Athens International Airport (IATA code ATH, although commonly initialized as AIA), officially known as "Eleftherios Venizelos," is the primary gateway to Athens, the capital of Greece.
The airport is located in Spata, some 20 kilometers east of Athens' city center. It is an important hub for domestic travel with connections to all islands with airports in Greece. Athens Airport is also very well connected to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.
With almost 32 million passengers in 2024, Athens International ranks in the top 20 busiest airports in Europe.
Major Airlines - Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, Ryanair
Athens International Airport functions as a hub for 2 Greek airlines:
Aegean Airlines: Greece's largest airline and the flag carrier. It offers extensive domestic and international routes.
Olympic Air: A subsidiary of Aegean Airlines, focusing on domestic flights.
The airport is an operating base for two prominent low-cost airlines:
Ryanair offers cheap flights to many European destinations.
Sky Express is a regional low-cost airline focusing on domestic routes and routes within the Balkans.
Together, these 4 airlines capture over 65% of the market flying from Athens Airport.
Of the rest, prominent international airlines include the German Lufthansa, the Spanish low-cost Volotea, and Turkish Airlines.
See all airlines that serve Athens International.
Terminals of Athens Airport
Athens International Airport has a Main Terminal Building and a Satellite Terminal.
The Main Terminal handles both Schengen and non-Schengen flights, with dedicated areas for each:
Hall A handles non-Schengen and flights outside of Europe.
Hall B handles intra-Schengen and domestic flights.
The Satellite Terminal is accessible via an underground tunnel and caters to low-cost carriers and charter flights. Some of the airlines at the Satellite Terminal are Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz Air, and Vueling.
The airport underwent a modern makeover in 2017 making it easy to navigate and incredibly efficient to move between its different areas.
Connecting Flights and Transit at ATH
Your journey through Athens Airport if in transit depends on your origin and your destination.
Coming from Schengen and leaving for Schengen: No checks at all. Simply hand around the arrival area until your next flight, then head to gates B1-B31.
Come from outside Schengen and leave for a destination outside Schengen: Unless you are traveling on 2 different airlines, you can use the transit service and avoid passing Immigration. If your flights require self-transfer, you will need the proper visa or exemption to enter the Schengen area. Head to gates A1-A23 for flights out of Schengen.
Coming from Schengen and leaving to a destination out of Schengen: You will need to pass Passport Control and Security, then head to gates A1-A23.
Coming from outside Schengen and leaving for a destination within Schengen: Go through Passport Control, claim your luggage, and then check-in for your next flight. Head to gates B1-B31.
Terminal Transfers: The Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal are connected via a 700-meter underground tunnel. To reach, go to the corridor next to check-in counter 70 and follow the signs for departure gates C15-40.
Wi-Fi and Internet Kiosks at Athens Airport
The airport offers a free Wi-Fi network called "ATH Free Wi-Fi".
To connect, select it from the list of available networks, then follow the on-screen instructions. The Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the airport.
Your connection will expire after 60 minutes, after which you can simply log in again without any charges.
An alternative way to connect to the internet is to use one of the Internet Access Points. They provide free access to the web for 15 minutes. They are located in many different places around the airport, both in departures and arrivals as well as in the Satellite Terminal.
Dining Options at Athens Airport
Athens Airport offers a huge variety of places to eat and drink. You will have no shortage of choices in all areas of the airport - the public zones, the Schengen area, and the non-Schengen area too.
In the public area (landside, before Security), some recommended places include:
Ancho: an easygoing eatery for Tex-Mex cuisine.
Burger King: everyone’s favorite flame-grilled burgers.
Coffee Berry: fresh juices and your caffeine fix.
In the Schengen Area, you can go to one of these places to eat:
Bistrot Attica Athens Lukumades: Hot dishes, snacks, and beverages in a traditional open market environment.
Flocafe Espresso Room: for coffee, sandwiches, and small desserts.
Everest: Signature sandwiches, pastries, and premium coffee.
