Athens International Airport (ATH), officially Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos,” is the main airport serving Athens and the biggest air gateway into Greece.

For many travelers, ATH is also the starting point for much more than a trip to Athens. You may be connecting to a Greek island, heading directly to a ferry port, starting a cruise from Piraeus or continuing elsewhere in Greece.

The airport is relatively straightforward once you understand its layout, but there are a few things that can catch first-time travelers off guard — especially the separate Satellite Terminal, airport-specific public transportation fares and the distance between the airport and Athens’ major ports.

This guide covers the airport layout, arrivals, transportation into Athens, getting to Piraeus and the cruise port, how early to arrive, check-in, baggage, security and passport control, connections, accessibility, restaurants, shopping, lounges, airport hotels, long layovers and the practical details that can make traveling through ATH much easier.

Airport information last checked: October 2026

Quick Jump

ATH Quick Facts | Airport Layout | Arriving at ATH | Getting Around | Cruise Port | How Early to Arrive | Checking In | Checking a Bag | Luggage Storage | Baggage Claim, Carts & Baggage Help | Security & Immigration | Biometrics & EES | Connections & Transfers | Wheelchair Service & Accessibility | Food & Restaurants | Shopping | Lounges | Airport Facilities | Airport Hotels | Long Layovers & Sleeping | Leaving ATH During a Layover | ATH vs Other Airports | Things Nobody Tells You | My Take | TTWL Don’t-Forget Flight Checklist

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🛫 Athens International Airport Quick Facts

Quick Fact	Athens International Airport
Airport code	ATH
Full name	Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”
Serves	Athens, Attica and as a major gateway to Greece
Location	Spata, east of central Athens
Domestic or international?	Both
Passenger terminal layout	Main Terminal + Satellite Terminal
Main Terminal gates	A and B gates
Satellite Terminal gates	C gates
Train to Athens?	Yes — Metro Line 3 and Suburban Railway
Typical Metro time to Syntagma	About 40 minutes
Airport Express buses?	Yes — 24-hour routes connect ATH with Athens, Piraeus and other major transport points
Cruise access	Direct public transportation is available toward Piraeus
Luggage storage?	Yes — Arrivals
Self-service check-in?	Yes, for participating airlines
Airport Wi-Fi?	Yes — free
Recommended airport arrival	ATH currently recommends at least 2.5 hours before departure
Open overnight?	The airport operates 24 hours

Important: Airline assignments, shops, restaurants, lounges, transportation schedules and airport services can change. Check the details that matter to your trip again shortly before travel.

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🧭 Understanding ATH: Main Terminal vs. Satellite Terminal

Athens International Airport is easier to navigate than airports with several separate passenger terminals, but its layout can still catch travelers off guard — particularly if their flight departs from the Satellite Terminal.

ATH has two connected passenger buildings:

• Main Terminal Building — check-in, baggage drop, arrivals, baggage claim, most airport services, and departure gates A and B.
• Satellite Terminal Building — additional departure gates marked C15–C40, reached through an underground passage from the Main Terminal.

Unlike airports where different airlines operate from entirely separate terminals, passengers departing from ATH generally begin their journey in the Main Terminal, regardless of their eventual gate.

🏢 Main Terminal Building

The Main Terminal is the heart of Athens Airport.

It has several levels serving different purposes:

• Arrivals Level (Level 0): Baggage claim, customs, arrivals exits, car rentals, luggage storage, transportation services and other passenger facilities.
• Departures Level (Level 1): Airline check-in counters, baggage drop, security access, and routes toward the boarding gates.
• Second Floor (Level 2): Additional restaurants, cafés, seating and airport services.

The Main Terminal also connects to the airport’s Metro and Suburban Railway station through a covered pedestrian bridge.

For arriving passengers, the Arrivals Level is where you’ll eventually emerge after completing the necessary arrival procedures.

For departing passengers, the Departures Level is where you’ll find your airline’s check-in counters and begin the process of reaching your gate.

✈️ A Gates — Non-Schengen Departures

Gates A1–A27 are located in the Main Terminal and generally serve flights departing the Schengen Area.

These include destinations such as:

• United Kingdom
• United States
• Canada
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• Other destinations outside the Schengen Area

Passengers using these gates generally need to complete both security screening and passport control before boarding.

The A-gate area has its own restaurants, shops, lounges and passenger services.

Because the non-Schengen area is separated by border controls, do not assume you can freely move between A gates and the Schengen departure areas once you’ve passed through passport control.

✈️ B Gates — Schengen & Domestic Departures

Gates B1–B31 are also located in the Main Terminal.

These generally serve domestic Greek flights and flights to other Schengen countries.

Examples include:

• Athens to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete or other Greek destinations
• Athens to Rome
• Athens to Paris
• Athens to Frankfurt
• Athens to Amsterdam

Travelers flying within the Schengen Area generally do not pass through external-border passport control for these departures.

The B-gate area has restaurants, cafés, shopping, lounges and other services, although availability varies by location.

Important: A destination’s Schengen status helps explain the usual departure procedures, but your actual gate assignment should always come from the airport departure screens or your airline.

🛰️ Satellite Terminal — C Gates

Gates C15–C40 are located in the separate Satellite Terminal Building.

The Satellite Terminal is not somewhere you should ask a taxi driver to drop you off.

You still enter through the Main Terminal, complete check-in or baggage drop if needed, and follow the airport signs toward the C gates.

The Satellite Terminal is connected to the Main Terminal through an underground passage equipped with moving walkways.

To find it:

1. Go to the Main Terminal Departures Level.
2. Follow signs for Gates C15–C40, near the corridor beside check-in counter 70.
3. Use the escalators or elevator leading down to the underground connection.
4. Follow the moving walkways toward the Satellite Terminal.
5. Complete the required passenger screening procedures as directed and continue to your assigned gate.

Allow approximately 15 minutes to reach the Satellite Terminal gates from the Main Terminal connection area.

That does not include the time needed for airline check-in, baggage drop, security or any applicable passport procedures.

The Satellite Terminal also has passenger facilities, including restrooms, seating, refreshments and services, but the selection is more limited than in the Main Terminal.

If you want a proper meal or need a specific shop, check where it is located before heading toward the C gates.

🚶 Can You Walk Between the Main and Satellite Terminals?

Yes.

There is no need for an external shuttle bus, taxi or airport train to reach the Satellite Terminal.

The buildings are connected by the underground pedestrian passage.

However, moving between different secure departure areas may involve additional security or passport procedures, particularly if you’re transferring between Schengen and non-Schengen flights.

Do not assume that being inside one boarding area automatically gives you unrestricted access to every other boarding area.

⚠️ Terminal Building vs. Boarding Gate: What’s the Difference?

At ATH, this distinction is particularly important.

Your check-in location and your departure gate are not necessarily in the same building.

You may check in at a counter in the Main Terminal and then discover that your flight departs from Gate C28 in the Satellite Terminal.

Similarly, two passengers checking in beside each other may ultimately depart from completely different parts of the airport.

The simplest way to understand the layout is:

A1–A27: Main Terminal, generally non-Schengen departures.

B1–B31: Main Terminal, generally Schengen and domestic departures.

C15–C40: Satellite Terminal, reached through the underground connection.

Always check the flight-information screens for your current gate assignment, particularly if your airline has not yet announced a gate or your departure has been delayed.

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🛬 Arriving at Athens International Airport

What happens after you land at ATH depends mainly on whether your flight arrived from inside or outside the Schengen Area.

The basic arrival process is:

Aircraft → Passport Control if required → Baggage Claim → Customs → Arrivals Hall

Regardless of where your flight originated or whether you arrived through the Main or Satellite Terminal, all arriving passengers ultimately exit through the Arrivals Level — Level 0 — of the Main Terminal Building.

🇪🇺 Arriving From a Schengen Country

If you arrive in Athens from another Schengen country, you generally do not go through passport control simply because you have landed in Greece.

After leaving the aircraft:

1. Follow the signs for Arrivals / Baggage Reclaim
2. Check the baggage-information screens for your flight
3. Collect any checked luggage
4. Continue through customs
5. Exit into the public Arrivals Hall

Schengen arrivals use Arrival Area B, located between Exits 4 and 5.

Flights from other parts of Greece also follow the domestic/Schengen arrival side of the airport rather than the non-Schengen immigration route.

🌍 Arriving From Outside the Schengen Area

If your flight arrives directly from a country outside the Schengen Area, you normally pass through passport control before reaching baggage claim.

The general process is:

Aircraft → Passport Control → Baggage Claim → Customs → Arrivals Hall

This applies to arrivals from destinations such as:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• Other countries outside the Schengen Area

If Athens is your first entry point into the Schengen Area, this is where you complete the required entry formalities.

That can include passport inspection and, for applicable travelers, processing through Europe’s Entry/Exit System.

We’ll cover EES, biometrics and who uses the automated passport-control systems in much more detail in the dedicated Biometrics & EES section later in this guide.

Non-Schengen arrivals use Arrival Area A, located between Exits 1 and 2.

🛂 EU Does Not Always Mean Schengen

This distinction is worth understanding because European Union membership and Schengen membership are not exactly the same thing.

What determines whether you normally pass through passport control at ATH is whether your flight arrived from inside or outside the Schengen Area, not simply whether the country is somewhere in Europe.

Follow the signs and arrival route assigned to your flight rather than trying to guess which processing area you need.

🛰️ What If You Arrive at the Satellite Terminal?

Some arriving flights use the Satellite Terminal and C-gate area.

You do not leave Athens Airport directly from the Satellite Terminal.

Follow the airport’s Arrivals signs and continue toward the Main Terminal, where the main arrival processing, baggage reclaim and public Arrivals Hall are located.

The airport routes arriving passengers through the appropriate Schengen or non-Schengen process based on where the flight originated.

🧳 Finding Your Baggage Carousel

Once you reach baggage reclaim, check the electronic screens for:

Flight number → Origin → Assigned baggage belt

Do not simply follow everyone who was sitting near you on the aircraft.

Passengers may split toward different arrival procedures, and several flights can be delivering baggage at the same time.

If you did not check a bag, continue following the Arrivals and Exit signs once you have completed any required passport procedures.

The full baggage section later in this guide covers baggage carts, delayed or damaged luggage, oversized items and what to do if your suitcase never appears.

🛃 Customs Comes After Baggage Claim

Passport control and customs are not the same thing.

Passport control deals with you entering the Schengen Area.

Customs deals with what you are bringing into Greece.

That means even a traveler arriving from another Schengen country who did not need passport control should still follow the appropriate customs procedure.

If you are carrying goods, cash or other items that must be declared, follow the declaration route and speak with customs officials.

If you have nothing requiring declaration, follow the appropriate exit signs.

⚠️ Do Not Leave Baggage Reclaim Until You Have Everything

Before exiting baggage reclaim, make sure you have:

• All checked suitcases
• Carry-on bags
• Backpacks
• Jackets
• Phones and other electronics
• Passports and travel documents
• Anything placed on a baggage trolley

ATH specifically warns that once you leave the Baggage Reclaim Area, you cannot simply re-enter it.

Check the luggage tag before walking away with a suitcase, especially if your bag is a common color or style.

If something is missing or damaged, deal with it before leaving the restricted baggage area whenever possible.

🚪 Entering the Public Arrivals Hall

After baggage claim and customs, you enter the public Arrivals Hall on Level 0 of the Main Terminal.

This is where you’ll find access to services such as:

• Airport information
• ATMs and currency exchange
• SIM-card services
• Car rental desks
• Luggage storage
• Taxi and private-transfer access
• Signs toward buses
• Directions toward the Metro and Suburban Railway

If someone is meeting you at ATH, knowing whether you are arriving through Area A or Area B can make finding each other considerably easier.

Non-Schengen arrivals: Area A, between Exits 1 and 2
Schengen arrivals: Area B, between Exits 4 and 5

From here, you are officially landside and ready to continue into Athens, to Piraeus, to another part of Greece or wherever the trip takes you next.

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🚆 Getting From ATH Into Athens

Athens International Airport is roughly 30–35 km east of central Athens, so every arriving traveler needs some form of transportation after leaving the terminal.

Fortunately, ATH has several good options.

You can reach Athens by:

• Metro
• Suburban Railway
• 24-hour Airport Express bus
• Taxi
• App-based ride
• Private transfer
• Rental car

For most visitors staying in central Athens, the decision will usually come down to Metro vs. Airport Express bus vs. taxi or private transfer.

Transportation	Best For	My Take
Metro Line 3	Most travelers staying near a convenient Metro station	Fast, predictable and inexpensive
Airport Express Bus	Budget travelers, late-night arrivals and travelers staying near a useful bus stop	Cheapest direct public option and runs 24 hours
Suburban Railway	Travelers connecting to Athens Railway Station or onward rail routes	Useful for specific destinations, but not usually the simplest option for first-time visitors
Taxi	Couples, families, luggage-heavy travelers and anyone wanting door-to-door service	Very convenient, especially with the fixed central-Athens fare
Private Transfer	Travelers who want transportation arranged before landing	Maximum convenience, particularly after a long international flight
App-Based Ride	Travelers who prefer booking through their phone	Easy, but use the airport’s designated pickup area
Rental Car	Travelers continuing outside Athens	Usually unnecessary for a central-Athens stay

🚇 Metro Line 3 — Best for Most Travelers

Metro Line 3, the Blue Line, connects Athens Airport directly with central Athens.

Useful stops include:

Syntagma — central Athens, hotels, shopping and connections to Metro Line 2

Monastiraki — convenient for Plaka, Psyrri and areas near the historic center

Evangelismos — useful for parts of central and eastern Athens

The journey from the airport to Syntagma takes about 40 minutes.

The current full-price airport Metro ticket costs:

€9 one way

A round-trip airport ticket is currently:

€16

The return portion must be used within the ticket’s validity period.

The airport Metro ticket is different from an ordinary Athens city ticket because the airport lies outside the standard urban fare zone.

🎫 You Can Now Pay Contactless

Travelers no longer necessarily need to buy an ATH.ENA Ticket before boarding.

Full-fare airport journeys can currently be paid directly with a supported contactless Visa or Mastercard, including cards stored in a compatible phone or smartwatch.

For the Metro, the airport fare charged through contactless payment is currently €9.

If you use contactless payment, keep the card you intend to use separate from other contactless cards when tapping so you do not accidentally trigger the wrong card.

You can still purchase traditional tickets from the airport station if you prefer.

🚉 Finding the Metro at ATH

The airport railway station serves both the Metro and Suburban Railway.

From the Main Terminal, follow the signs for:

Trains / Metro

The station is outside the terminal complex and reached by a covered pedestrian bridge.

You do not need a bus or shuttle to reach it.

The walk is straightforward, but it is worth remembering that you still need to get yourself and your luggage from Arrivals to the railway station before the train journey begins.

⏱️ Airport Trains Do Not Run as Frequently as Normal Metro Trains

This is important.

Metro Line 3 trains within Athens can run quite frequently, but trains continuing all the way to and from the airport currently operate about every 36 minutes.

That means missing an airport train can produce a much longer wait than missing an ordinary city Metro.

When returning to ATH later in your trip, do not assume every Line 3 train continues to the airport.

Look specifically for a train displaying:

Airport / Αεροδρόμιο

The destination will also appear on station information screens.

A Line 3 train that terminates before the airport will not magically turn into an airport train just because you are on the correct colored Metro line.

🧳 Metro With Luggage

The Metro is extremely practical if you can comfortably manage your own bags.

You avoid road traffic, the fare is low, and destinations like Syntagma and Monastiraki are directly accessible.

But your hotel may not be directly beside the station.

The full journey can still involve:

airport terminal → railway station → Metro → station corridors → stairs or elevators → street → hotel

If you’re carrying several large suitcases, traveling with children or helping someone with limited mobility, door-to-door transportation may be worth the extra cost.

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🚌 Airport Express Buses — 24-Hour Service

Athens has four Airport Express bus routes connecting ATH with different parts of the city and surrounding transport hubs.

Unlike the Metro, the Airport Express buses operate 24 hours a day.

Current full fare:

€5.50 one way

The main routes are:

Route	Destination	Approximate Journey
X95	Syntagma Square	About 60 minutes
X93	Kifissos & Liosion intercity bus stations	About 65 minutes
X96	Piraeus	About 90 minutes
X97	Elliniko Metro area; night service operates from Dafni	About 45 minutes

Actual journey times depend on traffic.

We’ll cover the X96 and Piraeus specifically in the Cruise Port section, because reaching the Piraeus area and reaching your exact cruise terminal are not necessarily the same thing.

🚌 X95 — Best Airport Bus for Central Athens

For many visitors, the most useful route is the X95.

It runs between ATH and Syntagma Square, right in central Athens.

That makes it particularly useful if:

• Your hotel is near Syntagma
• You arrive after airport Metro service has ended
• You want the cheapest direct option into central Athens
• You would rather place luggage on a bus than move it through a railway station

The main disadvantage is traffic.

The trip may be approximately an hour under normal conditions, but road congestion can increase that substantially.

The Metro is usually more predictable.

The bus is more flexible because it runs throughout the night.

💳 Paying for the Airport Bus

The Airport Express bus currently costs €5.50 for a full-fare one-way journey.

Contactless Visa and Mastercard payments are accepted directly onboard through the blue validation machines.

If paying this way, tap once when boarding.

Traditional Airport Express tickets are also available.

Airport Express tickets are separate from normal city bus tickets.

🚏 Where Do the Airport Buses Leave?

Airport buses depart from the Arrivals Level outside the Main Terminal.

Follow the signs for public buses after leaving baggage claim and customs.

These are dedicated airport routes rather than ordinary neighborhood buses, which makes them much easier to identify.

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🚆 Suburban Railway

Athens Airport is also served by the Suburban Railway, often called the Proastiakos.

It connects ATH with:

• Athens Railway Station — commonly called Larissis Station
• Piraeus
• Athens suburbs
• Connections toward destinations outside Athens

For travelers continuing elsewhere in Greece by train, the Suburban Railway may be more useful than taking the Metro into the tourist center and then working backward toward the railway network.

Airport Metro tickets are also valid on the Suburban Railway within the applicable airport-route zone.

For most visitors whose hotel is near Syntagma, Monastiraki or another convenient Metro stop, however, Metro Line 3 is usually the simpler option.

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🚕 Taxi — Easiest Door-to-Door Option

Official taxis are available 24 hours a day from the designated taxi rank outside Exit 3 on the Arrivals Level.

For journeys between ATH and the designated central Athens inner-ring area, official flat fares currently apply.

5:00 AM–midnight: €40

Midnight–5:00 AM: €55

The applicable fare is based on the time you arrive at your destination, not simply the time you leave the airport.

Those flat fares include the applicable airport supplements and normal extras for the covered journey.

This can be surprisingly competitive for two, three or four travelers.

Four people taking the Metro would currently spend €36 total.

A €40 daytime taxi divided among four people is barely more expensive while providing direct airport-to-hotel transportation.

That calculation obviously changes if your destination falls outside the central fixed-fare zone.

⚠️ Make Sure You Use the Official Taxi Area

Go to the designated taxi rank outside Exit 3.

You do not need to accept transportation offers from people approaching you inside the terminal.

For travelers carrying several suitcases, arriving late at night or simply exhausted after a long flight, the official taxi is one of the simplest ways to leave ATH.

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🚘 Private Airport Transfer

A private airport transfer gives you much of the same door-to-door convenience as a taxi, but the transportation is arranged before you arrive.

This can be especially useful if you’re:

• Arriving after a long international flight
• Traveling with several large bags
• Traveling as a family or group
• Traveling with an older or lower-mobility companion
• Arriving somewhere unfamiliar late at night
• Someone who simply does not want to make transportation decisions after landing

A private transfer will normally cost more than public transportation, and often more than simply taking an official taxi.

What you’re paying for is convenience and advance planning.

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📱 App-Based Rides

App-based booking is available at ATH, but there is one important distinction for travelers accustomed to ride-hailing systems elsewhere:

Uber in Athens works with licensed local taxi drivers.

Uber passengers arriving at ATH use the designated pickup area on the Arrivals Level opposite Exit 4.

For journeys covered by the official airport-to-central-Athens flat fare, that fixed pricing structure still applies.

Follow the pickup instructions inside the app rather than walking outside and expecting the vehicle to stop at whichever door you happen to use.

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🚗 Rental Cars

ATH has six on-airport rental-car companies with service desks on the Arrivals Level of the Main Terminal near Exit 4.

Renting a car makes sense if Athens Airport is the beginning of a road trip through mainland Greece or you’re immediately continuing somewhere where having a vehicle will be useful.

I would not rent a car simply because you’re spending several days sightseeing in central Athens.

Once you reach the city, a rental car adds:

traffic + parking + unfamiliar streets + rental costs

when Athens already has Metro, buses, taxis and walkable central neighborhoods.

For a mainland road trip, though, picking up a car directly at ATH can be extremely convenient.

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🚙 Being Picked Up by Someone You Know

Private vehicles can use the controlled passenger pickup area outside Arrivals.

ATH currently allows 10 minutes of free pickup/drop-off time, with limits on repeated entries.

If your driver needs to wait longer, airport parking is a better option than circling the terminal or staying in the controlled curb area.

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❤️ What I Would Choose

Staying near Syntagma or Monastiraki and traveling reasonably light:
Metro Line 3.

Arriving after Metro hours or staying near Syntagma on a tight budget:
X95 Airport Express.

Two or more people with several suitcases:
I would compare the €40 daytime central-Athens taxi fare with the combined public-transport cost before automatically choosing the Metro.

Arriving exhausted after a long international flight:
Taxi or private transfer.

Continuing outside Athens by rail:
Check whether the Suburban Railway makes more sense for your actual onward route.

Starting a mainland Greece road trip:
Rental car.

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🚢 Getting From ATH to Piraeus Cruise Port

Athens International Airport is one of the main arrival points for travelers beginning a cruise from Piraeus, Greece’s largest passenger port and one of the busiest cruise ports in the Mediterranean.

The good news is that ATH has unusually strong public transportation connections to Piraeus.

You can travel directly from the airport toward Piraeus by:

• Metro Line 3
• Suburban Railway
• X96 Airport Express bus
• Taxi
• Private transfer

The important part is understanding that “Piraeus” and “my cruise ship” are not necessarily the same destination.

Piraeus is enormous.

The port can accommodate multiple cruise ships at the same time, and cruise passengers may use different terminals and berths depending on their ship.

So before leaving ATH, check your cruise documents for the exact embarkation location rather than assuming that reaching Piraeus Metro or railway station means you have reached your ship.

🚢 ATH to Piraeus at a Glance

Option	Approximate Travel Time	Best For
Metro Line 3	About 60 minutes to Piraeus station	Travelers who want a direct, predictable public-transport option
Suburban Railway	About 65 minutes to Piraeus	Travelers who prefer rail or whose timing works better with the suburban train
X96 Airport Express Bus	About 90 minutes	Budget travelers, overnight arrivals and travelers who want 24-hour service
Taxi	Traffic dependent	Travelers with substantial luggage or anyone wanting door-to-door transportation
Private Transfer	Traffic dependent	Families, groups and travelers who want the port transfer arranged in advance

These times get you to the Piraeus area.

