Athens Transportation Guide: Airport, Metro, Taxis, Ferries & Getting Around

Greece › Athens › Transportation
Updated: May 9, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

See Also

• Athens Airport Rental Cars
• Best Hotels in Athens
• Best Family Hotels in Athens
• Athens Airport Hotels
• Where to Stay in Athens
• Piraeus Ferry Port Guide

Athens Transportation: The Short Version

Athens is one of the easier big European cities to get around. The Metro is clean, safe, cheap, and useful. The historic center is very walkable. Taxis are plentiful and still relatively inexpensive compared with many European capitals. The main thing visitors need to get right is not everyday sightseeing, but airport transfers, ferry port transfers, and hotel location.

• Best way from Athens Airport to central Athens: Metro Line 3 if you are staying near Syntagma, Monastiraki, Plaka, or the historic center and have manageable luggage. Taxi or pre-booked transfer if you arrive late, have lots of luggage, are traveling with kids, or are staying on a small pedestrian street.
• Best way from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port: Metro Line 3 during the day. X96 bus late at night. Taxi or private transfer if your ferry timing is tight or you are traveling as a group.
• Best way around central Athens: Walk plus metro. Do not rent a car for Athens sightseeing.
• Best taxi apps: FreeNow and Uber Taxi. Both call regular licensed yellow taxis.
• Best advice for ferry days: Leave earlier than you think. Piraeus is big, traffic can be slow, and some ferry gates are a long walk from the metro station.

From Athens Airport to Central Athens

Athens International Airport (ATH) is about 30 km east of central Athens. For most visitors, the three realistic choices are metro, airport express bus, or taxi.

Metro from Athens Airport to Athens

• Best for: Most first-time visitors staying near Syntagma, Monastiraki, Plaka, Psirri, Koukaki, or the Acropolis.
• Line: Metro Line 3, the Blue Line.
• Route: Airport → Syntagma → Monastiraki → Piraeus.
• Time: About 40 minutes to Syntagma and about 42 minutes to Monastiraki.
• Frequency: Airport trains run every 30 minutes.
• Hours: Roughly 6:30am to 11:30pm for airport service.
• Cost: €9 one-way. The standard €1.20 city ticket is not valid for airport metro trips.

The metro is my first choice for airport-to-center transfers when luggage is manageable. It avoids traffic, the route is simple, and Syntagma and Monastiraki are useful stations for most central Athens hotels.

The downside is that not every Athens hotel is easy with luggage. Plaka, Anafiotika, parts of Koukaki, and the lanes around the Acropolis can involve uneven sidewalks, pedestrian-only streets, stairs, or a short uphill walk. If that sounds annoying, take a taxi or pre-booked transfer.

Airport Express Bus to Central Athens

• Best for: Budget travelers, late-night arrivals, and anyone arriving after the last metro.
• Main route: X95 from Athens Airport to Syntagma Square.
• Hours: Runs 24 hours.
• Time: 45 to 70 minutes, but traffic can make it longer.
• Cost: €5.50.
• Where to buy: Ticket kiosk near the airport bus stops or by contactless payment where available.

The X95 is the cheapest direct airport-to-center option and the best public transport choice after midnight. It is not as comfortable as the metro, and traffic can be slow, but it works well if you are staying near Syntagma.

Taxi from Athens Airport to Central Athens

• Best for: Late arrivals, families, older travelers, heavy luggage, and hotels not close to a metro station.
• Pickup: Official taxi rank outside the arrivals level.
• Day flat fare: €40 from 5am to midnight.
• Night flat fare: €55 from midnight to 5am.
• Important: The fare is based on the time of arrival at the destination, not the time you enter the taxi.
• Included: The official airport-city flat fare includes tolls, luggage, VAT, and normal surcharges.

For the Athens city-center inner ring, the airport taxi fare is fixed. If you are going to Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki, Kolonaki, Koukaki, or most central hotels, the flat fare should apply. If you are staying outside the central ring, such as the Athens Riviera, Piraeus, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, or a suburban address, the meter or a pre-arranged transfer price will apply.

From Athens Airport to Piraeus Ferry Port

Piraeus is the main ferry port for most Greek island trips, including Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Milos, Crete, Rhodes, and many smaller islands. It is large, busy, and sometimes confusing, so give yourself a buffer.

