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ATH · Athens, Greece · International Hub

Athens International Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for Athens International Airport (ATH), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

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On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 2 terminals
  • Minimum connection time: 50 min domestic, 1 hr 5 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: Follow your airline's check-in deadline
  • To Athens: about 40 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

Athens International Airport has 2 terminals. Transfer system: Underground link between the Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal; passport control to/from non-Schengen. Floors run by sector: 50 domestic, 65 domestic-intl and intl-domestic, 55 intl-intl. MCT applies only to single bookings with through-checked bags. A gate in the Satellite Terminal or a Schengen-border crossing adds time. Bags to a regional Greek airport may need pickup and customs at Athens.

Main Terminal Building

3 airlines: Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines

Gates A1-A27 and B1-B31. Check-in, arrivals and most connections.

Satellite Terminal Building

1 airline: Aegean Airlines

Gates C15-C40. Reached by an underground link from the Main Terminal. Allow extra time if your onward gate is here.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
50 min
Domestic to international
1 hr 5 min
International to domestic
1 hr 5 min
International to international
55 min
Transfer system
Underground link between the Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal; passport control to/from non-Schengen
Airside connected
Not published
Check your connection time at ATH

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at ATH: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at ATH

50min

Comfortable

80+ min

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes the walk between gates. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Flying Aegean both ways?Aegean is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on Aegean?
ConnectionAegeanAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic40'50'-10'
Domestic → International45'65'-20'
International → Domestic45'65'-20'
International → International55'55'0

Aegean's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about ATH? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at ATH vary by time of day and checkpoint. We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by ATH, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

TSA PreCheck
Not available
CLEAR
Not available
Global Entry
Not available

Schengen airport; no US TSA programs. EU Entry/Exit System (EES) fully operational since 10 April 2026 for third-country nationals; passport control may see long waits at peak.

Lounges

1 notable lounge at ATH, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

Aegean Business Lounge

Main Terminal, extra-Schengen and intra-Schengen areas

Aegean / Star Alliance

Access: Business class, Star Alliance Gold, paid day pass

Amenities: Showers, Buffet, Bar

Amenities

6 of 7 core amenities available at ATH: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.

Showers

Available

Premium lounges

Sleep pods

Not available

WiFi

Free (good)

Free wifi

Nursing rooms

Available

Both terminals

Chapel

Available

Airport chapel (Orthodox)

Pet relief areas

Available

Pet relief areas

Dining highlights

Main Terminal: Grab a Greek pita, Mastiha shops

Ground transport to Athens

ATH is about 40 min from downtown Athens by the fastest transit option.

OptionCostTime
Metro Line 3 (Blue)
Subway
Metro Line 3 (Blue) runs from the airport to Syntagma in central Athens in about 40 minutes; airport trains run every 36 minutes every day. Metro airport single ticket 9 EUR (about USD 11), valid for 90 minutes on other OASA services; the two-way ticket is 16 EUR.
$11about 40 min
Suburban Railway (Proastiakos)
Train
Suburban Railway (Magoula - Piraeus - Airport) accepts the same 9 EUR Metro airport ticket (about USD 11).
$11Varies
Express bus X95
Bus
24-hour express bus to Syntagma; single ticket 5.50 EUR (about USD 6) from the airport.
$6about 60 min

Parking

ATH does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. Greece prices in EUR via aia.gr.

Short-term
Varies
Long-term
Varies
Economy
Not published
Valet
Not published

Can I leave ATH during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside ATH. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Athens. Round-trip to the city center is about 1 hr 20 min plus re-screening on return.

City center (Syntagma) is about 40 min by Metro Line 3 (about 60 min by the X95 express bus). 6+ hour layovers can reach the Acropolis; a 4-hour layover or shorter is best spent airside. Non-EU nationals: Schengen entry plus EES biometrics apply if you leave.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Sofitel Athens Airport
    Opposite the Main Terminal
    $$$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at ATH?

We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by Athens International Airport, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at ATH?

ATH requires at least 50 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 65 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. Transfer system: Underground link between the Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal; passport control to/from non-Schengen.

How long does it take to get between terminals at ATH?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for ATH, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave ATH during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside ATH. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 80 minutes plus re-screening. City center (Syntagma) is about 40 min by Metro Line 3 (about 60 min by the X95 express bus). 6+ hour layovers can reach the Acropolis; a 4-hour layover or shorter is best spent airside. Non-EU nationals: Schengen entry plus EES biometrics apply if you leave.

Does ATH have showers?

Yes, ATH has showers at Premium lounges.

Does ATH have sleep pods?

ATH does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.

Is WiFi free at ATH?

Yes. ATH offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free wifi

What is the cheapest way to get from ATH to Athens?

The cheapest option is typically Express bus X95 at $6, taking about 60 minutes. 24-hour express bus to Syntagma; single ticket 5.50 EUR (about USD 6) from the airport.

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at ATH?

ATH does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. Schengen airport; no US TSA programs. EU Entry/Exit System (EES) fully operational since 10 April 2026 for third-country nationals; passport control may see long waits at peak.

Where should I eat at ATH during a layover?

Notable dining at ATH includes Grab a Greek pita (Main Terminal), Mastiha shops (Main Terminal).

How much does parking cost at ATH?

ATH does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. Greece prices in EUR via aia.gr.

Is there a hotel at ATH for overnight layovers?

The closest option is Sofitel Athens Airport (Opposite the Main Terminal, $$$). Budget time for the shuttle or rideshare in your overnight plan.

Which terminal does my airline use at ATH?

ATH has 2 terminals. Major airline assignments: Main Terminal Building: Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines; Satellite Terminal Building: Aegean Airlines. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.

Are there pet relief areas at ATH?

Yes. Pet relief areas.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at ATH?

Yes. Airport chapel (Orthodox).

Compare ATH to other airports

See how ATH ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversATH is workable for 6h+ layoversWith sleep podsSee which airports offer capsule hotels and nap roomsShortest MCTATH dom-to-dom: 50 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 5 min

More on Athens and ATH

Go deeper on connecting through ATH and on visiting Athens.

Airlines operating at ATH

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of ATH.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security and ground transport verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Parking, amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with Athens International Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.