalogiannis (CHQ) in western Crete, Kos International Airport Hippocrates (KGS), Zakynthos International Airport Dionysios Solomos (ZTH), Santorini Airport Thira (JTR), Mykonos International Airport (JMK), Kefalonia Airport Anna Pollatou (EFL), and Skiathos Airport Alexandros Papadiamantis (JSI). Fraport Greece operates 14 regional airports under concession including most tourist islands. These airports primarily handle seasonal European traffic from April through October with limited winter service beyond Athens connections.
Domestic flights within Greece are operated primarily by Aegean Airlines (Greece's largest carrier founded in 1987 and a Star Alliance member since 2010) and Olympic Air (founded in 2009 after the bankruptcy of the original Olympic Airways). Sky Express, based in Heraklion, operates additional domestic routes including service to smaller islands. Domestic flights between Athens and major islands typically cost €40 to €90 one-way when booked in advance, with prices rising significantly for last-minute bookings or peak summer travel. Flight times from Athens include: Thessaloniki 55 minutes, Heraklion 50 minutes, Rhodes 55 minutes, Santorini 40 minutes, Mykonos 35 minutes, Corfu 1 hour.
Greece requires all arriving passengers to carry proof of accommodation for their first nights or a detailed itinerary. Border officials may ask for evidence of onward travel and sufficient funds for the stay, though these checks are infrequent for tourists from visa-exempt countries. The legal requirement for proof of accommodation exists but is rarely enforced for tourists arriving on European or North American passports with return tickets. The requirement becomes more relevant for travelers on one-way tickets or those with nationalities requiring closer documentation scrutiny.