They do not include any additional time needed to reach your exact cruise terminal or ship.

🚇 Metro Line 3 — Direct From ATH to Piraeus

Metro Line 3 connects Athens Airport directly with Piraeus station.

You do not need to travel into central Athens and change Metro lines.

The airport estimates the trip at approximately:

60 minutes

The regular full-fare airport Metro ticket currently costs:

€9 one way

This can be one of the easiest options for cruise passengers who are comfortable handling their own luggage.

You avoid Athens road traffic, there is no train change, and you know approximately how long the main portion of the journey should take.

However, Piraeus Metro station is not the cruise terminal.

Once you arrive in Piraeus, you may still need another form of transportation to reach the terminal being used by your ship.

That final distance matters much more when you’re carrying cruise luggage.

🚆 Suburban Railway — Another Direct Rail Option

The Suburban Railway, or Proastiakos, also connects Athens Airport with Piraeus.

ATH estimates the journey at approximately:

65 minutes

The Metro and Suburban Railway use the same airport railway station, reached from the Main Terminal by the covered pedestrian bridge.

For a cruise passenger, there is not necessarily a dramatic advantage to choosing the Suburban Railway over Metro Line 3.

The better option may simply be whichever departure works best with your arrival time.

As with the Metro, reaching Piraeus railway station does not automatically put you beside your ship.

🚌 X96 Airport Express Bus — Direct & 24 Hours

The X96 Airport Express bus connects ATH directly with Piraeus.

This is particularly useful because it operates 24 hours a day.

The airport estimates the full journey at approximately:

90 minutes

The current full fare is:

€5.50 one way

That makes X96 the least expensive direct public-transport option of the three.

It can also be useful for travelers carrying luggage because you avoid moving suitcases through a railway station and train carriage.

The downside is traffic.

A scheduled or estimated 90-minute trip can take longer when roads are congested.

For a traveler arriving when the airport trains are not operating, however, the X96 gives you a direct public-transport connection toward Piraeus without needing to wait until morning.

🚕 Taxi From ATH to Piraeus

Taxis are available 24 hours a day from the official taxi rank outside Exit 3 on the Arrivals Level.

For cruise passengers with several suitcases, a taxi can make considerably more sense than it first appears.

Instead of:

airport terminal → railway station → train or bus → Piraeus → another transfer toward the cruise terminal

you can travel directly from:

ATH → your actual cruise terminal

That distinction is important.

Athens Airport’s fixed central-Athens taxi fare applies to journeys between the airport and the designated city-center zone.

Do not assume that city-center flat fare applies to Piraeus.

For an airport-to-cruise-port journey, confirm the applicable fare before departure.

Have your cruise line, ship name and exact terminal information available so the driver knows where within the port you actually need to go.

🚘 Private Transfer

A prearranged private transfer is another practical option for cruise passengers, particularly if you’re arriving internationally with several bags.

The biggest advantage is not speed.

It is simplicity.

A driver can meet you after arrival and take you directly from ATH toward the correct cruise terminal without requiring you to navigate rail stations, bus stops or the port on your own.

This can be particularly useful for:

• Families
• Groups
• Older travelers
• Travelers with reduced mobility
• Passengers carrying several large suitcases
• First-time visitors arriving after an overnight flight

If you are splitting the cost among several travelers, compare the total price with what everyone would spend individually on public transportation plus any final taxi needed inside Piraeus.

⚓ Piraeus Is Much Bigger Than a Single Cruise Terminal

This is probably the most important thing to know before leaving the airport.

The Port of Piraeus has extensive cruise facilities and can berth numerous cruise ships at the same time.

Different ships can use different passenger terminals and berthing areas.

The port’s cruise facilities include passenger terminals such as Miaoulis and Themistocles, along with multiple cruise berths throughout the cruise area.

Your cruise line determines where you actually need to report.

Do not choose your transportation based only on a map pin labeled:

Port of Piraeus

or

Piraeus Cruise Port

Check your cruise documents for:

• Ship name
• Cruise terminal
• Berth or gate if provided
• Embarkation address
• Cruise-line transfer instructions

Large ports are exactly where vague directions become a problem.

🚌 Transportation Inside the Port

Piraeus Port Authority operates free shuttle transportation for cruise passengers and crew between passenger terminals and ships when required.

That is useful once you’re within the cruise-port system, but it does not mean every passenger arriving at Piraeus Metro station receives a free ride from the station directly to the ship.

You still need to reach the appropriate cruise area first.

Port arrangements can also change depending on where ships are berthed that day, so follow the signs and instructions provided for your sailing.

🧳 Which Option Is Best With Cruise Luggage?

This is where the cheapest transportation and the easiest transportation may be very different.

If you’re traveling with:

one manageable suitcase + carry-on

the direct Metro is extremely attractive.

If two people have:

two large suitcases + carry-ons + personal bags

the public-transport calculation starts to change.

You have to consider not only the hour-long airport journey, but also how you’ll get from the Piraeus station or bus stop to the correct cruise terminal.

Cruise embarkation luggage can be significantly heavier than what someone carries for a short Athens city break.

A taxi or private transfer lets you load everything once at ATH and unload it at the port.

The Metro is less expensive and avoids traffic.

Neither choice is automatically better for everyone.

🛬 Should You Fly Into Athens the Same Day Your Cruise Leaves?

If you have a choice, arrive before embarkation day.

An international flight arriving the same morning as your cruise creates several separate points where the schedule can fail:

• Flight delay
• Missed connection
• Immigration delay
• Delayed checked luggage
• Transportation delay
• Traffic
• Difficulty locating the correct cruise terminal

Cruise embarkation has a cutoff time.

The ship does not treat a delayed international flight the same way a hotel treats a late check-in.

Arriving at least one day early separates the two time-sensitive parts of the trip.

It also gives you options if something goes wrong with the flight or luggage.

🏨 Athens or Piraeus the Night Before a Cruise?

Both are reasonable choices.

Stay in central Athens if:

• You are arriving more than one day before the cruise
• You want to see the Acropolis or spend time sightseeing
• Athens itself is an important part of the trip
• You want the larger selection of central restaurants and hotels

You can travel to Piraeus the following day.

Stay in Piraeus if:

• Your cruise leaves the next morning
• You have already spent time in Athens
• Sightseeing is not a priority
• You want to complete the airport-to-port portion of the journey the day before embarkation
• You would rather wake up closer to your ship

Staying in Piraeus does not guarantee that your hotel will be within walking distance of your actual cruise terminal, so check both the hotel location and your ship’s embarkation location before booking.

⛴️ Cruise Port vs. Ferry Port

Piraeus is not only a cruise port.

It is also Greece’s major ferry gateway, with ships departing for destinations throughout the Aegean and Crete.

The passenger port is divided into areas serving cruise ships and coastal ferries, and ferry travelers use different gates depending on their destination and operator.

If you’re flying into ATH to catch a Greek island ferry rather than a cruise, do not follow cruise-terminal directions automatically.

Check the ferry company, vessel, departure gate and current port information for your sailing.

And remember that Piraeus is not the only port serving the Athens area.

Some ferries depart from Rafina or Lavrio, both of which have separate transportation connections from ATH.

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⏰ How Early Should You Arrive at ATH?

Athens International Airport currently recommends that passengers arrive at least 2.5 hours before their scheduled departure.

That is a useful minimum for ATH right now because your departure can involve several separate steps:

• Airline check-in
• Baggage drop
• Security screening
• Passport control when applicable
• Walking to the correct departure area
• Additional time to reach the Satellite Terminal if you have a C gate

For a comfortable buffer, I would plan on:

Flight Type	When I Would Arrive
Domestic Greek flight	At least 2.5 hours before departure
Schengen international flight	At least 2.5 hours before departure
Non-Schengen international flight	Around 3 hours before departure
Long-haul international flight	Around 3 hours before departure
Flight from a C gate	Keep the full buffer — the Satellite Terminal adds walking time
Checking luggage	Do not reduce the airport arrival time just because you checked in online
First time using ATH	Give yourself the full recommended buffer
Traveling during a busy holiday or summer period	Consider additional time

🇬🇷 Domestic Flights: I Would Still Allow 2.5 Hours

A domestic flight from Athens to somewhere like:

• Santorini
• Mykonos
• Crete
• Rhodes
• Corfu

does not involve international passport control.

That makes the departure process simpler.

But ATH is currently recommending at least 2.5 hours before departure for passengers generally, so I would use that rather than cutting it down to the absolute minimum simply because the flight stays within Greece.

You may still need time for:

Check-in → baggage drop → security → walking to the gate → boarding

And domestic Greek routes can be extremely busy, particularly during the summer travel season.

🇪🇺 Schengen Flights: At Least 2.5 Hours

Flights from Athens to another Schengen destination generally do not require outbound Schengen passport control.

Examples include:

• Italy
• France
• Germany
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Austria

You still need enough time for check-in or baggage drop, security screening and reaching your gate.

For most Schengen departures, I would follow ATH’s current recommendation and arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure.

🌍 Non-Schengen Flights: I Would Aim for 3 Hours

For a flight leaving the Schengen Area, I would personally increase the buffer to around 3 hours.

That includes destinations such as:

• United Kingdom
• United States
• Canada
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• Other destinations outside the Schengen Area

Non-Schengen passengers may need to complete:

Check-in → baggage drop → security → passport control → walk to gate → boarding

And passport control is the part that can add significant uncertainty.

Athens Airport is currently warning passengers that border-processing times can be affected by the European Entry/Exit System, particularly for applicable non-EU travelers.

Three hours gives you considerably more breathing room if passport control is busy.

🛂 EES Is One Reason ATH Is Asking Travelers to Arrive Earlier

Europe’s Entry/Exit System, or EES, is now operating for applicable third-country nationals traveling across the Schengen external border.

ATH specifically warns that passport-control processing can take longer because of the system.

We’ll explain exactly how EES and biometric processing work in the dedicated Biometrics & EES section.

For planning purposes here, the important point is simple:

If your departure requires passport control, do not build your schedule around a best-case border-control line.

🛰️ C Gates Need Additional Walking Time

If your flight departs from C15–C40, your gate is in the Satellite Terminal.

ATH says to allow approximately 15 minutes just to reach the Satellite Terminal gates from the Main Terminal connection area using the underground passage and moving walkways.

That time comes after whatever airport procedures you still need to complete.

So:

2.5 hours before departure does not mean arriving at ATH 2.5 hours early and spending two hours shopping before casually starting toward C38.

Once your gate is assigned, check where it actually is.

🧳 Checking a Bag? Keep the Full Buffer

Online check-in does not eliminate baggage-drop time.

If you’re checking luggage, you still need to:

1. Find your airline’s assigned counters
2. Join the appropriate baggage-drop or check-in line
3. Complete any airline document checks
4. Hand over your luggage before the carrier’s cutoff
5. Continue to security

Airline baggage-drop deadlines occur before departure, and the exact cutoff depends on the carrier and route.

Always check your airline’s deadline rather than assuming the airport’s recommended arrival time guarantees your bag will be accepted.

🎟️ Carry-On Only & Already Checked In

If you already have your boarding pass and are traveling carry-on only, ATH allows you to proceed toward the appropriate departure area without visiting a check-in desk.

That can save a substantial amount of time.

I still would not deliberately arrive much later than the airport recommendation, especially for a non-Schengen flight.

Security lines, passport control and the walk to your gate still remain.

☀️ Summer Can Be a Different Airport Experience

Athens is a major gateway for summer travel throughout Greece.

During busy periods, ATH handles travelers heading not only to Athens but also onward to:

• Greek islands
• Domestic connections
• Ferries
• Cruises
• Other European destinations

That can translate into heavier check-in, baggage and security traffic.

If you are flying during the peak summer season, around a major holiday or on a particularly busy travel day, additional buffer time is reasonable.

🚪 Boarding Time Is Earlier Than Departure Time

Your ticket’s departure time is not the time you should arrive at the gate.

Airlines begin boarding earlier and eventually close the gate before the scheduled departure time.

ATH specifically warns that arriving late at the departure gate can result in denied boarding.

So when this guide says:

Arrive 2.5–3 hours before departure

that means:

be inside Athens International Airport with that amount of time remaining

—not leaving your Athens hotel, getting onto the Metro or pulling into the airport parking area.

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🎟️ Checking In at ATH

Departing passengers begin on Level 1 — Departures — of the Main Terminal Building.

Even if your flight eventually leaves from a C gate in the Satellite Terminal, you do not go directly to the Satellite Terminal to check in.

Your departure process begins in the Main Terminal.

When you arrive, check the flight-information screens for your:

Flight number → Destination → Airline → Check-in counter

Counter assignments can vary by airline and flight, so use the airport screens rather than assuming your airline always uses the same part of the hall.

📱 Online or Mobile Check-In

If your airline allows online check-in, completing it before you leave for the airport is usually the easiest option.

Depending on the airline, you may be able to:

• Check in through the airline website or app
• Choose or confirm your seat
• Enter passport information
• Download a mobile boarding pass
• Print a boarding pass if you prefer a paper copy

If you are traveling carry-on only, already have a valid boarding pass and do not need an airline document check, ATH allows you to proceed directly toward security and passport control if required for your destination.

You do not need to stand in a check-in line simply because you are at the airport.

Online check-in does not necessarily mean every passenger can skip the airline counter, though.

You may still need staff assistance if:

• You are checking luggage
• Your passport or visa needs to be verified
• Your airline has not issued a usable boarding pass
• Your reservation requires an additional document check
• You are traveling with special or oversized baggage
• You need assistance from the airline
• There is a problem with your reservation

Follow the instructions shown in your airline app or booking.

🖥️ Self-Service Check-In Kiosks

ATH has CUSS self-service check-in kiosks for participating airlines.

Depending on the airline, these machines can allow you to:

• Check in
• Confirm flight details
• Select or confirm a seat
• Print a boarding pass
• In some cases, print a baggage tag

If you are checking luggage, printing a baggage tag does not mean the suitcase is finished with the check-in process.

You still need to complete the appropriate baggage-drop procedure.

We’ll cover ATH’s staffed and self-service baggage-drop options in the next section.

Not every airline participates in self-service check-in, so if your carrier does not appear on the kiosk system, use the airline’s assigned check-in counters.

👩‍💼 Airline Check-In Counters

Traditional staffed check-in counters are available in the Main Terminal Departures Hall.

These are the best option if you:

• Have not checked in yet
• Need travel documents verified
• Need a boarding pass issued
• Have a complicated itinerary
• Are traveling with special baggage
• Need airline assistance
• Have a booking problem that cannot be handled online

Have your passport or other required identification ready.

For international travel, you may also need to show any visa, travel authorization or other entry documents required by your destination.

✈️ Check the Operating Airline

If you booked a codeshare flight, the airline name on your ticket may not be the airline actually operating the aircraft.

Your reservation may say something like:

Operated by [another airline]

That can matter when you’re trying to find the correct check-in counter.

If the flight is operated by another carrier, follow the check-in instructions for the operating airline unless your booking specifically tells you otherwise.

Checking this before arriving can save you from walking around the Departures Hall looking for a counter that does not exist for your particular flight.

⏰ Check-In Opening & Closing Times Vary

ATH does not have one universal check-in opening or closing time.

Those deadlines are controlled by the airline and can vary according to:

• Airline
• Route
• Destination
• Aircraft
• Domestic vs. international flight
• Whether you are checking baggage

Some airline counters may open several hours before departure.

Others operate on a shorter schedule.

Check the specific opening and closing times for your flight with your airline rather than assuming that arriving early automatically means the counter will already be open.

More importantly, check-in closes before the scheduled departure time.

A flight leaving at 2:00 PM does not mean you can walk up to the counter at 1:55 PM.

Your airline may have separate cutoffs for:

Check-in → baggage drop → boarding → gate closure

Follow the earliest deadline that applies to you.

🪪 Keep Your Passport & Boarding Pass Accessible

Once you’re checked in, do not bury your passport and boarding pass somewhere deep inside your luggage.

You may need them again for:

• Security access
• Passport control
• Airline document checks
• Lounge access
• Boarding

If you’re using a mobile boarding pass, make sure your phone has enough battery to get you through the airport.

ATH has charging points throughout the terminal, but relying on finding an empty charger five minutes before boarding is not a particularly good backup plan.

🛰️ C-Gate Passengers Still Check In at the Main Terminal

This is worth repeating because the Satellite Terminal can make ATH sound like a two-terminal airport in the traditional sense.

If your boarding pass eventually shows:

C15–C40

you still start at the Main Terminal Departures Level.

Complete any required airline check-in or baggage drop there and then follow the airport signs toward the Satellite Terminal.

The underground connection toward the C gates begins near check-in counter 70.

Do not try to find a separate outdoor entrance or transportation to the Satellite Terminal.

🧳 Special or Oversized Items

If you’re traveling with something outside normal suitcase dimensions — such as:

• Sports equipment
• Musical instruments
• Mobility equipment
• Bulky baggage

check your airline’s rules before arriving at ATH.

Airlines determine whether an item can travel, how it must be packed, what fees apply and where it needs to be handed over.

The regular check-in counter may direct you to a separate oversized-baggage point after your documents and baggage are processed.

🆘 If You Cannot Find Your Check-In Area

ATH has a 24-hour Airport Information counter on the Departures Level between Entrances 2 and 3.

Airport information staff can help you locate the correct airline area if the flight screens or terminal signage are unclear.

There is also no need to guess based on where you remember an airline being located on a previous trip.

Check the current flight information first.

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🧳 Checking a Bag at ATH

If you’re checking luggage at Athens International Airport, your exact process depends on your airline.

Some passengers will use a traditional staffed counter, while others may be able to use self-service check-in or bag-drop facilities before proceeding to security.

No matter which system your airline uses, leave enough time for the bag-drop process and pay attention to your airline’s baggage cutoff time.

👩‍💼 Staffed Bag Drop

If your airline uses traditional check-in counters, take your checked luggage to the appropriate airline desk on the Departures Level of the Main Terminal.

You’ll normally need:

• Your passport or accepted ID
• Your boarding pass or booking information
• Your checked suitcase
• Any required travel documents

The airline will weigh the bag, attach the baggage tag and send it into the airport baggage system.

If the bag is overweight or oversized, you may need to pay an additional fee or take it to a separate oversized-baggage area.

🖥️ Self-Service Bag Drop

ATH currently offers self-service baggage drop for passengers flying with participating airlines, including:

• Aegean Airlines
• Olympic Air
• Scandinavian Airlines

Depending on your flight, you may be able to:

1. Check in online or at a kiosk
2. Print your baggage tag
3. Attach the tag to your suitcase
4. Scan your boarding pass
5. Place the suitcase on the bag-drop unit
6. Receive confirmation that the bag was accepted

Self-service availability can vary by flight, so even if your airline participates, follow the instructions provided for your particular departure.

If the machine cannot process your bag, airline staff can direct you to a staffed counter.

⏰ Watch the Bag-Drop Deadline

This is important:

Your bag must be accepted before your airline’s baggage-drop cutoff — not before the flight’s scheduled departure time.

Those deadlines vary by airline and route.

Online check-in does not extend the baggage deadline.

If you’re checking a suitcase, arrive early enough that a long line, overweight bag or other minor problem doesn’t cause you to miss the cutoff.

🧾 Keep Your Baggage Receipt

When your suitcase is checked, you’ll receive a baggage receipt or baggage-tag number.

Keep it.

That little sticker or digital receipt can become very important if your suitcase:

• Doesn’t arrive
• Is delayed
• Is sent to the wrong destination
• Loses its external baggage tag
• Needs to be traced by the airline

I would keep the baggage receipt until you’re physically reunited with your suitcase at your destination.

Taking a photo of the receipt on your phone is also useful in case the paper copy disappears.

📱 Put a Tracker in Your Checked Bag

If you use a compatible luggage tracker, putting one inside your checked suitcase gives you an additional way to see whether your bag appears to have traveled with you.

A tracker doesn’t replace the airline’s official baggage-tracing system, but it can be extremely helpful when you’re trying to determine whether a suitcase is:

still at ATH, somewhere in transit or already at your destination.

If the bag is missing, you still need to file the appropriate report with the airline or its ground handler.

📸 Take a Photo Before You Check It

Before handing over your suitcase, take a quick photo of it.

Make sure the photo clearly shows:

• Color
• Size
• Brand if visible
• Distinctive markings
• Luggage straps
• Stickers or tags
• Anything else that makes the bag recognizable

If the suitcase disappears, describing “a black rolling suitcase” isn’t nearly as useful as showing staff an actual photo.

I also like having a photo of the contents before closing the suitcase, particularly on longer international trips.

🏷️ Put Identification Inside the Suitcase Too

An external luggage tag can be torn off.

Put another piece of identification inside the bag.

You don’t necessarily need to display your full home address.

Something as simple as:

Name
Email address
Phone number

can give airline staff another way to identify the suitcase if the outside tag disappears.

🔋 Don’t Put Prohibited Batteries in Checked Luggage

Be particularly careful with batteries at ATH.

Spare lithium batteries and power banks belong in carry-on baggage, not checked luggage.

Before handing over your suitcase, check the smaller pockets and compartments where a portable charger can easily be forgotten.

If you’re traveling with unusual electronics, mobility equipment or large batteries, check your airline’s rules before arriving at the airport.

⚠️ Checked Bags May Be Opened During Security Screening

ATH introduced an important checked-baggage screening procedure on September 8, 2026.

All checked baggage goes through mandatory security screening.

If screening detects — or raises suspicion about — a prohibited, dangerous or questionable item, your suitcase may require additional inspection.

Under the current procedure:

Your checked bag may be opened and inspected without you being present.

If necessary, the item causing the problem may also be removed.

That makes it especially important to check your suitcase carefully before handing it over.

Do not rely on airport staff calling you back to the counter so you can personally open the bag.

💊 Keep Important Items in Your Carry-On

Even when you’re checking most of your luggage, keep anything you cannot comfortably lose for a day or two with you.

That includes things such as:

• Passport and travel documents
• Medication
• Wallet and money
• Keys
• Electronics
• Chargers
• Jewelry and valuables
• One basic change of clothes
• Essential toiletries that meet security rules

Checked luggage usually arrives exactly where it’s supposed to.

But if yours doesn’t, having your absolute essentials with you can make a delayed suitcase an inconvenience rather than a disaster.

🏷️ Check the Destination on the Airline Bag Tag

Before your suitcase disappears onto the belt, look at the airline baggage tag.

Make sure the destination airport code is correct.

This is particularly important if you have:

• A connection
• Multiple flight segments
• Different airlines
• Separate tickets
• A domestic Greek connection
• An international connection

If your luggage is supposed to travel through to your final destination, the tag should normally reflect that routing.

If you’re unsure whether you need to collect and recheck your suitcase during a connection, ask the airline agent before the bag leaves your possession.

