Athens airport to city

https://athens-international-airport.com/airport-taxi/

I, along with many people on this forum, have used Welcome Pickups for airport transfers. Same price as a taxi but they meet you as you exit customs. Clean cars, English speaking drivers, very reliable.

It will actually be a taxi but you pay online.

BTW, there is a flat rate for a taxi from Athens airport to the center of the city. It's 40 Euros.

€55 instead of €40 (the official flat rate) isn't really in "a little bit more."

There are dozens of taxis waiting at the airport and taxi fares start at the airport, not in the city center!

Not to mention the ridiculous "private transfer" argument, all taxis are private transfers. Non-private transfers are the bus or the metro.

I used Welcome Pickups on Friday and their system has changed slightly. You now need to message or ring when you are in the arrivals hall and they come in to collect you in about five minutes. Apparently this is a response to the airport raising the short term term parking fees immediately in front of the airport.

There were still people with boards, presumably from other companies, in the hall. I imagine they will eventually follow Welcome or raise their fees.

This tips me towards just going to the rank in future. It takes away a lot of the advantage of booking on line.

Why do people here always recommend taxis or private transfers instead of suggesting the metro to Athens center? It’s so much easier, and cheaper, and really takes only about 30-45 minutes. Also, you’re not contributing to the greenhouse gas emissions as well. We’re not spring chickens anymore and yet we do it every time we go to Athens.

To add to Alan's post,

Because there are new paid access rules for vehicles that drop off and pick up passengers and stay more than 10 minutes (more than 10 minutes is charged), pre-booked taxis are parked and wait in free areas next to short-term parking. This is why they need to be notified of your arrival before picking you up.

I also totally agree with jonrossjan regarding the metro or the bus. But it also depends on where you want to go in Athens. I can understand that sometimes a taxi is more convenient after a long flight when you're unfamiliar with the city and have luggage to carry.

I also agree that the metro is often the best option and I use it regularly. It’s a bit misleading though to say it only takes 35-40 minutes. That’s the journey time but you do have to get across to the station, buy a ticket, and wait for the train.

As Jolui says it also depends whether you want to be somewhere close to the line. Not justifying myself, but as an example, on Friday I was in a rush to get to a friend’s party in Kypselli. The taxi was the most sensible option.

Jonrossjan, we are very happy to use metros and other public transport when we travel.

Why we don't like doing it from the airport though is that flying from Australia, on our first visit to Athens, we are generally not terribly "with it" after 24 hours of flights and transits through Dubai.

Trying to manage suitcase on a strange metro system in a strange city is to me a high risk start to a holiday.

Hence why we, and obviously others, prefer a transfer. Taxis from a rank are ok too, but there are so many stories of taxi drivers scamming you that again in a strange city it is much easier to have a pre-booked trip with a fixed price even though it might be more.

Once we get there and dump the luggage we will be very happy to catch the metro, quite likely when we return to the airport.

Because, jonrossjan.....

Why not use the metro? Because I'm not dragging my luggage on to the metro....off the metro.... up stairs or escalator...and then dragging it down streets like a homeless vagabond, sweating in the Greek heat trying to find a hotel after at least 14 hours in airports and an overnight flight. It's like paddling a canoe across the Atlantic to save the greenhouse gas while watching the hundreds of jumbo jets zooming over me. And the hundreds of ships and ferries. And the thousands of factories. And the list continues.
Besides, it's Europe, most cars are either hybrid or electric.

Transport opotions for 3, from Airport to Central Athens:

• Taxi for €43 for 3 people (mandated flat rate, but sometimes Taxi drivers try to con you out of more)
• Car Service for same rate for 3 (pay by CC in advance; all drivers fluent in English).

• Metro, €9 x 3 = 27 or seniors €6 x 3 = 18,
• KTEL express bus X95 €6 x3 = 18 or seniors €3 x 3 = €9

Factors to consider =

• car/taxi easiest if you have bulky luggage (as many cruisers do) or have mobility issues, or hotel isn't near Syntagma Square.

• Metro to Syntagma saves some €€ but cars are VERY crowded by time you reach that stop, and in struggle to get out before doors close, you are vulnerable to pickpockets. Also you must take crowded escaltors to open Plaza then ramp up to sidewalk.

• KTEL X95 bus has advantages, IF your hotel is withn a few blocks of Syntagma. You board from platform 10 feet outside airport door. Ride is relaxing, about same amount of time as metro, you see city as you ride, NO pickpockets; and luggage right inside bus in central "pen.". Ends at Syntagma right by curb, no stairs/escalators or rush to get off. For a single Senior, its the way to go..