Car Hire at Athens Airport

Airport travel guide

The birthplace of democracy and classical Greek culture, it is no exaggeration that Athens is one of the most famous cities in the world. Today a sprawling metropolis with more than 3 million residents in its metropolitan area, it combines that classical heritage with more recent influences and contemporary energy which makes it one of the most interesting destinations in Europe. Here’s our pick of its best attractions:

• Acropolis. No trip to the Greek capital would be complete without a visit to the ancient complex of the Acropolis which has the bulk of Athens’ most famous sites. More than 2,500 years old, it is home to ancient world miracles like the Parthenon, Theatre of Dionysus, and Erechtheum. Located just a short drive from the centre of Athens, the Acropolis is visible from most places in the city. The site obviously gets lots of tourists at any time of the year, so it’s a good idea to get your tickets online to avoid standing in the queue.
• Daphni Monastery. The ancient culture is obviously one of the symbols of Greece, but the country is just as characterized by the Byzantine period and Orthodox Christianity — after all, most Greeks are followers of this branch of the Christian faith to this day. A great place to learn about this heritage, Daphni Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Best known for its medieval mosaics, it is an impressive, but calm, place to visit. If you liked Daphni, consider a trip to Kaisariani Monastery, famous for its frescoes and surrounding gardens.
• Parnitha National Park. Made up of beautiful gorges, deep caves, swift rivers, and well-marked hiking trails, Parnitha National Park is one of the nicest nature areas that can be visited as a day-trip from Athens. Its forests are home to hundreds of species of wildlife, and the area also includes attractions such as the Tatoi Palace and the 2,400-year-old Filis Fortress. Located some 42 km (26 miles) from the capital, Parnitha can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Top international routes

• London
• Larnaca
• Rome
• Paris
• Istanbul
• Tbilisi

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 hire car

• Small cars - starting at £6 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £7 per day
• Large cars - starting at £10 per day
• SUVs - starting at £9 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £16 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £34 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £82 per day
• Convertibles - starting at £41 per day

Car hire 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 petrol 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 hires

• 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)