Athens airport is almost an hour from the city center and around 90 minutes from Piraeus Port by car. It is always a good idea to be back near the airport the night before your flight home but it is often easier and quicker to stay somewhere closer. These are the Athens Airport hotels that we recommend as well as some that are a good compromise.
Further reading: Things to do near Athens Airport
PLANNING A TRIP TO GREECE?
Whether you’ve been before or it’s your first time it can be hard to process all the information out there. Be sure to check out our complete Planning Guide as well as our FREE 13-page downloadable itinerary.
And come join our private Facebook Group where you can ask questions and get advice from real travelers!
GLYFADA
Athenian Riviera Hotels
Stay along the Athenian Riviera. Whilst not right near the airport it is actually closer than the city centre and a great place to spend a few days, especially if you are still desperate to grab some time at the beach before heading home.
The main suburbs to stay in are Glyfada, Voula/Vouliagmeni and Astir. It takes just 30 minutes to get to the Airport from Vouliagmeni which is about a 25 -30 Euro cab drive.
These suburbs are leafy and upmarket and are where many wealthy Greeks live. It’s also where many Athenians spend their weekends.
Glyfada — An upscale residential area of Athens, Glyfada offers seaside living complete with trendy restaurants, bars, and many shops. It is also right near the new Ellinikon Experience Park which is a wonderful attraction that has been opened where the old Athens airport used to be.
If you’re a golfer then Glyfada also has the only golf course in Athens! There is a tram line in Glyfada with connections to Neos Kosmos metro station and Sygrou Fix Metro station (line 2), but note the tram is pretty slow going.
Check out Glyfada Riviera Hotel, Palmyra Beach Hotel and the spacious and very stylish new O2 Suites.
Voula and Vouliagmeni — Voula and Vouliagmeni both have nice beaches and swimming, and both are upscale residential areas with mostly domestic tourists. There is also a wonderful thermal lake here called Vouliagmeni Lake which is like a wellness sanctuary and leisure centre with an all-day restaurant and day spa.
The “downtown” of Voula has more going on in terms of restaurants and cafés, and Vouliagmeni is the more remote of the two. You will need to catch a taxi or a metro from Gylfada and a taxi from there, which should be less than 10 euro.
We love Divani Apollon Palace, especially for families, and The Margi is great for couples and singles. We’ve also had a great stay as a family at Vouliagmeni Suites who have family rooms and are right across from the beach and next door to the lake.
Lot long ago I spent my last night before flying home at Athenian Riviera Hotel, which is very comfortable, has a pool, is a short walk to the beaches and the Lake, and is very affordable too given some of the most expensive hotels and beach clubs in Athens are close by.
Astir – at the very end of this stretch of Coastline is a small peninsula often referred to as Astir. This is where you will find the only Four Seasons Hotel in Greece, the Four Seasons Astir Palace.
ASTIR
Vouliagmeni Beach
other seaside suburbs near athens Airport
RAFINA PORT
Stay at one of the seaside suburbs like Rafina, a charming seaside fishing village that also services some of the ferries to the Cyclades Islands such as Tinos and Mykonos, making it a great spot if you can co-ordinate those connections. The Avra Hotel is across from the beach and offers a free airport shuttle.
Also check out the beachside suburbs of Artemida, Porto Rafti and Vravrona. We especially like the charming Seasabelle Hotel near Artemida who have stylish beachfront rooms that can sleep up to 4, and at a very reasonable price point too.
Just 7 minutes south there is a big modern 5 star resort right on the beach at Vravrona Bay – only 20 minutes from the airport. This is a huge complex with several swimming pools, a day spa, a water sports centre and a poolside restaurant – great for families! It’s also very close to the Archaeological Site and Museum of Brauron (pictured below) which includes the Temple of Artemis and is rather extraordinary ( TIP* Eat at Taverna Artemis!).
Stay at one of the ‘Airport Hotels’
There are a couple of good hotels that are very close to, or in one case at, the airport. These can be particularly convenient if you only need to stay very briefly and/or are meeting up with people on other flights who are joining you.
The downside of course if they are located in busy, commercial areas and the district views are pretty ordinary with not much to see or do. The food in their restaurants is good but fairly standard hotel fare and you wont be able to enjoy a local family taverna without travelling.
- The Holiday Inn Athens, Attica Ave is located in Attica Avenue Highway, the new rapidly developing business district of Athens and is a 10-minute drive to the airport. The hotel offers a free shuttle service every hour.
- The Sofitel Athens Airport is really the only hotel located AT Athens airport and is located directly across the road from the main terminal and adjacent to the Metro station. It is not a cheap option but it is certainly convenient and it does have a swimming pool. Make sure to ask for a refurbished room.
Another option is to stay in a rural setting near the airport, which actually is surrounded by quite a few farms. This can be a nice way to enjoy a more personal experience than the other airport hotels and a tranquil rural setting.
Varaba Country House is our pick , especially in the cooler months when the beachside options aren’t as appealing. It has 5 lovely suites (including a family room), beautiful gardens and they can provide delicious home cooked meals at an extra cost. They also have a pick up service.
Our other suggestion is St Thomas B & B, also with a beautiful garden and a swimming pool. Very affordable too.
