Athens Airport to City Centre: Metro, Bus or Taxi Compared
Four ways into Athens from Eleftherios Venizelos, with prices, journey times and the option that works when you land after midnight.
From Athens airport to Syntagma, the cheapest option is the X95 express bus at €5.50, running 24 hours and taking about an hour or more in traffic. Metro Line 3 costs €9 and takes around 40 minutes, but trains run only about every 36 minutes. A taxi to the centre has a flat fare of €50 by day and €65 from midnight to 05:00, as of November 2026.
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos is about 30 km east of the centre. All public transport stops are outside the arrivals level, and the official airport transport page lists current routes.
How do the options compare?
| Option | Price (as of Nov 2026) | Time to centre | Runs at night? | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 | €9 (€16 return) | About 40 min to Syntagma | No, roughly 05:30 to 23:30 | Fine, but stations have long walks |
| X95 bus to Syntagma | €5.50 | About 60 to 90 min | Yes, 24 hours | Luggage space, can be crowded |
| X96 bus to Piraeus | €5.50 | About 90 min | Yes, 24 hours | As X95 |
| X97 bus to Elliniko | €5.50 | About 45 to 60 min | Yes (to Dafni at night) | As X95 |
| X93 bus to Kifisos coach station | €5.50 | About 65 min | Yes | As X95 |
| Taxi | €50 day, €65 night (flat, centre) | 35 to 50 min | Yes | Door to door |
Bus times depend heavily on traffic on Attiki Odos and in the centre.
How does the metro from the airport work?
Line 3 trains leave from the airport station across the footbridge from arrivals and run to Syntagma, Monastiraki and on to Piraeus. Not every Line 3 train goes to the airport, so the airport branch has a gap of about 36 minutes in the STASY timetable. Buy the €9 airport ticket at the station; normal €1.20 tickets and day passes are not valid. The €20 three-day tourist ticket includes one airport trip each way. During 2026 STASY closed parts of Line 3 on some evenings for works, so check stasy.gr if you land after 21:00.
The suburban railway (Proastiakos, run by Hellenic Train) shares the same station and runs to Larissa station and Piraeus with some changes. It suits travellers heading to the northern suburbs or Kiato; check timetables at hellenictrain.gr.
Which airport bus should I take?
- X95 to Syntagma, via Vas. Sofias Avenue: the standard choice for central hotels.
- X96 to Piraeus port, via the southern suburbs: useful for an early ferry, though slow. See our guide to ferries from Piraeus for which gate to aim for.
- X97 to Elliniko metro station (Dafni at night): connect to Line 2.
- X93 to the Kifisos KTEL coach station: for buses to the Peloponnese and western Greece.
Buy the €5.50 ticket at the kiosk by the bus stop or tap a contactless bank card on board, as of November 2026. Frequency varies through the day, so expect a wait at night.
How much is a taxi from Athens airport?
Licensed yellow taxis wait outside arrivals. Under a ministerial decision published in September 2026, the flat fare from the airport to central Athens rose from €40 to €50 by day and from €55 to €65 between midnight and 05:00, as of November 2026. The flat fare covers the car, not each passenger, and includes tolls and luggage. Some older airport and travel pages still list the earlier amounts. Trips to places outside the central zone, such as Piraeus or the southern suburbs, run on the meter. Our guide to taxis in Athens explains tariffs, card payment and complaints.
Can I use a ride app from the airport?
Yes, but in Athens the main apps book licensed taxis rather than private drivers, so the price follows the same flat fare or meter rules. Apps help when you want an English-language booking or card payment set up in advance. Private transfer companies also operate at fixed prices agreed in advance.
What works if I land at night?
- Before about 23:30, the last metro trains may still run; check STASY for works that cut service earlier.
- After that, the X95, X96, X97 and X93 buses keep running 24 hours at longer intervals.
- From midnight to 05:00, a taxi to the centre costs the €65 night flat fare, as of November 2026.
- On Saturday nights, metro Line 3 runs all night on its city section, but airport trains have run on a separate pattern; do not count on them without checking.
Whichever option you choose, keep your ticket until you leave the station or the bus. Inspectors check airport routes regularly, and the fine for travelling without a valid ticket is €100, as of November 2026.
Bottom line
Travelling alone with a backpack, take the X95 or the metro depending on traffic and the hour. Three or four people with suitcases going to the centre will often pay less per person in a taxi at the flat fare than on four metro tickets at €9 each.
FAQ
Is the €1.20 ticket valid to the airport?
No. Airport routes need their own ticket: €5.50 on the express buses or €9 on the metro, as of November 2026.
Do airport buses run all night?
Yes. The X93, X95, X96 and X97 run 24 hours, with longer gaps at night.
Is the taxi fare per person?
No. The flat fare is per car and includes luggage and tolls.
Which is fastest at rush hour?
The metro, because it avoids road traffic. Buses can take well over an hour at peak times.
