How many airports are there in Athens, Greece?                

Many people that visit Athens, Greece, for the first time are wondering how many airports are in the area. The answer to this question is there is only one airport called Athens International Airport (AIA). Greeks also call it Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH), or just Eleftherios Venizelos airport. 

Where is Athens International Airport located? 

Athens International Airport is located about 35kms outside of Athens, close to a small town named “Spata.” It is the biggest airport in Greece, and one of the busiest in Europe, as it serves national and international flights. 

It has two terminals: the “Main Terminal” and “Satellite Terminal.” 

The Main Terminal consists of two Halls. Hall A serves flights from non-Schengen and non-EU countries. On the contrary, you will find the gates for flights to Schengen and EU countries in Hall B.

The Satellite Terminal is located next to the Main Terminal, is used during peak season only, and serves Schengen flights.

How early should I be at the airport to catch my flight? 

To make sure that you will have enough time to catch your flight, you must be around 1:00- 1:30 hours earlier at the airport for domestic flights and 2:00-2:30 hours earlier for international flights.

But if you plan to spend some time shopping at the airport’s duty-free area or have a meal at one of the restaurants, you should be there earlier. 

Is it a long distance from the airport to the city center?

The Athens International Airport is about 27 km from the city center (the area around Syntagma). You will need about 30 minutes to get there if you decide to take a car or a taxi, 40 minutes by metro and 1 hour or more if you take a bus.

Athens streets get really crowded, especially during the summertime and around holidays, so if you go by car or bus, keep in mind that you might get stuck in traffic and do way more than 30 minutes. If you want to learn more about how to get to Athens International Airport you can read our complete guide.

What if I have a layover? 

There are many things to do if you have to wait many hours for your next flight. You can always read a book, take some rest, answer your emails, have some lunch or dinner, or even go shopping at the airport stores.

If you have a lot of time ahead of you, you can always visit Athens for some city exploration or a little bit of sightseeing? In fact, you can rent a car from Kosmos Car Rental at the airport, to discover the city, or visit Acropolis. Choose the car you like, and it will be waiting for you outside the gate at the arranged time. You can also arrange to drop it off at the airport. If you are worried about not knowing the streets of Athens, you can always ask for a car with a GPS.

Enjoy your amazing time in Athens and during your stop at the airport!