🧳 Oversized or Special Baggage

Items that don’t fit the standard baggage system may need to be taken to a separate oversized-baggage point.

That can include things such as:

• Large sports equipment
• Golf bags
• Bicycles
• Surfboards
• Very large suitcases
• Certain musical instruments
• Mobility equipment
• Other unusually shaped baggage

Your airline determines what counts as oversized, how the item must be packed and whether an additional fee applies.

If you’re traveling with unusual equipment, check with the airline before travel rather than discovering the procedure at ATH.

❤️ TTWL Bag-Check Tip

Before your suitcase disappears onto the belt, make sure you have done four things:

Photo of suitcase → Tracker inside → Identification inside → Baggage receipt saved

And then physically check your carry-on one more time for:

passport, medication, wallet, phone and anything else you absolutely cannot arrive without.

Once that suitcase goes down the belt, assume you will not see it again until your destination.

That mindset makes it much harder to accidentally send something important away in checked luggage.

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🧳 Luggage Storage at ATH

Athens International Airport has 24-hour luggage storage in the public Arrivals area of the Main Terminal.

The service is operated by CARE4BAG and is located:

Arrivals Level — All Users Area — near Exit 1

Because it is landside, you do not need to be departing on a flight to use it.

That makes it useful if you:

• Have a long layover
• Arrive before your hotel allows check-in
• Have already checked out of your hotel but have a late flight
• Want to explore Athens without dragging luggage around
• Are between an island trip and an international flight
• Need to leave bags at ATH for more than a few hours

⏰ Opening Hours

CARE4BAG luggage storage operates:

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

ATH notes that individual service hours can occasionally change under exceptional circumstances, but the standard operation is 24 hours.

💶 Current Luggage Storage Prices

Prices depend on both bag size and storage time.

Current prices valid through December 31, 2026 are:

Storage Time	Small Bag	Medium Bag	Large Bag
Up to 6 hours	€8	€10	€12
Up to 12 hours	€10	€12	€14
Up to 24 hours	€12	€15	€18
Up to 48 hours	€15	€19	€23
3 days	€18	€23	€28
5 days	€24	€31	€38
7 days	€30	€39	€48
10 days	€39	€51	€63

For storage longer than 10 days, additional daily charges apply.

Bag-size categories are currently:

Small: up to 50 × 30 × 20 cm
Medium: up to 65 × 50 × 25 cm
Large: up to 90 × 40 × 40 cm

Payment is made when you collect your luggage.

🔐 How Stored Bags Are Handled

Stored items are:

• X-rayed before storage
• Monitored by CCTV while stored

CARE4BAG also asks travelers to declare valuable or fragile items before leaving them.

Food and pets are not accepted for storage.

Special items such as:

• Bicycles
• Surfboards
• Canoes
• Other unusually large equipment

may be accepted if space is available.

These currently cost €20 per item per day.

🧳 Baggage Wrapping

CARE4BAG also offers baggage-wrapping services at ATH.

Wrapping is available in the public terminal areas and can be useful if you want an additional plastic covering around a suitcase before checking it.

This is a separate service from luggage storage.

🕐 Leave Time to Collect Your Bags

Do not plan to retrieve stored luggage at the last possible minute before your flight.

CARE4BAG advises allowing time for service, and there may also be a queue.

After collecting your bags, you may still need to:

Go upstairs to Departures → check in → drop luggage → clear security → complete passport control if required → reach your gate

So if your bags are in storage before a departing flight, build retrieval time into the same airport buffer you would use if arriving at ATH normally.

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🛄 Baggage Claim, Carts & Baggage Help at ATH

After landing at Athens International Airport, follow the signs for Baggage Reclaim after completing passport control if your arrival requires it.

Check the airport monitors for:

Flight number → Origin → Assigned baggage belt

rather than simply following everyone from your aircraft.

Once you reach your assigned belt, this is also the time to deal with missing, delayed, damaged or incorrect checked luggage.

If something is wrong with your bag, try to handle it before leaving the Baggage Reclaim Area.

ATH specifically warns that once you exit baggage reclaim, re-entry is not permitted.

❗ What If Your Checked Bag Doesn’t Arrive?

If the baggage belt stops and your suitcase never appears, do not immediately leave baggage claim.

Checked baggage at ATH is handled by:

your airline → the airline’s ground-handling company → airline baggage assistance

rather than Athens Airport’s general Lost Property Office.

Look for the appropriate airline or ground-handler baggage desk before leaving the reclaim area.

You will normally want to have:

• Boarding pass
• Passport or identification
• Baggage claim receipt
• Description of your suitcase
• Contact information
• Address where you are currently staying

That last item matters more than it sounds.

If you are moving around Greece rather than staying in one Athens hotel for the entire trip, tell the baggage agent where you will actually be over the next several days.

📝 Get a Baggage Report Before You Leave

If your suitcase is officially delayed or missing, make sure the problem is recorded before you walk away.

The airline or ground handler may issue a Property Irregularity Report, or PIR, or another delayed-baggage report.

Keep:

• Report or PIR
• Reference number
• Airline contact information
• Baggage tag receipt
• Boarding pass
• Any emails or messages relating to the claim

Take a photo or screenshot of the paperwork too.

You do not want the only copy of your missing-bag reference disappearing while you are trying to continue your trip.

📱 A Luggage Tracker Can Help — But It Doesn’t Replace the Report

If you put a compatible tracker inside your suitcase before the flight, this is when it becomes particularly useful.

You may be able to see that your bag appears to be:

• Still at your departure airport
• Somewhere else at ATH
• Already in Athens but not on your baggage belt
• Traveling to another airport
• Somewhere in transit

That information can be helpful when speaking with the airline.

But even if your phone appears to show exactly where the suitcase is:

still file the official baggage report.

A tracker gives you additional information.

It does not replace the airline’s baggage-recovery system or give you permission to enter restricted baggage areas and retrieve the suitcase yourself.

📸 This Is Why I Recommend Photographing Your Suitcase

If you followed the checked-bag section earlier in this guide, you should already have a photo of the suitcase on your phone.

This makes reporting a missing bag much easier.

Instead of trying to explain:

“It’s a medium-sized black suitcase with four wheels…”

you can show the baggage agent exactly what they are looking for.

A useful luggage photo should show any distinctive:

• Color
• Pattern
• Brand
• Luggage strap
• Sticker
• Handle
• Luggage tag
• Existing damage

Keep that photo until the trip is over.

🏷️ Damaged Checked Luggage

If your suitcase arrives damaged, inspect it before leaving baggage claim.

Look for things such as:

• Broken wheels
• Broken handles
• Cracked shells
• Torn fabric
• Damaged zippers
• Missing pieces
• Major dents
• Evidence that the suitcase opened during transit

If you notice significant damage, report it to the appropriate airline or baggage-assistance desk as soon as possible.

Take photos showing:

the entire suitcase + close-ups of the damage + baggage tag

Keep your baggage receipt and any report you receive.

Airline procedures and claim deadlines vary, so do not assume you can wait until the end of the trip to deal with it.

🔎 Missing Checked Bag vs. Airport Lost Property

These are two completely different systems at ATH.

Your airline did not deliver your checked suitcase:

Contact your airline or its ground-handling company.

You lost your own item somewhere inside Athens Airport:

Contact the Airport Lost Property Office.

ATH’s Lost Property Office is operated by the Hellenic Police and is located:

Arrivals Level — opposite Exit 3

It operates:

24 hours a day

So, for example:

Suitcase never arrived on the carousel → Airline/ground handler

Phone left somewhere in the terminal → Airport Lost Property

Something left onboard the aircraft → Airline

The airport Lost Property Office is not the first place to go when your airline simply failed to deliver your checked suitcase.

🚪 Do Not Leave Baggage Reclaim Too Soon

This is particularly important at ATH.

Once you exit the Baggage Reclaim Area:

you are not permitted to re-enter.

Before walking through the final exit, make sure:

• Every checked suitcase has arrived
• You have the correct suitcase
• Nothing is obviously damaged
• You have dealt with any missing-baggage issue
• You have your carry-on and personal items

If something seems wrong, deal with it while you are still inside.

🧳 You Picked Up the Wrong Suitcase

Before leaving the carousel, compare the airline baggage tag with your baggage receipt.

If you discover that you accidentally picked up someone else’s suitcase while you are still inside baggage reclaim, return it immediately and locate your own bag.

If you realize only after exiting, contact your airline or ground handler for instructions.

Do not try to walk back through the arrivals exit on your own.

ATH specifically does not permit ordinary re-entry into baggage reclaim after passengers have left.

📦 Oversized & Special Baggage

Some items may not arrive on the same carousel as normal suitcases.

That can include:

• Strollers
• Bicycles
• Golf bags
• Sports equipment
• Large musical instruments
• Very large suitcases
• Other unusually shaped baggage

If your ordinary suitcase arrives but a specialty item does not, check the airport signage or ask baggage staff where oversized items from your flight are being delivered before assuming it is missing.

👶 Strollers

Stroller-return procedures can vary by airline and flight.

A stroller may:

• Arrive on the normal baggage carousel
• Be delivered through an oversized-baggage area
• Be returned near the aircraft or gate

Your airline controls the exact procedure.

If your stroller is not on the regular baggage belt, ask the airline or ground handler before immediately filing a missing-baggage report.

🛡️ Baggage Wrapping at ATH

Athens Airport has CARE4BAG baggage-wrapping services for departing travelers.

Current wrapping points include:

Arrivals Level — near Exit 1

Departures Level — near Entrance 1

Departures Level — near Entrance 2

The standard service operates 24 hours.

Wrapping can be useful for:

• Soft-sided baggage
• Bags with exposed straps
• Boxes
• Luggage you want to protect from dirt or scuffing
• Bags that could use an additional outer layer

CARE4BAG also offers baggage weighing before departure.

Wrapping does not change airline baggage rules and does not guarantee against damage or theft.

If you want the bag wrapped before a flight, do it before handing the suitcase over at bag drop.

🧑‍💼 Need Help With Several Bags?

ATH also has a 24-hour porter service for passengers who need help moving luggage through the airport.

That can be particularly useful for:

• Families
• Cruise passengers
• Travelers with several checked bags
• Travelers carrying bulky equipment
• Older travelers
• Anyone who simply has more luggage than they can comfortably handle alone

This is separate from wheelchair and reduced-mobility assistance, which we’ll cover later in the Accessibility section.

💊 If Your Delayed Bag Contains Something Important

This is why the earlier Bag Check section recommends keeping essential items in your carry-on.

If your suitcase is delayed, things such as:

passport → medication → wallet → keys → important electronics

should already be with you.

If the delay forces you to buy necessary replacement items, keep the receipts.

Whether those purchases are reimbursable depends on the airline, circumstances and applicable passenger-rights rules.

Without receipts, proving what you actually had to spend becomes much harder.

📞 If Your Suitcase Is Delivered Later

Airlines and ground handlers commonly arrange delivery after a delayed suitcase is located, but the exact process depends on the carrier.

When you file the initial report, make sure your:

phone number + email + delivery address

are correct.

This is especially important on a Greece trip where you may not remain in Athens.

If you are:

Athens tonight → Santorini tomorrow → cruise two days later

tell the baggage agent.

An address for a hotel you will have already left by the time the suitcase arrives is not particularly useful.

Ask how the airline wants you to update your location if your itinerary changes before the bag is recovered.

❤️ TTWL Baggage Tip

Before leaving baggage claim, stop for about 30 seconds.

Make sure you have:

Every checked bag → Every carry-on → Passport → Phone → Wallet → Baggage receipts

Then inspect the checked luggage quickly for obvious damage.

If something is missing or damaged, deal with it while you are still inside baggage reclaim.

ATH does not permit passengers to simply walk back into that restricted area once they have exited.

It is much easier to solve the problem before you walk out the door.

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🔐 Security & Immigration at ATH

Every departing passenger at Athens International Airport goes through security screening before reaching the gate area.

Whether you also go through passport control depends on where you are flying.

The basic departure flow is:

Check-in or Bag Drop → Security → Passport Control if required → Gate

For passengers traveling within Greece or elsewhere in the Schengen Area, the process is usually simpler.

For passengers leaving the Schengen Area, passport control is an additional step after security.

🛂 Schengen vs. Non-Schengen Departures

This distinction determines whether you normally need outbound passport control.

Schengen Flights

If you are flying from Athens to another Schengen destination, you generally do not pass through external-border passport control.

That includes domestic Greek flights and destinations such as:

• Italy
• France
• Germany
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Austria
• Portugal

You will still pass through security before reaching the departure gates.

Non-Schengen Flights

If your flight is leaving the Schengen Area, you generally complete both:

Security screening + Passport control

That includes destinations such as:

• United Kingdom
• United States
• Canada
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• Other destinations outside the Schengen Area

Passport control at ATH is operated by the Hellenic Police.

There are separate processing flows for:

• EU passport / eligible EU ID holders
• Non-EU passport holders

The exact border process depends on your nationality, travel documents and destination.

⚠️ EU and Schengen Are Not the Same Thing

Do not decide whether you need passport control based simply on whether your destination is in Europe.

The important distinction for ATH is whether your flight stays inside the Schengen Area or crosses the Schengen external border.

Follow the airport signs for your assigned departure area rather than trying to determine the route yourself.

🧴 Carry-On Liquids

ATH currently follows the standard liquid restrictions for hand baggage.

Liquids, aerosols and gels must generally be:

• In individual containers of 100 ml or less
• Packed inside one transparent, resealable plastic bag
• With a maximum bag capacity of 1 liter
• Limited to one liquids bag per passenger

The contents need to fit completely inside the bag so it can close properly.

Items treated as liquids include more than just drinks.

Examples include:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Sunscreen
• Perfume
• Toothpaste
• Hair gel
• Liquid makeup
• Creams
• Sprays
• Aerosols

ATH treats 100 grams as equivalent to 100 ml for products such as toothpaste, gels and liquid cosmetics.

💊 Medication, Baby Food & Medical Liquids

Some liquids are exempt from the normal 100 ml limit.

That can include:

• Necessary liquid medication
• Baby food
• Sterilized water needed for baby milk
• Other medically necessary liquids

You may be asked to remove these items from your bag for separate screening.

ATH advises travelers carrying medication or essential medical equipment to check their airline’s requirements before travel.

Depending on the item, you may need:

• A prescription
• Medical certificate
• Doctor’s letter
• Other documentation showing why the item is necessary

Medication that needs to stay cold can be carried with an ice pack when medically necessary, but ATH advises having documentation confirming the requirement.

🛍️ Duty-Free Liquids

Liquids, aerosols and gels purchased at airport or airline duty-free shops can exceed the normal 100 ml limit when they meet the applicable security requirements.

They should remain:

sealed inside the security tamper-evident bag with the original receipt

until you reach your final destination.

Do not open the sealed bag during a connection unless airport or security staff instruct you to do so.

If you are connecting through another airport, the liquids may be screened again.

🖥️ What to Remove at Security

ATH recommends having your travel documents ready before reaching the screening point.

For security screening, you may be asked to place items such as these into a tray:

• Mobile phone
• Keys
• Coins
• Other loose pocket items
• Liquids bag
• Coat or jacket

ATH also advises keeping electronics and liquids easily accessible so they can be removed if requested.

Security procedures can change depending on the screening equipment being used, so follow the instructions given by staff at the checkpoint rather than assuming the process will be identical to another airport you have used.

💻 Laptops & Electronics

ATH advises travelers to keep electronic devices easy to reach during security.

You may be asked to remove laptops, tablets or other larger electronics from your bag and place them separately in a tray.

If the screening equipment at your particular checkpoint allows certain electronics to stay inside the bag, security staff will tell you.

The instructions at the checkpoint always take priority.

🚰 Empty Your Water Bottle Before Security

A reusable bottle can travel through security, but it needs to be empty.

ATH has water fountains after security, so you can refill it once you are through the checkpoint.

That is much easier than surrendering a full bottle because you forgot about the liquid restriction.

🔪 Sharp & Prohibited Items

Do not place prohibited sharp objects or dangerous items in your hand baggage.

Examples can include:

• Certain knives
• Razor blades
• Some scissors
• Pocket knives
• Corkscrews
• Other sharp tools

Rules can depend on the item and its dimensions.

If you are unsure whether something can travel in your carry-on, check your airline and current airport security rules before packing it.

🚨 Random Additional Screening

Passing through the metal detector without carrying obvious metal does not guarantee that you will avoid additional screening.

ATH states that passengers can be randomly selected for extra security screening.

If selected, follow the instructions from security staff.

Additional screening does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with you or your luggage.

🩺 Medical Devices at Security

If you have a medical device that may be affected by a walk-through metal detector, tell security personnel before passing through the screening equipment.

Airport staff can then advise you on the appropriate screening procedure.

⚡ Fast Lane Security

ATH has Fast Lane security checkpoints in the Main Terminal for eligible passengers.

Access is determined by the airline.

You may qualify through:

• Airline ticket class
• Frequent-flyer status
• Airline-specific benefits
• Other eligibility defined by the carrier

If Fast Lane access is included, it should normally appear on your boarding pass.

ATH specifically notes that Fast Lane access is personal.

An accompanying traveler cannot automatically use Fast Lane simply because you are eligible.

Fast Lane security also does not mean you can ignore passport-control time afterward if you are taking a non-Schengen flight.

🛂 Passport Control

If your flight requires passport control, have your travel document ready before reaching the border checkpoint.

ATH recommends:

• Removing passport covers or holders
• Opening the passport to the photo page
• Removing hats
• Removing sunglasses

Doing that before reaching the officer or automated gate helps keep the line moving.

There are both staffed passport-control counters and automated e-passport gates for eligible travelers.

The automatic border gates and ATH’s current biometric/EES procedures are covered in the next section.

🛒 Baggage Trolleys Cannot Pass Through

ATH does not allow baggage trolleys through Security or Passport Control.

If you have been using a trolley in the public terminal area, you will need to leave it before entering the controlled departure process.

Make sure you can comfortably handle your cabin bags from that point onward.

⏱️ Passport Control Can Add Significant Time

Non-Schengen passengers should not treat passport control as a two-minute formality.

Queues can vary considerably depending on:

• Number of international departures
• Time of day
• Passenger volume
• Nationality mix
• Availability of automated gates
• Additional border-processing requirements

ATH currently recommends arriving at least 2.5 hours before departure, and passport-control delays are one of the reasons behind that recommendation.

For a long-haul or non-Schengen flight, allowing around 3 hours remains the more comfortable target.

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🪪 Biometrics & EES at ATH

Athens International Airport now uses several forms of automated and biometric border processing, but they do not all apply to the same travelers.

Two systems are particularly important:

EU e-Passport Control — automated passport gates available to eligible EU, EEA and Swiss travelers.

Entry/Exit System (EES) — the European system that electronically records eligible non-EU short-stay travelers when they cross the Schengen Area’s external borders.

These are related to border processing, but they are not the same thing.

🛂 What Is EES?

The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is an electronic European border system for many non-EU travelers making short visits to the Schengen Area.

It became fully operational across participating European external borders on April 10, 2026.

EES applies to eligible non-EU nationals traveling for a short stay of up to:

90 days within any 180-day period

and includes both:

• Travelers who need a short-stay Schengen visa
• Travelers who are visa-exempt for short visits

Instead of relying on physical passport stamps, the system electronically records border crossings.

🌍 When Would EES Affect You at Athens Airport?

EES is relevant when you cross the external border of the Schengen Area.

At ATH, that can happen when you:

Arrive directly from a non-Schengen country

or

Depart Athens directly for a non-Schengen country

For example, an eligible non-EU traveler flying:

New York → Athens

would encounter the Schengen external border at ATH.

The same traveler flying:

Athens → Rome

would generally not go through EES processing in Athens because both Greece and Italy are inside the Schengen Area.

But:

Athens → London

crosses the Schengen external border, so applicable travelers would be processed on exit.

📸 What Information Does EES Record?

For travelers subject to the system, EES electronically records information including:

• Name and other passport information
• Travel-document details
• Date and place of entry
• Date and place of exit
• Facial image
• Fingerprints when applicable
• Any refusal of entry, if applicable

The system also keeps an electronic record of the traveler’s Schengen entries and exits, allowing authorities to calculate the permitted short-stay period.

👆 First EES Registration

If this is your first external-border crossing since your EES record was created or since the system began operating, expect the process to take longer than a simple passport scan.

Passport-control authorities may need to collect your:

Travel-document information + Facial image + Fingerprints when applicable

That information creates your electronic EES file.

You will still complete border control.

EES does not mean travelers simply scan themselves into Europe without immigration authorities being involved.

🔄 Later Trips Should Usually Be Faster

Once your information is already stored in EES, future external-border crossings usually involve verifying the existing biometric record rather than creating everything again from scratch.

Your:

Passport + Facial image and/or fingerprints

can be checked against the information already stored in the system.

In some cases, authorities may need to collect biometric information again.

👆 Fingerprints Depend on Whether You Need a Visa

EES does not store exactly the same biometric information for every traveler.

If you are visa-exempt for a short stay, EES generally stores:

Facial image + four fingerprints

If you require a short-stay Schengen visa, your fingerprints were normally already collected as part of the visa process.

In that situation, EES stores your facial image, while the existing visa-system fingerprints can be used for verification.

Children under age 12 are currently not fingerprinted for EES, even when they are otherwise subject to the system.

📖 What Happened to Passport Stamps?

For travelers processed through EES, the old system of routinely stamping passports at participating Schengen external borders has been replaced by an electronic entry-and-exit record.

That means you should not rely on passport stamps to work out how long you have been inside the Schengen Area.

The system records those crossings digitally.

The familiar short-stay rule still applies:

Up to 90 days within any 180-day period

for travelers subject to that limit.

🚫 EES Does Not Apply to Everyone

EES is aimed primarily at non-EU nationals making short stays.

It does not register nationals of:

• European Union countries
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland

There are also exemptions for some non-EU travelers, including certain people holding:

• Long-stay visas
• Residence permits
• Residence cards as qualifying family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

Your nationality alone does not always determine whether EES applies.

Your immigration or residence status can matter too.

🇪🇺 ATH’s EU e-Passport Gates Are Different

Athens Airport also has automatic EU e-Passport Control gates in the Main Terminal.

These are separate from EES.

ATH currently allows the e-Passport gates to be used by travelers who:

• Hold a biometric passport
• Are nationals of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
• Are over 12 years old

There is no advance registration required.

A biometric passport contains a microchip and has the biometric-passport symbol on its cover.

⚠️ A Biometric Passport Does Not Automatically Mean You Can Use ATH’s EU e-Gates

This is an important distinction for travelers from countries such as:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Japan

You may have a biometric passport.

That does not by itself make you eligible for the airport’s EU e-Passport Control gates.

ATH currently limits those particular automated gates to eligible EU, EEA and Swiss nationals over age 12.

Non-EU travelers should follow the signs for the appropriate Non-EU passport processing route and any EES instructions provided there.

