For Athens Airport to downtown, you can take Metro Line 3 to central stations such as Syntagma or Monastiraki, or ride the X95 bus to Syntagma Square. The right option depends on your timing and whether you prefer a rail connection or a direct bus into the centre.
- Airport: Athens International Airport, also called Eleftherios Venizelos.
- Metro: Line 3 connects the airport with Syntagma and Monastiraki.
- Bus: X95 runs between the airport and Syntagma Square.
- Hotel connection: Hermes Hotel is about a 38-minute drive from the airport.
Transport options from Athens Airport
Metro Line 3 and the X95 airport bus are the public transport options covered here for reaching central Athens. Both connect the airport with the Syntagma area, while the metro also stops at Monastiraki.
Choose the metro if a station stop suits your onward route; take the X95 if you want a bus to Syntagma Square. The metro airport service runs every 36 minutes, every day of the week. The X95 operates around the clock, and its journey to Syntagma takes approximately 60 minutes, though traffic and travel time affect the actual duration.
For a taxi, check the airport’s official transport information for current arrangements before setting off.
How do you take the metro from Athens Airport to central Athens?
Take Metro Line 3 from the airport toward Dimotiko Theatro and leave the train at Syntagma or Monastiraki for central Athens. Both stops connect with the wider metro network, and using Syntagma and Monastiraki stations can make onward travel easier.
A full-fare one-way Metro Airport Ticket costs €9.00, and the discounted fare is €4.50. A two-way ticket costs €16.00. The one-way ticket is valid for 90 minutes after its first validation on OASA transport; the two-way ticket is valid for 30 days.
The published timetable gives airport departures at 06:35, 07:10 and 07:45, with the last airport departure at 23:58. From Syntagma toward the airport, departures include 05:53 and 06:30, and the last airport-bound train departs at 23:18. Because these are timetable details, check current service information before you travel.
Airport buses and taxi alternatives
The X95 Airport Express bus connects Athens Airport with Syntagma Square and operates 24 hours a day. The journey takes approximately 60 minutes, but traffic and time of travel can change how long it takes.
A full-fare one-way Airport Express ticket costs €5.50; the discounted fare is €2.70. The ticket covers one journey to or from the airport, and boarding and disembarking restrictions apply to these routes. You can pay the full fare with a contactless physical or virtual card; validate once at the blue validator when boarding.
Connecting from central Athens to the hotel area
Syntagma Metro station is a two-minute walk from Hermes Hotel, which is at 19 Apollonos Street in Plaka, Athens. From the airport, you can travel to Syntagma on Line 3 or take the X95 to Syntagma Square, then continue on foot.
If you are planning your first day after arrival, the guide to a one-day walk from the central hotel area can help you plan what to do.
What to verify before you travel
Check current transport information before choosing a departure, fare or connection. Metro timetables and ticket details, as well as airport bus operating information and payment rules, can change; check the official site before you go.
Allow for the X95 journey’s dependence on traffic, and make sure your ticket matches your journey: the airport bus ticket is for one trip to or from the airport, while the metro ticket has its own validation period. Confirm the route and any service changes before leaving the airport.
FAQs
Which metro line connects Athens Airport with downtown?
Metro Line 3 connects Athens Airport with Dimotiko Theatro, stopping at central stations including Syntagma and Monastiraki.
Does the Athens airport bus run at night?
Yes. OASA’s Airport Express bus lines operate 24 hours a day, and X95 serves Syntagma Square.
Can you pay for the X95 bus with a contactless card?
Yes. You can pay the full €5.50 fare with a contactless physical or virtual card, validating once when boarding.