Most visitors from the United States arrive by plane at Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos," the largest airport in Greece and the country's main international gateway. From the terminal, the blue metro line is a straightforward ride into town, and many first-timers find it simple to follow. Buses, the suburban railway and taxis are solid alternatives. If you're coming from the islands or elsewhere in Greece, the port of Piraeus and the long-distance bus and rail stations come into play.
How do you get to Athens from the United States?
Fly. Athens has one international airport, so if your ticket says Athens, this is where you land. Airlines serving it include Aegean Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Wizz Air. Aegean is the home carrier.
The airport sits in the Spata area, about 20 miles (33 km) from the city center. It's a manageable place: one main terminal and one satellite, plenty of signs and English-speaking staff, and a calm atmosphere. Both the airport and the metro are fully accessible, with ramps and elevators.
How do you get from the airport to your hotel?
You have four realistic choices. The metro and a taxi each take about 35 to 40 minutes. The suburban train takes 40 to 60 minutes and the bus 45 to 100, traffic permitting. In practice, the choice comes down to luggage, comfort and the hour you land.
Metro Line 3 (the blue line)
This is the best pick for a first trip. Line 3 runs to Syntagma Square, the heart of the city, in about 40 minutes, and also stops at Monastiraki. The station is on the Departures level. After landing, you take the elevator up and follow a passageway with a moving walkway. Signs read "to Trains," and the walk takes 3 to 5 minutes from the terminal exit.
The 40 minutes covers the ride itself, so leave extra time to reach the station, buy a ticket, and wait for the train. Ticket machines offer several languages, English included, and an app shows when the next train is due. Trains run from early morning until just before midnight, not around the clock.
Heading straight to a ferry? Ride to Monastiraki and change to the green line for Piraeus.
Suburban railway (Proastiakos)
The suburban train leaves from the same station, on a platform right beside the metro. It runs to Athens Central Station (Larissa Station) and continues to the port, about an hour for the full trip. The standard 90-minute Athens region ticket covers Proastiakos trips between Piraeus and the Magoula and Koropi stations, while more distant stations cost more. You can also ride as far as Doukissis Plakentias and switch to metro Line 3 on the same ticket.
Express bus
Four express lines run around the clock, which makes them the fallback for a very late or very early landing:
- The X95 goes to Syntagma Square and stops at several metro stations on the way.
- The X96 heads to the port of Piraeus.
- The X97 ends at Elliniko metro station, handy if you're staying in southern Athens.
- The X93 serves the long-distance bus stations at Kifisos and Liosion.
Buses leave from the Arrivals level, between Exits 4 and 5. A ticket booth by the stop is open 24 hours, and drivers on these lines also sell tickets. The ride is longer than the train, and in heavy traffic it can take quite a bit more time. The X95 works best if your hotel is within a few blocks of Syntagma.
Taxi
Dozens of taxis wait at the official rank outside Exit 3 of Arrivals. The ride takes 35 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Trips to the center are charged at a flat rate, which is higher after midnight, so confirm the amount with the driver before you get in. If you're hauling a lot of bags, a taxi saves you the hassle.
Private transfers can be booked in advance through services such as Welcome Pickups and take roughly 40 to 45 minutes. Hertz, Avis and Enterprise have rental desks on site, but you won't need a car in the walkable historic center, and driving carries real risk. According to the U.S. State Department, Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union. If you rent anyway, Greek law requires a valid U.S. driver's license plus an international driving permit. Thieves are known to break into rental cars to steal passports, valuables, and luggage, so it's wise to take them with you when you step away from the car.
Which way should you go?
- First trip, moderate luggage: metro Line 3. It's simple and fast.
- Lots of bags, or a family: a taxi or a pre-booked private transfer.
- Tight budget: the X95 bus to Syntagma.
- Landing after the trains stop: a 24-hour express bus or a taxi.
- Catching a ferry the same day: the suburban train straight to Piraeus, or the X96 bus.
How do you get to Athens from elsewhere in Greece and Europe?
By boat from the islands
Ferries from the Greek islands and from Italy dock at Piraeus, Greece's largest port, about 6 to 9 miles (10 to 15 km) from central Athens. The metro terminus sits right across the street from the port.