🚪 How the EU e-Passport Gates Work

For eligible travelers, the automated gates compare the information stored in the passport chip with the traveler using the gate.

Follow the instructions displayed at the machine.

ATH recommends preparing before you reach passport control:

Remove your passport from any cover

Open it to the photo page

Remove hats

Remove sunglasses

If the automated gate cannot process you, you can use a staffed passport-control booth.

You can also choose a staffed booth if you simply prefer to be processed by a police officer.

👮 Border Officers Still Have the Final Say

Automated technology does not eliminate normal immigration authority.

Passport control at ATH is operated by the Hellenic Police.

Border officers can:

• Verify travel documents
• Ask questions
• Perform additional checks
• Recollect biometric information when necessary
• Direct travelers away from automated processing
• Make entry or exit decisions where applicable

An automated gate or EES verification is part of the border process, not a guarantee of entry.

⏱️ EES Can Add Time to Passport Control

Although EES is designed to make future border crossings more efficient, initial biometric registration and periods of heavy international traffic can increase processing times.

ATH specifically warns that EES can significantly affect passport-control queues.

That is one reason the airport currently advises passengers to arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure.

For a non-Schengen or long-haul departure, I would still be more comfortable allowing around 3 hours, particularly if you are subject to EES processing.

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🔄 Connections & Transfers at ATH

Athens International Airport is a major connecting point for travelers continuing to:

• Greek islands
• Mainland Greece
• Other European destinations
• Middle Eastern destinations
• Long-haul international flights

How your connection works depends mainly on four things:

Where you arrived from → Where you are flying next → Whether your bags are checked through → Whether your flights are on one protected itinerary or separate tickets

That combination determines whether you can remain in the transfer process or whether you need to enter Greece, collect your luggage and start over from the Departures Level.

🎫 Already Have Your Next Boarding Pass?

If you already have the boarding pass for your connecting flight, check the airport monitors as soon as you enter the terminal.

Look for:

Flight number → Destination → Current departure gate

ATH’s gates are divided between:

• A1–A27 — Main Terminal
• B1–B31 — Main Terminal
• C15–C40 — Satellite Terminal

Gate assignments can change, so do not rely only on the gate shown in your airline app hours earlier.

If you have your boarding pass and your luggage is checked through, follow the airport signs toward the appropriate transfer route and gate.

🎟️ No Boarding Pass for the Next Flight?

If your airline did not issue the onward boarding pass at your original airport, ATH has airline and ground-handler transfer desks for connecting passengers.

Go to the nearest appropriate transfer desk and ask for the boarding pass for your onward flight.

If the desk is not staffed, ATH says you may be able to:

• Use a CUSS self-service check-in kiosk
• Use online or mobile check-in
• Proceed to the Main Terminal Check-In Hall on Departures Level 1

Which option works depends on the airline and itinerary.

Do not wait until boarding time to discover that you still need a valid boarding pass.

🧳 Are Your Bags Checked Through?

This is one of the most important questions during any ATH connection.

Transfer bags are usually checked through to the final destination when your flights are on an eligible through itinerary.

Check the baggage tag attached to your suitcase at the airport where you first checked it.

If the final airport code printed on the tag is your actual final destination, the bag is generally intended to transfer automatically.

For example:

New York → Athens → Santorini

If the luggage tag shows JTR, that indicates Santorini as the final tagged destination.

But there is an important Greece-specific exception.

🇬🇷 Connecting to a Regional Greek Airport

ATH specifically warns that passengers continuing to certain regional Greek airports may need to collect their checked luggage in Athens and clear customs even when the bag was tagged to the final destination.

Do not guess.

Ask the airline at your original check-in point whether your suitcase:

transfers automatically

or

must be collected at ATH and rechecked

This matters especially if Athens is your first entry point into Greece or the Schengen Area and you are continuing to an island or smaller regional airport.

If you are required to collect the bag, allow enough time for:

Passport control if required → Baggage reclaim → Customs → Departures Level → Bag drop → Security → Gate

🛄 If Your Bag Is NOT Checked Through

If your baggage tag ends at ATH, you are not making a simple airside transfer.

You need to:

1. Follow signs toward Arrivals
2. Complete passport control if required
3. Go to Baggage Reclaim on Level 0
4. Collect your suitcase
5. Clear customs
6. Enter the public Arrivals area
7. Go to Departures Level 1
8. Find your next airline’s check-in or bag-drop counter
9. Recheck your suitcase
10. Pass through security again
11. Complete passport control again if your next destination requires it
12. Continue to the gate

That requires substantially more time than a normal protected transfer.

🎫 Separate Tickets Are a Completely Different Situation

If you booked the two flights separately, do not assume that ATH or either airline considers them one connection.

For example:

London → Athens on Airline A

followed by

Athens → Santorini on Airline B

purchased as two independent reservations

may function as a self-transfer.

Unless the airlines specifically agree to check the luggage through, you should expect that you may need to:

Enter Greece → Collect bags → Clear customs → Check in again → Recheck luggage → Clear security again

You also need to consider what happens if the first flight is late.

On a protected connection booked as one itinerary, the airline normally has responsibility for helping when a delay causes a missed onward flight.

With separate tickets, the second airline may simply treat you as a passenger who did not arrive in time.

That is why a minimum connection time published for ATH should not be used to plan a self-transfer.

⏱️ Minimum Connection Times Do NOT Apply to Every Passenger

ATH specifically states that its official minimum connecting times apply only when:

• The flights are included in the same qualifying reservation
• The baggage is checked through to the final destination

Those minimums do not apply when:

• You arranged your own connection
• You need to collect luggage in Athens
• You need to recheck baggage
• You need to leave the transfer flow and return through Departures

For a self-transfer, you need enough time for the entire arrival and departure process, not simply enough time to walk from one gate to another.

🛂 Schengen to Schengen Connection

A connection from one Schengen flight to another is generally the simplest type.

For example:

Rome → Athens → Santorini

You normally remain within the Schengen travel system without external-border passport control in Athens.

Depending on your flight and transfer route, you may still encounter security procedures.

Follow the airport transfer signs rather than automatically heading toward baggage reclaim.

If your bags are checked through and you already have the next boarding pass, this can be a relatively straightforward connection.

🌍 Non-Schengen to Schengen Connection

Example:

New York → Athens → Santorini

Athens is where you enter the Schengen Area.

That means you should expect passport control in Athens before continuing toward the domestic or Schengen portion of the journey.

Applicable non-EU travelers may also encounter EES processing as part of that border crossing.

Whether you need to collect luggage in Athens depends on the itinerary, final destination and airline baggage arrangement.

Do not assume a through-tag automatically means you can ignore customs requirements for a regional Greek connection.

✈️ Schengen to Non-Schengen Connection

Example:

Santorini → Athens → London

Athens is where you leave the Schengen Area.

You will need to complete outbound passport control before reaching the non-Schengen departure area.

If you are subject to EES, your exit may also be recorded as part of the border process.

Allow time for the border-control queue rather than treating the connection like two domestic flights.

🌎 Non-Schengen to Non-Schengen Connection

Example:

Istanbul → Athens → New York

The exact transfer route depends on the flights, airline arrangement and whether you need to formally enter the Schengen Area during the connection.

Follow the airport’s transfer signage.

If your itinerary allows you to remain within the appropriate transfer flow and your baggage is checked through, you may not need to complete the same arrivals process as a traveler actually entering Greece.

However, if you need to collect luggage, check in again or otherwise enter the public area, the connection becomes much more involved.

🛰️ Main Terminal to Satellite Terminal Connections

If your onward gate is C15–C40, you need to continue to the Satellite Terminal.

The Satellite Terminal is connected to the Main Terminal through the underground pedestrian passage with moving walkways.

ATH advises allowing roughly 15 additional minutes to reach the C-gate area from the Main Terminal connection point.

That is walking/transfer time only.

It does not include:

• Security
• Passport control
• Airline document checks
• Waiting at a transfer desk

If your next flight is from a C gate, start moving once the gate is confirmed.

🔁 Satellite Terminal to Main Terminal Connections

Passengers arriving through the Satellite Terminal who are continuing from A or B gates need to follow ATH’s transfer signage back toward the Main Terminal and the appropriate departure area.

Do not assume that because the two buildings are connected, you can simply walk from any C gate directly into any A or B gate area without additional processing.

Your routing can involve:

• Transfer corridors
• Security control
• Passport control
• Different Schengen/non-Schengen flows

depending on the flights involved.

🔐 Will You Go Through Security Again?

You may.

Whether a connecting passenger needs additional security screening depends on the origin of the arriving flight, the onward destination and the transfer route used inside ATH.

The safest rule is:

Follow the transfer signs and airport instructions for your actual itinerary.

Do not assume that because you already went through security at your departure airport, you are automatically finished with security for the rest of the trip.

🛂 Will You Go Through Passport Control?

If your connection causes you to enter or leave the Schengen Area, expect passport control.

Typical examples:

Non-Schengen → Schengen: passport control in Athens on entry

Schengen → Non-Schengen: passport control in Athens on exit

Schengen → Schengen: normally no external-border passport control

Your nationality, residence status and EES eligibility can affect the exact border procedure.

🧭 Check the Monitors Again After Every Major Step

ATH specifically advises connecting passengers to keep checking the flight-information monitors because gates can change.

That is particularly important after:

• Passport control
• Security
• Visiting a transfer desk
• Spending time in a lounge
• Moving between terminal buildings

Do not assume the gate you saw immediately after landing will still be the gate used for boarding.

🆘 If You’re Not Sure Where to Go

ATH has Airport Information counters in both the Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal.

There are also red courtesy phones throughout the airport that connect directly with the Airport Information Services Center.

If you are unsure whether to:

• Collect your suitcase
• Go to a transfer desk
• Enter Arrivals
• Proceed toward a C gate
• Pass through passport control

ask before following a route that could take you out of the secure transfer area unnecessarily.

Once you leave certain controlled areas, getting back to the gate may mean repeating additional airport procedures.

❤️ TTWL Connection Tip

Before your first flight even leaves, check two things:

Do I already have the boarding pass for my next flight?

and

What airport code is printed as the final destination on my checked-baggage tag?

Those two answers tell you a lot about what your ATH connection is going to look like.

And if your flights were booked separately, treat the connection as a full arrival followed by a new departure unless the airlines explicitly confirm otherwise.

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♿ Wheelchair Service & Accessibility at ATH

Athens International Airport provides free on-ground assistance for disabled passengers and travelers with reduced mobility.

The service is not limited to passengers who use wheelchairs.

ATH specifically includes travelers whose needs may relate to:

• Permanent or temporary physical disabilities
• Difficulty walking long airport distances
• Visual impairment
• Deafness or hearing impairment
• Intellectual disabilities
• Learning difficulties
• Non-visible disabilities
• Dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Down syndrome
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Age-related mobility limitations
• Other conditions that make navigating the normal airport process difficult

Depending on the assistance requested, support can cover the journey through:

arrival at the airport → check-in → security → passport control if required → gate → boarding

and the process can work in reverse when you arrive at ATH.

📅 Request Assistance at Least 48 Hours Before Travel

Arrange assistance through your:

Airline → Travel agent → Tour operator

ideally when booking the trip and at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure or arrival time.

Tell them what kind of assistance you actually need.

There is a major difference between:

“I can walk and climb stairs, but I cannot manage long airport distances.”

and

“I need wheelchair assistance all the way to my aircraft seat.”

Giving the airline accurate information helps ATH arrange the correct type of assistance.

If you are traveling with your own wheelchair, mobility scooter or assistance dog, ATH also asks that you notify the airline at least 48 hours in advance.

🆘 What If You Didn’t Prebook?

ATH says it will still make reasonable efforts to assist passengers who arrive without advance notice.

However, waiting times can be longer when the service was not booked at least 48 hours beforehand.

Prebooking is particularly worthwhile if:

• You have a tight connection
• You need help boarding the aircraft
• You cannot use stairs
• You travel with your own mobility equipment
• You require assistance through several airport procedures

📍 Where to Meet Assistance Staff

ATH has designated assistance points around the airport where passengers can announce their arrival and contact the assistance team.

Useful locations include:

Departures Level

• Near Entrance 2
• Inside the check-in area near Entrance 2

Arrivals Level

• Near Entrance 4
• Short-Term Parking areas
• Outside Entrance 1
• Inside the Schengen Arrivals area
• Across from the Non-Schengen Arrivals area

There is also a designated point associated with the airport railway station, although at the time this guide was last checked, the Suburban Railway Station assistance point was temporarily unavailable because of ongoing works.

If you have booked assistance and are arriving by train or Metro, check the current airport instructions before travel rather than relying on that particular meeting point.

🏢 Assistance Services Coordination Office

ATH has a dedicated Assistance Services Coordination Office in the Main Terminal.

You’ll find it:

Departures Level → Public/All Users Area → next to Entrance 1

The office is staffed 24 hours a day.

There is also a dedicated waiting area for disabled passengers, travelers with reduced mobility and accompanying companions.

If you arrive at the airport and are unsure where your assistance begins, this is one of the main places to ask for help.

⏰ When Should You Arrive?

If your airline or travel agent gave you a specific reporting time, follow that instruction.

If no time was provided, ATH says assisted passengers should report to a designated assistance point or check-in counter at least 2 hours before departure.

However, ATH’s current general recommendation for passengers is at least 2.5 hours before departure, particularly because passport-control processing can take longer under EES.

I would therefore use the 2.5-hour airport recommendation or any earlier time specifically given by the airline, rather than cutting it down simply because the assistance minimum says two hours.

🦽 Different Levels of Mobility Assistance

You do not need to be completely unable to walk to use airport assistance.

ATH specifically supports passengers who may:

• Walk and use stairs but need help covering long distances
• Walk short distances but cannot use stairs
• Need a wheelchair throughout the terminal
• Need assistance boarding or leaving the aircraft
• Need an onboard wheelchair
• Need assistance all the way to or from the aircraft seat

This distinction matters because ATH includes both the Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal, and reaching some gates involves significant walking.

Someone who manages normal daily walking may still find an entire airport journey difficult.

🔐 Security & Passport Control

ATH has dedicated passenger flows for disabled passengers and travelers with reduced mobility at:

• Security screening
• Boarding-pass control
• Passport control

These are available in both the Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal.

You still complete all security and immigration procedures required for your flight.

The dedicated route is designed to make moving through those processes easier.

If you use medical equipment that may be affected by security screening, tell security staff before entering the screening equipment.

✈️ Boarding & Leaving the Aircraft

Assistance can continue from the terminal to the aircraft.

The exact procedure depends on:

• Your mobility needs
• Aircraft type
• Gate location
• Whether the aircraft is at a jet bridge or remote stand
• The type of assistance arranged through your airline

Some travelers need assistance only as far as the gate or aircraft door.

Others may need help reaching their seat.

The same applies after landing: assistance can begin at the aircraft and continue through the terminal toward baggage reclaim, arrivals or another connecting flight.

🔄 Accessibility During a Connection

Assistance is also available for passengers connecting through ATH.

This can be particularly valuable if your transfer involves:

• Passport control
• Security screening
• Movement between Schengen and non-Schengen areas
• A C gate in the Satellite Terminal
• Long walking distances
• Boarding another aircraft

If your journey has several flight segments, make sure the assistance request is attached to the entire itinerary, not only the first flight.

If you are changing airlines, confirm that the assistance request has been communicated to the onward carrier as well.

🦽 Traveling With Your Own Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter

Tell your airline at least 48 hours before travel if you will be bringing your own wheelchair, scooter or other mobility device.

This is particularly important for powered equipment because the airline may need details about:

• Battery type
• Battery capacity
• Dimensions
• Weight
• Whether the battery can be removed
• How the equipment needs to be secured

Ask the airline whether you can keep the mobility device until the gate and where it will be returned after landing.

If the device is essential to you, take photos of it before handing it over.

Photograph:

the entire device + controls + wheels + existing marks or damage

so you have a clear record of its condition before airline handling.

👁️ Blind & Visually Impaired Travelers

ATH has several accessibility features for travelers who are blind or have limited vision.

These include:

• Tactile guidance paths
• Braille signage
• Braille buttons inside elevators
• High-contrast design elements
• Accessible-format airport information
• Braille airport brochures

A tactile path runs from the dedicated disability drop-off area near Entrance 2 toward the assistance contact point inside the Main Terminal.

Braille information brochures are available from locations including:

• Assistance Services Coordination Office near Entrance 1
• Central Information Desk between Entrances 2 and 3 on Departures
• Central Information Desk near Entrance 3 on Arrivals

Passengers who need escorted airport assistance should still arrange that service through the airline.

🦻 Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Travelers

ATH offers a communication service developed with the Union of Deaf People that connects deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers with airport customer-service representatives through sign-language interpretation.

Travelers can:

• Schedule a video appointment from home
• Use remote interpretation when communicating with airport staff at designated airport locations

The service is currently available:

Monday–Friday → 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

at the Assistance Services Coordination Office and central information desks in Departures and Arrivals.

ATH also uses both visual and audible emergency notifications, so emergency information is not communicated through sound alone.

🧠 Autism, Cognitive & Non-Visible Disabilities

ATH’s assistance program specifically includes passengers with non-visible disabilities and cognitive or developmental conditions.

That includes travelers with:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Learning difficulties
• Intellectual disabilities
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s
• Down syndrome
• Other conditions that can make navigating an airport difficult

Assistance can help with movement through airport procedures and finding the correct parts of the terminal.

ATH has also participated in the Boarding Pass to Autism program, developed to help children with autism become familiar with the airport and air-travel process.

If assistance would help, tell the airline what the traveler actually needs rather than assuming airport assistance is only for physical mobility.

🚻 Accessible Toilets, Elevators & Seating

ATH has accessible facilities throughout the Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal.

These include:

Accessible toilets
Specially designed toilets are available throughout the airport.

Wheelchair-accessible elevators
Large elevators are available on all terminal levels and include Braille floor-selection buttons.

Accessible water fountains
Water fountains are positioned at heights accessible to wheelchair users.

Designated gate seating
Marked seating is available in departure-gate areas.

Accessible check-in and internet points
Lower-height facilities are available for wheelchair users.

Ramps are also provided at terminal sidewalks.

🚗 Accessible Drop-Off & Parking

ATH has designated temporary drop-off spaces for passengers with documented disabilities near Entrance 2 on the Departures Level.

There is an assistance contact point nearby so the passenger or accompanying person can alert the assistance team after arriving.

Accessible parking is also available in the airport’s short-term parking facilities with applicable reduced pricing.

Documentation requirements apply to the dedicated disability drop-off and parking spaces, so check the current airport requirements before travel.

🦮 Assistance Dogs

If you are traveling with an assistance dog, notify the airline at least 48 hours before travel.

Airline requirements and international animal-entry rules can differ depending on the destination, so confirm:

• Airline documentation
• Animal health documents
• Entry requirements
• Cabin procedures

well before departure.

ATH also has an animal care facility in the controlled Non-Schengen departure area after passport control.

❤️ TTWL Accessibility Tip

Airport assistance is not only for travelers who are unable to walk.

ATH specifically recognizes passengers who can walk independently but cannot comfortably manage long airport distances.

If that describes you, explain it clearly when requesting assistance:

“I can walk and board the aircraft myself, but I cannot manage long distances through the airport.”

That gives the airline and assistance team far more useful information than simply requesting “a wheelchair.”

The goal is to get through ATH and reach the aircraft comfortably — not to use up all of your energy simply getting to the gate.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🍽️ Food & Restaurants at ATH

Athens International Airport has a surprisingly large selection of food for an airport of its size.

ATH currently lists more than 40 restaurants, cafés and food concepts spread across:

• The public All Users Area before security
• Schengen departures
• Non-Schengen departures
• The Satellite Terminal
• The airport railway station

You can find everything from Greek gyros and pastries to sushi, pasta, burgers, salads, coffee, gelato and grab-and-go sandwiches.

The important thing is where the restaurant is located.

Once you pass through security or passport control, you may no longer be able to reach a restaurant you saw elsewhere in the airport.

Check your gate area before deciding where to eat.

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🏢 Public Area — Before Security

The public All Users Area has one of the broadest food selections at ATH.

This is useful if:

• You arrive early before check-in opens
• Someone who is not flying is accompanying you
• You want to eat before going through security
• You have a long landside wait
• You arrive at ATH and want food before leaving the airport

Current options include:

Pret A Manger

Departures — 24 hours

Sandwiches, salads, hot dishes, baked goods, snacks and coffee.

This is one of the most useful options for extremely early or late departures because it currently operates around the clock.

Gregory’s

Departures — 24 hours

Greek pastries, sandwiches, salads, desserts and coffee.

A good quick option if you want something closer to a Greek bakery/café than international fast food.

Artisan-Taf

Departures — 24 hours

Specialty coffee, pizza, sandwiches, juices and a particularly strong selection of vegan dishes.

Current vegan choices include rice bowls, noodle bowls and salads rather than just one token plant-based sandwich.

Cultivos

Departures — 24 hours

Specialty coffee, cakes, baked goods, sandwiches and sweets.

Everest Exclusive

Arrivals — 24 hours
Departures — approximately 5:00 AM–11:00 PM

Sandwiches, pizza, peinirli, croissants, salads, yoghurt and cereal bars.

Everest Exclusive also specifically lists vegetarian and vegan options.

Koulourades

Arrivals near Exit 2 — 24 hours

A very Greek airport snack option.

Koulouri is the sesame-covered bread ring you will see all over Greece, and this outlet serves traditional versions along with sweet and savory variations and sandwiches.

There is also a curbside location near Exit 2 with more limited daytime hours.

Barbadimos

Departures — approximately 5:00 AM–10:00 PM

Traditional Greek food, including gyros.

If you want an actual Greek meal before security, this is one of the most obvious choices.

Burger King

2nd Floor near Entrance 3 — approximately 5:00 AM–3:00 AM

One of the latest-operating landside restaurants.

La Pasteria / Flocafé

2nd Floor near Entrance 3

La Pasteria serves Italian dishes such as pasta and other sit-down meals.

Flocafé handles coffee and lighter café options.

Current hours are roughly:

La Pasteria — 11:00 AM–9:30 PM
Flocafé — 7:30 AM–9:30 PM

Ancho

Departures — approximately 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

Tex-Mex food including burritos, nachos and drinks.

Koi Sushi Bar

Departures — approximately 11:00 AM–9:00 PM

Sushi, rice bowls, bao buns and noodles, with meat, seafood and vegetarian choices.

Starbucks

Departures — approximately 6:30 AM–9:30 PM

Coffee, tea, cold drinks and familiar Starbucks snacks.

Cinnabon

Departures — approximately 7:00 AM–10:00 PM

Cinnamon rolls, coffee, desserts, milkshakes and sweets.

Kayak

Departures — approximately 6:00 AM–9:00 PM

Ice cream, frozen yoghurt and desserts.

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🇪🇺 Schengen Departures — B Gates

If you are flying within Greece or to another Schengen destination, you will generally use the B-gate departure area.

