Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH  ^IATA) is located approximately 27 km east of Athens city centre, near the town of Spata.

Opened in 2001 as part of the infrastructure improvements in preparation for the Olympics. It is now one of the more attractive and efficient major European airports, though some old Athenian hands say they miss the messy atmosphere of the old Hellenikon.

The airport is designed to handle approximately 16 million passengers and is served by major European airlines, including Lufthansa, Air France, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss.

The airport is the hub of the Greek airlines Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines.

The airport has a single terminal, which on the landside consists of two connected check-in halls. Access to the security checkpoints is located between the two check-in areas and is divided into an area on the left, used exclusively for Schengen flights, and an area on the right, used only for non-Schengen departures. In between are two boarding gates that can be used for both European and non-European flights and are accessible via a separate entrance.

The departures hall is located to the left of the main entrance and has approximately 150 counters. There are electronic check-in options and staff are usually available.

The arrivals area is located on the level below the check-in desks.

The A6 motorway (toll) leads from Athens in an arc around a hill to the airport, the last leg of the journey from Koropi to the airport is the A62.

There are short-term parking spaces directly at the terminal entrance. The first 20 minutes are free, after which you'll pay €3.80 for the first hour. A little off the beaten path are long-term parking lots with the same rates as the first day: a week costs €50.00, and each additional day costs €5.00 (September 2011).

All international and local suppliers have their counters in the arrivals area. There are no shuttle buses to the parking lots.

The vehicle is returned to a small parking lot at the end of the access road. In any case, use the first entrance, even if your "own" company is not listed there. This is the only way to get there, and another attempt is only possible after a very large round.

• 37.9368923.94471 Athens Airport station. The  M3  metro line departs every half hour from the city center via Doukissis Plakentios to the airport during the day, with a journey time of approximately 45 minutes. The next train connecting to the airport is displayed at all Line 3 stations on dynamic display panels next to the "regular" trains on this line. A supplement is required for the airport shuttle. The "Proastiakos" (suburban train) also connects Piraeus to the airport.  (updated Jun 2026)

There are several bus lines to the airport, including the X95 from Syntagma Square, the X93 from Kifissos, the X96 from Piraeus, and the X97 from Dafni Metro Station. There are also KTEL intercity buses.

There is a small museum on the top floor with interesting history information about Athens, and a space for temporary exhibits.

The airport has a total of 7 lounges, 3 of which are located in the non-Schengen arrivals area behind passport control.

• British Airways Terraces Lounge, for OneWorld status customers and Business Class passengers on British Airways
• Swissport Executive Lounge, for international travelers with Aegean Business Class and StarAlliance Gold members
• Aristoteles Onassis Lounge, formerly Olympic Air, for business and first class travellers on Emirates

• Aegean Club (for Business Class travellers, Aegean and StarAlliance Gold members)
• Goldair Lounge, for travelers with priority pass
• Lufthansa Business Lounge, for Business Class travelers with Lufthansa, Miles & More Frequent Traveller, and StarAlliance Gold members
• Melina Merkouri Lounge, formerly Olympic Air, for business class travelers flying with SWISS

There are numerous fast food chains and a restaurant on the ground and first floors. Most are open 24 hours a day.

The vast majority of shops are located after security in the Schengen departures area and can only be accessed with a valid boarding pass.

Duty-free shops are available, but they aren't very attractive to passengers from EU countries. Parallel to the highway, you can walk from the terminal to the IKEA furniture store towards the city (about 1-1.5 km), but this is also possible by bus for the full price of €3.50 (Emporiko Kentro Aerodromiou stop).

Free Wi-Fi hotspots are located at various points in the departure lounge. You can charge your mobile phone (including those from other manufacturers) for free at the Samsung Point.

• airport website
• There is a tourist information office on the arrivals level which can provide information about Greek ferries.

• 37.936723.945961 Sofitel (Directly in front of the terminal), ☏ +30 210 3544000, fax: +30 210 3544444, H3167@sofitel.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. The only hotel in the Athens International Airport area, nestled between the terminal and the airport train/metro station. It fits the definition of conservative, rather than modern, luxury, but it does the job very well, garnering positive reviews. Upper-floor rooms offer access to the "Club Millessime," an executive lounge with the usual amenities. If you have time for breakfast, the rates for rooms on the Executive Club floor, including breakfast, are often no more than what you pay for breakfast on top of the standard room rate. €200.  (updated Jun 2026)

• Spata
• Athens