Three public options cover most arrivals: Metro Line 3, the X95 airport express bus and an official taxi. Choose based on your destination, arrival time, luggage and number of people rather than assuming the metro is always best.
Metro Line 3: best for central metro stations
Line 3 connects Athens Airport with Syntagma and Monastiraki, then runs towards Piraeus. Journey time to Syntagma is about 40 minutes and full-price airport metro admission is €9. Airport trains do not run with the same frequency as ordinary central services, and the metro is not an all-night option. Consult the airport’s public transport page before arriving.
X95 bus: useful for Syntagma and late arrivals
The X95 express bus connects the airport with Syntagma and is an alternative when the metro is not operating. The airport express bus fare is €5.50, separate from ordinary OASA travel. Traffic affects the journey time. Choose this bus if your accommodation is within a sensible walk or taxi ride of Syntagma.
Taxi: best for door-to-door journeys
Official airport taxis wait outside Arrivals Exit 3. The fixed fare for the designated central Athens zone is €40 between 05:00 and midnight and €55 from midnight until 05:00, according to the airport transport guidance. The applicable band is determined by arrival at the destination and applies to the specified zone, not every address in Attica. Confirm your destination and request a receipt.
Going to a ferry?
For Piraeus, Line 3 and the X96 bus offer different journey options; the airport estimates roughly 60 minutes by metro and 90 minutes by X96, depending on conditions. Rafina has regional bus connections from the airport. Lavrio requires a different regional transfer. Do not follow a Piraeus route if your ferry leaves from Rafina or Lavrio.
Buying tickets
Use the official machines or sales points and compare the individual airport fare with the three-day tourist ticket if you expect to return to the airport during its validity. Standard €1.20 city tickets do not cover the airport leg. Prices and routes were checked in October 2026; verify shortly before travelling.
PRACTICAL NEXT STEP
Turn the information into a workable plan.
Use the linked practical guides to sort transport, tickets and timing before you build the rest of your stay.