There is a substantial food selection after security.

Eat Greek

Platea — 24 hours

This is one of the most useful choices if you want Greek food before leaving Greece.

The menu includes:

• Gyros
• Traditional Greek dishes
• Fresh sandwiches
• Snacks
• Hot and cold drinks

Pret A Manger

Platea — 24 hours

Sandwiches, salads, hot dishes, pastries, snacks and coffee.

Bistrot Attica Athens

Platea — 24 hours

Hot meals, snacks, coffee, desserts and seasonal dishes.

The same area also includes Lukumades, serving the small fried dough balls traditionally topped with honey and cinnamon.

Lukumades currently operates roughly:

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Everest

There are multiple Schengen locations.

Gate B11 — 24 hours
Gate B28 — approximately 5:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sandwiches, pastries and coffee.

Gregory’s

Retail Concourse — approximately 4:00 AM–10:00 PM
Gate B18 — approximately 5:00 AM–11:00 PM

Pastries, sandwiches, salads, desserts and coffee.

Coffee Berry

Gate B24 — approximately 5:00 AM–10:00 PM

Coffee, sandwiches, salads, yoghurt, cereal bars, sweets and tea.

Flocafé Espresso Room

Gate B07 — approximately 6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Coffee, tea, beverages and snacks.

The airport has also listed another Schengen Flocafé location around the B19/B20 area, but availability has recently changed, so I would not rely on that specific outlet without checking the airport directory on the day you travel.

Easy Grab-n-Go

Gate B31 — approximately 6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Coffee, sandwiches, pastries, salads and other quick food designed to take toward the gate.

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🌍 Non-Schengen Departures — A Gates

Travelers flying outside the Schengen Area use the A-gate departure area after passport control.

There is still a substantial selection here, including several late-night and 24-hour options.

Ergon Greek Cuisine

Retail Concourse

One of the best options if you want a more distinctly Greek meal before an international departure.

Ergon combines a Greek deli with traditional dishes made from Greek products.

Current hours are approximately:

Self-service/takeaway — 24 hours
Dine-in — 6:30 AM–10:00 PM

Greek wine and local beer are also available.

Starbucks

Gate A09 — 24 hours

There is another Starbucks around Gate A12, currently operating approximately:

8:00 AM–10:00 PM

Flocafé Espresso Room

Gate A07 — 24 hours

Coffee, tea, beverages and snacks.

Gregory’s

Platea — approximately 5:00 AM–midnight

Greek pastries, sandwiches, salads, sweets and coffee.

Cinnabon

Platea — approximately 5:00 AM–midnight

Cinnamon rolls, desserts, coffee and cold drinks.

Holy Burger

Platea — approximately 8:00 AM–11:00 PM

Burgers, chicken, hot dogs and drinks.

Holy Burger also currently offers vegan burgers and vegan nuggets.

Amore

Platea

Italian food including pizza, risotto, pasta, salads, focaccia sandwiches and desserts.

Current hours are approximately:

Self-service — 5:00 AM–11:00 PM
Dine-in — 11:00 AM–11:00 PM

Camden Food Co

Gate A20 — approximately 5:00 AM–9:00 PM

Pies, sandwiches, salads, desserts and hot and cold drinks.

To Go

Gate A01 — approximately 6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sandwiches, snacks and drinks for passengers who need something quickly near the gate.

Bufala Gelato

Platea — approximately 10:00 AM–11:00 PM

Gelato, waffles, crepes, milkshakes and desserts.

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🛰️ Satellite Terminal — C Gates

The Satellite Terminal has fewer restaurants than the Main Terminal, but it is not a food desert.

If your flight departs from C15–C40, you still have several choices after making the underground walk from the Main Terminal.

Pret A Manger

C Gates, Level 2 — 24 hours

Sandwiches, salads, hot dishes, snacks, baked goods and coffee.

This is particularly useful for very early or late C-gate departures.

Camden Food Co

C Gates, Level 2 — 24 hours

Pies, sandwiches, salads, desserts and drinks.

Veneti 1948

Several locations serve the Satellite Terminal, including around:

• Gate C31
• Gate C38
• Level 1

Current operating hours are generally around:

5:00 AM–11:00 PM

Veneti serves coffee, juices, smoothies, sandwiches, bread products, croissants, pizza, sweets and ice cream.

Green Veneti 1948

C Gates, Level 2 — approximately 5:00 AM–11:00 PM

A useful lighter option with:

• Fresh juices
• Smoothies
• Fruit
• Vegetable sandwiches
• Yoghurt
• Nuts
• Baked goods
• Coffee

The Beer House

C Gates, Level 2 — approximately 11:00 AM–9:00 PM

Burgers, draught beer, wine and other drinks.

⚠️ If You Have a C Gate

The Satellite Terminal has enough food to cover most needs, including 24-hour Pret and Camden Food Co, so you do not need to panic-eat in the Main Terminal.

But the Main Terminal still has the broader restaurant selection.

If there is a specific restaurant you want, eat there before making the underground trip to the Satellite Terminal.

Just remember to leave enough time for the approximately 15-minute walk to the C-gate area.

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🌙 24-Hour Food at ATH

ATH operates overnight, and unlike some airports, you are not completely dependent on vending machines after normal restaurant hours.

Current 24-hour options include:

Public Area

• Pret A Manger — Departures
• Gregory’s — Departures
• Artisan-Taf — Departures
• Cultivos — Departures
• Everest Exclusive — Arrivals
• Koulourades — Arrivals
• Veneti — Departures curbside

Schengen Area

• Eat Greek
• Pret A Manger
• Bistrot Attica Athens
• Everest at Gate B11

Non-Schengen Area

• Ergon Greek Cuisine self-service
• Starbucks at Gate A09
• Flocafé at Gate A07

Satellite Terminal

• Pret A Manger
• Camden Food Co

Restaurant hours can still change because of operational circumstances, so for a very early or very late flight I would check the airport directory again shortly before travel.

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🇬🇷 Where to Get Greek Food at ATH

You do not have to settle for generic international airport food.

Good options for Greek flavors include:

Barbadimos — public Departures
Traditional Greek food and gyros.

Eat Greek — Schengen Platea
Gyros, traditional dishes and sandwiches.

Ergon Greek Cuisine — non-Schengen Retail Concourse
Greek deli products and prepared Greek dishes.

Gregory’s — multiple areas
Greek pastries, pies and quick café food.

Everest / Everest Exclusive — multiple areas
Pastries, sandwiches and familiar Greek bakery-style food.

Koulourades — Arrivals
Traditional sesame koulouri and variations.

Bistrot Attica Athens / Lukumades — Schengen Platea
Hot food plus Greek loukoumades with honey and cinnamon.

So if you want one last Greek meal before flying home, ATH gives you much better choices than simply grabbing an international burger chain.

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🌱 Vegetarian & Vegan Food

Vegetarian food is relatively easy to find at ATH.

Several restaurants currently advertise vegetarian or vegan choices specifically.

Stronger options include:

Artisan-Taf — public Departures
One of the airport’s strongest explicitly vegan menus, with vegan bowls and salads.

Everest Exclusive — public area
Vegetarian and vegan sandwiches plus salads and lighter options.

Holy Burger — non-Schengen
Vegan burger and vegan nuggets.

Koi Sushi Bar — public Departures
Vegetarian Asian dishes alongside sushi and rice/noodle options.

Pret A Manger — several areas
Salads, sandwiches and other grab-and-go choices that can make finding meat-free food easier.

Greek food can also naturally include vegetarian choices such as salads, pastries and vegetable-based dishes, but ingredients vary.

🌾 Gluten-Free & Food Allergies

I would not assume that an item is safe simply because it looks naturally gluten-free, dairy-free or nut-free.

ATH does not publish one airport-wide allergy menu covering every restaurant.

If you have celiac disease or a serious food allergy:

• Ask the individual restaurant about ingredients
• Ask about cross-contact
• Check packaged-food labels carefully
• Do not rely solely on a dish name
• Carry your own safe backup snack if necessary

Restaurant menus and preparation practices can change independently.

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📱 Gate Delivery by efood

ATH has one food feature that is genuinely useful if you have already settled near your departure gate.

Gate Delivery powered by efood allows passengers in the Schengen B-gate area to order food or coffee and have it delivered to a designated pickup point near the departure gate.

The service currently works only in the Schengen departure area and only with participating restaurants.

You can order by:

• Using an efood Gate Delivery station
• Using the efood app
• Scanning the QR code available around the gate seating areas

You select your departure gate, choose from participating restaurants and place the order.

Payment can be made by cash or card.

The order must be accepted early enough to arrive before your departure.

This can be particularly handy if you have already walked to a distant B gate and do not want to drag your carry-on back through the terminal just to find food.

Food can generally be taken onto the aircraft if your airline allows it.

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⚠️ Check Your Gate Area Before Choosing a Restaurant

ATH has good food overall.

The mistake would be seeing a restaurant listed online and assuming you can reach it from every gate.

The airport is divided into:

Public area → Schengen area → Non-Schengen area → Satellite Terminal

and security/passport control separates some of those areas.

So before settling in for a meal:

Check your gate → identify the correct departure area → then choose where to eat.

That matters particularly for non-Schengen travelers who still need passport control and for C-gate passengers who still need to make the underground walk to the Satellite Terminal.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🛍️ Shopping at ATH

Athens International Airport has a much stronger shopping selection than you might expect from its relatively manageable size.

ATH currently has 60+ Greek and international brands, with stores spread across:

• The public area before security
• Baggage reclaim
• Schengen departures
• Non-Schengen departures
• The Satellite Terminal
• The airport railway station

You’ll find the usual airport categories — duty free, cosmetics, fashion, books, travel essentials and electronics — but ATH is particularly good for Greek food products, beauty brands, designers and souvenirs.

The most important thing is knowing which area your shop is in.

A store in the Schengen departure area may not be accessible to a non-Schengen passenger after passport control, and C-gate passengers eventually move into the separate Satellite Terminal.

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🏢 Public Area — Before Security

There are useful shops in the Main Terminal that anyone can access, even if they are not flying.

Bag Stories

Departures — approximately 6:00 AM–10:30 PM

Bag Stories specializes in luggage and travel accessories.

You’ll find items such as:

• Suitcases
• Carry-ons
• Backpacks
• Travel bags
• Wallets
• Accessories
• Sunglasses

Brands currently include names such as Delsey, Kipling, Bric’s and CabinZero.

This can be particularly useful if a suitcase breaks during your trip or you suddenly realize everything you bought in Greece is not going to fit inside the bag you arrived with.

Artpoint

Departures — approximately 6:00 AM–9:00 PM

Artpoint is one of the more distinctive souvenir shops at ATH.

It focuses on Greek history and Ancient Greek-inspired gifts, including:

• Handmade souvenirs
• Museum-style replicas
• Jewelry
• Ceramics
• Sculpture replicas
• Home décor
• Gifts inspired by Ancient Greece

This is a much better fit if you want something more substantial than a generic airport magnet.

WHSmith

WHSmith has several locations throughout ATH, including the public terminal area and airport railway station.

It carries the usual airport essentials:

• Books
• Magazines
• Snacks
• Drinks
• Travel accessories
• Small convenience items

There are additional WHSmith stores after security, so you do not necessarily need to buy everything before going through.

📱 Sim Local

If you need mobile service after arriving in Greece, Sim Local has a staffed location in the public Arrivals area near Exit 1.

It currently operates approximately:

6:00 AM–10:00 PM

SIM Local sells prepaid SIM cards from mobile operators for voice and data.

There are also SIM Local options inside baggage reclaim and vending-machine locations in some arrival areas.

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🛬 Shopping in Baggage Reclaim

ATH even has some shopping available before you leave the secure arrivals area.

Arrival Shop

There are Arrival Shop locations in both the Schengen and non-Schengen baggage-reclaim areas.

Current hours are approximately:

6:30 AM–10:30 PM

Products include:

• Perfume
• Confectionery
• Spirits
• Toys
• Jewelry
• Accessories

If you want something from the arrivals shop, buy it before leaving baggage reclaim.

You cannot simply return to the restricted baggage area after exiting.

Sim Local

SIM-card services are also available inside baggage reclaim.

The current non-Schengen location is staffed approximately:

6:00 AM–10:00 PM

while the Schengen baggage-reclaim area has a SIM vending machine.

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🇪🇺 Schengen Departures — B Gates

The Schengen departure area has one of ATH’s strongest shopping selections.

If you’re flying domestically within Greece or to another Schengen destination, this is where you’ll find many of the airport’s Greek fashion, food and beauty stores.

🇬🇷 The Greek Designers Store

Retail Concourse — approximately 5:00 AM–9:00 PM

This is one of the best ATH shops if you want something Greek that does not look like a standard souvenir.

The store showcases established and emerging Greek designers, with products including:

• Clothing
• Beachwear
• Shoes
• Bags
• Jewelry
• Sunglasses
• Accessories
• Natural cosmetics

Current designers include names such as Ioanna Kourbela, Elena Votsi, Konstantino, Peace and Chaos and others.

👡 Ancient Greek Sandals

Retail Concourse — approximately 6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Ancient Greek Sandals specializes in handcrafted footwear made in Greece using traditional techniques.

Along with women’s and men’s sandals, the airport shop carries:

• Leather accessories
• Bags
• Postcards
• Ceramic gifts

If you want a wearable Greek souvenir rather than something decorative, this is one of the more interesting airport options.

🌿 Korres

Retail Concourse — approximately 6:30 AM–10:30 PM

Korres is one of Greece’s best-known beauty brands.

The ATH store carries:

• Skincare
• Body care
• Hair care
• Sunscreen
• Fragrance
• Makeup
• Aromatherapy products

There is also a Korres location in the non-Schengen area.

🧀 Kostarelos

Platea — approximately 6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Kostarelos specializes in Greek dairy products and traditional foods.

Products include:

• Barrel-aged feta
• Greek cheeses
• Yogurt
• Pies
• Olive oil
• Honey
• Herbs
• Sweets
• Greek spirits

Some products are better suited to immediate eating than international transport, so consider where you’re flying and what food-import rules apply at your destination.

👗 Attica Selections

Retail Concourse — approximately 6:00 AM–9:00 PM

Attica Selections carries premium international fashion brands.

Current selections include brands such as:

• Polo Ralph Lauren
• BOSS
• Barbour
• Karl Lagerfeld
• Kurt Geiger
• Zadig & Voltaire
• Havaianas

📚 Public Books

Platea — approximately 6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Public Books carries:

• Books
• Travel guides
• Maps
• Dictionaries
• Stationery
• Gadgets
• Toys
• Gifts

This can be a useful stop if you need something for the flight or want a Greek book or travel-related gift.

🧸 Cozykids

Retail Concourse — approximately 7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Cozykids specializes in children’s products including:

• Toys
• Books
• Puzzles
• Activity sets
• Clothing
• Travel accessories
• Gifts
• Baby items

✨ Swarovski

Swarovski currently operates 24 hours in the Schengen Retail Concourse.

👔 BOSS

BOSS has a Schengen Retail Concourse store with clothing, footwear and accessories.

🇬🇷 Hellenic Gourmet

Retail Concourse — 24 hours

Hellenic Gourmet is one of the easiest places to buy Greek food gifts at ATH.

Expect products such as:

• Olive oil
• Honey
• Greek sweets
• Local specialty foods
• Wines
• Spirits
• Packaged Greek products

🛍️ Last-Minute Shopping

Hellenic Duty Free operates smaller Last-Minute Shopping locations near several B gates, including around:

• B08
• B15
• B24

These carry a smaller selection of:

• Perfume
• Cosmetics
• Confectionery
• Spirits
• Jewelry
• Electronics
• Toys
• Accessories
• Souvenirs

They are useful if you reach your gate and realize you forgot something.

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🌍 Non-Schengen Departures — A Gates

ATH’s non-Schengen area has another substantial shopping zone, including several stores particularly well suited to travelers leaving Greece for destinations outside the Schengen Area.

🇬🇷 A Piece of Greece

Retail Concourse — approximately 6:30 AM–10:30 PM

This store is built specifically around Greek products.

You’ll find things such as:

• Olive oil
• Olives
• Honey
• Herbs and spices
• Spoon sweets
• Greek confectionery
• Coffee and tea
• Spirits
• Skincare
• Body products

Brands represented include Greek producers such as Melira, Mythogea, Olive Era and Agrecofarms.

If you suddenly realize you are leaving Greece without bringing home anything distinctly Greek, this is an easy place to fix that.

🌿 Mastihashop

Retail Concourse — approximately 6:30 AM–10:30 PM

Mastihashop focuses on products made with Chios mastiha, the aromatic resin traditionally produced on the Greek island of Chios.

Products include:

• Natural mastiha
• Cosmetics
• Sunscreen
• Soaps
• Oral-care products
• Loukoumi
• Biscuits
• Chocolate
• Olive oil
• Pasta
• Tea and coffee
• Mastiha liqueur

This is one of the more unusual Greece-specific airport shops.

🇬🇷 All Greek To Me

Platea — approximately 6:30 AM–10:30 PM

All Greek To Me combines modern Greek souvenirs with fashion and food.

You can find:

• Greek-designed clothing
• Bags
• Jewelry
• Olive oil
• Honey
• Spoon sweets
• Greek wines
• Home items
• Souvenirs

It is a particularly good option if you want to browse several different types of Greek gifts in one place.

🌿 Korres

The non-Schengen Korres store currently operates 24 hours.

That makes it one of the better options for Greek beauty products if you have a very early or very late international flight.

👜 Michael Kors

Retail Concourse — approximately 6:30 AM–10:30 PM

The non-Schengen area also includes Michael Kors clothing, footwear, bags and accessories.

👔 BOSS

BOSS also has a non-Schengen location in the Retail Concourse.

✨ Swarovski

The non-Schengen Swarovski store currently operates 24 hours.

🇬🇷 Hellenic Gourmet

Retail Concourse — 24 hours

The non-Schengen Hellenic Gourmet location carries Greek food, wine and spirits and is one of the easiest places to pick up packaged gifts before an international departure.

🛍️ Last-Minute Shopping

There are additional Hellenic Duty Free Last-Minute Shopping locations near:

• A07
• A09

These are useful after you have already moved deeper into the A-gate area.

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🛰️ Satellite Terminal — C Gates

The C-gate Satellite Terminal has fewer shops than the Main Terminal, but there are still enough options for gifts and basic travel needs.

🇬🇷 The Greek Designers Store

Level 2 — approximately 7:00 AM–9:00 PM

The Satellite Terminal has its own branch of The Greek Designers Store, carrying Greek fashion, bags, jewelry, accessories and other locally designed products.

🇬🇷 Hellenic Gourmet

C Gates — 24 hours

Greek food gifts, regional products, wines and spirits remain available even after you have made the trip out to the Satellite Terminal.

📚 WHSmith

There are WHSmith locations on both Levels 1 and 2.

The Level 2 location currently operates 24 hours, making it useful for:

• Drinks
• Snacks
• Books
• Reading material
• Travel necessities

even for very early or late C-gate flights.

🛍️ Last-Minute Shopping

Hellenic Duty Free has Last-Minute Shopping locations on both Levels 1 and 2 of the Satellite Terminal.

These generally operate approximately:

6:30 AM–10:30 PM

and carry perfume, cosmetics, confectionery, spirits, electronics, accessories, toys and souvenirs.

⚠️ The Main Terminal Still Has More Choice

The Satellite Terminal has enough shopping that you will not be stranded without basic travel items or souvenirs.

But the Main Terminal has the much broader selection.

If you specifically want Korres, Ancient Greek Sandals, Mastihashop or another named store, check its location before walking out toward the C gates.

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🛃 Hellenic Duty Free Shops

Hellenic Duty Free Shops operate throughout the airport, including the:

• Schengen departure area
• Non-Schengen departure area
• Satellite Terminal
• Arrivals baggage-reclaim areas

Products include:

• Perfume
• Cosmetics
• Wine
• Spirits
• Confectionery
• Tobacco
• Accessories
• Electronics
• Toys
• Greek specialty products

Seeing the words Duty Free does not mean every product is automatically tax-free for every passenger.

Your destination and applicable tax rules determine what duty-free treatment is available.

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📦 Reserve & Collect

ATH also offers Reserve & Collect through Hellenic Duty Free Shops.

You can currently reserve eligible products:

from 6 hours before departure up to 30 days in advance

Categories include:

• Beauty
• Accessories
• Food
• Spirits
• Travel-exclusive products

You choose your flight information and pickup location, reserve online, and then collect and pay at the airport on departure day.

This can be useful if there is one specific product you want and you would rather not spend airport time searching for it.

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🇬🇷 Best Places for Greek Gifts

If your goal is specifically to bring something home from Greece, these are some of the strongest airport options:

What You Want	Good ATH Options
Greek food & gourmet gifts	Hellenic Gourmet, A Piece of Greece, Kostarelos
Greek skincare & beauty	Korres, Mastihashop
Greek fashion & jewelry	The Greek Designers Store, All Greek To Me
Greek-made footwear	Ancient Greek Sandals
Ancient Greece-inspired gifts	Artpoint
Mastiha products	Mastihashop
Olive oil, honey & traditional foods	A Piece of Greece, Hellenic Gourmet
Children’s gifts	Cozykids
Books & travel gifts	Public Books, WHSmith

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💸 VAT Refund at ATH

If you are eligible for a VAT refund on purchases made during your trip, do not automatically check those purchases inside your suitcase before dealing with Customs.

ATH’s current procedure requires eligible passengers to take:

the purchased items + Tax Refund form

to the Customs office located:

Opposite Check-In Counter 61 in the public Departures area

This needs to be done before check-in and baggage drop if the qualifying items are inside your checked suitcase.

The Customs office can validate the Tax Refund form after your flight’s check-in counters have opened.

After completing the Customs requirement, refunds through Global Blue and Planet are currently handled at ONExchange locations in:

• Schengen Departures
• Non-Schengen Departures
• Satellite Terminal

If Athens is not your final airport before leaving the European Union, the procedure can be different.

For example:

Athens → Paris → United States

means France is your final EU departure point.

In that situation, ATH says the Customs validation must generally be completed in the last EU country before you leave the European Union.

Do not wait until after checking the qualifying purchase inside your suitcase to figure this out.

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🌙 Late-Night & 24-Hour Shopping

Several ATH shops currently stay open around the clock.

Useful 24-hour options include:

Hellenic Gourmet
Schengen + non-Schengen + Satellite Terminal

Korres
Non-Schengen

Swarovski
Schengen + non-Schengen

WHSmith
Satellite Terminal Level 2

Airport store hours can change individually, so if a specific shop matters for a very early or late flight, check its current schedule before relying on it.

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⚠️ Check the Store Location Before You Shop

ATH’s shopping areas are divided by passenger access.

A store may be located in:

Public Area → Schengen Area → Non-Schengen Area → Satellite Terminal

and you may not be able to move backward freely once you have passed through security or passport control.