Metro from Athens Airport to Piraeus

• Best for: Daytime arrivals with manageable luggage and a comfortable ferry connection.
• Line: Metro Line 3, the Blue Line.
• Route: Airport → Syntagma → Monastiraki → Piraeus.
• Time: 50 to 60 minutes to Piraeus.
• Cost: €9.

The metro is the best-value airport-to-Piraeus option and no longer requires changing trains. It is simple, direct, and good for travelers who are not in a rush. But remember that Piraeus Port is huge. The metro gets you to the port area, not necessarily right to your ferry gangway.

X96 Bus from Athens Airport to Piraeus

• Best for: Late-night arrivals, early-morning ferries, and travelers who arrive after the metro has stopped.
• Route: Airport arrivals level → Piraeus Port.
• Hours: Runs 24 hours.
• Time: 60 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic.
• Cost: €5.50.

The X96 is not glamorous, but it is useful. If your flight lands very late and your ferry leaves early the next morning, it can be the cheapest way to get to a Piraeus hotel or the port area.

Taxi or Transfer from Athens Airport to Piraeus

• Best for: Families, groups, heavy luggage, cruise passengers, early ferries, and tight connections.
• Time: 40 to 75 minutes, depending on traffic.
• Cost: €55 to €75 by taxi or pre-booked transfer, depending on time of day, vehicle size, and traffic.

There is not the same simple city-center flat fare for Piraeus as there is for central Athens. Expect a metered taxi fare or a pre-booked transfer price. If your ferry is important, this is one of those times when paying more can be worth it.

From Athens Airport to Rafina Port

Rafina is the second most useful Athens port for visitors. It is much closer to the airport than Piraeus and is especially handy for ferries to Mykonos, Tinos, and Andros. If you are flying into Athens and going straight to one of those islands, Rafina can be easier than crossing the city to Piraeus.

KTEL Bus from Athens Airport to Rafina

• Best for: Budget travelers with a comfortable ferry connection.
• Location: Regional buses depart from the arrivals level outside the terminal. Follow airport signs for regional buses or KTEL Attikis, and confirm the current stop location on arrival.
• Frequency: Varies by season and day, about every 1 to 2 hours. Check the current KTEL Attikis schedule before relying on it.
• Time: 30 to 40 minutes.
• Cost: €3 to €4.
• Payment: Carry cash. Card payment is not something I would count on for this bus.

The Rafina airport bus is useful but not as turn-up-and-go reliable as the Athens metro or the X95/X96 airport express buses. If you have a tight ferry connection, take a taxi.

Taxi from Athens Airport to Rafina

• Best for: Most travelers heading straight from the airport to a Rafina ferry.
• Time: 25 to 35 minutes.
• Cost: €35 to €50 by taxi, more at night or for a pre-booked larger vehicle.

For two or more people, the taxi to Rafina makes sense. The port is close, the drive is straightforward, and it removes the stress of matching your flight arrival to an infrequent bus.

Getting Around Central Athens

For sightseeing, Athens is mostly a walking and metro city. You do not need a car, and you will probably regret having one if you are staying in the historic center.

• Walk: Best for Plaka, Monastiraki, Psirri, Syntagma, the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, and most central restaurants.
• Metro: Best for airport transfers, Piraeus, Syntagma, Monastiraki, Acropolis, Omonia, and longer cross-city hops.
• Taxi: Best for luggage, late nights, summer heat, Athens Riviera hotels, and trips that are awkward by metro.
• Bus and trolleybus: Useful for some local routes, but most visitors will not need them much.
• Tram: Useful mainly for some coastal and southern-suburb trips, not for most first-time Athens sightseeing.

If you stay in the right area, you can see most of Athens on foot. The main exception is summer, when the heat makes short taxi rides much more appealing.

Athens Metro: Lines, Tickets & Contactless Payment

The Athens Metro is clean, efficient, and much easier than many visitors expect. Several stations also display archaeological finds discovered during construction, which makes even normal transit feel very Athens.

The Three Metro Lines

• Line 1, Green: Piraeus ↔ Monastiraki ↔ Omonia ↔ northern Athens. Useful for Piraeus and Monastiraki.
• Line 2, Red: Anthoupoli ↔ Syntagma ↔ Acropolis ↔ Elliniko. Useful for the Acropolis and Syntagma.
• Line 3, Blue: Airport ↔ Syntagma ↔ Monastiraki ↔ Piraeus. The most useful visitor line.

