Getting There and Away

Written by Celine Fournier, Julien Lambert, Maria Gaulto
16/09/2025
Aerial view showcasing the Ancient Agora and vibrant cityscape of Athens, Greece.
Ted McDonnell, Pexels

Athens is well-equipped with major transportation hubs, including the Athens International Airport 'Eleftherios Venizelos' for air travel, Piraeus Port for sea connections to the islands, and Larissa Station as the central railway hub for mainland Greece. For intercity bus travel, the KTEL Kifissos and Liosion terminals serve different regions of the country.

By Air (Athens International Airport 'Eleftherios Venizelos' - ATH):

Athens is accessible via numerous international and domestic flights. One-way flights can start from approximately $72, with round-trip options from around $145. Travel times vary widely based on origin. * **From ATH to City Center/Piraeus Port:** * **Metro (Line 3 - Blue Line):** Connects the airport to Syntagma Square in central Athens in about 40 minutes, costing €9 for a one-way ticket or €16 for a return, valid for 48 hours. As of January 2025, contactless payment with a bank card is also available directly at validation machines. * **Express Buses (OASA):** The X95 bus travels to Syntagma Square in 45 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes for about €5.50. The X96 bus reaches Piraeus Port in approximately 90 minutes for the same fare and operates 24/7. * **Taxi:** A fixed rate applies for taxis between the airport and the city center: €40 during the day (5:00 AM - midnight) and €55 at night (midnight - 5:00 AM), with the journey taking 25-45 minutes. * **Suburban Railway (Proastiakos):** Links the airport to Larissa Station (central railway station) in roughly 45 minutes, and also connects to Piraeus.

By Ferry (Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio Ports):

Piraeus is the largest port, offering extensive connections to the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Saronic Islands, Crete, and North Aegean islands. Ferry tickets from Piraeus to popular Cycladic islands like Santorini or Mykonos typically start from €44-€46. Travel times vary significantly by destination and ferry type. Rafina and Lavrio ports serve specific Cycladic islands, with Rafina being closer to the airport. * **To Piraeus Port from City Center:** The Metro (Line 3 - Blue Line) reaches Piraeus from Syntagma Square in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, the 24-hour Bus 040 connects Piraeus to Syntagma Square in approximately 40 minutes.

By Intercity Bus (KTEL):

Athens features two main intercity bus terminals: Kifissos for routes to the Peloponnese, Western, and Northern Greece, and Liosion for Central Greece, Thessaly, and Evia. FlixBus offers tickets to Athens from other cities starting from approximately €23.48 - $55.98. * **To Bus Terminals from Airport:** The X93 express bus connects Athens International Airport directly to both Kifissos and Liosion bus stations.

By Train (Larissa Station - Athens Central Railway Station):

This station handles long-distance domestic routes to cities such as Thessaloniki, Larissa, and Kalambaka (for Meteora). A train journey from Larissa to Athens costs around €14-€21 and takes about 3 hours 23 minutes. The Suburban Railway also connects Larissa Station to the airport and Piraeus. * **To Larissa Station from City Center:** Metro Line 2 directly serves Larissa Station.

By Car Rental:

Car rental services are available at Athens International Airport and various city locations. Renting a small car is often advisable for navigating narrower city streets. Daily rental costs can vary, with off-peak prices starting from $9 and peak season prices reaching up to $49 per day. Booking in advance is recommended.

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