Athens Airport To Acropolis: A Metro Ride Away

can you take the metro from athens airport to acropolis

Athens International Airport, also known as Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, is located about 33 kilometres from the city centre of Athens and the Acropolis. The Acropolis is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Athens, attracting millions of visitors each year. Fortunately, there are several ways to get from the airport to the Acropolis, including by metro, bus, taxi, or private transfer. This paragraph will focus on the metro option.

Characteristics Values
Distance between Athens airport and Acropolis 33-35 km
Travel options Metro, bus, taxi, private transfer
Metro travel time 40 minutes to 1 hour
Metro frequency Every 36 minutes, from 6:10 a.m. to 11:34 p.m.
Metro ticket price €9 one-way, €16 return, €20 3-day pass
Metro lines Blue line from the airport to Syntagma, then change to the red line to Elliniko
Bus options X95 bus to Syntagma Square, then walk or take a taxi
Bus travel time Up to 1 hour, depending on traffic
Bus frequency Every 20 minutes during the day
Bus ticket price €6
Taxi price €40 during the day, €50-€55 at night
Private transfer price €55

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The metro route from Athens Airport to Acropolis

The Athens metro system has three lines: blue, red, and green. To get to the Acropolis, you must first take the blue line from the airport and then change to the red line at Syntagma station. At Syntagma, you can either walk to the Acropolis or take the metro one stop to the Acropolis station. The walk from Syntagma to the Acropolis takes around 20 minutes and takes you through the historic streets of Old Plaka and the cobbled boulevard of Dionysiou Areopagitou.

The whole trip from the airport to the Acropolis station should not take longer than 60 minutes. The metro is a good option if your hotel is close to a metro station and you want to avoid traffic. However, if you are travelling in a group, a private transfer or taxi service may be a better option, as it will be more comfortable and convenient.

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Ticket prices and where to buy them

The metro station at Athens Airport is just outside the main terminal building. You can purchase your metro ticket from a vending machine that accepts both cards and cash. The ticket costs €9 for a one-way journey to central Athens and is valid for 90 minutes. You can also purchase a return ticket, valid for 30 days, for €16, or a 3-day pass for €20.

Make sure to validate your ticket before getting on the metro as there are inspections onboard, and you don't want to be fined! To get from Athens Airport to the Acropolis, you must first take the blue line from the airport and then change at Syntagma Station for the red line to Elliniko. After one stop on the red line, you will arrive at the Acropolis.

If you would prefer to take the bus, the X95 service costs €6 and takes you to Syntagma Station, from where the Acropolis is a 1-1.5km walk. You can also take a taxi from the airport to the Acropolis, which costs €50 during the day and €55 at night.

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How long the journey takes

The journey from Athens airport to the Acropolis takes around one hour by metro. The metro station is just outside the main terminal building. You must follow the signs for 'trains' and cross the road up the escalators to reach the central metro station. The Athens metro system has three lines: blue, red, and green. To get from the airport to the Acropolis, you must first take the blue line from the airport, then change to the red line at Syntagma station, and head to Elliniko. After one stop, you will arrive at the Acropolis. The metro services run every 36 minutes, from 6:10 a.m. to 11:34 p.m. or 23:34.

The metro is a good option if your hotel is close to a station and you want to avoid traffic. However, it is not a direct route and requires a change. Additionally, there have been reports of pickpockets on this route, so caution is advised, especially when travelling with children and luggage.

If you prefer a more scenic route, you can opt to walk from Syntagma to the Acropolis, which takes approximately 20 minutes. Along the way, you can explore the historic streets of Old Plaka, the cobbled boulevard of Dionysiou Areopagitou, and the quirky district of Koukaki.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi or a private transfer. The taxi fare is set by the Greek government and costs €50 during the day and €55 at night (from midnight to 5:00 a.m.). Private transfers can be booked in advance, and the cost is known upfront, which helps to avoid potential scams. The journey by taxi or private transfer takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

Another option is to take the X95 bus, which takes around 60 minutes or longer. This bus departs from the airport and terminates at Syntagma Square, about 1 to 1.5 kilometres from the Acropolis.

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Alternative transport options

There are several alternative transport options to get from Athens Airport to the Acropolis, including bus, taxi, and private transfer.

The X95 bus service takes you directly into the city centre to Syntagma Square, from where the Acropolis is around a 1.5-kilometre walk. The bus takes up to an hour, depending on traffic, and runs every 20 minutes during the day. Tickets cost €5.50-€6.00 and can be purchased with cash or card.

Taxis are readily available at Athens Airport and typically cost €40-€50 during the day and €45-€60 at night. You can also pre-book a taxi online, which may work out cheaper for larger groups.

Private transfers are also available and can be booked in advance. These typically offer a chauffeur-driven vehicle and a personalised service.

If you are driving yourself, the journey from Athens Airport to the Acropolis via Attiki Odos takes around 45 minutes. There are several parking options near the Acropolis, including metered parking on the street and parking garages in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

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Attractions near Acropolis

The Acropolis is an ancient citadel located on the rocky hills of Athens, and is the city's most iconic attraction. The best time to visit is in spring or autumn when the weather is warm but not too hot, and there are fewer crowds. The Parthenon is the most famous Acropolis attraction, but there are several other key sites to see.

After entering through the main gate, you will pass the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a theatre named after Herodes Atticus of Marathon, who built it in memory of his wife Regilla in AD 161. Next, you will walk through the Beulé Gate and reach the Propylaia. From the Propylaia, you can see the Parthenon to your right and the Erechtheion complex to your left, with the statues of the Porch of the Caryatids. The Parthenon was constructed under Pericles between 448 and 432 BC and was the grandest temple ever built on the sacred hill. The Erechtheion, constructed between 421 and 405 BC, was the most sacred temple to the ancient Athenians, dedicated to three deities: Athena, a mythical king named Erechtheus, and Poseidon.

Below the Acropolis hill, about 300 metres away, is the Acropolis Museum, which houses one of Athens' most valuable collections of ancient Greek art. The museum contains around 4,000 priceless objects, most of which were uncovered at the Acropolis archaeological site. The collection spans the Archaic Period (7th to 5th century BC) and the Classical Period (5th to 2nd century BC). The museum has a gift shop and a bookstore offering souvenirs and books inspired by the museum's exhibits. There is also a reading lounge with books about the Acropolis and ancient Greece, and a multimedia centre with touch screens that tell the stories of the Acropolis's most significant artefacts.

Other attractions near the Acropolis include the charming Plaka district, one of Athens' oldest residential areas, with cobblestone alleyways, neoclassical houses, tiny churches, and quirky shops. There is also the Roman Agora with its Tower of the Winds, and the Stoa of Eumenes, which served as a promenade and shelter from bad weather for theatregoers. For those interested in markets, there is the Central Market Athens and the Monastiraki Flea Market.

Frequently asked questions

The distance from Athens airport to the Acropolis is about 35 kilometres or 20 miles.

A one-way ticket to central Athens costs 9 euros and is valid for 90 minutes. The cost of a return ticket, valid for 30 days, is 16 euros. There is also a 3-day pass, which costs 20 euros.

The journey from Athens airport to the Acropolis will take around one hour. The metro service runs every 36 minutes, from 6:10 a.m. to 23:34 p.m.

From Athens Airport, you need to take the blue line and then change to the red line at Syntagma Station. From there, it is one stop to the Acropolis.

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