Metro Tickets and Contactless Payment

• Standard city ticket: €1.20 for 90 minutes of travel on normal city transport.
• 24-hour ticket: €4.10 for normal city transport.
• 5-day ticket: €8.20 for normal city transport.
• Airport metro ticket: €9 one-way.
• Airport express bus ticket: €5.50.
• Contactless payment: You can tap a contactless Visa/Mastercard, Apple Pay, or Google Pay on many Athens transport readers instead of buying a paper ticket.
• Airport exception: Airport trips use special higher fares. Do not assume a normal €1.20 city fare covers the airport.

For ordinary sightseeing within Athens, tapping a contactless card or phone is the easiest option. For airport travel, slow down and make sure you are using the correct airport fare.

Taxis, Uber, and FreeNow in Athens

Athens taxis are yellow, plentiful, and useful. They are also a good sanity-saver in July and August, when a 20-minute walk can feel much longer than it looks on a map.

• Uber: Uber operates in Athens as Uber Taxi. You are booking a regular licensed yellow taxi through the app.
• FreeNow: Widely used in Athens and often the easiest local taxi app.
• Street taxis: Fine to use, but make sure the meter is running unless you are on the fixed airport-city fare.
• Payment: Taxi apps are easiest for card payment. For street taxis, have some cash as backup.
• Lyft: Does not operate in Greece.

Use taxis for late-night arrivals, heavy luggage, early ferries, Athens Riviera hotels, restaurant transfers, and hot summer afternoons. Use the metro for airport-to-center, center-to-Piraeus, and normal sightseeing when stations are convenient.

Getting from Central Athens to Piraeus Port

If you are staying in central Athens before taking a ferry, Piraeus is easy to reach, but you need to know your ferry gate.

• From Monastiraki: Take Metro Line 1 or Line 3 to Piraeus. Allow about 20 to 25 minutes on the train.
• From Syntagma: Take Metro Line 3 directly to Piraeus. Allow about 22 to 25 minutes on the train.
• From Plaka: Walk to Syntagma, Monastiraki, or Acropolis station, depending on your exact hotel location.
• By taxi: 25 to 50 minutes from central Athens, depending heavily on traffic and your ferry gate.

Piraeus station is convenient for some gates, especially the central port area, but not all ferries leave from the same place. Some gates can require a 10- to 20-minute walk, a short taxi ride, or the port shuttle. Check your ferry ticket, ferry company message, or port screens before assuming the metro station is right beside your boat.

Athens Ferry Port Tips

• Piraeus is the main port and the one most travelers use for Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Milos, Crete, Rhodes, and many other islands.
• Rafina is closer to the airport and can be very convenient for Mykonos, Tinos, and Andros.
• Lavrio is less common for first-time visitors but useful for Kea, Kythnos, and a few seasonal routes.
• Do not cut ferry transfers too close. For Piraeus, I like to be at the port at least 60 minutes before departure, more in July and August, with luggage, or if you still need to pick up tickets.
• Know your gate before you arrive. Piraeus is not one small dock. It is a large working port.
• Morning ferry from Piraeus? Staying in central Athens is fine if your ferry is not painfully early. For very early ferries, a Piraeus hotel can make the morning easier.
• Same-day airport-to-ferry connection? Build in a large buffer. Flights can be late, bags can be slow, traffic can be bad, and ferries do not wait.

For more detail, see my full Piraeus Port guide.

Getting to the Athens Riviera

The Athens Riviera is not as convenient for ancient Athens sightseeing as the historic center, but it can be a great choice if you want a beach hotel, resort pool, or a calmer final night before flying home.

• Vouliagmeni: Best Riviera base for luxury hotels, swimming, restaurants, and a more relaxed stay. Taxi or pre-booked transfer is easiest from the airport.
• Glyfada: More urban, with shops, restaurants, nightlife, and better public transport connections than Vouliagmeni.
• Airport access: The Riviera can be easier for airport logistics than central Athens, especially if you are staying in Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, or along the southern coast.
• Sightseeing drawback: Getting to the Acropolis and central Athens takes longer, so I would not stay here if your main goal is ancient Athens.

