🚇 The basics — Line 3 (the Blue Line)
Athens Airport is the eastern terminus of Metro Line 3 (the blue line). One direct service runs every 30 minutes (every 36 minutes in the early morning and late evening) between the airport and the central station of Doukissis Plakentias, then continues through the city to Syntagma, Monastiraki and onward to Piraeus. Total journey time airport → Syntagma is about 40 minutes; airport → Monastiraki adds 2 minutes; airport → Piraeus is about 60 minutes.
💶 The fare
€9
Single ticket airport → city. Valid 90 minutes including unlimited transfers to bus, trolley, tram.
€18
Return ticket airport ↔ city. Valid 30 days; the second leg can be used any time within that window.
€16
Group ticket for 2 people, single trip. €23 for 3 people. Useful for couples / small families.
€4.10
Standard 24-hour pass — does NOT cover the airport metro. Make sure you buy the airport-specific ticket.
The standard €1.20 city single does NOT cover the airport — the airport segment is a premium fare zone. Always buy specifically the "airport" ticket.
🕐 Operating hours
Trains operate 06:30 to 23:30 in both directions, with the first airport-bound train leaving Monastiraki around 05:30 and the last train from the airport departing around 23:30. Outside these hours, the X95 24/7 bus is the alternative (€6, ~75 minutes to Syntagma).
Late-night arrival reality check
If you land after 23:00, do the maths: by the time you clear passport control and pick up bags it'll be 23:40+, and the last metro is gone. Options at that hour:
- Flat-rate taxi €55 (00:00–05:00 night rate) — fastest, predictable.
- X95 bus €6 — runs all night, 75–90 min to Syntagma. (See buses and trolleys guide.)
- Pre-booked transfer €45–€75 (See private transfer guide.)
🎫 How to buy the ticket
- Take the escalator up from baggage claim to the airport's main entrance hall. Follow signs for "TRAINS / METRO".
- Cross the bridge to the Metro/Suburban Rail station (about a 4-minute walk above ground).
- Buy your ticket at a vending machine or ticket window. Machines accept coins, notes and cards; English interface available. Specifically choose "Airport — Single €9" or "Airport return €18".
- Validate the ticket at the orange gates before going down to the platform. The gate beeps and shows green; if it shows red, ask the agent.
🚆 The journey, station by station
The airport-bound platform shows the next train's departure time on the digital board. Trains are 6-car, well-maintained, air-conditioned, with luggage racks at the end of each car. Major stops on the airport → centre direction:
Airport → Doukissis Plakentias (~25 min)
Above-ground section through eastern Attica suburbs. The line shares track with the Suburban Rail (Proastiakós) here.
Doukissis Plakentias → Cholargos (~5 min)
Train enters the underground proper. From here it's all tunnel.
Megaro Mousikis (concert hall) → Evangelismos (hospital, museums)
Useful stops for Kolonaki and the museum district (Byzantine Museum, War Museum).
Syntagma (parliament, central squares)
Major interchange — change here for Line 2 (red, north–south) to Omonia, Victoria or Akropoli (Acropolis stop).
Monastiraki (Plaka, ancient agora)
Change here for Line 1 (green) to Piraeus or Kifissia. The most scenic central stop.
Piraeus (port for ferries)
Western terminus since 2022. Direct connection to the ferry port.
🔁 Connecting to other lines
From the airport-bound Line 3 train, transfer to:
- Line 2 (red) at Syntagma — for Akropoli (Acropolis), Omonia, Victoria, Larissis main station, Sepolia.
- Line 1 (green) at Monastiraki — for Thiseio, Piraeus, the historic stations toward Kifissia.
- Line 3 to Piraeus — same train continues; just stay aboard.
For Victoria Square specifically, change at Syntagma to Line 2 (red) and ride 3 stops north to Victoria Metro. Total airport → Victoria: about 50–55 minutes including the change.
🧳 Luggage
Each train car has end-of-car luggage racks; for large suitcases, board through the doors closest to these. There's no luggage charge. Avoid the morning rush hour (07:30–09:30) with bulky luggage if possible — trains can be standing-room only on the central segments and a 75-litre case in a packed car is awkward.
🔄 Suburban Rail vs Metro from the airport
The same station also serves the Suburban Rail (Proastiakós), which runs to Larissis main station in central Athens (where it connects to Line 2 metro and to long-distance trains). Same fare (€9), similar journey time (~38 minutes airport → Larissis), runs every 15-30 minutes. Useful if your destination is closer to Larissis station than to Syntagma — or if you're connecting to a Thessaloniki train. (See Proastiakós guide.)
🎯 FAQ
Is the airport metro safe?
Yes — well-monitored, reliably air-conditioned, frequent service. Stations have CCTV and a staffed ticket office at the airport end. The trains run during all the hours when the airport is busy.
Can I use my contactless card?
Contactless tap-to-pay is now active on Athens metro and Suburban Rail. For the airport segment, the contactless tap charges the €9 fare automatically. Useful if you don't want to queue for a paper ticket. Confirm at the gate that it shows green.
What if I'm a senior or student?
Greek seniors (65+) and students get reduced fares on standard tickets but the airport ticket is a flat €9 for everyone. Children under 6 ride free (no ticket required).
What about big groups?
The 2-person and 3-person group tickets save modest amounts but are not a major discount. For 4+ people, the €40 flat-rate taxi often becomes per-person competitive (see flat-rate taxi guide).