Are You In?

Join our mailing list and receive the latest news and travel offers from our team.
Don’t worry, we hate spam as much as you do!
Newsletter Exit Pop up Form

Uber or Lyft in Athens! Transfer Services and Taxi Companies in Athens [Greece]

We Need Your Support!

We want to remind you that Athens by Locals is reader-supported. By booking tours, hotels, tickets, and other travel services through the links on our website, you can help us continue providing valuable content and information. Note that we receive a small commission only if you make a booking using our links at the time of your visit. So, if you're not quite ready to book yet, you can save this post and the links and return to make your booking when the time is right. We genuinely appreciate your support and are thrilled to have you in our travel community. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Happy travels!

Even though the means of public transportation is a great way to commute around Athens, there are times when you need the comfort of a private car.

Even though worldwide-known companies such as UberX or Lyft aren’t operating in the Greek capital at the moment, numerous transfer companies and taxi apps guarantee to provide professional and comfortable transportation around the city as well as to and from Athens International Airport.

Taxis in Athens

Taxis are a very popular way of getting around in Athens. Even though they are more expensive than the means of public transportation, they’re quite cheaper compared to other countries.

Therefore, locals often use taxis, especially for short distances and after midnight when most buses and the metro stop operating.

Aside from the routes to and from the airport with a fixed price, the price for every other taxi ride is calculated with a taximeter. The starting price is 1,80€, and the minimum price you must pay for a ride is 4,00€ no matter the distance.

Taxi Companies in Athens, Greece
Catching a cab in Athens airport. Courtesy: wikimedia.org

You will find many taxis just outside the hotel in Athens where you stay, in the streets, and in designated Taxi Waiting areas around Athens but there are also several taxi apps and services ideal for pre-booking your taxi.

Free Now App

FREE NOW (formerly BEAT) is the most popular taxi app in Athens at the moment. All you have to do is download the app, enter your location and the desired destination and a taxi will be at your door in no time.

You can pay either in cash or with a credit card, and until recently, you could even choose the driver you prefer based on their reviews, car type, and proximity to your location. Even though this service is no longer available, you can still see the driver’s reviews before booking your ride.

With the FREE NOW App, you can cancel your ride in case something comes up and contact the driver by phone after you’ve booked a ride.

taxibeat in athens city
Taxibeat is the most popular taxi app in Athens

Welcome Pickups

Welcome Pickups offers Athens Airport Transfers and Taxi services. Featuring different types of cars for small and larger groups as well as trained English-speaking drivers, Welcome Pickups is a great way to reach your destination after arriving in Athens.

You can book your transportation from Athens Airport, the city’s ports, and Athens Railway Station easily and quickly through the company’s official website. Prices are the same as taxiing from the designated Taxi waiting areas.

Taxiplon

Another well-known taxi app in Athens is Taxiplon. With 1.140 cars operating in Attica and the countryside, Taxiplon serves around 10.000 passengers daily. You can book your taxi ride by telephone or via the Taxiplon App.

Operating in Greece since 2012, Taxiplon has been certified with ISO 9001:2015 and earned a place at the Diamonds of the Greek Economy in 2014.

taxiplon app in Athens
Taxiplon is a well-known taxi app in Athens. Courtesy: Gavriil Papadiotis / flickr.com

Uber in Athens

Uber launched in Athens in 2015, 4 years after the company’s foundation, operating UberX, a service that uses professional licensed drivers, and UberTAXI, a service using taxi drivers.

Over the first few years of its operation, Uber attracted 450,000 passengers in Athens.

However, in 2018, after new local regulations related to ride-sharing were voted on, Uber decided to suspend its UberX service in the Greek capital.

UberTAXI still operates though, offering passengers the choice to book a taxi via the Uber App.

Uber taxis are the same yellow taxis you’ll see all over Athens, and the ride price is slightly higher than the one you’d pay for a regular taxi.

So, is there Uber or Lyft in Athens?

No, UberX or Lyft aren’t currently operating in the Greek capital.

uber in Athens
UberTAXI offers passengers the option to book a taxi via the Uber app.
Courtesy: Stock Catalog / flickr.com

Book Taxi Athens

Book Taxi Athens provides private taxi transportation from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Athens city and the Piraeus Port, as well as to popular places in regions around Athens.

Patra Port, Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia, Nafplion, Epidaurus, and Sparta are some of them.

Book Taxi Athens’ vehicle fleet consists of low-cost and premium vehicles for small groups and 7-seat minivans and minibusses for larger groups of 15-20  people.

You can book the vehicle that suits your needs best on the company’s official website by choosing the pickup and drop-off location by the list of available routes.

The list of available routes in Athens includes Athens International Airport and the biggest ports of Athens.

Athens Transfer Services

Athens Transfer Services offers low-cost private transfers in Athens and other parts of Greece. From minibusses, shuttles, and vans to taxis and limousines, Athens Transfer Services’ vehicle fleet has something for all tastes and budgets. If you’re looking for a high-end experience, you can book a luxurious Mercedes taxi or limousine, while if you’re traveling with a large group of friends, colleagues, or family, you can pick among a wide range of minibusses with 9,12,15, and 20 seats.

Athens Taxi
Tours

With over 32 years of taxi travel service in Greece, Athens Taxi Tours guarantees to take you to your destination from Athens International Airport in a safe and comfortable ride. They offer a 24-hour online booking service and air-conditioned, wi-fi-enabled Mercedes-Benz taxis.

Athens Taxi Tours also offers personalized tours and shore excursions in Athens and other places around Greece.

