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Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (AIA) is Greece’s largest and busiest airport serving as a hub for international and domestic flights. Located in Spata between the areas of Artemida, Koropi and Markopoulo, Athens Airport is around 30 kilometers to the east of central Athens.
Inaugurated in 2001, and after following a steady increase in passenger traffic, in 2018, Athens International Airport ranked as the 27th-busiest airport in Europe handling over 24.1 million passengers that year alone.
The Athens International Airport has two terminals: The Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal.
In the Main Terminal, which is housed in a three-story building are located all 144 check-in desks as well as Hall A (international flights to Non-European countries and Non-Schengen countries and Hall B (domestic and intra-Schengen flights).
Check-in area – Athens International Airport. Courtesy: wikimedia.org
The second terminal called The Satellite Terminal consists of two levels, one for arrivals and one for departures, and is used by around 10 airlines including Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, and Norwegian.
Athens Airport Terminals. Courtesy: Leonid Mamchenkov / flickr.com
Shops, Restaurants and Cafés On The Athens Airport
Shopping
Athens International Airport features a shopping center filled with stores and boutiques of all kinds. The Hellenic Duty-Free Shops which are located both in the departure area and the arrivals area offer an assortment of items. From perfumes, cosmetics, and souvenirs to tobacco, confectionery, and Greek delicacies, the Hellenic Duty-Free Shops have an abundance of brands and products at competitive prices. Clothing and accessories boutiques, electronics shops, and bookstores can be found at the Free Access Area or at different parts of the Departures Level.
Athens Airport has a good variety of bars, restaurants and coffee shops
Restaurants and Cafés
Whether you’re looking for a refreshing beverage, a quick bite or a tasty Greek meal, Athens International Airport’s wide range of restaurants and cafés can fill every traveler’s hunger. Starbucks, Burger King, Eat Greek and Easy Grab n Go are some of the places you’ll find at the airport’s Departures Level. Aside from a wide range of shops and restaurants & cafés, there are also six ATMs available in Athens International Airport as well as an Alpha Bank desk which is located at the Arrivals Level. One post office is situated in the Free Access Area on the Arrivals Level.
Athens Airport Services and Facilities for Travelers
Health Facilities
A fully equipped First Aid Station is available to passengers and visitors on a 24-hour basis while there is also a pharmacy operating from 06:00 – 24:00. Moreover, several defibrillators are stored in special cabinets within the Terminal Areas.
Baggage services
In Athens International Airport there are quick baggage wrapping points while Care4bag provides safe baggage storage services.
A special designated Long Term Parking area with5,800 parking spaces available is located across Attiki Odos motorway, the airport’s main access road. Long Term Parking also features parking spaces for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility.
Dedicated parking spaces can also be found at the Short Term Parking (1 and 2). An Economy parking ideal for longer stays is also available at Athens International Airport.
Parking and Metro station at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Courtesy: wikimedia.org
Free WI-FI Internet in the Athens Airport
Within the Τerminal of the Athens International Airport, passengers can connect to “ATH Free Wi-Fi” service for free while 22 Internet Access Points set throughout the airport are available to travelers and visitor
Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (AIA) Transport
Public Transportation: Metro and Busses
Athens International Airport is connected with the rest of Athens via Metro’s Line 3 (Blue Line): Ag. Marina – Airport, the Suburban Railway, and four bus routes (X93, X95, X96, X97) with directions to different areas of Athens and Piraeus.
Athens airport Metro station. Courtesy: wikimedia.org
Buses’ terminal station is at the Departures Level and starting point at the Arrivals Level, between Exits 4 and 5.
Aside from the X96 line bus, Athens International Airport is also connected to the Port Of Piraeus by the suburban railway and by the metro by changing from line 3 to line 1 at Monastiraki station.
There are also five regional buses operating at the airport departing from the Arrivals Level, between Exits 2 and 3, opposite the Airport Hotel (Sofitel).
Bus at Athens Airport. Courtesy: wikimedia.org
The regional buses set down passengers at the Departures Level. These regional buses head to the Port of Rafina or the Port of Lavrio and passengers have to take them from the Arrivals Level, opposite the airport hotel (Sofitel). However, as there isn’t a direct route to the Port of Lavrio, passengers have to change bus at Markopoulo.
The metro ticket costs €10 and the bus ticket to Athens or the port of Piraeus costs €6.00. The ticket price for regional buses to the Port of Rafina is €4,00.
At Exit 3 of Arrivals Level, there is a designated Taxi waiting area where several taxis are always available. The taxi flat fare is €38 in the daytime (05.00 – 00.00) and €54 (00.00 – 05.00) at night.
Transfer services
There is a great number of transport companies providing transportation services upon request. The price changes depending on the company, the type of the car as well as the destination
There are numerous hotels for all budgets and styles, situated in the areas close to Athens International Airport, accessible within a 30-minute drive accessible within a 30-minute drive.
However, if you’re looking for a place to stay without leaving the airport, Sofitel Hotel is the right choice for you. Located 50 meters opposite the arrival and departure terminals, Sofitel is the only hotel situated within Athens International Airport. The 5-star hotel features 345 soundproofed rooms, 12 suites, one presidential suite, and two executive floors. Check or book the Sofitel Hotel on Booking.com For a more detailed guide on hotels at Athens International Airport see the article below.
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