Arrival & Transportation
Travelling to Athens – Ease of Access
Arrival in Athens
Athens International Airport (AIA) “Eleftherios Venizelos”
Athens International Airport is connected with more than 30 domestic destinations and around 60 European cities. It also hosts more than 15 direct flights overseas to America, Asia and Africa.
AIA is part of the Support team of the Conference. Its contribution will include the safe, comfortable and unobstructed movement of the participants and visitors affiliated with IGARSS 2024.
For more information, please visit https://aia.gr
Getting to the city center
Getting from the Athens International Airport to the city center
Metro
Metro Line 3 (Blue Line) connects the airport of Athens to the city center. Trains depart every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. approximately. You will need around 40 minutes to get from the Airport to Syntagma station (city center). The ticket costs 9 euros. You can use it for 90 minutes from the time you first validated it.
Suburban Train
The Suburban railway connects the Athens airport with the Athens Central Railway Station (Larissis Station). This station gives you access to Metro Line 2 (Red Line) as well as the National Railway network. The train makes this journey every 60 minutes from around 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The ticket costs 10 euros.
Important note: The Suburban railway departs twice every hour from the Athens Airport to Doukissis Plakentias station, where you can change trains and continue to the city center with Metro Line 3 (Blue Line), using the same ticket.
Important note: The congress venue (MAICC) is located very close to the city center, with a metro station (Megaro Moussikis) just outside the venue.
24-hour express buses
There is a bus that connects central Athens (Syntagma Square) to the Athens International Airport (AIA) “Eleftherios Venizelos”.
This bus is called X95. Service is provided on a non-stop basis seven days a week (24/7 operation). This bus disembarks passengers at the Departures Level and starts its route from the Arrivals Level between Exits 4 and 5. The route lasts about one hour. Tickets can be bought directly by the driver at no extra cost. The ticket costs 5,50 euros.
Taxi
Visitors to Athens can choose from a variety of taxi companies for their transportation. Taxis at the airport are available at the designated waiting area located at Exit 3 at the Arrivals Level. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs a flat rate (including luggage, VAT and road tolls) of 35 euros from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, and 49 euros from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
There are various taxi companies operating in Athens that offer ride – hailing services, such as Uber and Free Now. Travelers have many options available to them and can head to the one that best meets their needs. Professionals offers high-level turning visitor’s stay in Athens into a unique experience.
Download the application, of the taxi service you chose, from your device’s store and register. Then, follow the instructions, call your taxi and enjoy your stay in Athens. Through the application, you can find the best taxi drivers in Athens, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can pay easily with card or cash, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees.
Local transportation in Athens
The Athens Metro system encompasses three lines:
Line 1. Green Line, from the port of Piraeus in the south of Athens to the suburb of Kifissia in the north.
Line 2. Red Line, from Anthoupoli in the northwest to Elliniko in the south.
Line 3. Blue Line, from Dimotiko Theatro in the west to either the Airport or Doukissis Plakentias in the northeast.
Lines 1 and 2 meet at Attiki and Omonoia stations. Lines 1 and 3 meet at Monastiraki station. Lines 2 and 3 meet at Syntagma station.
The most common tickets are:
A regular 90-minute single ticket for all means of public transport (Airport excluded) costs 1,2€.
A daily ticket for all means of public transport (Airport excluded) costs 4,1 €.
A 3-day tourist ticket for all public transport means with 1 two-way ticket for the Airport included is at 20 €.
For more information regarding the public transportation tickets please click here.
Taxis offer a 24-hour service and are quite cheap. They can be hailed down on the street or otherwise picked up at taxi stands around major tourist places such as Monastiraki and Syntagma. You can also book a taxi by calling on any of the following numbers: 18222, 18300, 18288 or 18180.
There is a huge network of buses and trolleys (electric buses) that operates in Athens and its suburbs. They usually operate from around 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. approximately. You may have more information on the timetables here. One ticket cost 1,20 euro and can be used for 90 minutes from the time you first validated it. It is virtually the same as the one you use at the metro. This is why it can be bought in special kiosks around town but also inside all Metro Stations.
There are more means of transportation that can help every traveler explore Athens, such as: car or motorcycle rental, bicycle or electrical scooter rental, as well as some more touristic choices, like the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and the Happy Train.