My Athens Transfers

Sedans, vans, limos, mini-buses, and Mercedes Benz vehicles comprise the fleet of My Athens Transfers.

The renowned transfer company organizes tours around Athens and Greece and provides transportation services from and to the airport for one to eight people.

Unlike most countries, Uber and Lyft aren’t common means of private transportation in Athens. Many travelers in the Greek capital face difficulties with finding a trustworthy transfer company or an easy-to-use taxi app.

Taxi Prices in Athens from Athens Airport (ATH)

FROMTODaytime
05:00 – 24:00
Nighttime
00:00 – 05:00
Trip Duration
Athens Airport (ATH)Athens City Center€40€5525 min
Athens Airport (ATH)Acropolis of Athens€40€5525 min
Athens Airport (ATH)Piraeus Port€58€7145 min
Athens Airport (ATH)Rafina Port€53€6220 min
Athens Airport (ATH)Lavrio Port€48€6530 min
Athens Airport (ATH)Glyfada€36€4220 min
Athens Airport (ATH)Alimos Marina€42€5035 min

Approximate Taxi Prices in Athens from Athens City Center

FROMTODaytime
05:00 – 24:00
Nighttime
00:00 – 05:00
Trip Duration
Athens City CenterAthens Airport (ATH)€40€5530 min
Athens City CenterPiraeus Port€13€1618 min
Athens City CenterRafina Port€35€3940 min
Athens City CenterLavrio Port€70€7955 min
Athens City CenterGlyfada€15€2025 min
Athens City CenterAlimos Marina€17€2225 min

Note: *You’ll notice that the price for a taxi fare between the Athens Airport and the city center has a slight difference depending on where you depart. That is because there is a flat taxi fee for the trip from the airport to the city but there’s no flat fee for trips from the city to the airport.

Tips and Suggestions on Taxis and Transfer Services in Athens

Taxis are used all around the world by tourists, but every traveler knows that every place has its own particularities when it comes to how taxis work, how the prices are calculated, and what the best practices are for getting around town by taxi. Here, you’ll find a few useful tips on how taxis in Athens work and some insightful answers to our readers’ most frequently asked questions.

Are taxis expensive in Athens?

Taxis in Athens are relatively cheap compared to other European capitals. In fact, quite a few tourists prefer getting around Athens exclusively by taxi rather than using public transportation. Remember that there is an additional charge for taxi fares during nighttime (24:00-05:00).

How much does a taxi cost in Athens Greece?

There is a base fee of €1.80 for every journey. Apart from that, every taxi fare costs €0.90 per kilometer during the day (from 05:00 to 24:00) and €1.25 per kilometer at night (from 24:00 to 05:00). The average taxi fare for a trip within the city center is approximately 7 euros. You can easily find a taxi in Athens around the clock.

How much is a taxi from Athens airport to the city center?

A taxi trip from the airport of Athens (ATH) to the city center costs exactly 40 euros. There is a flat fee for taxi fares between the airport and downtown Athens that also includes all the additional fees you normally pay like the luggage fee and the highway tolls.

How much is a taxi from Piraeus to Athens Airport?

A taxi trip from Piraeus Port to the city center of Athens costs 58 € during the daytime (from 05:00 to 24:00) and 71€ during the nighttime (from 24:00 to 05:00). The fee is fixed and it includes all additional charges like VAT, the luggage fee, road tolls, etc.

How do I get a taxi in Athens, Greece?

The most common way to get a taxi in Athens is to walk on a main street in the city center and hail a driver the same way you would in any other place. However, we definitely recommend using one of the companies or apps listed above for guaranteed excellent service.

Can I use a credit card for taxis in Athens, Greece?

All taxis accept cards by law. Unfortunately, some taxi drivers prefer cash and may tell you they don’t. Before entering, let the driver know you only have a card and no cash; it usually solves the problem. Nevertheless, most of the taxi transfer companies and apps listed in this article allow payments by credit card.

Are taxis safe in Athens?

Taxis in Athens are, in general, very safe. However, there have been cases where taxi drivers attempted to charge tourists higher fees for trips around the city. We strongly recommend using a taxi service company or app from the ones mentioned above to avoid finding yourself in that situation.

Is Uber banned in Greece?

Uber suspended its operations in Athens, Greece circa 2018 after new legislation that called for stricter regulation of taxi services and taxi apps was approved by local authorities.

Getting around Athens by taxi has always been popular, though taxi services have proved to be somewhat problematic.

Luckily for tourists, during the past few years, more and more transfer service companies and taxi apps have appeared, making it much easier and safer for guests to enjoy the city.

Check here some transportation services we have already tried for you.

If you want to avoid means of public transportation or find an easy way to get to the city from Athens International Airport, this list with the best transfer companies and taxi services will definitely come in handy.

A Quick Reminder:

Remember that Athens By Locals is here to guide you with planning the perfect trip to Athens and help you every step along the way. If you didn’t found what you’re looking for, or need any recommendations about your trip to Athens, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to help you. Please be as more detailed as possible regarding your subject so as to help you better.

If you like what you read please scroll down at the end of this page and subscribe to Athens By Locals so next time to receive more articles like this straight forward to your email. Join us on Facebook for comments, photos, and other fun stuff. If you enjoy this article please share it with your friends on Facebook.

Athens By Locals
Athens By Locals

THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN/EDITED BY A TEAM MEMBER OF ATHENS BY LOCALS

Copyright © 2024 Athens By Locals © All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.
Images owned by Athens By Locals. Image Banks or Companies promoted.