Car Rental at Athens Airport

Airport travel guide

The capital of not just Greece, but, in some sense, Western civilization as a whole, Athens is as historic a destination as they come. From ancient landmarks to medieval gems and the modern art scene, the city has something for every visitor to enjoy. These are five of the city’s most notable landmarks:

• The Acropolis. The heart of old Athens, the Acropolis is naturally the most visited place in the city. In addition to landmarks like Parthenon, many notable sites are also located around the Acropolis and can be conveniently visited during the same visit. The Acropolis is in the center of town, just a ten-minute walk or a five-minute drive away from Syntagma Square.
• The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology. As could be expected, Athens is home to a number of museums dedicated to the ancient Hellenic world. While not as large and immediately impressive as some others, this little cultural institution dedicated to the inventive genius of the ancient inhabitants of the area is one of the most interesting. Divided into three sections, the museum explores Ancient Greek technology, as well as the unusual musical instruments that were popular at the time.
• Kaisariani Monastery. Another historically important place, but dating to significantly more recent times, this monastery was built at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries when the area was ruled by the Byzantines. Despite being more than 900 years old, it continues to perform its original function and is open for worshippers and visitors alike. The monastery is located in a beautiful place on the foothills of Mount Hymettus and is surrounded by a vast green area that is a popular destination for walks. The drive from the city center takes 30 to 40 minutes.
• The Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus. The Ancient Agora was the main civic center in Ancient Greece. Philosophers like Socrates and Plato would walk through the streets and markets, sharing wisdom with everyone they encountered. Look out for the Stoa of Attalos, a colonnaded marketplace once home to over 40 stores that today houses the Agora Museum. The Temple of Hephaestus was built around the same time as the Parthenon (450 BC) and had a similar design. It is dedicated to Hephaestus, God of Fire, and Athena Ergane, Goddess of Pottery and Crafts.
• National Archaeological Museum of Greece. Athens being the cradle of modern civilization, is it any wonder that the city is home to one of the most impressive archaeological museums on the planet? Although always busy with visitors, especially during weekends and holidays, the museum is very much worth your time thanks to its vast collections of Classical Hellenic artifacts.

Top international routes

• Thessaloniki
• Larnaca
• Santorini
• Heraklion
• Tel Aviv
• Chania
• Rome
• London
• Munich
• Istanbul

Main airlines

Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Lufthansa, easyJet, Swiss International Air Lines, and Olympic Air

Terminals

There are two passenger terminals—Main Terminal and Satellite Terminal. To access the Satellite Terminal you need to take an underground tunnel from the Main Terminal.

Location

Athens Airport is about 30 km (19 miles) east of the center of Athens. Attiki Odos Street, Highway 6, Highway 75, and Leof. Athinon Street are the main roads connecting the airport to the city.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $6 per day
• Medium cars - from $7 per day
• Large cars - from $13 per day
• SUVs - from $14 per day
• Station wagons - from $22 per day
• Vans - from $49 per day
• Premium cars - from $150 per day
• Convertibles - from $45 per day

Car rental desks

Most are located on the arrivals level of the Main Terminal.

Services and facilities

You’ll find many stores and duty-free shops, cafeterias, snack bars, and traditional Greek food restaurants, ATMs, four bank offices, a pharmacy, an emergency care center, a children’s play area, and baby changing facilities. Baggage storage, open 24/7, is in the arrivals hall next to Gate 1. The airport provides onsite assistance for disabled passengers.

Nearest gas station

BP station is located at 21St Km N.R.Athens-Lavrio, Kropia 194 00. It takes about 12 minutes to reach by car and is open 24/7. There are many other gas stations near Athens Airport.

Popular one-way rentals

• Thessaloniki (520 km / 323 mi)
• Kalamata (269 km / 167 mi)
• Ermioni (200 km / 124 mi)
• Preveza (424 km / 263 mi)
• Lefkada (418 km / 259 mi)
• Mykonos Port (154 km / 96 mi)
• Crete (339 km / 210 mi)
• Syros (177 km / 110 mi)
• Lesvos (430 km / 267 mi)