Athens Airport

Athens Airport is situated in a plain to the east of Athens, near the town of Spata. It was built as part of an extensive program of infrastructure developments that were undertaken for the 2004 Olympics, which were hosted in the city. As a result, it is one of the more modern airports in Southern Europe, and opened for business in 2001. In 2006, Athens Airport served some 15 million passengers, and this is expected to rise in future.

Athens Airport is situated around 20km (12.5 miles) east of Athens city center. However, due to the mountains that separate Spata from Athens, the road from town is closer to 18.6 miles in length. It can easily be accessed, though, via road, metro, and bus, and is easy to navigate around even when quite crowded.

As well as central Athens, Athens Airport is handy for other destinations in the Attica region of mainland Greece. These include Piraeus, the port of Athens, and Rafina, which is a smaller port very near the airport. Between them, these two towns serve the vast majority of ferry departures to the Greek islands, meaning that you can transfer from the airport without having to venture into the city.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Thanks to a network of new toll roads, it is easier to get to Athens Airport than most major European airports. Coming from Athens, the airport road is quite difficult to find; depending on which part of the city you are coming from, you may go by one of a number of different routes.

Although Athens Airport is just 12 miles from the city center as the crow flies, the mountains between it and the city mean that the road is more like 18 or 19 miles in practice. Despite this, journey times are quick; there is a toll system in place for those coming to and from the airport, and the road is very modern. Although you should obviously allow plenty of time for your journey, particularly if you will be traveling through the city during busy hours, once you are on the airport road, the trip is likely to be swift and trouble free.

There is ample airport parking with 4,800 short and long-term parking spaces. For those who wish to hire a car upon arrival, there are six car rental companies which operate out of Athens Airport: Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, and National Car Rental/Alamo. Their offices are located on the arrivals floor.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

As well as private transport, Athens Airport is also set up to be easily accessible by public transport, and the airport is served by both train and metro lines. The station was opened in time for the 2004 Olympics, and is situated opposite the main terminal building over a short pedestrian bridge. This station operates both metro and suburban rail trains, and depending on your destination, you may find it useful to have some more information on the difference between the two.

The metro is the main subway system that serves Athens, and comprises three lines: 1, 2, and 3. Metro line 3 runs from the airport into Syntagma Station, which is the main station in the center of Athens, and very handily situated both for tourist sites in the city center and many of the major hotels such as the famous Grande Bretagne. The ride from Syntagma to the airport should take no more than 45 minutes. From here you can also catch a connecting line to destinations such as Piraeus, the Acropolis, or the Olympic stadium, which is situated in the north of the city and also has its own dedicated Metro stop.

As well as the Metro, Athens Airport is also served by the suburban rail network, the "Proastiakos." This service connects the airport directly with Larissa train station in Athens, and from there you can get an onward connection to destinations like Piraeus and Corinth, or trains north into central Greece. Fares for both train and metro are extremely cheap and a very good value.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

As Athens Airport is well served for road links, it follows that it's quite easy to get there and back using buses or taxis. The main bus stop at Athens Airport is directly outside arrivals, though buses will drop passengers from the city outside departures for ease of access to the terminal. From here it's possible to get a bus to a wide variety of city destinations such as Syntagma station, Kifissos coach station, and suburbs such as Piraeus and Kifissia. You can also catch one of the inter-city "K-Tel" coaches, which will take you to a variety of destinations outside Athens such as Rafina or Lavrio, from where a lot of ferries to the islands tend to depart.

Getting a taxi to and from the airport is easy and the journey is quite swift. Taxis in Greece are much cheaper than in many other countries, so if you don't have your own transport, they're often a quicker and easier way of getting to Athens Airport than public transport. There are posters on the walls in the airport that give an idea of the rates for taxis to various destinations; for illustration, a taxi into the center of Athens will cost around 25 Euros during the daytime or up to 40 Euros during the night.

