Athens International Airport (ATH): Guide, Facilities & Hotels, Cafes, and Parking

When you are traveling to and from the Athens International Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers. Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.

Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.

Brief Overview of Athens International Airport

Athens International Airport serves more than 133 locations throughout Europe, the Middle East, North America, and local destinations in Greece and its surrounding islands.

A few years ago, the airport received a makeover and has skilled persevered growth, specifically with price range carriers such as Ryanair growing their presence, making it a popular airport among holiday-goers headed to Greece or stopping over on their way to somewhere else.

Although originally called Hellenic International Airport, being in operation since the 1940s from Athens’ south coast, it moved to Spata in March 2001, which is about 20 km (12 miles) east of downtown Athens and was later renamed to Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos AIA (ATH). This was carried out to honor the Greek PM El. Venizelos for his great contribution to Greek Civil Aviation and the Hellenic Air Force.

IATA: ATH

Address:
Attiki Odos,
Spata Artemida
190 04, Greece

Contact: +30 21 0353 0000

Website: https://www.aia.gr/traveler/

Operation Hours: Athens International Airport is open 24 hours. However, certain food concessions and car rental services are not open 24 hours. Also, services like airline check-in and baggage drop hours may vary with the flight schedule.

Airport Terminal

Athens International Airport has two terminals. The main terminal with two halls (A and B) and a satellite terminal, which was opened recently. Both terminals are connected through an underground tunnel with a moving sidewalk and another walkway on the ground floor.

The terminals at Athens International Airport are well laid out and spacious with one Arrivals hall at the ground level and one Departures hall located on the first floor. Once you pass through security, you will find most airlines from there. However, domestic and low-cost European international flights depart from the satellite building, so you will need to walk for about 15 minutes to reach your flight.

Flights in Service

The Athens International Airport service a large selection of airlines that operate flights to and from many European destinations.

The flights include Aeroflot, Aegean Airlines, Alitalia, Air Canada, Air Mediterranean, Air France, Air Europa, Air Moldova, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Astra Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cobaltair, Dart, Easyjet, El Al, Eurowings, Ellinair, EL AL Israel Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, MEA, Norwegian, Olympic Air, Pegasus, Ryanair, SAS, S7 Airlines, Sky Express, Swiss, Swiftair, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Tarom, Qatar Airways, and Ukraine International.

Facilities and Services Available at Athens Internation Airport

The Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens provides various amenities to travelers for a comfortable experience.

Help Desk

When you are at the Athens International Airport and need help, there is an information desk to assist you. Here, you can inquire about your flight or find other facilities easily at the airport. You will find 24-hour Airport Information Desks at the departures and arrivals sections. The City of Athens Tourist Information Point is open from 8 am to 8 pm and is located in the Arrivals section.

Security Check-point

There are security checks at the airport’s terminals. All passengers are required to pass through these security checks.

Wi-Fi and Mobile Charging Stations

Free Wi-Fi is available at Athens International Airport in case you need to connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the internet. In addition to free Wi-Fi, mobile charging power outlets are also available at the airport, in case you need to charge your phone’s battery.

One mobile charging power outlet is located at Gate 21. “ATH Free Wi-Fi” is the connection name for wireless internet. Wi-Fi connection can sometimes, be a bit spotty, but it’s free for 45 minutes. There are a total of 22 internet kiosks found throughout the airport.

Baggage Handling

If you are carrying a lot of luggage with you, the airport provides luggage carts to help you ease the load. Baggage Storage is accessible near Gate 1 at the Arrivals area, and also Baggage Wrap is located at the Departures area.

Airport Lounges

There are around 8 lounges at the Athen International Airport. All lounges are beyond the security checkpoint. So, you will have to pass through the security to access these lounges.

The rates and facilities may, however, vary. There are First Class lounges which can also be accessed for a fee by passengers traveling in economy class. The premium lounges at  Athens International Airport are:

Goldair Handling Lounge:
It is located in Terminal A, Level 1, opposite Gate A11 in the Non-Schengen area. Access to the lounge is through using prepaid lounge passes and lounge membership programs.

Goldair Handling CIP Lounge:
It is located in Terminal B, Airside, Schengen area, Level 1, opposite Gate B13. Access to the lounge is through using prepaid lounge passes and lounge membership programs.

Skyserv Melina Merkouri Lounge:
It is located in Terminal B, Airside, near Gate B11 in the Intra-Schengen area. Access to the lounge is through using prepaid lounge passes and lounge membership programs.

Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge:
It is located in Terminal A, Airside, close to Gate A13 in the Extra-Schengen area. Non-Schengen flights only. Access to the lounge is through using prepaid lounge passes and lounge membership programs.

Swissport Lounge:
It is located in Terminal A, Airside, next to Gate A12 in the Extra-Schengen Area. Non-Schengen flights only.

If you are a First or Business Class traveler, you may access the lounge Aegean Airlines Club, located at Non-Schengen, Departures Area A, and the Aegean Airlines Club, located at Schengen, Departures Area B.

ATM

ATMs are available at Athens International Airport. You can swipe your bank card and withdraw cash at the airport’s ATM if you’re running low on cash or need to make cash payments at other services or stores.

Shops

There are a number of shops at the Athens International Airport for you to purchase essentials, toiletries, electronics, and fashion clothes. Most of these shops are located in the general public area and also at the airside that is after security. There is Hellenic Duty-Free that sells confectionery, toys, jewelry, wines, spirits, cigars, cigarettes, and perfumes.

Baby Care Facilities:
Facilities for changing and feeding your toddler are available in designated baby rooms and restrooms at the airport’s landside and airside sections. Look for the infant care image or ask an Information Desk staff member for assistance.