So if there is one shop you specifically want to visit:

check the shop location + check your gate area + buy what you need before moving into an area you cannot easily leave.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🛋️ Lounges at ATH

Athens International Airport has a strong lounge selection for its size, but choosing the right lounge depends heavily on where your flight departs.

ATH has lounges in:

• Area A — Non-Schengen departures
• Area B — Schengen and domestic departures
• Satellite Terminal — C gates

This matters because the Schengen and non-Schengen departure areas are separated by passport control.

A lounge in Area B is not a practical choice if your flight leaves from Area A, and Main Terminal passengers should not plan on using the Satellite Terminal lounge simply because it appears in their lounge-membership app.

✈️ ATH Lounge Quick Comparison

Lounge	Departure Area	Current Airport Hours	Best For
Aegean Business Lounge	Area A — Non-Schengen	5:00 AM–midnight	Eligible Aegean/Star Alliance travelers on non-Schengen flights
Goldair Handling Lounge	Area A — Non-Schengen	24 hours	Priority Pass and participating airline passengers
Swissport Lounge	Area A — Non-Schengen	8:00 AM–10:00 PM	Eligible passengers through participating airlines
Skyserv Lounge	Area A — Non-Schengen	6:00 AM–8:00 PM	Priority Pass and participating airline passengers
Aegean Business Lounge	Area B — Schengen	4:00 AM–11:30 PM	Eligible Aegean/Star Alliance travelers on Schengen/domestic flights
Goldair Handling Lounge	Area B — Schengen	24 hours	Priority Pass and participating airline passengers
Lufthansa Business Lounge	Area B — Schengen	4:30 AM–8:00 PM	Eligible Lufthansa Group/Star Alliance passengers
Skyserv Melina Mercouri Lounge	Area B — Schengen	6:00 AM–9:00 PM	Priority Pass and participating airline passengers
Goldair Handling Lounge x AIA	Satellite Terminal	6:00 AM–10:00 PM	C-gate passengers with eligible access

Individual lounge programs sometimes publish different access windows from the airport’s general lounge operating hours, so if you are entering through Priority Pass or another membership rather than an airline invitation, check your program on the day you travel.

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🌍 Area A — Non-Schengen Lounges

If you are flying outside the Schengen Area, your lounge needs to be accessible from Area A after the applicable security and passport-control process.

This includes flights to destinations such as:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• Other non-Schengen destinations

Area A currently has four business lounges.

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🇬🇷 Aegean Business Lounge — Non-Schengen

The Aegean Business Lounge is one of ATH’s largest and most substantial lounges.

Location:
Area A — Non-Schengen
3rd Floor

Current hours:
Approximately 5:00 AM–midnight

Aegean describes the lounge as more than 1,200 square meters, with several distinct spaces.

Amenities include:

• Hot and cold food
• Greek dishes and snacks
• Coffee
• Wine and other drinks
• Large dining area
• Central lounge
• Social lounge
• Quiet lounge
• Media area
• Meeting rooms
• Charging throughout the lounge
• High-speed Wi-Fi
• Daily press
• Airport views

The food and drink selection has a particularly Greek focus, including local products and Greek wines.

Access is primarily for eligible Aegean, Olympic Air and qualifying Star Alliance passengers based on ticket class or frequent-flyer status.

If you are flying another Star Alliance airline, check your exact lounge eligibility before travel rather than assuming your ticket automatically includes access.

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🛋️ Goldair Handling Lounge — Non-Schengen

The Goldair Handling Lounge in Area A is particularly useful because it currently operates:

24 hours a day

Location:
Area A — Non-Schengen
2nd Floor
After security and passport control

That makes it one of ATH’s best lounge options for:

• Very early departures
• Late-night flights
• Overnight airport waits before a non-Schengen departure
• Travelers whose airline does not operate its own ATH lounge

Current amenities include:

• Seating
• Wi-Fi
• Cold buffet
• Snacks
• Soft drinks
• Standard and premium alcoholic drinks
• Flight information
• Accessible facilities

Goldair’s Area A lounge currently participates in Priority Pass.

Priority Pass currently limits visits to approximately 3 hours, and access can still depend on capacity.

Airline-contracted passengers may have different access conditions.

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🛋️ Skyserv Lounge — Area A

Skyserv also operates a lounge for non-Schengen passengers.

Priority Pass identifies this as the Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge.

Location:
Area A — Non-Schengen
2nd Floor
Near Gate A7

ATH currently lists operating hours of approximately:

6:00 AM–8:00 PM

Priority Pass may publish a broader access window, so membership-program users should check the current listing before relying on a specific time.

Amenities include:

• Seating
• Wi-Fi
• Food and snacks
• Drinks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Conference/work facilities
• Accessible facilities

Priority Pass currently participates here, with a maximum stay generally limited to around 4 hours.

This lounge is for non-Schengen passengers only.

You cannot use it for a B-gate Schengen departure or a C-gate Satellite Terminal flight.

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🛋️ Swissport Lounge — Area A

Swissport operates another business lounge in the non-Schengen area.

Location:
Area A — Non-Schengen
2nd Floor

Current hours:
Approximately 8:00 AM–10:00 PM

Unlike the Goldair and Skyserv lounges, ATH does not currently present this primarily as a walk-up lounge-program option.

Access is generally arranged through participating airlines and their eligible passengers.

If your airline lists the Swissport Lounge on your invitation, boarding pass or lounge eligibility information, follow that rather than choosing a different lounge simply because another one appears in a membership app.

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🇪🇺 Area B — Schengen & Domestic Lounges

Passengers flying within Greece or elsewhere in the Schengen Area use Area B.

This includes destinations such as:

• Santorini
• Mykonos
• Crete
• Rome
• Paris
• Frankfurt
• Amsterdam
• Madrid

Area B currently has four lounges.

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🇬🇷 Aegean Business Lounge — Schengen

The Aegean Business Lounge in Area B is ATH’s primary Aegean lounge for domestic Greek and Schengen departures.

Current hours:
Approximately 4:00 AM–11:30 PM

The lounge includes:

• Hot and cold buffet
• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Snacks
• Desserts
• Coffee
• Drinks
• Greek wine bar
• Comfortable seating
• Quiet work areas
• Charging stations
• Wi-Fi
• Daily press

Aegean places a strong emphasis on Greek wines and local food products here as well.

Access is intended for eligible Aegean, Olympic Air and qualifying Star Alliance passengers.

Because Aegean operates such an extensive domestic Greek network from ATH, this is likely to be the lounge many premium passengers encounter when connecting onward to the islands.

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🛋️ Goldair Handling Lounge — Schengen

The Schengen Goldair Lounge is another particularly useful option because it operates:

24 hours a day

Location:
Area B — Schengen
Opposite Gate B13

Amenities currently include:

• Cold buffet
• Snacks
• Soft drinks
• Standard alcoholic drinks
• Premium alcoholic drinks
• Wi-Fi
• Flight information
• Seating

This lounge currently participates in Priority Pass.

Priority Pass currently allows a maximum stay of approximately 3 hours, subject to capacity.

Children under 6 are currently admitted free under the Priority Pass access conditions when accompanied by an adult.

For travelers whose airline ticket does not include lounge access, this is one of the most useful membership-access lounges at ATH — particularly because it remains open overnight.

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🛋️ Skyserv Melina Mercouri Lounge

The Melina Mercouri Lounge is Skyserv’s Schengen lounge.

Location:
Area B — Schengen
Opposite Gate B11

ATH currently lists hours of approximately:

6:00 AM–9:00 PM

Amenities include:

• Food and snacks
• Drinks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Wi-Fi
• Seating
• Conference facilities
• Accessible facilities

The lounge currently participates in Priority Pass.

Priority Pass generally limits stays to around 4 hours, and entry can be restricted when the lounge is full.

This lounge is accessible only to passengers departing on Schengen or domestic flights from Area B.

It cannot be used by Area A or Satellite Terminal passengers.

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🇩🇪 Lufthansa Business Lounge

Lufthansa operates its own lounge in the Schengen departure area.

Current hours:
Approximately 4:30 AM–8:00 PM

The lounge primarily serves eligible passengers traveling with:

• Lufthansa
• Austrian Airlines
• SWISS
• Other qualifying Star Alliance airlines

Access depends on:

• Cabin class
• Frequent-flyer status
• Star Alliance status
• Specific ticket eligibility

If you are flying Lufthansa Group or another Star Alliance carrier, check your boarding pass or airline app before paying for access somewhere else.

Eligible travelers may already have this lounge included.

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🛰️ Satellite Terminal — C Gates

ATH also has a dedicated lounge for passengers departing from the Satellite Terminal.

🛋️ Goldair Handling Lounge x AIA

Location:
Satellite Terminal
2nd Floor
After security

ATH currently lists operating hours of approximately:

6:00 AM–10:00 PM

Priority Pass currently lists a slightly narrower access period, so membership holders should check their app before travel.

Amenities include:

• Cold buffet
• Snacks
• Soft drinks
• Standard and premium alcoholic beverages
• Wi-Fi
• Seating
• Flight information

The lounge currently participates in Priority Pass.

Priority Pass currently limits visits to approximately 3 hours.

The Satellite Terminal is roughly a 10–15 minute walk from the Main Terminal through the underground connection.

⚠️ Do Not Go to the Satellite Terminal Just for the Lounge

The Satellite Terminal lounge is intended for passengers whose flights actually depart from the C-gate area.

If your flight leaves from A or B gates, do not make the underground trip merely because this lounge looks appealing.

Likewise, if your flight does leave from C15–C40, using the Satellite lounge can make much more sense than relaxing in the Main Terminal and then leaving yourself a long walk immediately before boarding.

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💳 Priority Pass at ATH

ATH currently has five Priority Pass lounges:

Schengen — Area B

• Goldair Handling Lounge
• Skyserv Melina Mercouri Lounge

Non-Schengen — Area A

• Goldair Handling Lounge
• Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge

Satellite Terminal

• Goldair Handling Lounge x AIA

The Goldair lounges in the Main Terminal currently operate 24 hours, which is unusually useful for lounge-program members with very early or very late flights.

However, having Priority Pass does not guarantee entry.

Access can still be limited because of:

• Lounge capacity
• Operating restrictions
• Membership level
• Guest policy
• Time limits
• Temporary airline demand

Your specific Priority Pass membership also determines whether the visit is included or charged.

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⭐ Star Alliance Lounge Access

ATH is an important Star Alliance airport because Aegean is a Star Alliance member and Athens is its main hub.

Eligible Star Alliance passengers may have access to:

• Aegean Business Lounge — Schengen
• Aegean Business Lounge — Non-Schengen
• Lufthansa Business Lounge — Schengen

Eligibility depends on your airline, cabin and frequent-flyer status.

Do not assume that simply flying a Star Alliance airline means lounge access is included with an economy ticket.

Check the lounge information attached to your actual reservation.

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💶 Can You Pay to Enter a Lounge?

Some ATH lounges may allow access through:

• Airline invitations
• Premium cabin tickets
• Frequent-flyer status
• Priority Pass
• Other contracted lounge programs
• Direct paid arrangements

ATH itself does not publish one universal walk-up lounge price.

Pricing and admission policies are controlled by the individual lounge operator or airline.

If you do not have lounge access through your ticket or membership, check the specific lounge before arriving rather than assuming every lounge sells entry at the door.

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🚿 What About Showers?

Do not choose an ATH lounge solely because you assume airport lounges automatically have showers.

ATH does not currently advertise showers as a standard feature across its lounge network.

If a shower is important during a long connection, confirm directly with the specific lounge shortly before travel.

Lounge facilities can change independently of airport operating hours.

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⏱️ How Long Can You Stay?

Airline-operated lounges generally follow their own access policies.

Membership lounges may impose stricter limits.

Current Priority Pass conditions include approximately:

Goldair Main Terminal lounges — 3 hours

Goldair Satellite Lounge — 3 hours

Skyserv lounges — 4 hours

Those rules can change and may be enforced differently during busy periods.

ATH can become extremely busy during the summer travel season, so lounges may also temporarily restrict entry when they reach capacity.

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⚠️ Choose Your Lounge by Departure Area

This is the single most important lounge rule at ATH.

First determine whether your flight leaves from:

A gates → Non-Schengen

B gates → Schengen/domestic

C gates → Satellite Terminal

Then choose a lounge accessible from that area.

A lounge membership app may show several ATH lounges at once, but that does not mean you can freely walk between all of them.

Security, passport control and the separation between the Main and Satellite terminals matter.

My order would be:

Clear the airport procedures required for your flight → Confirm the gate area → Choose a lounge you can actually use → Leave with plenty of time to board

And if your boarding pass shows a C gate, remember the Satellite Terminal itself requires the underground walk from the Main Terminal.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🔌 Airport Facilities at ATH

Athens International Airport has a strong range of practical traveler facilities throughout the Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal.

Beyond the basics like Wi-Fi, charging and ATMs, ATH also has medical care, a pharmacy, prayer spaces, family facilities, airport exhibitions and even a beauty and wellness salon where you can get a manicure, pedicure or massage before your flight.

That last category is worth knowing about if you have several hours to fill between flights.

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💅 Wellness & Personal Care — Fairynails

ATH has a proper nail, beauty and wellness salon inside the departures area.

Fairynails is located in:

Departures — Platea

Current hours are approximately:

8:00 AM–8:00 PM daily

Services currently include:

• Manicures
• Pedicures
• Back massage
• Foot massage
• Lash lamination
• Brow lamination
• Hair washing
• Blow-dry services
• Haircuts for women, men and children by appointment
• Depilation
• Beauty products and accessories

This is exactly the kind of airport service that can completely change a long layover.

If you have aching feet after several days of sightseeing, hours before the next flight or simply enough time to turn airport waiting into something useful, a foot massage or pedicure may be a much better way to spend that time than sitting beside the gate.

Some hair services require an appointment, so if there is something specific you want, check availability rather than assuming you can walk straight in.

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📶 Free Wi-Fi

ATH provides free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal.

Connect to:

ATH Free Wifi

Internet access is currently provided in 120-minute sessions.

When a session expires, you can reconnect again at no additional charge.

The Wi-Fi service operates 24 hours a day.

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🖥️ Free Internet Access Points

If you do not have a laptop or do not want to use your phone, ATH also has Internet Access Points around the airport.

These provide approximately:

15 minutes of free internet access

Locations currently include:

Main Terminal — Departures

• Public area near Entrance 1
• Between check-in counters 92–93
• Gate B7
• Gate B13
• Corridor between B16–B17

Main Terminal — Arrivals

• Near Exits 1 and 5
• e-Lounge near Exit 3
• Schengen and non-Schengen transfer areas

Satellite Terminal

• Near Gates C33 and C37
• Arrivals area after passport control

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💻 e-Lounge

ATH has an e-Lounge in the public Arrivals area:

Arrivals Level — opposite Exit 3

It provides another place to get online and includes charging access.

This can be useful if you have already arrived but need to:

• Contact your hotel
• Look up transportation
• Change a reservation
• Work while waiting for someone
• Charge a device before leaving the airport

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🔋 Charging Phones & Laptops

Charging sockets and USB ports are available throughout ATH.

You will commonly find them near seating areas:

• Before security
• After security
• Around departure gates
• At the Arrivals e-Lounge

Availability can obviously vary depending on how busy the airport is.

If an outlet beside your exact gate matters, do not wait until your phone is at 2% to start looking for one.

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💧 Water Fountains

ATH has free drinking-water fountains throughout the airport.

Useful locations currently include:

Public Departures

• Opposite check-in counter 21
• Opposite check-in counter 155
• Opposite WHSmith

Public Arrivals

• Near Exit 1
• Near Exit 5

Schengen Departures

• Opposite Swatch
• Near Gate B17
• Near Gate B21

Non-Schengen Departures

• Corridor behind Candyfair
• Opposite Gate A15

Baggage Reclaim

• Opposite baggage belt 1
• Between belts 5 and 6
• Opposite baggage belt 12

Satellite Terminal

• In the underground tunnel near moving walkway 5
• Near Gates C27–C32
• Near Gates C37–C40

An empty reusable bottle can go through security and be refilled afterward.

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💊 Pharmacy

ATH has a full pharmacy in the public Arrivals area:

Arrivals — near Exit 4

Current hours are approximately:

6:00 AM–midnight daily

The pharmacy carries:

• Medicines
• Health products
• Supplements
• Orthopedic products
• Personal-hygiene products
• Baby-care items
• Dermocosmetics
• Greek and international skincare brands

This is much more useful than a small convenience-store medicine shelf if you realize you need something after landing or before leaving Greece.

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🏥 Medical Care & First Aid

ATH has a fully equipped First Aid Station operating 24 hours a day.

It is staffed through Greece’s National Centre for Emergency Care and can provide emergency medical assistance to passengers and airport visitors.

If you need medical help, contact:

• An Airport Information desk
• One of the red airport information phones
• Airport staff

ATH also has AEDs — automated external defibrillators — throughout the terminals, stored in marked cabinets.

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👶 Baby Rooms & Family Toilets

ATH has dedicated baby-care facilities in both public and passenger-only areas.

Baby rooms are equipped for:

• Feeding
• Changing diapers
• Caring for infants

Current locations include:

• Public Departures area opposite WHSmith
• Schengen baggage reclaim
• Non-Schengen baggage reclaim
• Satellite Terminal

Additional baby-changing stations are available in airport restrooms.

ATH also has family toilets designed so that a parent of either gender can accompany a child.

Look for the family-facility signs throughout the terminal.

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🙏 Orthodox Chapel

ATH has an Orthodox Chapel inside the Main Terminal.

Location:

2nd Floor — K Wing

To reach it, use the elevators opposite the central information counters in Departures or Arrivals, go to the second floor and follow the signs past the restaurant area.

The chapel gives travelers a quiet space for prayer away from the main terminal traffic.

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🕊️ Interfaith Prayer Room

There is also a separate Interfaith Room for travelers of other faiths.

It is located in the same general area:

2nd Floor — K Wing

Use the elevators opposite the central information counters and follow the airport signage once you reach the second floor.

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🚬 Smoking Areas

Smoking and vaping are not permitted throughout the regular terminal areas.

ATH has designated smoking areas instead.

Current locations include:

Schengen Departures

• Opposite Gate B12
• Opposite Gate B19

Non-Schengen Departures

• Opposite Gate A8

Schengen Arrivals

• Opposite baggage belt 6

Non-Schengen Arrivals

• Before passport control

Satellite Terminal

• Designated departures smoking area

Electronic cigarettes are treated under the same terminal smoking restrictions.

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🏧 ATMs & Banking

ATMs are available throughout ATH.

Operators currently include:

• Alpha Bank
• National Bank of Greece
• Piraeus Bank
• Eurobank
• Euronet

You will find machines in areas including:

• Departures
• Arrivals
• Schengen departures
• Other passenger areas

There are also digital banking facilities from Alpha Bank and National Bank of Greece in the public Arrivals area near Exit 3.

ATM fees and your own bank’s international charges can vary, so check the transaction screen before confirming a withdrawal.

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💱 Currency Exchange

Currency exchange at ATH is provided by ONExchange.

Locations are spread throughout:

• Arrivals
• Baggage reclaim
• Public Departures
• Schengen departures
• Non-Schengen departures
• Satellite Terminal

Several locations operate extended hours.

The ONExchange counter at:

Arrivals — Exit 2

currently operates 24 hours.

The Departures location near Entrance 2 also currently operates 24 hours.

ONExchange handles more than 60 currencies and also provides Western Union money transfers and some VAT-refund services.

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🎨 Archaeological Exhibition

One of ATH’s most interesting facilities is something many travelers probably walk right past.

The airport has a permanent Exhibition of Archaeological Findings displaying artifacts discovered in the Mesogaia region around the airport.

Location:

Main Terminal — 2nd Floor near Departures Entrance 3

Current hours:

6:00 AM–11:00 PM daily

The exhibition contains 172 archaeological artifacts, ranging from the Neolithic and Early Helladic periods through the Post-Byzantine era.

Some of the objects were discovered during construction of Athens Airport itself.

Admission is free.

For a traveler with time to spare, this is considerably more interesting than spending another hour staring at a departure screen.

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🇬🇷 Eleftherios Venizelos Exhibition

ATH also has a permanent multimedia exhibition dedicated to Eleftherios Venizelos, the Greek statesman whose name the airport carries.

It is located on the 2nd floor of the Main Terminal.

Along with the archaeological exhibition, it gives travelers something genuinely specific to Greece to explore without leaving the airport.

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ℹ️ Airport Information — 24 Hours

ATH has staffed Airport Information counters available around the terminal.

The main public counters include:

Departures
Between Entrances 2 and 3 — 24 hours

Arrivals
Next to Exit 3 — 24 hours

The Satellite Terminal also has a 24-hour information counter.

Red information phones throughout the airport connect directly with the Airport Information Services Center.

They are useful if you are somewhere in the terminal and do not want to hunt down an information desk.

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🚿 Showers, Sleep Pods & Similar Facilities

ATH’s current public facilities directory does not advertise general-use public showers or dedicated airport sleep pods.

Some airport lounges may have different facilities, but do not assume that lounge access automatically includes a shower.

If either is important for a long layover, confirm the current facilities before your trip.

For relaxation during daytime hours, Fairynails is currently the airport’s standout wellness option, particularly for massages, nail services and hair care.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🏨 Athens Airport Hotels

Athens International Airport has one major advantage for overnight travelers:

There is a full-service hotel directly across from the Main Terminal.

That makes ATH much easier than airports where every “airport hotel” still requires a shuttle, taxi or 15-minute drive.

For travelers who want to sleep near the airport, the main choices are:

• Stay directly across from the terminal
• Stay at a nearby airport-area hotel with shuttle service
• Stay in central Athens and travel to ATH the next day
• Stay in Piraeus if your next step is a cruise

The right choice depends on why you need the overnight.

🛏️ Sofitel Athens Airport — The True Walk-to-the-Terminal Hotel

Sofitel Athens Airport is the only major hotel located directly at Athens International Airport.

It sits opposite the Main Terminal, roughly 100 meters from the terminal building.

There is no hotel shuttle to wait for.

You can collect your luggage, leave Arrivals and walk across to the hotel.

That makes it by far the easiest option for:

• Very early departures
• Late-night arrivals
• Overnight connections
• Travelers with several suitcases
• Families with children
• Older travelers
• Travelers with reduced mobility
• Anyone who values convenience over saving money

The hotel currently has 345 rooms and suites, along with:

• Indoor swimming pool
• Sauna
• Fitness center
• Restaurants and bar
• Rooftop restaurant
• Meeting facilities
• VIP lounge

Rooms are soundproofed, which is particularly important when the runway is basically next door.

ATH itself identifies the Sofitel as the airport’s on-site hotel.

💸 The Tradeoff: Convenience Costs More

The Sofitel is generally the premium option.

You are paying not only for a five-star hotel, but for the ability to:

wake up → walk across the road → enter the terminal

without worrying about a shuttle, taxi, traffic or whether your driver actually shows up at 4:30 in the morning.

