Arriving at Athens International Airport
Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" (ATH) is the main gateway to Greece, and arrivals here are refreshingly simple. The airport operates from a single Main Terminal, so every arriving passenger follows the same route — there is no inter-terminal confusion. From the moment your plane lands to the point where you board a train, bus or taxi, the walk is short and clearly signposted.
The Arrivals Process: Step by Step
After leaving the aircraft, passengers follow a standard sequence:
1. Passport control. Travellers arriving from outside the Schengen Area pass through passport control, located in the Extra-Schengen arrivals zone. Passengers on intra-Schengen flights skip this step entirely and proceed straight to baggage.
2. Baggage reclaim. The reclaim hall sits on the Arrivals level. Check the information screens for your carousel number; bags from long-haul flights typically take 15–25 minutes to appear.
3. Customs. The final step is the green ("nothing to declare") and red customs channels. Most visitors walk straight through the green lane into the public Arrivals Hall.
Services in the Arrivals Hall
The Arrivals level is equipped with everything you need right after landing: ATMs and currency exchange, car rental desks, cafés and shops, pharmacies, and a staffed information desk that doubles as a reliable meeting point. Travellers who want mobile data immediately can buy a local SIM here, though arranging an eSIM before departure is often cheaper.
Getting from Arrivals into Athens
The major transport options are all a short walk from the Arrivals Hall:
Train and metro. The airport railway station is on the Departures level, a 3–5 minute walk from arrivals across a pedestrian overpass. Metro Line 3 (Blue Line) runs directly into central Athens for a €9 single ticket, and the same ticket covers a transfer within 90 minutes. For Larissis station and Piraeus port, take the Athens airport suburban railway (Proastiakos).
Taxis. Taxi ranks sit directly outside the Arrivals Hall, with fixed-fare zones into the city centre — the simplest choice with luggage or late at night. See our Athens airport taxi guide for current fares.
Buses. Express airport bus lines connect the airport with central squares and Piraeus around the clock — a budget alternative when trains are not running. Details on the airport bus and shuttle page.
Pickup by car. If someone is collecting you, the Short-Term P1/P2 car park is a 2-minute walk from the terminal and offers a free 20-minute window — ideal for a quick pickup. See Athens airport parking for rates.
Tips for a Smooth Arrival
Late-night landing? Confirm the last train before you fly; after rail service ends, taxis and night buses are the fallback. Meeting someone? Agree on a fixed point such as the information desk rather than "near the doors". Heading to an island? The Proastiakos to Piraeus (about 60 minutes) saves a city transfer. Knowing the airport's terminal layout in advance also helps you orient quickly once you land.
With one terminal, a quick passport-baggage-customs flow, and train, taxi and bus options all within a few minutes of the hall, arriving at Athens Airport is about as painless as a major European hub gets.
Flying out of Athens instead? Check the Athens Airport departures schedule for live flight status, check-in counters and gate information.
Industrial action in Greece usually affects ground transport more than flights themselves; our overview of Athens Airport during a strike explains how arrivals, metro and taxis behave on strike days.