Clearing Customs in Athens airport and transport to hotel

It is fairly unpredictable as a flight can be delayed or a line can be long--you could give your flight info, and they can monitor.
But the taxi stand was a breeze--we used regular taxis in Athens and had fine experiences.

You will only have a passport check. As for customs control, you go through the “Nothing to Declare” gate, that’s it.

Non-professional private taxi drivers are banned in Greece. You can use Uber but it will be a professional taxi (the yellow cars) which uses the application.

The flat rate to the city center with a conventional taxi is €45 from 5 a.m. to midnight.

I never needed to use Uber in Greece, it's just as simple and cheaper to take a taxi without using an app as long as the driver doesn't try to rip you off.
So make it clear that you know the price of €45, this rate is displayed at the airport taxi stand, it includes baggage and tolls.

You can also pre-book a taxi with for example Welcome Pickups

https://www.welcomepickups.com/athens/

You will know the price in advance (just a little more expensive than the flat rate), the driver speaks English and will wait for you at the exit with a sign with your name on it. He (she) will also know your flight number.

The other options to the city center are the metro (€9) or the X95 bus (€5.50).

There is really no such thing as "c ustoms" that is a misnomer, you just walk under a sign that says "nothing to declare" ... what you really mean is "clearing passport control" ... there are 2 or 3 lines, showing Passport to an official, takes about 30 minutes when busy due to 3 big jets landing at once, much less time when not busy. Shluld be the latter inmid-september. Usually you arrive at baggage claim just about the time your planes bags are circlilng on the carousel, so good timing.

I've used Welcome Pickups a couple of times in Athens. Both were excellent. Drivers polite and English speaking.

Just for clearance sake.....while in most cases customs is just a walk through the "Nothing to Declare" line, they can stop you if they want to. But you would have to throw up lots of red flags.

Thanks all, I always mix up passport control and customs. It sounds like it will be not too difficult. :)

We just returned from Greece,airport taxi is the way to go

I still don’t understand the need to taxi everywhere. Take the metro.

Thanks all, I am sure it will work out. Maybe a game time decision, can't wait to get there.

I still don’t understand the need to taxi everywhere. Take the metro.

I use public transport at many times, but when coming off 24 hours of travel, i am just done. Often you'll need a taxi anyway after a metro stop, and on no sleep and with luggage, sometimes you just need the help. I am happy to support taxi drivers.

@valdelfia-when I arrive in Europe, whether Milan, Athens or Rome, it’s usually at the end of 28-30 hours of travel because we have to take a ferry, then a bus, then our flight, which always has a connection because we fly out of Boston (worst airport in the USA) and then layovers l, delays etc. Last year when we arrived in Linate it was after a 7 hour delay at Keflavik, overnight, and then another delay on the tarmac and then a further delay after landing. That was the longest in years. Taking into account time zones it was 39 hours total. This year was only 25 hours after we landed at Malpensa and we were out in 15 minutes thanks to our baggage coming out first and the airport being empty. I still don’t mind using the metro after all that. I’d rather not pay €45 for taxi after all the nickle and dime stuff the airlines pull.

I commend you, but we'll just have to agree--different strokes for different folks! I can see making an ethical choice of public transport, but to save a few bucks, no way! (lol)