For a normal Athens sightseeing stay, I would rather stay in the city.

For a 6:00 AM flight after a long Greece trip?

That convenience becomes much easier to justify.

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🚌 Holiday Inn Athens – Airport — Shuttle Option

Holiday Inn Athens – Airport by IHG is another established airport-area option, but it is not at the terminal.

The hotel is roughly 8 km from ATH and requires road transportation.

Its biggest advantage is the complimentary airport shuttle.

The hotel currently advertises airport shuttle service every day, with scheduled service between ATH and the property. Pickup is from the tourist-bus parking area outside Arrivals, so you need to go to the designated shuttle location rather than expect a van directly outside whichever exit you use.

The hotel also currently offers:

• Indoor pool
• Fitness center
• Restaurant
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free on-site parking
• Business facilities
• Luggage storage

This can make sense if you want a full-service hotel close to ATH without paying for the convenience of sleeping directly across from the terminal.

⚠️ Check the Shuttle Schedule Carefully

This is important with any airport hotel that requires transportation.

“Airport shuttle available” does not automatically mean:

walk outside at any hour and a van immediately appears.

Check:

• Shuttle operating hours
• Pickup location
• Whether advance booking is required
• How often it runs
• How long the ride takes
• Whether your very early or very late flight falls within the schedule

A room that costs less than the Sofitel is not much of a bargain if you end up paying for an unexpected taxi because the shuttle does not match your flight time.

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🏘️ Smaller Hotels & Apartments Near ATH

There are also smaller hotels, guesthouses and apartment-style accommodations in areas such as:

• Spata
• Artemida
• Paiania
• Markopoulo

Many specifically cater to travelers with:

• Overnight layovers
• Late arrivals
• Early departures
• One-night airport stays

These can sometimes cost considerably less than the large airport hotels.

The tradeoff is transportation.

They are near the airport, not inside the airport.

Before booking one, check exactly how you will get between the property and ATH.

Look for:

• Airport transfer availability
• Transfer cost
• Hours
• Advance-reservation requirements
• Actual driving distance
• Late-night check-in
• Early-morning checkout arrangements

Do not choose a property solely because its name contains the words “Athens Airport.”

Open the map and check where it actually is.

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🌙 Which Hotel Setup Makes Sense?

Very Early Flight

If your departure is early enough that you would otherwise be waking up in central Athens in the middle of the night:

Staying at or near ATH can make a lot of sense.

The Sofitel is the easiest because there is no transportation step at all.

Late-Night Arrival

If you land very late and are exhausted after a long international flight, spending the first night near ATH can also be reasonable.

Instead of:

Immigration → baggage claim → Metro/bus/taxi → central Athens → hotel

you can sleep near the airport and travel into Athens the following morning.

Overnight Connection

For a true overnight connection, I would strongly consider an airport-area hotel rather than trying to sleep in the terminal if the budget allows.

A real bed, shower and several hours of uninterrupted sleep can make a huge difference before the next flight.

Normal Athens Vacation

If you land at a reasonable hour and are staying several days in Athens:

Go into the city.

ATH is roughly 30–35 km from central Athens.

Sleeping beside the airport every night would make sightseeing unnecessarily inconvenient.

Choose your Athens hotel based on where you actually want to spend your time rather than staying near ATH simply because that is where your flight landed.

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🚢 Flying In Before a Cruise?

If your cruise departs from Piraeus the following day, you have three reasonable choices.

Stay at ATH

Best if:

• Your flight arrives extremely late
• You are exhausted
• You do not want another long transfer that night

You can sleep and continue to Piraeus the next morning.

Stay in Central Athens

Best if:

• You arrive early enough to enjoy the city
• You have more than one night before embarkation
• Athens sightseeing is part of the trip

Stay in Piraeus

Best if:

• Your cruise leaves the next morning
• You do not care about sightseeing first
• You want to complete the airport-to-port transfer the day before

For an early cruise embarkation, I would rather wake up in Piraeus than wake up at ATH and still have the entire cross-city trip ahead of me.

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⏱️ Day Rooms & Short Airport Stays

If your layover is long but not overnight, check whether your preferred airport-area hotel offers:

• Day-use rooms
• Early check-in
• Late checkout
• Short-stay availability

These policies vary by hotel, date and occupancy and are not guaranteed simply because a hotel is located near an airport.

If a day room is important, confirm it directly before booking around that plan.

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♿ Accessibility & Airport Hotels

Travelers using airport assistance should remember that ATH’s free reduced-mobility assistance applies to the airport journey itself.

Hotel transportation is separate.

If you stay at the Sofitel, the short walk across from the Main Terminal makes the logistics considerably simpler.

For another airport-area hotel, confirm:

• Accessible room availability
• Accessible shuttle or transfer
• Wheelchair handling
• Entrance accessibility
• Assistance with luggage

before travel.

A hotel being close to ATH does not automatically mean its shuttle is suitable for every mobility device.

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❤️ What I Would Choose

Flight first thing in the morning:
Sofitel if the price works.

Long overnight connection:
Sofitel for maximum convenience, or a nearby shuttle hotel if the savings are substantial.

Late arrival followed by several days in Athens:
If I were completely exhausted, one airport night could make sense. Otherwise, I would go straight into Athens and avoid changing hotels the next day.

Cruise from Piraeus the next morning:
I would usually continue to Piraeus the day before rather than sleep at ATH.

Several days of Athens sightseeing:
Definitely stay in central Athens, not by the airport.

The best airport hotel is the one that solves an airport problem.

If there is no airport problem to solve, stay where you actually want to spend the trip.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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😴 Long Layovers & Sleeping at ATH

Athens International Airport operates 24 hours a day, so an overnight connection or very long layover is possible without leaving the airport.

That does not mean ATH is designed like a dedicated sleep airport.

There are currently:

• No public sleep pods
• No airport sleeping cabins
• No transit hotel inside the terminal
• No general-use public shower facility advertised by ATH

But you do have:

• Lounges
• 24-hour food
• Free Wi-Fi
• Charging
• Luggage storage
• Beauty and massage services during daytime hours
• Free exhibitions
• Armrest-free seating in some gate areas
• Sofitel Athens Airport directly across from the terminal

How comfortable a long layover feels depends a lot on whether you are landside or airside, what time of day it is and which departure area you can access.

🕐 For a Daytime Layover

If you have several hours but do not want to leave the airport, ATH gives you more to do than simply sit at the gate.

You can:

• Get a manicure, pedicure or massage
• Use a lounge
• Have a proper Greek meal
• Browse Greek food, beauty and designer shops
• Visit the airport’s archaeological exhibition
• Explore its other art and history exhibitions
• Store your luggage
• Work using the free Wi-Fi and charging points
• Walk over to the Sofitel for a meal or spa treatment if your schedule allows

How much of that is available to you depends on whether you are before or after security and whether your flight is Schengen or non-Schengen.

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💅 Get a Massage, Manicure or Pedicure

This is one of ATH’s better long-layover options.

Fairynails in the Schengen Departures Platea offers:

• Manicures
• Pedicures
• Back massage
• Foot massage
• Hair washing
• Blow-dry services
• Haircuts by appointment
• Brow and lash services
• Other beauty treatments

Current hours are approximately:

8:00 AM–8:00 PM daily

If your feet are killing you after walking around Greece for a week, a foot massage is a considerably better use of two spare airport hours than sitting beside a charging outlet.

Fairynails is in the Schengen departure area, so access depends on your flight and airport routing.

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🧖 Sofitel Spa — Right Across From ATH

The Sofitel Athens Airport is directly across from the Main Terminal.

Its hotel spa includes:

• Massages
• Face and body treatments
• Sauna
• Relaxation area
• Indoor swimming pool
• Fitness facilities

The spa is not inside the airport terminal, so using it means going landside and walking across to the hotel.

If you are interested in a treatment during a long layover, confirm availability and booking requirements directly with the hotel first.

And remember that you still need enough time afterward to:

return to ATH → clear security → complete passport control if required → reach your gate

For a genuinely long connection, though, this can be a much more pleasant way to spend several hours.

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🏺 Visit the Archaeological Exhibition

ATH has a permanent Exhibition of Archaeological Findings on the 2nd floor of the Main Terminal.

It contains 172 archaeological artifacts discovered in the Mesogaia region around the airport.

The collection spans periods from:

• Neolithic
• Early Helladic
• Ancient Greek
• Roman
• Byzantine
• Post-Byzantine

Some of the objects were discovered during construction of Athens Airport itself.

Current hours are:

6:00 AM–11:00 PM daily

Admission is free.

This is one of those airport amenities that is genuinely worth knowing about if you have time to fill.

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🇬🇷 More Free Exhibitions

ATH also maintains several additional permanent cultural exhibits.

These include:

Eleftherios Venizelos at Athens International Airport
A multimedia exhibition about the Greek statesman whose name the airport carries.

The Acropolis Museum — A Classic Destination
An airport exhibition created in cooperation with the Acropolis Museum.

There are also rotating art and cultural exhibitions throughout the year.

Most of the main permanent exhibitions are on the 2nd floor of the Main Terminal, making them especially convenient during a landside layover.

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🛋️ Use a Lounge

If you qualify through:

• Business-class ticket
• Airline status
• Star Alliance status
• Priority Pass
• Another lounge program

ATH has lounges in:

• Schengen departures
• Non-Schengen departures
• Satellite Terminal

Some of the Goldair lounges operate 24 hours, which can be extremely useful during a long overnight connection.

A lounge can give you:

• More comfortable seating
• Food
• Drinks
• Wi-Fi
• Charging
• A quieter environment than the main concourse

But ATH’s lounges do not currently advertise dedicated sleeping rooms or nap pods.

A lounge makes the wait more comfortable.

It does not turn ATH into a hotel.

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🌙 Sleeping Overnight at ATH

Yes, travelers do spend the night at Athens Airport.

ATH remains open overnight, but your experience can vary dramatically depending on where you are.

Recent overnight conditions have included:

• Armrest-free benches in some areas
• Reclining seating around parts of the B gates
• Quieter stretches of the Satellite Terminal
• Bright lighting
• Music and announcements
• Cold air conditioning
• Busy overnight passenger traffic

So this is very much:

possible

rather than:

comfortable hotel substitute

🪑 Airside Is Generally Better for Sleeping

If you are eligible to remain airside and already have a valid boarding pass, the secure departure areas generally offer better sleeping possibilities than the public terminal.

Travelers have found some of the better rest options around:

B12–B13
Reclining chairs and some armrest-free seating.

B18 area
Benches, charging and nearby water access.

B20–B31
Several stretches of armrest-free seating.

A1–A8 area
Some cushioned, armrest-free benches.

C gates in the Satellite Terminal
Some armrest-free seating and potentially quieter conditions depending on the flight schedule.

Availability is not guaranteed.

A comfortable-looking row of seats may already have someone sleeping across it when you arrive.

🏢 Landside Sleeping Is Rougher

If you cannot go through security yet — for example, because:

• Your check-in counter is not open
• You are on a self-transfer
• You do not yet have a valid onward boarding pass

your overnight options are more limited.

The public terminal stays open, but seating is less sleep-friendly.

The 2nd-floor area around the airport exhibitions can be quieter than the main Arrivals and Departures halls, but do not expect a proper sleeping setup.

Sleeping conditions can change depending on cleaning, security, passenger volume and overnight airport operations.

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🥶 ATH Can Be Cold Overnight

If you know you are going to spend several hours trying to sleep in the terminal, keep a layer accessible.

Even in warm weather outside, airports can feel surprisingly cold overnight.

Useful items include:

• Hoodie or light sweater
• Large scarf
• Travel blanket
• Eye mask
• Earplugs
• Noise-canceling headphones

Do not check those items inside your suitcase if you already know an overnight airport stay is coming.

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🔊 Light & Noise Can Be the Bigger Problem

ATH does not shut down just because it is 2:00 AM.

You may still encounter:

• Airport announcements
• Music
• Cleaning
• Passengers arriving for early flights
• Overnight departures
• Bright terminal lighting

An eye mask and decent earplugs can make a much bigger difference than finding a theoretically perfect bench.

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🔌 Keep Your Valuables With You

If you sleep in the terminal, keep:

• Passport
• Wallet
• Phone
• Medication
• Electronics

secured on your body or immediately beside you.

Do not leave a phone charging several seats away while you fall asleep.

Keep your luggage together and positioned so someone cannot casually roll it away without waking you.

A luggage strap through a bag handle or around your carry-on can also make everything easier to keep together.

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🍽️ You Will Not Be Completely Stranded for Food Overnight

ATH has several 24-hour food options in both public and secure areas.

That includes options in:

• Public Departures
• Schengen departures
• Non-Schengen departures
• Satellite Terminal

So you generally do not need to stockpile an entire night’s worth of food before the restaurants begin closing.

The exact choices depend on which area of ATH you can access.

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🧳 Store Your Bags During a Long Landside Layover

If you are stuck landside for many hours and do not want to sit with several suitcases, CARE4BAG operates 24-hour luggage storage near Exit 1 on the Arrivals Level.

That can be useful if:

• You want to eat upstairs
• You want to visit the exhibitions
• You have a long self-transfer
• You are going to the Sofitel
• You simply do not want to drag luggage around all day

Just leave enough time to collect everything before your onward flight.

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🚿 Do Not Count on a Public Shower

ATH does not currently advertise a general public shower facility available to every traveler.

Older information online can mention showers at ATH, but those references are not something I would build a layover plan around.

Some lounge facilities can change independently, so if a shower is important, check the exact lounge you intend to use before travel.

Otherwise, a hotel room or spa/hotel arrangement is the more reliable option.

---

🛏️ There Are No Sleep Pods at ATH

ATH currently does not have:

• Capsule hotel
• Minute suites
• Nap cabins
• Dedicated public sleeping pods

If you want an actual bed, the easiest option is the Sofitel Athens Airport directly across from the Main Terminal.

Other airport-area hotels require transportation.

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🏨 When I Would Get a Hotel Instead

I would seriously consider the Sofitel or another nearby hotel if:

• The layover covers most of the night
• You have a demanding travel day afterward
• You are traveling with children
• You have mobility issues
• You are already exhausted
• You are starting a cruise the next day
• You know you cannot sleep sitting up
• You have enough time to get several real hours of sleep

There is a point where saving the hotel cost stops being worth losing an entire night of sleep.

A six-hour overnight layover can sound short on paper.

But six hours of bright lights, announcements and uncomfortable airport seating before another flight can feel extremely long.

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❤️ What I Would Do With a Long ATH Layover

3–5 daytime hours:
Eat, browse the Greek shops and visit the exhibitions.

5–8 daytime hours without leaving ATH:
Add a lounge or a massage/pedicure if accessible from your departure area.

Long landside layover:
Store the bags, explore the exhibitions, eat properly and consider the Sofitel spa or hotel.

Overnight and trying to save money:
Stay airside if your itinerary allows it, find the best available seating and have an eye mask, earplugs and warm layer ready.

Most of the night + I actually need sleep:
I would walk across to the Sofitel.

There is a difference between being allowed to spend the night in an airport and getting meaningful rest there.

ATH can handle the first.

A hotel is much better at the second.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🏛️ Leaving ATH During a Layover

Yes — you can leave Athens International Airport during a layover if your passport, visa and immigration status allow you to enter Greece.

Whether you should leave is another question.

ATH is about 30–35 km from central Athens, and Metro Line 3 takes roughly 40 minutes to Syntagma before accounting for:

• Walking from the terminal to the railway station
• Waiting for the airport Metro
• Immigration after arrival if required
• Getting from the Metro station to whatever you want to see
• Returning to ATH
• Security screening
• Passport control for a non-Schengen departure
• Walking to your gate
• Extra time if your flight leaves from the Satellite Terminal

So a layover that looks like “eight hours in Athens” is not eight hours of sightseeing.

⏱️ How Long Should Your Layover Be?

There is no single cutoff that works for every traveler, but this is how I would think about it:

Layover Length	Would I Leave ATH?
Under 5 hours	No
5–6 hours	Usually no — too much of the layover disappears into transportation and airport procedures
7–8 hours	Possible if everything lines up well and you keep the outing simple
9–10 hours	Much more comfortable for a short visit to central Athens
10+ hours	Definitely worth considering if you are eligible to enter Greece
Long daytime layover	Excellent opportunity for a few hours in Athens
Overnight layover	Depends on the hours — a hotel may make more sense than sightseeing

For a non-Schengen itinerary, self-transfer or checked-baggage situation, I would be more conservative.

ATH currently recommends being back at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure, and I would personally allow around 3 hours for a non-Schengen or long-haul flight.

🛂 First: Are You Allowed to Enter Greece?

Leaving the airport means you are entering Greece and the Schengen Area.

That can require:

• Passport control
• A valid visa if your nationality requires one
• Compliance with Schengen entry requirements
• EES processing if it applies to you

A passenger who can remain airside in transit is not automatically entitled to enter Greece simply because there is a long layover.

Check your own entry requirements before planning the outing.

🧳 What About Checked Luggage?

If your luggage is checked through to your final destination, you normally do not need to collect it simply because you leave the airport during the connection.

If your luggage is not checked through, you may need to:

collect it → clear customs → store it or recheck it later

before heading into Athens.

For a self-transfer, remember that you still need to return to the Main Terminal, check in for the next flight and drop the suitcase again before the airline’s cutoff.

ATH also has 24-hour luggage storage near Exit 1 in Arrivals, which can be useful if you are landside with bags and have enough time to leave the airport.

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🚇 Metro Line 3 — Easiest Way Into Central Athens

For most layover sightseeing, Metro Line 3 is the easiest option.

It connects ATH directly with central Athens.

The two most useful stops for a short visit are:

Syntagma

Approximately 40 minutes from ATH.

Syntagma puts you near:

• Syntagma Square
• Greek Parliament
• National Garden
• Ermou shopping street
• Plaka
• The historic center

It is a good choice if you want to step off the Metro and immediately be in central Athens.

Monastiraki

Also served directly by Line 3.

Monastiraki puts you near:

• Monastiraki Square
• Plaka
• Ancient Agora area
• Flea market streets
• Restaurants and cafés
• Acropolis views

For a short sightseeing layover, I actually like Monastiraki because so much of historic Athens is concentrated within walking distance.

⚠️ Airport Trains Are Less Frequent

Do not plan the return as though Metro Line 3 works like a city train every few minutes all the way to ATH.

Airport trains run less frequently than trains operating only within the city.

When returning, make sure the train specifically shows:

Airport / Αεροδρόμιο

Not every Line 3 train continues to ATH.

Missing the airport train can add a substantial wait, so do not build the return schedule around catching the last possible one.

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🏛️ What Can You Realistically See?

The key to a successful Athens layover is not trying to see everything.

Choose one compact area and stay there.

Around Syntagma

You could reasonably combine:

Syntagma Square → Parliament → National Garden → Plaka

without spending much of your limited time on additional transportation.

Around Monastiraki

A simple route could be:

Monastiraki Square → Plaka → Anafiotika area → Acropolis views → back to Monastiraki

You can get a very real taste of Athens without committing to a full sightseeing itinerary.

The Acropolis

Can you visit the Acropolis on a layover?

Potentially — but I would only make it the centerpiece of the outing if you have a generous daytime layover.

You need to account for:

• Walking from the Metro
• Entry queues
• Time actually exploring the site
• Walking back
• Metro timing to ATH

If you have only a couple of hours in the city, seeing the Acropolis from below while exploring Plaka may be much more relaxing than spending most of your available time watching the clock inside the archaeological site.

🍽️ Eat in Athens Instead

Another excellent short-layover plan is simply:

Metro into the city → Greek meal → walk around Plaka or Monastiraki → Metro back

You still get to experience Athens without turning the connection into a race between monuments.

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🚕 Would I Take a Taxi Instead?

A taxi can make sense if:

• Several people are traveling together
• You have limited time
• You want door-to-door transportation
• Your destination is awkward from the Metro
• You do not want to deal with train schedules

Official airport taxis have a fixed fare between ATH and the designated central Athens zone:

€40 during the daytime period

€55 during the overnight period

Traffic is the tradeoff.

The Metro gives you a much more predictable journey time.

A taxi may be faster when roads are clear and considerably slower when they are not.

For a time-sensitive layover, I generally prefer transportation that does not depend on Athens traffic.

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🌙 What About an Overnight Layover?

Leaving ATH overnight is only worthwhile if the hours actually work in your favor.

A layover from:

7:00 PM → 7:00 AM

is very different from:

1:00 AM → 8:00 AM

Central Athens may still have restaurants and nightlife in the evening, but sightseeing attractions will obviously close.

If most of the layover falls during sleeping hours, I would rather:

• Stay at the Sofitel across from the terminal
• Use another airport-area hotel
• Remain at ATH

than spend the night commuting into the city simply because the layover is technically long enough.

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🚢 Do Not Use a Cruise Buffer as a Sightseeing Layover

If you landed at ATH and your next major event is a cruise departing from Piraeus, I would treat that differently from a normal flight connection.

If you deliberately arrived the day before the cruise, absolutely enjoy Athens.

If you are trying to connect from an international flight to the ship the same day, I would not add an Athens sightseeing stop between them.

The purpose of the buffer is to protect the cruise connection.

Use it for that.

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⚠️ Give Yourself More Time Coming Back Than Going Out

Getting into Athens is the easy part.

The return includes several things you cannot fully control:

• Waiting for the airport Metro
• Security queues
• Passport-control queues
• EES processing when applicable
• Gate changes
• Walking distance
• Satellite Terminal transfer time

ATH currently advises passengers to arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure because passport control can experience significant delays.

For a non-Schengen flight, I would rather spend 30 extra minutes back at ATH than spend the Metro ride wondering whether I am going to miss the plane.

❤️ What I Would Do

5-hour layover:
Stay at ATH.

7-hour daytime layover:
Maybe Monastiraki or Syntagma for a meal and short walk if immigration is simple and everything is running smoothly.

8–9 hours:
I would comfortably consider central Athens, but keep the sightseeing concentrated in one area.

10+ daytime hours:
Absolutely consider leaving. There is enough time to make the outing feel like part of the trip rather than a race.

Long overnight connection:
I would base the decision on the actual hours. If Athens is asleep for most of them, I would get some sleep too.

The goal is to come back from the layover thinking:

“I got a little bonus visit to Athens.”

Not:

“I nearly missed my flight for a gyro.”

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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✈️ ATH vs. Other Greek Airports: Do You Need to Fly Through Athens?

Athens is different from cities such as Rome, Tokyo and Bangkok because there is no second major passenger airport serving the city.

If your trip is actually to Athens, the airport decision is easy:

ATH is the airport you want.

You do not need to compare:

ATH vs. another Athens airport

because there really isn’t an equivalent alternative.

Where the decision becomes much more interesting is when your final destination is somewhere else in Greece.

Greece has an extensive airport network, including major airports on islands such as:

• Santorini
• Mykonos
• Crete
• Rhodes
• Corfu
• Kos
• Zakynthos
• Kefalonia
• Samos
• Skiathos

as well as mainland airports including Thessaloniki and Kalamata.