Athenian taxi drivers are much more carefully controlled than they used to be in the past, but it's still worth making sure that you are not overcharged for your journey. Make a note of the average fare to the area where you are going, or ask an airport worker who will be happy to give you an idea of the fares, and that way you can be assured that you're not paying over the odds.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

There are around 50 different shops in Athens Airport, which cater for all sorts of different needs and niches. Chief among these, of course, is the duty-free shop, a favorite for travelers everywhere. Athens Airport has all the goods that an air traveler will expect, such as cheap cigarettes and cigars, a wide range of alcohol, perfumes, and luxury goods at competitive prices. In addition, the duty free shop in Athens Airport is a good place to catch up on holiday purchases for friends and loved ones, with Greek delicacies such as honey, olives, and retsina available for you to take back home. Some of these items come in attractive gift wrapped boxes, making them ideal presents for family and friends.

In addition to the duty free shop, there are plenty of shops to cater for all tastes. Prominent among them are clothes shops: Swatch, Reebok, Hugo Boss, and Diesel Jeans are all represented, as are Timberland, Hermes, and others. You can also buy electronic items, DVDs, and CDs at Germanos and Metropolis, two of Greece's largest retailers of such items. Finally, there are souvenir shops and luxury goods retailers such as Bulgari, so whatever you are looking for, you'll find something suitable.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

The airport is well served for places to eat and drink. The range of eating options is quite wide. A branch of McDonald's at Athens Airport overlooks the runway, so your kids (or you!) can watch the planes come and go while you eat. There is also a dedicated Food Village outlet serving hot meals and a variety of snacks. Alternatively, you may prefer the Sbarro concessions that serve pizzas and pastas, as well as coffees and other snacks. There's also an Upper Crust food court, which serves hot and cold meals, sweets and pastries, and hot and cold beverages.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a coffee or drink in one of the various cafes and bars dotted around the airport, including some that are available after you pass through passport control and security checks.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

There are a number of additional amenities in Athens Airport to aid the traveler on his or her journey. Few people really enjoy airports, but there is plenty in Athens to help make your stay more comfortable.

There are a number of Bureaux de Change around the airport to enable you to change money into Euros quickly and easily. If you prefer, there are also automated machines where you can perform the same task. As discussed above, there are also six rental car companies operating out of the arrivals floor of the main terminal, so it's easy to pick up a rental car on arrival at Athens Airport. All six are located in the same row of desks so they're easy to find.

There are also a number of travel companies and information desks available, which can be helpful if you need advice on accommodations, want to book a ticket to one of the islands, or have another travel-related need. Additionally, there is a business center that you can use to hook up to the Internet, send a fax, or make a phone call. In addition, Athens Airport boasts a wireless Internet zone that you can use with a suitable laptop. Access cards are sold throughout the airport.

There is also a baggage storage facility, lost and found, several banks, a post office, and a childrens' play area.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Athens Airport is fully wheelchair accessible and easy to get around; escalators and lifts are available to get you to and from every floor of the airport. The building itself is mostly housed within one main terminal building, although there is a small satellite terminal for busy times.

There is ample car parking directly opposite the terminal building and your car, if you are driving, will not be a long walk from the front door. Signposting is clear and in English as well as Greek.

The airport terminal is split into two floors, arrivals and departures. Both are long and rectangular in layout, with plenty of check-in desks and also lots of space. If your only experience of flying into Athens was some time ago at the old airport, you can rest assured that the new building is miles ahead in terms of layout, air conditioning, and general amenities.

Once through check in, many of the shops and cafes are available to all visitors to the airport, whether flying or not, so you can kill time while waiting for your flight to be called.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

If you are being met off a flight into Athens Airport, bear in mind that arrivals into the airport come out at two different gates, depending on where you have flown in. A TV screen will advise your friends or car service which one you will be coming out of, so let them know your flight number and details.

Athens Airport is specifically designed to cater for large numbers of visitors, but remember that the summer is, for obvious reasons, by far the busiest time for passengers at the airport. As such, if you are traveling in the middle of the high season, you should allow extra time for check-in lines and security searches, as these will inevitably take some time.

By the same token, while the airport road itself is modern and quick, journeys within the city center itself can be time consuming, as the roads are often clogged with traffic. If you're booking a taxi to take you to the airport, therefore, it's wise to allow extra time, particularly if you'll be leaving at rush hour. Bearing these simple tips in mind will help make your journey through Athens Airport as quick and pleasant as possible.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303