How busy is the Athens airport (ATH)? Looks like it is about a 35 min taxi ride from our hotel and also wonder about traffic on a Sunday morning. Do you think we need to arrive a full three hours prior to our flight? We will be flying back to the states.
Thanks!
That is always a subject of discussion. Is it direct flight to US or a connect flight somewhere else. If it is direct you will have to clear exit immigration. That is another line to stand in and slow you down. And the downside risk is - what happens if you misjudge and miss the flight? Is that worth saving an hour or so because I think you want to cut it to an hour and a half.
If you can take the metro you might save some money on the taxi ride. It's very easy to use. We did allow 3 hours before the flight but as usual, ended up with a lot of down time at the airport. But, it's always the risk you take. I'd rather get there early and not worry about it. The airport was crowded during our AM time there.
The Metro to the airport from Central Athens (Syntagma or Monastiraki Squares) is an excellent and efficient money saver as long as your flight doesn't leave too early. The first run of the morning leaves downtown around 5:30. It takes 45 minutes. Give yourselves 2 hours for check-in, suggesting your flight out would need to depart sometime after 8:30. That's more than enough time.
Hi Susan! I'm in Athens now, enjoying the sights before the RS tour begins this evening. When I arrived on Thursday around 9 am at ATH, the airport seemed pretty small - which meant only a couple hundred meters from the gate to immigration/customs and a shorter walk to baggage claim, then another couple hundred meters to the sky bridge to the metro.
Is this the trip with Dad? If there are 3 of you, a taxi won't cost much more than the metro, even with the senior discount for Dad (regular 10E, seniors 5E), so might as well take the taxi, even though the metro is easy - with escalators and elevators from platforms up to street level.
I'm flying out of ATH in 2 weeks. Send me a reminder by PM and I'll let you know what the departure experience was like . . 11.50 departure on a Sunday.
Thanks everyone! We won't take the metro on this trip, but if I go back we'll keep that as our plan.
Yes, Chani, this is the trip with dear old almost 92 year old dad, so we will take a taxi. I just got an email from our hotel, Herodion Hotel Athens, asking if we wanted a transfer to the airport. Our trip isn't until July/Aug so I have plenty of time. I was reading that a taxi is about 38 Euro and the hotel is offering 43 Euro for three people. Our flight doesn't leave until 12:15 and goes to Newark, then 3 hours later onto DC.
I am always the one who gets to the airport a full 3 hours in advance just to sit a long time and watch all the people on my flight arrive much later. So, I was thinking maybe if we left at around 9am from our hotel that might be fine? But, I don't want assume the ride will go off without a hitch, or that we might get stuck in traffic, but it would be nice to have a leisurely morning before our long flight home.
Any suggestion on booking ahead with the hotel or just call a taxi that morning?
Taxi fare is the same whether 1 passenger or 4, so that's not a discount. No need to pay €5 extra for pre-booking ... just ask the desk to get a taxi for 9 when u go in for breakfast. And if you want to make your morning even more relaxed, do yur check-out routine before going up to bed the night before. The trip is about 45 minutes from your location except somewhat more in rush hour... and Sunday morning is NOT rush hour even in High Season (in fact, in July-August, less traffic every day because many Athenians are away).
Ok, that sounds like a good plan! That's what I'll do. Thank you!