Depending on where you are traveling from, you may have a choice between:

International flight → ATH → domestic flight

or

International flight → directly to the Greek airport closest to your destination

And sometimes the direct option is much easier.

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🛫 ATH vs. Other Greek Airports at a Glance

Destination	Main Airport	Is ATH Necessary?
Athens	ATH	Yes — ATH is Athens’ airport
Thessaloniki	SKG	No — fly directly to SKG when practical
Santorini	JTR	No — many travelers can fly directly or connect through ATH
Mykonos	JMK	No — direct international and ATH connections are both possible
Heraklion / Central & Eastern Crete	HER	No — HER is a major international airport
Chania / Western Crete	CHQ	No — CHQ is generally better for western Crete
Rhodes	RHO	No — RHO handles extensive international traffic
Corfu	CFU	No — direct international service can avoid an ATH connection
Kos	KGS	No — direct international and domestic service available
Smaller Greek islands	Varies	ATH is often a very useful connecting hub
Piraeus cruise	ATH	Usually the main air gateway
Athens sightseeing + island trip	ATH + island airport	Often an excellent combination

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🏛️ If You Are Visiting Athens, Choose ATH

This part is simple.

Athens International Airport is the commercial airport serving Athens.

If your trip includes:

• Acropolis
• Plaka
• Syntagma
• Monastiraki
• Central Athens hotels
• Piraeus cruise departure
• Athens-area sightseeing

ATH is the correct airport.

There is no equivalent low-cost secondary Athens airport sitting on the other side of the city that you need to compare before booking.

That makes flight searches for Athens considerably simpler than searches for cities such as:

Rome → FCO or CIA

Tokyo → HND or NRT

Bangkok → BKK or DMK

For Athens:

Look for ATH.

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🇬🇷 ATH Is Greece’s Major Connecting Hub

Where ATH becomes especially valuable is as a connection point for the rest of Greece.

There are frequent domestic flights from Athens to destinations including:

• Thessaloniki
• Heraklion
• Chania
• Santorini
• Mykonos
• Rhodes
• Corfu
• Kos
• Milos
• Paros
• Naxos
• Chios
• Mytilene
• Samos
• Other Greek islands and regional airports

That makes ATH extremely useful when your international origin does not have a convenient direct flight to your final Greek destination.

For example:

New York → Athens → Santorini

may be much easier to book than trying to find a direct New York–Santorini flight.

ATH essentially acts as the bridge between Greece’s international network and its extensive domestic aviation system.

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🏝️ ATH vs. Flying Directly to a Greek Island

If your entire vacation is on one island, do not automatically assume you need to fly through Athens.

Several major Greek island airports handle international flights directly.

That includes:

Santorini — JTR

Mykonos — JMK

Rhodes — RHO

Corfu — CFU

Kos — KGS

Zakynthos — ZTH

Kefalonia — EFL

Samos — SMI

Skiathos — JSI

and others.

Direct international service is particularly common during the main tourism season.

So if you are traveling:

London → Santorini

and there is a convenient nonstop flight to JTR, flying:

London → Athens → Santorini

may simply add an unnecessary connection.

The same logic applies to many European travelers heading directly to Rhodes, Corfu, Crete or other major leisure destinations.

Direct Island Flight Makes Sense When:

• The island is your main destination
• A nonstop flight is available
• The schedule works
• The price is reasonable
• You do not plan to visit Athens
• You want to avoid another baggage and connection process

Connecting Through ATH Makes Sense When:

• There is no convenient direct flight
• Direct flights operate only seasonally
• ATH offers much better arrival times
• You are combining Athens with an island
• The ATH itinerary is significantly less expensive
• You are connecting onward to a smaller Greek airport

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🌋 ATH vs. Santorini Airport — JTR

Santorini has its own international airport:

Santorini International Airport — JTR

If Santorini is your entire Greece trip and you can fly directly to JTR, there is no reason you must land in Athens first.

However, ATH has far more flights, airlines and international connections.

So travelers coming from destinations without direct Santorini service will often use:

International flight → ATH → JTR

ATH is also useful if you want:

Athens first → Santorini afterward

You can spend several days in the capital and then continue by domestic flight or ferry.

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🤍 ATH vs. Mykonos Airport — JMK

Mykonos also has its own international airport:

Mykonos International Airport — JMK

Like Santorini, Mykonos receives direct international traffic as well as domestic flights from Athens.

If a convenient nonstop flight exists from your origin, flying directly to JMK can eliminate a connection.

But ATH usually gives you a much broader range of possible itineraries.

For a trip combining:

Athens + Mykonos

flying into ATH and continuing later can work beautifully.

For:

Mykonos only

compare direct JMK flights before automatically adding Athens.

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🏖️ ATH vs. Crete — HER or CHQ

Crete is large enough that the exact airport matters.

Its two major tourism airports are:

Heraklion — HER

Chania — CHQ

If you are staying around:

• Heraklion
• Hersonissos
• Agios Nikolaos
• Central or eastern Crete

HER may be the better airport.

If you are staying around:

• Chania
• Western Crete
• Rethymno depending on your itinerary

CHQ may be more convenient.

Both airports receive international flights.

So if Crete is your actual destination, compare flights directly to HER and CHQ before assuming ATH should be part of the itinerary.

Flying:

International origin → ATH → Crete

is completely normal.

But flying:

International origin → HER or CHQ nonstop

can remove an entire connection from the trip.

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🌊 ATH vs. Rhodes, Corfu & Other Major Island Airports

The same principle applies to Greece’s other major island destinations.

Rhodes — RHO

Rhodes International Airport handles domestic and international flights and is the obvious airport for most trips centered on Rhodes.

Corfu — CFU

Corfu International Airport gives travelers another major island gateway without requiring Athens.

Kos — KGS

Kos also handles substantial international leisure traffic.

For all of these:

Check the direct flight first.

If it works, great.

If it does not, ATH gives you a very strong backup because of its domestic network.

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🌆 ATH vs. Thessaloniki — SKG

Thessaloniki has its own major international airport:

Thessaloniki International Airport “Makedonia” — SKG

If your destination is Thessaloniki or northern Greece, there is usually no reason to fly into Athens simply because ATH is Greece’s largest airport.

Compare flights directly to SKG.

This is particularly important for travelers visiting:

• Thessaloniki
• Halkidiki
• Northern Greece
• Parts of Macedonia

Flying into ATH and then traveling north can add a substantial amount of unnecessary travel if a reasonable SKG flight is available.

ATH still makes sense as a connecting point when the international routing through Athens is better.

But Athens should not automatically be treated as the gateway for every Greece trip.

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🛩️ Smaller Greek Airports Are Where ATH Becomes Especially Useful

Greece also has many smaller airports serving islands and regional destinations.

Examples include:

• Paros — PAS
• Naxos — JNX
• Milos — MLO
• Syros — JSY
• Ikaria — JIK
• Chios — JKH
• Karpathos — AOK
• Kythira — KIT
• Leros — LRS

These airports generally have much smaller route networks than ATH.

For destinations like these, connecting through Athens can be one of the easiest ways to reach the island by air.

A journey might look like:

International origin → ATH → small Greek island airport

That can be dramatically faster than flying to Athens and then spending much of the next day getting to a ferry.

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✈️ Connecting Flight vs. Ferry After ATH

For some Greek islands, travelers have another choice:

ATH → domestic flight

or

ATH → Piraeus → ferry

Neither is automatically better.

Domestic Flight Can Be Better If:

• The island has an airport
• The ATH connection is convenient
• You have limited vacation time
• You do not particularly want the ferry experience
• The ferry journey would take many hours

Ferry Can Be Better If:

• You enjoy sea travel
• The island has no airport
• The ferry schedule works better
• You want to visit multiple islands
• You are staying overnight in Athens first
• You would rather avoid another flight

Remember that flying into ATH and taking a ferry requires getting from the airport to the appropriate port.

That may be:

• Piraeus
• Rafina
• Lavrio

depending on the ferry route.

Do not assume every Greek island ferry leaves from Piraeus.

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🎟️ Check the Airport Code Before Booking

A flight search may simply show:

Athens

Santorini

Crete

Rhodes

without making you think much about the airport code.

Get into the habit of checking.

Important Greek codes include:

ATH — Athens

SKG — Thessaloniki

JTR — Santorini

JMK — Mykonos

HER — Heraklion

CHQ — Chania

RHO — Rhodes

CFU — Corfu

KGS — Kos

That becomes especially important for Crete because HER and CHQ serve different parts of a very large island.

The cheapest flight is not necessarily the cheapest travel day if you land several hours from where you actually want to stay.

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💸 Would I Connect Through ATH Just to Save Money?

It depends on the savings and the connection.

If a nonstop island flight costs slightly more, I would usually prefer:

one flight → arrive

over:

international flight → ATH connection → second flight → arrive

especially with checked luggage.

But if the direct flight is dramatically more expensive, operates at a terrible time or requires an inconvenient airport at home, connecting through ATH can make complete sense.

I would compare:

Total airfare + checked-bag costs + connection time + schedule + risk of disruption

rather than simply looking at the lowest number on the flight-search page.

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❤️ Which Greek Airport Would I Choose?

Visiting Athens

ATH.

There is no real airport decision to make.

Athens + Greek island

I would usually fly into ATH, enjoy Athens, and then continue to the island by flight or ferry.

One major island only

I would check direct flights to the island airport first.

Small island with limited air service

ATH is likely to be an extremely useful connection point.

Northern Greece

I would compare SKG before booking ATH.

Cruise from Piraeus

ATH is the main airport I would use.

Several Greek islands

I would build the route around the actual island sequence rather than automatically returning to ATH between every stop.

Sometimes:

flight → ferry → ferry → flight home

makes much more sense than repeatedly backtracking through Athens.

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❤️ The Most Important ATH vs. Other Greek Airports Rule

If your destination is Athens, book ATH.

If your destination is somewhere else in Greece, do not assume Athens has to be part of the journey.

Check whether your destination has its own airport.

Then compare:

Direct flight to destination

vs.

Flight to ATH + domestic connection

vs.

Flight to ATH + ferry

The best Greece itinerary is often the one that avoids unnecessary backtracking.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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🤫 Things Nobody Tells You About ATH

Athens International Airport has a few quirks, hidden conveniences and very Greek details that are easy to miss unless you already know to look for them.

Some can save you money, some can make a long airport wait more interesting, and a few are simply things you would probably never expect to find at an airport.

1. Some Basic Airport Food & Drinks Have Legally Regulated Maximum Prices

This is a very Greek airport detail — and an extremely useful one.

Greek consumer rules set maximum prices for certain basic items sold at airports, specifically because travelers inside places like airports have limited ability to shop elsewhere.

For airport customers who are not seated and receiving table service, the current maximum prices include:

• 500 ml bottled water — €0.60
• 750 ml bottled water — €0.90
• Ham-and-cheese toast or sandwich — €1.80
• Cheese toast or sandwich — €1.60
• Single Greek coffee — €1.50
• Single filter coffee — €1.60
• Single espresso or freddo espresso — €1.80
• Single instant coffee or frappé — €1.60
• Tea — €1.60

Airport food businesses are required to display information about the regulated items and prices.

So if you see airport water costing considerably more, look for the basic regulated-price option rather than assuming that is simply what bottled water costs at ATH.

The rule applies to takeaway/standing customers, not normal sit-down restaurant service.

2. There Is Basically a Small Shopping District Outside the Terminal

ATH has an entire Airport Retail Park about 2 km from the Main Terminal.

And this is not another duty-free concourse.

It has full-size stores including:

• IKEA
• Factory Outlet
• Kotsovolos electronics
• Plaisio electronics and technology
• Leroy Merlin
• INTERSPORT
• Holland & Barrett
• Shell

Factory Outlet alone carries more than 200 fashion, footwear and accessory brands.

The Retail Park can be reached by car and by the Airport Express bus routes.

This could be surprisingly useful if you have a very long landside layover and need something the terminal shops simply do not sell — electronics, a replacement charger, clothing, sporting equipment or even another piece of luggage.

Just remember that this is outside the terminal, so you still need to protect your airport return time.

3. ATH Has a Real Post Office

This is becoming unusual enough at airports that it is worth knowing.

Hellenic Post — ELTA has a post office in:

Arrivals — public area near Exit 3

It handles:

• Letters
• Parcels
• Courier services
• Some financial services
• Postal products

Current hours are approximately:

Monday–Saturday: 7:00 AM–7:30 PM

Sunday and public holidays: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM

So if you bought something in Greece that you would rather mail than squeeze into your suitcase, there is actually a real postal service at the airport.

Check international mailing and customs restrictions before trying to send food, liquids or other regulated items.

4. You Can Rent an Actual Meeting Room Inside the Airport

ATH has a proper conference room inside the Main Terminal available to travelers and visitors.

It holds up to 15 people and is equipped for:

• Business meetings
• Small conferences
• Seminars
• Presentations

Catering can also be arranged.

This is a very niche airport service — until you are the person with a six-hour connection who suddenly needs to hold an actual meeting.

It is not the same thing as using a lounge work area.

This is a real reservable meeting room.

5. Look Up When You Reach the Airport Railway Station

The Metro/Suburban Railway station has a permanent site-specific artwork called:

ANADYSIS II — “Emergence II”

by Greek sculptor Venia Dimitrakopoulou.

It hangs beneath the glass dome of the railway station and incorporates Greek and English phrases about being a stranger, belonging and being heard.

One of the central words is:

Ξένος — xénos

which can carry the idea of a stranger or foreigner.

That makes its location at an international airport particularly fitting: thousands of people pass underneath it while literally arriving somewhere foreign or leaving somewhere familiar.

Most travelers rushing toward the train probably never look up.

6. There Is a Reason the Airport Is Named Eleftherios Venizelos

ATH’s full name is:

Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”

Eleftherios Venizelos was one of the most important political figures in modern Greek history.

But the aviation connection is especially appropriate.

Venizelos played an important role in the development of Greek aviation and established Greece’s Ministry of Aviation in 1929.

So the airport is not simply named after a famous Greek statesman with no connection to flying.

ATH even has a permanent exhibition explaining his role in modern Greece and Greek aviation.

7. The Airport Website Has a Piraeus Ferry Departure Board

This one is remarkably useful for Greece travelers.

ATH’s own transportation information includes current Piraeus passenger-ferry departures, showing details such as:

departure time → ship → port gate

That means somebody landing at the airport and continuing to a Greek island can actually check Piraeus ferry information while planning the airport-to-port journey.

The airport warns that the information comes from the Piraeus Port Authority and travelers should still confirm details with the ferry company.

But it is a surprisingly useful airport resource that has nothing to do with flights.

8. There Is a Huge Exhibition Center Beside the Airport

ATH is also connected with Metropolitan Expo, Greece’s enormous exhibition and conference center.

It has roughly:

50,000 square meters of indoor space

with major exhibition halls and conference facilities.

If you happen to be traveling to one of its events, you do not necessarily need to arrange a taxi from the terminal.

A free shuttle bus operates between the Main Terminal and Metropolitan Expo for visitors, with the airport pickup point near:

Arrivals — Exit 2

This is one of those details that would be incredibly useful to the small percentage of travelers who need it — and almost completely invisible to everyone else.

9. ATH Has Dedicated Tourist Police Contact

Athens Airport has regular airport traffic police, but travelers also have access to Greece’s Tourist Police service.

The Tourist Police contact number is:

1571

Tourist Police in Greece specifically deal with issues affecting visitors.

That can be useful if you run into a problem where you are unsure whether you need ordinary police, airport staff or someone accustomed to helping international visitors.

10. Greek Travelers Had an Important ID Change in 2026

This will not affect most international visitors, but it is useful if you are traveling with Greek family or friends.

As of August 4, 2026, Greece’s old-format national identity cards are no longer accepted as documents for international travel.

Greek travelers now need:

a new-format Greek ID card or a passport

for international travel.

So someone saying, “I always fly with this ID” may discover that the card they used for years is no longer acceptable for an international flight.

11. ATH Treats the Airport as Part of Greece’s Cultural Space

This goes beyond simply having a museum upstairs.

ATH deliberately uses the airport as a place for Greek cultural programming and public art.

Over the years, that has included:

• Greek regional traditions
• Music
• Dance
• Contemporary Greek artists
• Museum collaborations
• Archaeology
• Exhibitions about Greek history
• International cultural exchanges

So it is worth looking around rather than treating every piece of art or installation as generic airport decoration.

Some of what you are walking past is there specifically to make the airport a traveler’s first or last cultural encounter with Greece.

❤️ My Favorite ATH Secret

Honestly?

The regulated-price food and drinks.

Airport travelers are so accustomed to being trapped behind security and paying whatever the airport asks that most people would never think:

“Wait — there is literally a legally capped €0.60 bottle of water option here.”

That is exactly the kind of thing I want to know before walking into an airport.

And it is exactly what this section is for.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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❤️ My Take on ATH

What strikes me most about Athens International Airport is how remarkably uncomplicated it seems for the gateway to a place with such enormous historical weight.

Athens is one of those rare cities whose influence runs so deeply through the world that it almost does not need an introduction.

Its ideas shaped philosophy, politics, art, architecture, literature and ways of thinking that continued through Rome and far beyond it. So much of what later became Western civilization would look completely different without the Greek world beneath it.

And yet modern Athens has one main airport.

Not a sprawling collection of competing airports.

Not an overwhelmingly complicated system.

Just a relatively straightforward gateway into one of the most consequential cities in human history.

There is something almost elegant about that.

It gives me the impression of a place that knows exactly what it is and has nothing it needs to prove.

And, strangely enough, that reminds me of one of the things I love about Greek food.

Some of the best Greek food is remarkably simple.

Good olive oil.

Fresh vegetables.

Cheese.

Bread.

Herbs.

A few excellent ingredients that are allowed to taste like themselves.

There is a confidence in that kind of simplicity. Nothing is being added just to make the dish look more complicated or impressive.

ATH gives me a little of that same feeling.

The basics are there:

• Direct Metro access
• Straightforward terminal organization
• Useful connections throughout Greece
• A hotel directly across from the terminal

And then there are thoughtful touches that make the experience nicer without turning the airport itself into a spectacle.

You can get a massage, manicure or pedicure during a longer wait.

You can walk through an archaeological exhibition.

You can find genuinely Greek food and products.

You can cross the road and be inside a full-service hotel within minutes.

None of that feels particularly flashy.

It just feels considered.

There is obviously still airport reality to deal with. Non-Schengen travelers need to account for passport control and EES, the Satellite Terminal adds extra walking time, and reaching Athens or Piraeus still requires planning.

But overall, ATH feels like an airport whose appeal may be exactly what it doesn’t try to be.

For the gateway to a civilization with roots this deep, there is something very fitting about a little restraint.

Athens has been important for thousands of years.

It does not need an airport trying to convince anyone of that.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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❤️ TTWL Don’t-Forget Flight Checklist

These are not meant to be a full packing list — just the small things that can make an airport and flight day noticeably easier.

Keep Accessible

• Passport or ID
• Phone
• One easily accessible payment card
• Essential medications
• Charging cable
• Power bank
• Headphones or earbuds
• Kindle or other e-reader

For Your Luggage

• Luggage tag — even on your carry-on
• AirTag or another luggage tracker
• Photo of your suitcase before checking it

For Comfort

• Light jacket, raincoat, cardigan or sweatshirt
• Packable slipper-style shoes or soft travel slippers
• Eye mask
• Refillable water bottle
• Small snack
• Lip balm
• Hand sanitizer
• Tissues
• Wet wipes
• Pen

Even when you are flying from one hot destination to another, bring a layer. Airplanes can be freezing, and being cold for several hours can turn an otherwise perfectly fine flight into a miserable one.

An eye mask is useful on daytime flights too. Packing, early departures, planning, airport stress and travel in general can leave you exhausted even when the flight itself is not overnight.

To Land Feeling a Little More Human

• Pre-pasted/disposable toothbrush
• Mini deodorant or Lume
• Face and body wipes
• Small comb or brush

A quick teeth-brush, wipe-down and deodorant refresh shortly before landing can make the difference between stepping off the plane feeling completely bedraggled and arriving feeling at least reasonably fresh.

My Hands-Free Airport Setup

I love traveling with a lightweight packable raincoat with zippered pockets. Mine packs into its own pocket if I do not need it, but while I am moving through an airport I keep my phone zipped in one pocket and my passport zipped in the other.

That keeps the two things I am constantly asked for secure but immediately accessible while leaving both hands free for luggage, security bins, boarding and everything else involved in getting through an airport.

The zippered part matters. In a busy terminal or somewhere pickpocketing is a concern, I feel much better having my phone and passport physically zipped against me than loose in an ordinary pocket.

My phone case also uses a MagSafe-style magnetic system with a PopSocket/card holder. It gives me a much more secure grip on my phone and keeps one card right on the back where I can reach it without digging through my wallet.

And bright outerwear has another surprisingly practical benefit: your travel companions can spot you easily in a crowd. Mine is bright pink, my husband’s is blue and my mom’s is red. We are pretty hard to lose in an airport.

I use the same basic logic with luggage. I deliberately choose unusual-looking bags because they are much easier to spot on a baggage carousel than another generic black suitcase.

If your luggage looks like everyone else’s, even a bright luggage strap, distinctive cover or unusual tag can help you recognize it quickly.

↑ Back to Quick Jump

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✈️ Useful Flying Resources

A smoother flight starts long before you reach the airport. These Travel Tips With Love guides cover booking, baggage, long-haul comfort, delays, travel tech and the little things that can make flying considerably easier.

🎟️ Booking Your Flight

→ How Far in Advance Should I Book My Flight?

→ Smart Tips for Cheaper Business Class Tickets

✈️ Long Flights & Flight Comfort

→ Ultimate Long-Haul Flight Survival Guide: Comfort Tips That Actually Work

→ Surviving Swollen Feet From Long Flights: Travel Tips & Tricks That Actually Work

→ Why a Kindle & Kindle Unlimited Is One of the Best Travel Companions

🧳 Carry-On & Luggage Help

→ Global Carry-On & Personal Item Size Limits by Airline A–Z

→ How to Choose the Right Carry-On Luggage: Complete Guide, Reviews & Comparisons

→ Carry-On-Only Travel Isn’t Just About Packing Smarter — It’s About Capacity

→ Top Packing Hacks for Stress-Free Travel

📱 Travel Tech & Luggage Tracking

→ Tech-Savvy Travel Gear: Smart Luggage, Trackers, Gadgets & the No-BS Buyer’s Guide

When Your Flight Goes Wrong

→ What to Do If Your Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled: A Traveler’s Survival Guide

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🛫Explore More Airport Guides

Looking for another airport?

Visit the Travel Tips With Love Flights & Airports Hub for practical airport guides covering terminals, transportation, connections, baggage, food, lounges, accessibility, airport hotels and the little things that are useful to know before you fly.

→ Explore All Airport Guides

From Tracy, With Love ♥