2025: Cheap Transportation from Athens Airport to City and Piraeus

The cheapest public transportation from Athens International Airport to the city center (Syntagma Square) is by bus while the metro train is the fastest transport to all downtown Athens stops and Piraeus Port.

Public transportation in Athens is very cheap with a good, reliable network between Athens Airport and downtown Athens, as well as to Piraeus Port. The best transport options from Athens Airport to the city center are:

Cheapest: Express Bus X95 to Syntagma Square (or X96 to Piraeus) — €5.50.
Fastest: Metro Line M3 (blue) to Syntagma, Monastiraki, and Piraeus — €9.
Taxi prices are regulated (€40-55) while airport transfer services are convenient for families and groups, especially when traveling at odd hours, or to less central destinations.

I personally prefer the speed and reliability of the metro when traveling to Athens International Airport. From the airport, travelers may see some of the city by taking bus X95. However, the bus can get stuck in traffic. Bus X95 offers a 24-hour schedule and runs when metros are on strike.

NOTE: All public transportation options have an airport surcharge—buy the correct Athens Airport ticket or expect a hefty fine.

Metro M3: Fastest Transportation to Athens Airport

Metro line M3, blue on most maps, is a fast and reliable way to travel to and from Athens airport. This metro travels through central Athens en route to Piraeus.

Traveling time in minutes from Athens International Airport (Aerolimenas Athinon) to M3 metro stations of most interest to tourists are:

40 — Syntagma (transfer to M2 red, including to Acropolis and Omonia, trams, many bus routes)
42 — Monastiraki (transfer to M1 green, including to Thiselo and Omonia)
44 — Kerameikos
61 — Piraeus Port
63 — Dimotiko Theatro (final stop and destination on all M3 trains from the airport)

The Airport metro trains run every 36 minutes from around 6 am to just before midnight. Express bus X95 (and X96 for Piraeus) runs through the night.

All metro M3 trains from the airport continue all the way to Piraeus. However, from Piraeus and central Athens, only trains marked Athens Airport continue all the way to the airport terminal. (If on the wrong train with Doukissis Plakentias as terminus, simply wait at any station for the correct airport train.)

Athens International Airport Metro Station

To reach the metro from the airport arrivals terminal, follow the “To Trains” signs. It is necessary to exit the airport terminal building. Cross the road, go up, and follow a covered walkway to the train station.

At the Athens International Airport station, buy tickets and validate. Respect the one-way system when going down or you’ll end up on the wrong platform.

Use only the trains stopping at the track marked “metro”. The second track is for suburban trains that are of no interest to tourists (but also see Piraeus below).

Upon arrival, the metro train first opens the doors at the opposite platform side to allow passengers to exit. Doors will then open for boarding. The airport is the final stop. All metros stopping at the airport go back to the city center (and Piraeus / Dimotiko Theatro).

Some of the airport metro train wagons have space for luggage. Keep an eye on your belongings, the metro trains will get much busier once inside Athens.

How to Buy Athens Airport Public Transportation Tickets

The basic ticket prices for the Athens Airport Metro train are €9 one-way or €16 for a return within 30 days. Tickets allow for unlimited transfers to other metro trains, trams, and buses within 90 minutes.

Buy tickets from vending machines or ticket windows at the station. It is also possible to simply tap in with a bank card or phone. (Paper tickets always work and allow for passes or discounted bundles.)

Each traveler needs their own ticket or credit card, it is not possible to use the same card for two travelers.

Athens public transportation tickets available from vending machines include:

€9 — Airport one-way (metro use only)
€16 — Airport return within 30 days (metro use only)
€20 — “3-Days” or Tourist Ticket for airport return and unlimited transportation within 72 hours.
€4.10 — 24-hour pass
€8.20 — 5-day ticket
€1.20 — 90-minute ticket
€2.30 — two tickets (not shareable)
€5.70 — five tickets (not shareable)
€12 — 10+1 eleven tickets (not shareable)

Children under 6 travel for free without a ticket. Children 6 to 18 and seniors over 65 years old qualify for discounted tickets at roughly half the full price but only if in possession of a personalized Athena Card. See details below — it might be more hassle than it is worth. (The 3-day tourist ticket is not discounted.)

