Car rental at Athens Airport - Exploring the Greek capital

With connections to more than 170 national and international destinations, Athens Airport (named after the prominent statesman Eleftherios Venizelos) is the biggest international air transportation hub in Greece. The main base for the nation's flag carrier, Aegean Airlines. Located about a half-hour drive east of Athens city centre, between the towns of Loutsa, Spata, Markopoulo and Koropi, it is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the second-largest in the Balkans after Istanbul Airport. The airport is quickly and easily accessible by car by means of the Attiki Odos motorway which provides a convenient connection with the city centre. A popular transfer point from flights all over the world, its popularity continues to increase with millions of travellers flying in from dozens of top destinations, many of them during the high season (ie the summer months of June through September), with annual passenger numbers around the 30 million mark.

Widely regarded as the birthplace of democracy, philosophy and Western culture in general, Athens has everything the curious history-loving traveller could ever wish for. Its warm Mediterranean sunshine lasts for most of the year, meaning that visitors can enjoy its beautiful pristine beaches, fabulous food and fascinating culture at any time of the year. Visible from almost every part of the city, the Acropolis is the first port of call for most visitors and a constant reminder of the capital's long history which stretches back thousands of years. Other points of interest include the Parthenon, the Theatre of Dionysus, the shrine of devotion to the Goddesses Athena and Nike and all the other fascinating ruins scattered across the city and beyond. After seeing the main sights, you can lose yourself amongst the winding, cobbled streets of the ever-popular Plaka district before browse the stalls in the city's famous Flea Market. In the warm afternoon sunshine, why not take a dip in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean on one of Athens' golden beaches.

Once all the city sightseeing is done, there's so much more that can be done with a car rental from Athens Airport, because the city is the heart of an area blessed with an abundance of top tourist attractions, such as the archaeological ruins of Delphi (a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site), the amazing Metéora monasteries (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Mycenae, the legendary city of ancient Greek mythology. With more than 28,000 pick-up and drop-off locations in over 190 popular destinations, Auto Europe is one of the world's most trusted car hire companies. Besides Athens Airport, you can collect your car from a choice of convenient points all over the city and be on your way in just a few minutes. We offer you the chance to select from a wide range of vehicle categories, such as small, economical cars ideal for city sightseeing to larger, more sumptuous SUVs for an extended road-trip around the Greek mainland. Book online now and find yourself the best deal for your trip.

Airport Information

Listed amongst the busiest airports in Europe, operations at ATH started in 2001 (it was built for the 2004 Olympic Games), meaning that it is a relatively new airport and as a result, quite modern compared to many others in south-east Europe. Serving as the primary hub for the popular Attica region, it has two runways and a modern terminal capable of catering for up to 50 million passengers annually. With its proximity to Athens city centre, it has connections with the metro system and full services for travellers with reduced mobility.

Athens Airport (ATH)
Address: Attiki Odos, Spata Artemida 190 04, Athens, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0353 0000
Airlines operating at Athens Airport: The growing list of airlines operating at Athens Airport currently includes Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Arabia, airBaltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air Mediterranean, Air Serbia, Air Transat, American Airlines, Arkia, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bluebird Airways, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Croatia Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Delta Air Lines, easyJet, Egyptair, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, GoTo Fly, Gulf Air, Iberia, Israir Airlines, ITA Airways, Jet2.com, Juneyao Air, KLM, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Middle East Airlines, Norse Atlantic Airways, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Olympic Air, Pegasus Airlines, Play, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, Saudia, Scandinavian Airlines, Scoot, Sky Express, Smartwings, Swiss International Air Lines, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Universal Air, Volotea, Vueling and Wizz Air.

Where to pick up a car rental at Athens Airport

When picking up your car rental at Athens Airport, you should head straight for the Arrivals Hall in the main terminal where man of the world's most important vehicle providers have their welcome desks. Furthermore, many of the vehicles for hire are located on-site and drivers can find them simply by following the rental signs to the main car park about 500 meters away on foot just outside the terminal building.

Car hire operating hours

	Alamo car rental at Athens Airport Arrivals Hall, Athens, Greece 190 04 +30 210 353 3325	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Budget car rental at Athens Airport Arrivals Hall, Athens, Greece 190 04 +30 210 353 0553	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Enterprise car rental at Athens Airport Arrivals Hall, Athens, Greece 190 04 +30 210 353 3325	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Thrifty car rental at Athens Airport Arrivals Hall, Athens, Greece 190 04 +30 211 103 0650 4	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours

Terminals

Athens airport has one main passenger terminal which handles the bulk of the traffic (all intra-Schengen flights as well as several non-Schengen flights) and another satellite terminal that is linked to the main buildings by an underground tunnel. Comprising three levels (one for arrivals, another for departures and a top level with a large food court), the main terminal has more than 140 check-in desks supported by 14 jet bridges and 10 conveyor belts for fast luggage movement. The satellite terminal has two levels, one for arrivals and the other for departures.

Airport Facilities

A modern air transportation complex with an extensive range of state-of-the-art facilities, Athens Airport offers its many visitors an excellent shopping and dining experience. There's a large selection of haute couture brands such as Dior, Elizabeth Arden, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Hugo Boss as well as a wide choice of cafés and restaurants where travellers can get am authentic taste of Greece even before they leave the airport. There's high-speed Internet access free of charge throughout the terminal and numerous charging stations for passengers with tablets, smartphones and laptops. The airport also provides postal and banking services, including several bureaux de change.

How to get to and from Athens Airport

Athens Airport is located an easy 35-45 minute drive from the centre of Athens, a journey of about 32 kilometres. The easiest and quickest way to reach the city with car hire from Athens Airport is to use the Attiki Odos, a modern motorway that connects the Greek capital with other parts of the Greater Athens area. Please note that this motorway has a toll and that you will therefore have to pay a specific amount for the ticket, whatever your route, depending solely on the category of vehicle you are driving. Travellers can pay by cash, credit card or e-pass (please talk to your car rental supplier prior to leaving the pick-up point). If you prefer to pick up your car in the centre of Athens, you should know that the airport is served by line 3 of the Athens metro, a suburban train line with connections to the port of Piraeus, Ano Liosia and several major bus routes.

Parking Tips

Athens Airport offers car parking facilities for short-, medium and long stays with many spaces available in the short-term car parks in very close proximity to the main terminal building. The economy and long-term car parks are a little further away from the terminal building, but there is a regular bus service in circulation to take passengers to and from these car parks. When it comes to parking in Athens, there are several good options available, including on-street spaces and both underground and multi-storey car parks either downtown or in the inner suburbs. By its very nature, street parking is sometimes difficult to find and almost always paid. The zones where parking is permitted are colour-coded: blue zones are paid, yellow zones are reserved for commercial vehicles (for loading and unloading) and police/government vehicles and white zones are paid during the week and during the day but are free at night and on Sundays. Athens has a large number of underground garages open 24/7 so there is no time limit for parking, thus making them the ideal option for parking your car without stress to visit the most popular landmarks in the city, such as the Acropolis, street markets and shopping centres.

Useful links

Athens Airport