Jazmin Li
Athens International Airport offers a range of options to keep travellers entertained and relaxed during layovers. The airport is well-equipped with lounges, restaurants, cafes, shops, and cultural exhibits. For those who wish to venture outside, nearby attractions include local wineries, restaurants, the Attica area, and the Athens underground, which connects to various landmarks in the Greek capital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Lounges | Aegean Business Lounge, Swissport Executive Lounge, Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge, Skyserve Melina Merkouri Lounge, Lufthansa Business Lounge, Goldair CIP Lounges |
| Restaurants | Eat Greek, Bistrot Attica Athens, Ergon Greek Cuisine, Amore, Barbadimos, Mon Kooloor, Koulourades, Burger King, La Pasteria, McDonald's, Starbucks, Kir-Yanni Wine Bar |
| Shopping | Hellenic Duty-Free, Hellenic Gourmet, Apivita, Attica, Ancient Greek Sandals, The Greek Designers Store, Vilebrequin, Sun of a Beach, Panaidis Eyewear Boutique, Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara |
| Attractions | Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition, Acropolis, Archaeological Findings Museum, Parthenon's west frieze, Acropolis Museum Exhibition, Gikas Winery, Domaine Papagiannakos, Eklektikon |
| Hotels | Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel |
| Transport | Athens underground/metro |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Explore the Archaeological Findings Museum and the Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition
- Shop at Hellenic Duty-Free or Hellenic Gourmet for Greek wines
- Eat Greek food at Bistrot Attica Athens or grab a coffee downstairs
- Relax in a lounge, such as the Aegean Business Lounge or Skyserv
- Take the metro into Athens and explore the Acropolis and its museum
Explore the Archaeological Findings Museum and the Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition
Athens International Airport offers a range of attractions for visitors to explore, including the Archaeological Findings Museum and the Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition. These cultural offerings provide valuable insights into Greek history and archaeology, making the airport a unique destination.
The Archaeological Findings Museum, located on level 2 outside security in the main terminal, showcases 172 to 177 ancient artefacts, dating from the Neolithic to the post-Byzantine period. This collection, established in 2003, offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, with exhibits revealing the network of roads in Attica during the 5th and 4th centuries BC and providing insights into the functioning of Athenian democracy. Among the displays are stone tools, coarse pottery, and geometric-style pottery from the 9th and 8th centuries BC, all discovered during the airport's construction.
The Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition, located in the public area before security on the second-floor Observation Deck, is a tribute to the man known as the "maker of modern Greece". This interactive and multimedia exhibition is accessible to all visitors and explores the life and work of the renowned Greek politician. It showcases the role Venizelos played in establishing the first Ministry of Aviation and developing civil aviation in Greece. Through a series of photographs, visitors can learn about Venizelos' personality and political career, making it an informative experience for those passing through the airport.
Both the Archaeological Findings Museum and the Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition offer educational experiences that enhance the airport's appeal. Visitors can explore ancient relics, learn about Greek history, and discover the impact of influential figures like Eleftherios Venizelos, all within the convenient setting of Athens International Airport. These cultural attractions contribute to a well-rounded airport experience, providing travellers with a unique opportunity to engage with Greek culture and history during their layover or while awaiting their flight.
Meat at the Airport: What You Can Bring Through Security
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$29.99 $46.99
$39.99 $49.99
Shop at Hellenic Duty-Free or Hellenic Gourmet for Greek wines
Athens International Airport is a great place to indulge in some retail therapy, with a wide range of duty-free shops, specialty stores, and boutiques.
If you're looking for Greek wines, Hellenic Duty-Free and Hellenic Gourmet are excellent options. Hellenic Duty-Free offers a comprehensive selection of fine wines, including local Greek varieties, alongside other beverages like rare whiskies. With 114 stores across Greece, you can take advantage of their convenient location at Athens Airport to browse and purchase world-class wines at value prices.
Hellenic Gourmet, located within the airport, is another fantastic destination for Greek wines. They offer a wide array of duty-free Greek wines, allowing you to discover and appreciate the diverse wine culture of Greece.
In addition to Hellenic Duty-Free and Hellenic Gourmet, Athens Airport is home to several other shops that wine enthusiasts might find appealing. La Pasteria, located on the second floor in the Departures Free Access Area, boasts a decent wine list to accompany their delicious Italian dishes. For a more extensive selection, the Spirits boutique offers a wide range of wines and spirits to cater to various tastes and preferences.
Athens Airport also features a variety of shops showcasing local Greek products and brands. The Greek Designers Store carries sought-after fashion brands and designers, including Alexandra Tsoukala, Ames, Dante, and Elena Votsi. Ancient Greek Sandals combines traditional Greek craftsmanship with modern minimalism, offering unique footwear. Additionally, you can explore the Apivita store, which features natural, holistic beauty products by the oldest Greek manufacturer, or indulge in authentic Greek grub at Eat Greek or Bistrot Attica Athens.
Traveling with a Vibrator: Airport Security and You
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$35.99 $45.99
Eat Greek food at Bistrot Attica Athens or grab a coffee downstairs
Athens International Airport is one of the most enjoyable airports in Europe, with plenty of options to eat, drink, and shop.