All public transportation tickets are valid for 90 minutes with unlimited transfers between trains, metro, trams, and buses.

All tickets are loaded on a single paper ticket. Tickets are anonymous, so a ticket can be used by different travelers successively. However, two travelers cannot use the two-ticket or five-ticket bundles at the same time.

ALWAYS TAP IN, even if the gates are open and others simply walk through. It is essential to validate the ticket or card upon entering the station (or bus). Otherwise, you travel without a ticket and won’t be able to exit at the destination. You’ll receive a steep fine when inspected, which happens surprisingly often.

Athena Tickets or Athena Card?

Travelers may see references to the Athena Ticket and the Athena Card.

Athena Ticket:

Tourists and most visitors simply buy tickets, which are sometimes referred to as reloadable Athena Tickets. This is simply a “paper” ticket that can be reloaded with further tickets if desired. The Athena Ticket has no additional charge and is anonymous.

Simply getting a new Athena ticket with every purchase is riskless. I prefer to keep my Airport Return and other cheaper tickets on separate Athena Tickets. (Claims that reloadable tickets save on resources flatter in the wind like the useless additional paper receipts from EVERY purchase at vending machines.)

Athena Card:

The Athena Card is a plastic card with a credit balance. It is mainly for local residents, often personalized, and used mostly for transportation passes of 30 days or longer.

A personalized Athena Card is essential for any discounted tickets including half-fare savings for children (6 to 18) and seniors (over 65). An Athena Card is also necessary to fully use the Athens transportation app. It is possible to acquire one at larger metro stations on presentation of passports and photos. For short trips, it may be more hassle than it is worth.

Cheap Express Bus X95 from Syntagma to Athens Airport

Express Bus X95 is the cheapest public transportation option for travel between Athens Airport and downtown (Syntagma Square). Bus X95 runs 24/7 and is the only option through the night. It usually also operates when metros are on strike.

The Airport Express Bus X95 connects Athens International Airport and Syntagma Square three to four times per hour. Traveling time is around an hour but depends on traffic conditions.

Ticket prices for the Athens Airport Express Bus X95 are only €5.50 one-way. Buy tickets before travel from the ticket kiosk or vending machine, or tap in with a credit card or mobile phone when boarding the bus. The ticket is only valid for Bus X95 — any transfers require a standard €1.20 ticket or passes. Except for the 3-Day Tourist Ticket, other passes, including the metro airport return tickets, are not valid on bus X95,

Bus X95 departs from right in front of the arrivals at Athens International Airport. At Syntagma Square, the bus departs from Othonos Street in front of a Eurobank. (A kiosk in front of the nearby Chunxi Chinese restaurant sells tickets for Bux X95.)

From this bus stop, it is only a few steps to the Syntagma metro station entrance, many further buses and trams, or taxis. Many tourist hotels and AirBnBs are within easy walking distance.

Transportation from Athens Airport to Piraeus

Metro line M3, blue on most maps, is a fast and reliable way to travel to and from Athens airport. The metro passes through central Athens en route to Piraeus.

Public transportation from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port and harbor is similarly easy and cheap. The options and ticket prices are similar to traveling to central Athens.

Transportation options from Athens Airport to Piraeus:

Fastest: Metro M3 (blue) — 61 minutes
Cheapest: Express Bus X96 — traveling time of at least 60 minutes but often considerably longer.

Metro M3 is generally the easiest way to travel from the airport to Piraeus Port. However, it is also possible to use a suburban train once per hour from the airport to Piraeus. This train departs from the opposite track from the metro at the airport and not all trains from here go to Piraeus! The traveling time is an hour and requires the same ticket as for the metro.

Express Bus X96 departs from outside the arrivals hall at Athens Airport and follows a route to the south of Athens to Pieraias. It makes numerous stops en route including at most ferry terminals in Piraeus.

The Piraeus Metro station and Bus X96 are convenient for the ferry terminal but NOT for the cruise terminal. The various Piraeus cruise terminals are not within walking distance of any metro station.

Metro M1 also departs from Piraeus and transfers are possible at Monastiraki station to M3. Old guides, which still have Agia Marina as the final M3 station, may advise this route. However, it is rarely the better option when traveling between Piraeus and Athens Airport.

Cheap Transportation from Athens Airport to Downtown and Peraeus