The port covers a large area, so walking between gates may not be practical. Your ferry ticket lists a gate from E1 to E12. Check it again when you arrive, since last-minute changes happen. Gates E4 to E8 are fairly close to the metro station, and a free port authority bus loops around the port with stops at the gates. The cruise terminal is a separate area, roughly a 45-minute walk from the ferry gates, so don't assume the two are the same place.
From Piraeus into town, you can take:
- Metro Line 1 (green) toward Kifisia. It runs partly above ground, so you get a look at the city on the way in.
- The suburban train, from a station next to the metro, to Larissa Station and the airport.
- Bus 040, which runs day and night between the port and Syntagma Square.
- The X80 express, a summer service between the cruise terminal, the Acropolis and Syntagma Square.
A car transfer from the port to the center or the airport takes 30 to 45 minutes.
By bus
Long-distance KTEL buses link Athens with major Greek cities and some Balkan destinations, and Kifisos Bus Station is the main hub. Departures from smaller cities can be few and early, so check times directly with the operator before you travel.
By train
Rail links from the rest of Europe are limited. Most travelers come by train as far as Thessaloniki, then continue to Athens by domestic train, about 4 to 5 hours, or by bus. Domestic trains are run by Hellenic Train and arrive at Larissa Station, the central station, on Metro Line 2 (the red line). For KTEL buses from Thessaloniki to Athens, call 2310 500 111.
How do tickets work, and when is Athens busiest?
Trips to and from the airport cost more than regular city rides, and the airport ticket works on both the metro and the suburban railway. You can buy one at the 24-hour booth by the airport buses, from any ticket machine or at an open ticket office. If you're staying a few days, the 3-day tourist ticket covers a round trip to the airport by bus or metro plus your rides around the city. The contactless Tap2ride system also lets you pay with a credit card or phone. For travel within the city, it caps your daily charge at the price of a day ticket.
Whatever you use, validate it before you ride. Traveling without a ticket, with the wrong one or without validating can bring a fine of up to 60 times the basic fare.
Athens is busiest in July and August, when crowds build and hotel prices rise. Many locals leave in August, and some smaller businesses close for a while. Late spring and early autumn bring fewer tourists.
What should Americans know before they go?
Greece is generally safe for travelers. U.S. citizens can enter without a visa for up to 90 days of tourism or business. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, and a passport that has been reported lost or stolen will be refused at the border. Officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket. Once you're in the country, carry your passport or another photo ID at all times.
Petty crime is common, and pickpocketing and purse-snatching happen at tourist sites and on public transportation, especially the metro. Thieves look for people arriving from the airport or the port with luggage. Keep phones and wallets zipped away and your bags in sight.
Strikes and demonstrations can happen with little notice and can interrupt public transport, taxis, ports and airports. The Moovit app alerts you to transit strikes ahead of time, and a little slack in any ferry or flight connection goes a long way.
Cards are accepted in many tourist areas, but keep some cash on hand for markets and small purchases.
Sources
- truevoyagers.com (https://truevoyagers.com/blog/getting-around-in-athens), checked October 18, 2026
- athenstransport.com (https://www.athenstransport.com/english/airport/), checked October 18, 2026
- OASA, Athens urban transport (https://www.oasa.gr/en/), checked October 18, 2026
- community.ricksteves.com (https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/greece/using-athens-metro-a-bit-nervous), checked October 18, 2026
- bookaway.com (https://www.bookaway.com/routes/greece/athens), checked October 18, 2026
- U.S. Department of State (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Greece.html), checked October 15, 2026
- ktelmessinias.gr (https://www.ktelmessinias.gr/en/routes/athens/), checked October 15, 2026
- U.S. Department of State (https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.grc.html), checked October 15, 2026
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Odysseus (http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2384), checked October 15, 2026
- Visit Greece (GNTO) (https://www.visitgreece.gr/en/mainland/attica/athens), checked October 15, 2026
- ktelthes.gr (https://ktelthes.gr/en/), checked October 15, 2026
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Odysseus (http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/eh155.jsp?obj_id=2409), checked October 15, 2026