Getting to and from Athens’s airport
Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (locals call it “Spata,” the name of the surrounding area), 20 miles east of downtown, is remarkably easy to reach by metro or taxi. The Athens Metro’s blue line takes you from Syntagma Square or other central locations to an in-airport station; tickets are $9 and must be purchased at a ticket window, not from the machines. A taxi is faster but make sure the driver has his meter on; with the airport fee and extra luggage-handling charges, it should cost about $45 to get to the city center. After midnight, prices increase considerably, so ask your hotel to set up a taxi for you ahead of time.
