X95 Bus

Dave in my 12 Greece trips I've done Metro, Taxi AND the x95 .... and can speak to experience with each:

• TAXI - with groups of 3-4, the taxi's €38 daytime flat-rate to hotels within the "flat-rate ring" - https://www.stigmap.gr/daktylios-athinon-xartis.php - is really great because it goes right to the door of hotel. You can even pre-order a taxi for same flat rate with an outfit like https://www.welcomepickups.com or several others. If your ride would end after Midnight, way more = €55-60? If you are on your own, public transport is the budgeteer's option.

• METRO - very little faster than bus, costs more, and the pickpocket risk makes you tense the entire ride; tho the train is empty at the airport, it's very crowded by the time one reaches Syntagma Square, and in the struggle to manhandle your luggage out the doors before they close, people are vulnerable to being jostled and bumped (and lose valuables) by organized theft-experts (BTW, Greeks are not the problem -- a news story about roundup of a pickpocket ring of 70, 69 were Albanians). Metro runs from ?5 AM until midnight (start times). In my opinion Metro for a solo traveler would only be if your hotel was very Far from Syntagma... with a Metro, you could change trains to get to a closer stop. However, that's for a seasoned subwayer like me (Lived in NYC 35 years), not for a "public-transit virgin" as so many American newcomers to Greece are. Even so, one could take the X95 to Syntagma & do a €5-8 taxi fare from there to an farther hotel.

•X95 - I've Answered this one so often I'm just going to cut-and-paste the info:
A handy alternative --especially if you are tired from a long transatlantic journey (perhaps with 2 plane changes) -- is right outside the airport building at the curb --express bus, X95. Tickets - actually electronic cards - are €6at a nearby counter (if late at night you buy on the bus). You validate electronically as you enter bus. Departures every 20-30 mins, 24/7. Timetable sign at airport and at terminal corner at Syntagma Square.

After bus leaves the airport, nobody can get on and Very limited stops, at 2 highway hotels (I note these are chiefly for airline workers) -- thus, no pickpockets (they want crowded cars where they can steal and quickly leave). Your big bags are piled in a central "pen" inside the bus, right by the seats. You do not have to stay alert for "your stop" because the bus ENDS at Syntagma Square ... so if you are tired, u can drowse during the 45-55 minutes it takes. At Syntagma, no rush to get off before doors close, as in Metro, take your time & you step right onto the sidewalk.

Metro may be 10-15 minutes faster, but not really, because (1) U have to cross street from Airport building, up escalator to platform & if u miss one, stand for 30 minutes. (2) at Syntagma, theres a rush to detrain, and that of course is when Pickpockets strike! (3) detraining from Metro you need to walk/climb from underground, whereas bus is right at the curb (4) in Rush hour, bus is slower, but at night, no traffic, time is almost the same. As said, have done Metro, but as solo traveler, happiest with X95.

We took the X-95 bus but it wasn’t what we planned to do. We had planned to take the metro but there was a strike when we arrived at the airport.

It was easy to buy tickets and find where to get on. It was very crowded and didn’t have seats for half of the ride because of the metro strike I am sure.

It drops you off in Syntagma square which wasn’t convenient for us as we were staying south of the Acropolis. It was blistery hot and we then took a cab to our place.

If you are close to syntagma square then it works well (without metro strike).

Does anyone have any input on X95 bus from Syntagma square to the airport? Where do you pick it up and do you buy tickets on the bus?

The bus stop is at the TOP of RH street (Othonos) on Syntagmas, just where it meets the avenue at top of Square (Amalias). That is to say Hotel BRetagne is Top on LH side, as you face toward Parliament building. There is a kiosk right where the bus stops; you get your €6 ticket there (BTW, sr citizens get 1/2 price with proof of age). There's a stanchion sign right there with the timetable... I believe i mentioned this in my previous post.

I have never taken the bus from or to the airport for central Athens. I've taken the taxi once only because there was a strike. It was quick, easy, & convenient but the cost will be either 38 euros or 55 euros depending on time of day. If there are two or more in your party then it may be the best since the cost per rider goes down.

I am a seasoned traveler to Greece and always take the Metro. I know where to go and where to get off and am on guard against pick pocketers. I stay very close to Monistiraki Sq. where there is a depot and it's less than 10 minutes to my hotel. It works perfectly for me but may be a bit intimidating for first-timers. There'll be a good number of tourists but most riders are Greeks and for the most part will be polite and courteous. Yes, there is the pick pocket issue and the train gets crowded by the time you get to central Athens. The cost is 10 euros or 5 euros for seniors.

Some speak highly of the bus for it's safety and cost, but unless you are staying close to Syntagma Square you'll have to walk to your accommodations with luggage and/or bags and the streets are filled with traffic and lots of pedestrians like most anywhere in Athens. You could take a taxi if you are further away but the cost starts to increase. If you are staying close to Syntagma then the bus would be a great option.

However, I would always consider Travelerjan's recommendations. It depends on what works best for you.

Thanks to all for the information and advice.....

I took this bus on my Best of Athens trip in October 2018. We were almost to Syntagma when the driver pulled over and ordered everyone to get off the bus. I found out later that the local streets in Athens were closed due to a Susan G. Komen race. So, after that, I think I'll stick with taking the Metro wherever I go.

Doesn't make sense to X out the X95 because ONE day in a year there was a race that closed Central Athens streets. That's like saying because the Boston Marathon closes off streets in central boston, one can never take anything but the "T". If there is any concern about something that would result in street closure, it's very simple to google "Athens Special Street Closures on (date)" and you would get information. The previous poster lets 1 instance stand for all.

Well, we planned on the metro and then there was a strike so couldn’t take it. I was very glad I knew the number of the bus!!

Just tagging on to narrow down options: Janet, are you suggesting that a family of 4 would be better served with a taxi (daytime - 5pm) to central Athens than the X95?

Thanks so much!

Well, Taxi for 4 people & luggage for €38 = €9.5 each , which would go directly to the door of your hotel, and you could relax in a Mercedes sedan, vs. the X95 (4 x €6 = €24) and you're in bus seats (albeit much more comfortable than most US city busses)... yes, in a party of 4, personally I'd pay the extra €3.50 for my share. As a solo traveler, the consideration would be different.

Hi! You can find taxis everywhere but I'm using the Taxi beat app when I'm in Athens, as I don't speak greek it's easier for me to write the final localization, and I noticed that it's a little less expensive than when I hire a taxi in the street!