Rental car desks at Athens International Airport (ATH) are Car rental desks are located in the arrivals hall on the ground floor, near exits 1-3. The rental car park is a short walk from the terminal in the dedicated Car Rental Parking area.. Major companies include Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt. The fastest transfer to Athens is by Metro (Line 3 Blue) (40 minutes).
Car rental desks are located in the arrivals hall on the ground floor, near exits 1-3. The rental car park is a short walk from the terminal in the dedicated Car Rental Parking area.
Book your rental car at ATH at least 2-3 weeks ahead for the best prices, especially during summer.
Compare prices from all companies at ATH to find the best deal:
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| Transport | Duration | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro (Line 3 Blue) | 40 minutes | EUR 9 | Direct to Syntagma and Monastiraki in central Athens |
| Suburban Rail (Proastiakos) | 45 minutes | EUR 9 | To Larissa central station, connects to national rail network |
| Airport Bus (X95) | 60-90 minutes | EUR 5.50 | 24-hour service to Syntagma Square; X96 goes to Piraeus port |
| Taxi | 40-60 minutes | EUR 40 flat (day) / EUR 55 flat (night) | Official flat rates; traffic can significantly extend journey time |
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, opened in 2001, is Greece's largest airport and the main gateway to the country. Located in Spata, east of Athens, it handles around 30 million passengers per year and serves as the hub for Aegean Airlines.
Renting a car at Athens Airport is the best way to explore mainland Greece at your own pace. The Peloponnese, with its ancient sites at Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Olympia, is just a couple of hours away. The monasteries of Meteora are a 4-hour drive north, and the oracle at Delphi is 2.5 hours west. The road network has improved dramatically, with modern motorways connecting most major destinations.
While a rental car is not recommended for central Athens — where traffic is dense and parking scarce — it becomes invaluable once you leave the capital. The Attiki Odos toll road circles Athens and connects seamlessly to national motorways heading in all directions.
You can take ferries from Piraeus or Rafina to many islands, but most rental companies prohibit taking mainland cars to the islands. You would need to rent a separate vehicle on the island.
Tolls on the Olympia Odos (Athens to Patras) total about EUR 13, and the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway costs approximately EUR 25 in tolls.
Greek motorways are modern and safe. However, rural and mountain roads can be narrow and winding. Greece has one of the higher accident rates in the EU, so drive defensively.
Greece drives on the right side of the road, the same as most of continental Europe.
Country-by-country driving requirements, packing list, and emergency contacts — all in one PDF.
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