If you're looking for a quick bite before your flight, head to Bistrot Attica Athens, a self-service bar in the central terminal. Here, you can grab a coffee, fresh orange juice, or a hot chocolate to go along with a croissant or sandwich. If you have more time, sit down and savour some famous loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) from Lukumades. Bistrot Attica Athens offers authentic Greek cuisine, including dishes like chicken gyros and lamb kleftikon. It's a great way to get a taste of Greece before you fly.
If you're looking for something other than Greek food, there are plenty of options at the airport. For Italian, try Amore. For Mexican, there's the Ancho Mexican Grill. Koi Sushi Bar serves sushi, and La Pasteria offers pasta and wine. Burger King is also available, and there are several duty-free shops, specialty stores, bookstores, and electronics shops to browse.
If you have more time and want to explore outside the airport, the nearby Attica area offers wineries, restaurants, and other points of interest. The Athens underground connects the airport to important landmarks like the Acropolis, Port of Piraeus, Central Railway Station, and Olympic Stadium. The nearby village of Spata is just a 3km walk from the airport, and Vravrona, 6km away, offers an archaeological dig site, a beach, bars, and restaurants.
Souvenir Number Plates: Airport Security Clearance?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$32.99 $38.99
$29.99 $54.99
Relax in a lounge, such as the Aegean Business Lounge or Skyserv
Athens International Airport has two business lounges: the Aegean Business Lounge and the Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge. Both lounges are located inside security in Terminal A (Non-Schengen).
The Aegean Business Lounge offers a quiet and relaxed environment, with a variety of options for travellers. You can unwind, enjoy a coffee or a drink, and taste local treats from a wide selection of food and beverages. The lounge also offers a media lounge, a social lounge, a quiet lounge, meeting rooms, two cafes, and a large dining area. The design is inspired by Greek architecture, with marble, mosaic, glass, and wood features, creating a modern aesthetic. The lounge is located in the extra Schengen area, prior to the central square, on the third floor.
The Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge is located on the second floor, after the Duty-Free shops, near Gate A7. The lounge has a maximum stay of four hours and children under three years old must be accompanied by an adult.
You can purchase access to selected lounges worldwide through the Aegean website. Alternatively, you can check if your airline status, travel rewards credit cards, or LoungeBuddy provide access to the lounges.
Uber at MSP: Can They Pick You Up?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Take the metro into Athens and explore the Acropolis and its museum
If you're looking to explore the Acropolis and its museum during your layover in Athens, you can easily take the metro from the airport. The Acropolis is one of the most famous sights in Athens, and the journey from the airport to the Acropolis is simple and affordable.
The distance from Athens Airport to the Acropolis is 35 kilometres. To get there, you'll first need to take the blue line from the airport to Syntagma Station. From there, swap to the red line and head to Elliniko. After one stop, you'll arrive at the Acropolis. The metro station at the airport is just outside the main terminal, and you'll need to follow the signs that say 'trains' and cross the road to reach the central metro station. You can purchase your ticket from a vending machine, which accepts both cash and card. Remember to validate your ticket before boarding the train, as there are inspections onboard, and you don't want to risk a fine! A ticket for central Athens costs 9 euros and is valid for 1.5 hours. The metro runs every 36 minutes, starting from 6:10 am, and the journey to the Acropolis takes around one hour.
The Acropolis Museum is located on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis hill, just 280 metres from the Parthenon. The museum is the largest modern building constructed so close to the ancient site. The winning design for the museum was created by New York-based architect Bernard Tschumi in collaboration with Greek architect Michael Photiadis. The museum's collections are exhibited across three levels, with a fourth middle level housing auxiliary spaces such as a museum shop, café, and offices. The museum also features an amphitheatre, virtual theatre, and hall for temporary exhibitions.
Before you embark on your journey to the Acropolis, keep in mind that there are other options to pass the time during a layover at Athens Airport. You can explore the duty-free shops, specialty stores, food options, bookstores, and electronics shops. Additionally, the airport features an interactive and multimedia Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition, where you can learn about the "maker of modern Greece." You can also discover ancient relics unearthed during the airport's construction at the Archaeological Findings Museum.
Traveler's Guide to Exchanging Money at BKK Airport After Midnight
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Athens Airport has plenty of options to keep you entertained during a long layover. You can visit the interactive and multimedia Eleftherios Venizelos exhibition and the airport's Archaeological Findings Museum, which features ancient relics unearthed during the airport excavation. There are also several restaurants, cafes, shops, and boutiques to explore. If you fancy a change of scenery, you can take the metro into downtown Athens, which takes about 45-60 minutes.
Athens Airport has a variety of dining options to suit different tastes and preferences. For Greek cuisine, you can try Eat Greek, Bistrot Attica Athens, or Ergon Greek Cuisine. There are also international options such as Burger King, La Pasteria, Koi Sushi Bar, and Amore for Italian food.
Athens Airport offers a range of shopping options, including duty-free shops, specialty stores, bookstores, and electronics shops. You can find Greek products at Hellenic Gourmet and Apivita, and fashion boutiques like Barbour, Longchamp, and Karl Lagerfeld in the Schengen area.
Yes, there are several accommodation options near Athens Airport. The Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel is located directly across the street from the airport, offering a convenient option for travellers. There are also other hotels within a few minutes' drive that may provide airport shuttle services.
The Athens metro system provides a convenient way to get from the airport to the city centre. It takes about 45-60 minutes to reach the heart of Athens, with stops at Acropolis and Monastiraki stations offering easy access to popular attractions, neighbourhoods, cafes, and restaurants.