Lastly, in the non-Schengen Area, you can choose one of these establishments:
Buffala Gelato: Premium ice cream and irresistible desserts made with 100% fresh buffalo milk.
Cinnabon: The best cinnamon rolls in Greece plus many other sweet delights like cupcakes and milkshakes.
Ergon Greek Cuisine: As the name suggests, the best of artisanal Greek food just before you’re about to leave for home.
Lounges at ATH
Business lounges at ATH are aplenty. Operated either by airlines or handlers, you may struggle to choose. There are lounges in each departure area of the airport, both Schengen and non-Schengen, plus one in the Satellite Building.
All lounges offer food and drinks to a varying degree and have places to sit plus complimentary wifi. They differ in opening times, with only the 2 Goldair Handling Lounges (1 in Schengen and 1 in non-Schengen) open 24/7.
The Aegean Business Lounge stands out and should be your go-to lounge if you’re flying business class on Aegean or are a Star Alliance Gold member. It’s located on the 3rd floor of the non-Schengen Area or Area B of the Schengen Area.
If you seek a publicly accessible lounge in the non-Schengen area, look no further than the Swissport Lounge on the 2nd floor in Area A.
Transportation to and from Athens Airport
Athens International Airport is well-connected to the Greek capital, its seaports, and the surrounding region. Public transport is available, inexpensive and reliable.
To reach the center of Athens, your best bet is to take the Metro. Line 3 connects the airport to Athens city center, with trains departing every 30 minutes. The trip to Syntagma Square takes around 40 minutes and a single ticket costs 10 EUR. The same line also goes to Piraeus - "Dimotiko Theatro" allowing easy access to the main port.
The Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) is another convenient option. Trains connect the airport with Ano Liosia and Piraeus, and destinations outside Attica including Larissis Station of Athens. For more information, check Hellenic Trains.
Bus lines serve regional destinations not covered by the Metro. Lines X93, X95, X96, and X97 connect the airport to different parts of Athens, including the city center and Piraeus port. A single ticket costs 6 EUR. You can take the buses right in front of the Arrivals Area.
Some regional buses also stop at the airport. Lines Rafina & Markopoulo (Attica KTEL) connect it to Lavrion in the south of Attica.
If you’d like to take a taxi instead, note that they are readily available at the designated taxi waiting area located at Exit 3 of the Arrivals level. Taxis from Athens Airport to the city center have a flat rate of €40 during the day (05:00-23:59) and €55 at night (00:00-04:59).
Last but not least, multiple car rental companies operate at ATH. You can find the likes of HERTZ, Europcar, Enterprise Rent-a-car, and others in the Arrivals area of the airport.
Click here for private transfers from Athens Airport.
Parking at ATH
At Athens Airport, all official parking areas are free for the first 20 minutes with a limit of 2 free entries per day.
After the 3rd entry, standard charges apply. The first hour of parking costs 6 EUR.
The Short-Term parking lots (P1 & P2) are located directly opposite the terminal on the arrivals level and are best suited for stays up to five hours.
The Long-Term Parking (P3) on the other hand is situated across the airport's main access road (Attiki Odos) and offers a free shuttle bus although the lot is close enough to the terminal to be accessible by foot.
Valet Parking is also available - this is a premium service that you can request at the Departure level by Entrance 3.
Book online to get discounts and additional perks. A "be fast" upgrade is also available at only €4 and gives you Fast Lane priority at Security before your flight.
Hotels near Athens Airport
No hotels are situated inside the terminal but just opposite it is the Sofitel Airport Hotel - a 5-star hotel with a VIP lounge, numerous meeting rooms, a fitness center, a sauna, an indoor pool, and 3 restaurants for all-day dining. For layovers and business travelers, it’s a no-brainer.
The next closest option is the Holiday Inn Athens Attica Av. Airport West which is about 12 kilometers from the airport but provides a complimentary shuttle service. If you’re looking for a modern hotel near ATH, it is a pretty good choice.
For more hotels near Athens International Airport, click here.
Athens, Greece
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