Late Night Arrival in Athens

After Midnight your options will be the X95 airport bus to Syntagma Square for €6pp or a taxi for €50. Check their website or contact any hotel you're considering about late arrivals. Most have a 24-hour reception desk but you need to be sure.

Agree with Lee on transportation.

Your best bet is to reserve a room ahead of time to make sure you have something and also to make sure someone will be there to let you in. Many accommodations have 24/7 reception but others don't.

Another option would be to stay at the Sofitel, right across from the terminal. It’s pricey; but if you can manage it for a night, it’s the most convenient possibility.

I agree that you should book a hotel in advance. I wouldn't find it particularly enjoyable to start looking for a hotel at 1 or 2 a.m. at night.

And you should absolutely make sure the hotel staff understands that you will be arriving so late. Not sure about Greece, but in many countries you have to check in until a certain time (like 6 or 8 p.m.) or they may give your room to someone else, believing that you're a no-show. They won't do that if you have notified them in advance of your late arrival.

I used Welcome Pickups in Athens. They were only a few Euros more than a cab, but they are waiting at the international door when you arrive with your name. No hassle at that hour. Also, my hotel had a link through the hotel website so, I assume, the hotel would not forget you are arriving late. Always make sure the hotel knows you will be a late arrival. However, I traveled there solo so wanted convenience as well. That being said, I'm all for the Sofitel at the airport that first late night.

MRSWIRTH:
You never mentioned how long you'll be staying in Athens. That can make a big difference on where to stay. If it's just for one night then it may be more convenient staying close to the airport. But if it's two or more nights then I would recommend Central Athens in or around Monistiraki Square, Syntagma Square or Plaka Area.

There are many options on where to stay in Central Athens, many have 24/7 reception so it shouldn't be a problem if you are arriving late, get a taxi to Central Athens then check in.

You never mentioned how long you'll be staying in Athens. That can
make a big difference on where to stay.

Absolutely, good point. If you have to catch a connecting flight the next morning, there is really no point in going all the way downtown in a one hour taxi ride, and back again the next morning. That is only worthwhile if you are actually going to spend some time in Athens.

An option close to airport/ ***shuttle 24/7 free to hotel and also back to airport in morning/ breakfast included $70 per couple at APT. Tina on booking.com Then in the morning fly to island or take bus from airport to port for a ferry ~~hope this helps!

So, we are flying out the next night (Friday) at 7:15 pm. The only thing we are really interested in doing in Athens is visiting the Acropolis. So we are thinking we will want a hotel as close as possible to that, rather than close to the airport. On that topic, also wondering about what time we should get to the airport for an international flight (heading for London). Is 2 hours enough?

If you are set on getting a hotel in the city, I can recommend Welcome Pickups, as another poster did. My recollection is that they weren’t actually more expensive than a taxi. (You can check that on-line.) The driver was prompt courteous, and friendly, and spoke excellent English. The vehicle was very clean. After the drive in from the airport, I was so impressed, I booked our return on the spot. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them, if I ever go back to Athens.

What time frame does the airline recommend?

That might be sufficient, but depending how many other flights to non-Schengen destinations are departing around the same time could affect you wait time in passport control lines. Personally, I would give myself more time.

My only experience with ATH was flights from/to Rome in early afternoon. Security was efficient, but I didnt have the extra task of 'exit' processing.

You're flying out of Athens on Friday at 7:15 pm? Let's count that backwards:

Assuming two hours is enough (I am with Joe on this: it may be sufficient, but I'd give myself more time - rather wait at the gate an hour than risk missing my plane), you would have to leave from downtown at approximately 4 p.m. Which in turn means that your taxi might get right into the worst part of rush hour.

The roads of Athens are in a constant state of rush hour, but you might want to check with your hotel and the taxi company how long it will realistically take you to get to the airport on a Friday afternoon.

Mrswirth-If you take the Metro to the airport you will avoid delays from heavy traffic. It takes 45 minutes regardless of what's going on in the streets. Catch it at the Monastiraki or Syntagma stations.