Children’s Play Area:
When you want to make certain your children burn all their energy before the flight, take them to the children’s play area. Suitable for children under 10 years old. It is located in the main terminal, landside, 2nd Floor, next to the Museum of the Acropolis exhibition. It is open from 9:00 AM till 8:30 PM.

There is also the “It’s All Greek To Me” store that sells Greek souvenirs and special gifts. You can head over to this shop for that last-minute specialty Greek gift for your loved ones. You will find this store located in the Departures hall before going through security.

Cafes, Bars, and Restaurants

Athens International Airport has a top variety of bars, restaurants, and coffee retail outlets to cater to a huge range of tastes and meal preferences. Most of these are open from early in the morning till late at night. While the majority of bars, cafés, and eateries are located in the passenger departure lounge beyond the security checkpoint, a smaller selection can also be found in the common public area.

The first level of Departures has a café and bar, a Burger King, and the Italian La Pasteria that serves pizzas, pasta, and delicious tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad is a must, topped off with a hearty slice of tiramisu.

After you pass the security checkpoint, the options open up, with selections like the Heineken Star Bar with beer, wines, and snacks. There are many burger bars and Greece’s own fast-food chain called Everest, which serves salads and ‘paninis’.

Athens Airport is not a massive airport, so you may not find a huge quantity of food. However, there is always adequate for your layover.

Hotels near Athens International Airport, Greece

Finding accommodations at the Athens International Airport or nearby should not be a problem for you as there are several hotels out there. Whether you are traveling alone, with friends, family, or children, you will find comfortable places to stay during your visit to Athens.

A few hotels that are located at a close distance from the Athens International Airport are:

Sofitel Airport Hotel:
The hotel is located at the Athens International Airport, about 50 meters from its main terminal. Rooms are available for check-in from 12:00 PM till 6:00 PM. The hotel has a spa that is open to non-guests. Services include a variety of facials and body treatments, massages, mani-pedis, and more.

Peri’s Hotel:
The hotel is located 10 minutes from the airport. It provides free airport transfers that are available on request.

Holiday Inn Athens Airport:
The hotel is located 10 minutes from the airport. It also provides a 24-hour shuttle, which is free and operates hourly. Rooms are available for check-in from 11:00 AM till 6:00 PM.

Hotel Pantheon:
The hotel is located 10 minutes from the airport. However, there is no airport shuttle provided.

Transportation From and To Athens International Airport

Athens International Airport is about 35 km (22 miles) from the center of the city. You can take a taxi, which should not cost much. Taxis and Limousine services are accessible from the Arrivals area at Exit 3.

Traveling to Athens International Airport through the metro is also convenient. There are only three metro lines in Athens, these are Green, Red, and Blue. The Blue line takes you directly to the airport every 30 minutes from stations downtown, including the touristic districts of Monastiraki and Gazi. It will take approximately one hour, and the ticket fees are 10 euros. Tickets can be sold from machines at all stations, and all have English language options.

There are several bus routes to the airport from Central Athens, Piraeus Port, and the Athenian Riviera coast. You will need to buy tickets on the bus if going to the Athens International Airport, or outside the Arrivals Hall from the booth.

Airport Shuttle

Many travelers often find shuttle services to be very favorable as it saves them plenty of time when getting to the hotel and/or airport. A few hotels in and around the city of Athens provide free shuttle services to and from Athens International Airport.

Bus

Need a bus ride? There are many public transportation services that serve at Athens International Airport and can take you not only to hotels, can also to enjoy a ride in the city and go on sightseeing. All buses arrive in the Departures area and most operate 24 hours. Also, all buses depart from the Arrivals area, between Exits 4 and 5.

From the Arrivals area, buses operated by Oasa are regularly available to:

• Bus route X93  to Kifissos Coach Station
• Bus route X95 to Syntagma Square (Athens City Centre)
• Bus route X96 to Piraeus Port
• Bus route X97 Dafni Metro Station (Athens Commercial Centre)

The bus takes approximately 40 minutes from Syntagma to Athens International Airport.

Car Hire/Rental

You can hire a car at Athens International Airport if you are in the mood to move around places in Athens city. There are a number of car hire/rental companies that provide this service. These providers include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Alamo, and Sixt.

Airport Parking

Athens International Airport provides 24-hour parking facilities to passengers. You can safely park your car at the airport’s parking area, and the vehicles are well-attended. There are three parking options, which are labeled P1, P2, and P3, respectively. P1 and P2 are for short-term parking, while P3 is for long-term parking.

The Short-term parking (P1 and P2) parking area is located on the arrivals level with 1,360 spaces and 20 minutes of stay is free. The maximum stay allowed is 5 hours. There is also online booking with a discount.

The long-term (P3) parking area is located throughout the fundamental motorway from the Airport and has 5,800 spaces. The P3 parking area allows visitors to park their vehicles for over 5 hours. Walk 5 minutes through the link bridge from the Departures area or take the shuttle bus. Online bookings with discounts are also provided.

Executive Valet Parking service is also available with fees ranging on the kind of valet. You can leave your car at Entrance 3 in the Departures area, and your car will be delivered back to you.

Conclusion

When you are at the airport, you will find galleries that showcase charming art. On the first floor of the Departures terminal (before security), there is an archaeological museum (free entry) with a showcase of 172 artifacts from the Neolithic and Early Helladic to the Post-Byzantine period, as properly as several artifacts observed when Athens International Airport was built.

There are additionally periodic photography exhibitions in the arrivals area that change regularly and provide a selection of themes, such as “Greek Seas” and ‘”mages of Athens”.