For beach and resort stays near Athens, see my guide to the best hotels on the Athens Riviera.

Should You Rent a Car in Athens?

For Athens itself, no. A rental car is more hassle than help. Traffic is stressful, parking is limited, and the best sightseeing neighborhoods are easier on foot, by metro, or by taxi.

A rental car makes sense if you are leaving Athens for Delphi, Meteora, the Peloponnese, Cape Sounion, or a mainland road trip. In that case, I prefer renting at the airport or on the edge of the city rather than in the middle of central Athens. See my guide to renting a car at Athens Airport.

Best Athens Areas for Easy Transportation

Where you stay has a big effect on how easy Athens feels. The best hotel area is not only about views or atmosphere, but also airport access, ferry access, walking, taxis, and summer heat.

• Syntagma: Best overall location for first-time visitors. Direct metro to the airport, easy taxis, walkable to Plaka and the Acropolis, and convenient for tours.
• Monastiraki: Best for metro connections. Direct metro to the airport and Piraeus, easy walking to Plaka, Psirri, the Ancient Agora, and restaurants.
• Plaka: Best atmosphere, but not always the easiest for taxis. Some lanes are pedestrian-only, so you may need to walk a few minutes from the drop-off point.
• Koukaki: Great for Acropolis access, restaurants, and a slightly more local feel. Less convenient for airport transfers than Syntagma or Monastiraki, but still a very good base.
• Kolonaki: Good for upscale hotels, restaurants, and shopping. Useful if you want a quieter polished base, though not as immediately tourist-convenient as Plaka or Syntagma.
• Piraeus: Best only if you have an early ferry or cruise departure. Not my favorite base for sightseeing Athens.
• Athens Riviera: Best for beach hotels and a resort feel, not for first-time sightseeing.

For most first-time visitors, I’d stay near Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki, or Koukaki, then use walking, metro, and taxis as needed. See my guide to where to stay in Athens and my list of the best hotels in Athens.

Athens Transportation FAQ

What is the best way to get from Athens Airport to the city center?

The metro is best if you are staying near Syntagma or Monastiraki and have manageable luggage. A taxi or pre-booked transfer is better if you arrive late, have lots of luggage, are traveling with kids, or are staying on a small pedestrian street in Plaka.

How much is the Athens Airport metro?

The Athens Airport metro ticket is €9 one-way. Standard €1.20 city tickets do not cover airport metro trips.

How much is a taxi from Athens Airport to central Athens?

The official flat fare from Athens Airport to the Athens city-center inner ring is €40 from 5am to midnight and €55 from midnight to 5am. The fare is based on the time of arrival at the destination.

Is the Athens Metro safe?

Yes, the Athens Metro is safe, clean, and easy to use. The main issue is pickpocketing around busy stations such as Syntagma, Monastiraki, Omonia, and Piraeus, especially when trains are crowded. Keep your phone, wallet, and passport secure.

Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay on Athens public transport?

Yes, contactless payment works across much of Athens public transport. For normal city rides, tapping a contactless card or phone is the easiest option. Airport trips use higher special fares.

How early should I leave Athens for Piraeus Port?

From central Athens, I would leave at least 90 minutes before your ferry in normal conditions, and earlier in summer, with luggage, or if your ferry leaves from a distant gate. If you are going straight from the airport to a ferry, give yourself a much larger buffer.

Should I stay in Piraeus before an early ferry?

Sometimes. If your ferry leaves very early, a Piraeus hotel can make the morning easier. But for most visitors, central Athens is a much better place to stay if you also want restaurants, sightseeing, and atmosphere.

Is Uber available in Athens?

Yes, but it operates as Uber Taxi. You are booking a regular licensed yellow taxi through the app, not a private UberX-style car.

Do I need cash for Athens transportation?

Not much, but I would still carry some. Metro and many buses support tickets or contactless payment, taxi apps take cards, and airport transport is straightforward. Cash is still useful for some taxis, kiosks, small purchases, and regional buses such as the airport-to-Rafina KTEL bus.

Do I need a rental car in Athens?

No, not for Athens itself. Rent a car only if you are leaving the city for mainland Greece, Cape Sounion, Delphi, Meteora, the Peloponnese, or a wider road trip.

Read More

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