--- iata: ATH name: Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" city: Athens country: Greece lastUpdated: '2026-08-28' officialWebsite: 'https://www.aia.gr/en' sources: - 'https://www.aia.gr/en' - >- https://media.aia.gr/assets/aiaportal/media/root/corporate/corporate-publications/aerostat_handbook_2025.pdf - 'https://www.oasa.gr/en/tickets/prices-of-products/' - >- https://www.thisisathens.org/getting-around/airport-transportation-metro-bus-taxi - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/greece/athens-international-eleftherios-venizelos - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/greece/athens-international-eleftherios-venizelos/ath7-goldair-handling-lounge-extra - 'https://www.loungepair.com/guides/athens-airport-complete-lounges-guide/' - >- https://wareontheglobe.com/2025/07/15/airport-lounge-review-aristotle-onassis-lounge-athens-greece/ - 'https://www.aia.gr/en/traveller/procedures/security-airport' - >- https://en.aegeanair.com/travel-info/additional-flight-services/security-fast-track/ - >- https://www.thisisathens.org/getting-around/athens-international-airport-layover - 'https://daytripsfromathens.com/articles/athens-airport-to-city-center' - 'https://www.wateratairports.com/topic/athens-international-airport-ath/' quickFacts: - >- Main terminal split into Hall B (Schengen) and Hall A (non-Schengen), plus a Satellite Building linked by ~700m underground walkway - >- Aegean Airlines hub; Sky Express and Ryanair also major; ~34M passengers in 2025 - >- Metro Line 3 to Syntagma ~40 min for €9; X95 bus 24/7 for €5.50; city-centre taxi flat €40 day / €55 night - >- Non-Schengen Priority Pass flagship is Goldair Handling Lounge Extra (24h, often capacity-limited) - >- Summer peaks push security/passport lines and departure delays hard—June 2025 saw 52.9% of departures delayed >15 min - >- Local Greek bottled water is price-controlled (~€0.50–0.60/500ml); imported display water is the tourist trap bentoTips: - label: Timing title: Budget 2.5–3 hours for non-Schengen peaks detail: >- Official average security is short, but combined security/passport on busy US/long-haul banks can run 45–60 minutes, and VAT refunds can add another hour. summary: >- For Hall A long-hauls in summer, plan 2.5–3 hours before departure; Schengen/domestic often needs less but still protect a buffer for bag drop. category: timing - label: Terminal title: Match Hall A/B before you clear security detail: >- Satellite gates need the underground link (~10–15 min with bags); Non-Schengen passengers can shop Schengen after showing a boarding pass, but not the reverse. summary: >- Schengen = Hall B; non-Schengen = Hall A after passport control—wrong hall means no lounge and a wasted walk. category: terminal - label: Food title: 'Eat Greek airside, not generic chains first' detail: >- Gregory’s for pies/salads, Lukumades at Bistrot Attica for loukoumades, and Kostarelos deli for last-minute Greek dairy if you want edible souvenirs. summary: >- Hit Eat Greek (Schengen platea) or Ergon (non-Schengen) for real gyros/Greek plates before you settle for Starbucks. category: food - label: Status title: 'Treat summer delays as structural, not unlucky' detail: >- Reactionary and airport-of-departure restrictions dominate reasons; leave tight island connections with checked bags only if you accept real miss risk. summary: >- Expect knock-on delays in peak season—37% of 2025 departures ran >15 minutes late, with June/July the worst months. category: status lounges: - name: Goldair Handling Lounge Extra zone: non-Schengen hours: '00:00-23:59' access: - Priority Pass - LoungeKey / DragonPass - Amex Platinum (where enrolled) - Day pass / walk-up (~€29) bestFor: - Long non-Schengen waits - Food-focused Priority Pass visits - Overnight/early departures summary: >- Best PP bet in Hall A—4.5-rated and recently ranked among top Priority Pass lounges globally—but often waitlisted while Aristotle Onassis next door has space. verdict: worth-it terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall A' amenities: - 'Greek hot buffet (enhanced menu after 11:00)' - Showers (paid) - Alcohol including Greek wines - Wi-Fi - Flight monitors - name: Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge zone: non-Schengen hours: '05:00-22:00' access: - Priority Pass - LoungeKey / DragonPass - Amex Platinum (where enrolled) - Day pass / walk-up (~€41) bestFor: - Overflow when Goldair is full - Moderate Priority Pass visits - Work with decent Wi-Fi summary: >- Serviceable Hall A backup with better-than-expected food; solid if Goldair has a line, not worth arriving early just for this lounge. verdict: depends terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall A' amenities: - Self-serve hot/cold buffet - Greek wine and beer - Wi-Fi - Work seating with outlets - Flight monitors - name: Goldair Handling Lounge Intra zone: Schengen hours: '00:00-23:59' access: - Priority Pass - LoungeKey / DragonPass - Amex Platinum (where enrolled) - Day pass / walk-up (~€29) - SkyTeam Elite Plus / select business on partner carriers bestFor: - Schengen departures - Night connections - Reliable 24h access summary: >- Best Schengen PP choice—open 24h opposite Gate B13 with a fuller buffet than Melina Merkouri, though peak summer still crowds. verdict: worth-it terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall B' amenities: - Hot/cold buffet - Alcohol - Business area / internet terminals - Wi-Fi - Countryside views - name: Skyserv Melina Merkouri Lounge zone: Schengen hours: '06:00-22:00' access: - Priority Pass - LoungeKey / DragonPass - Day pass / walk-up (~€41) - Select airline/status access bestFor: - Short Schengen waits - When Goldair Intra is full summary: >- Modest, bright Schengen lounge with average food; fine for a quick sit, skip if Goldair Intra has capacity. verdict: depends terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall B' amenities: - Snacks and alcohol - Wi-Fi - Natural light seating - Flight monitors - name: Aegean Business Lounge zone: non-Schengen hours: '05:00-00:00' access: - Aegean Business Class - Miles+Bonus Gold - Star Alliance Gold on eligible flights bestFor: - Star Alliance Gold / Aegean elites - Long-haul prep - Quiet work summary: >- Flagship 1,200 m² lounge—frequent flyers call the non-Schengen Aegean lounge one of the airport’s best, well ahead of contract PP spaces when you qualify. verdict: worth-it terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall A' amenities: - Large buffet with Greek hot dishes - Quiet zone with recliners - Meeting rooms - Charging stations - Wi-Fi - name: Goldair Handling Lounge x AIA hours: '06:30-21:30' access: - Priority Pass - LoungeKey / DragonPass - Day pass / walk-up (~€29) bestFor: - Satellite-gate departures only summary: >- Useful only if your gate is in the Satellite—do not walk 10–15 minutes here from the main terminal and back. verdict: depends terminal: Satellite Terminal amenities: - Renovated buffet - Alcohol - Wi-Fi - Baby changing - Flight monitors waterOptions: - kind: purchase name: Local Greek bottled water (cafés / kiosks) zone: airside price: €0.50–0.60 for 500ml summary: >- Price-controlled local water is the real ATH bargain; travelers report paying ~€0.60 vs €2–3+ for flashy imported bottles. location: >- Ask at café counters and bottom shelves near olive oil/grocery displays—not the chilled Evian fridge fronts in duty-free terminal: Main Terminal isBestValue: true - kind: purchase name: Imported display water (Evian / similar) zone: airside price: ~€2.40–3.50+ for small bottles summary: >- The trap bottles airports want you to grab—skip unless you specifically want that brand. location: Front fridge displays in duty-free and convenience fridges after security terminal: Main Terminal - kind: refill name: Airside drinking fountain (Schengen) zone: airside summary: >- Free potable refill after security—carry an empty bottle through screening and top up here before boarding. location: Near Gate B13 in the Schengen departures area after security terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall B' isBestQuality: true - kind: refill name: Airside drinking fountain (non-Schengen) zone: airside summary: >- Confirmed airside fountain on the international side so you are not stuck buying water at the far gates. location: Near Gates A11–A15 cluster after duty-free / passport control terminal: 'Main Terminal, Hall A' - kind: free name: Landside departures fountain zone: landside summary: >- Fill before security if you are early landside; empty again for screening and refill airside. location: Departures hall opposite check-in counters 21 and 155 (before security) terminal: Main Terminal airportistScore: 7.5 slug: ath region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/ath](/airports/ath). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/ath) - [Lounge directory](/airports/ath/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" (ATH) Athens, Greece · Europe ATH is a clean, food-strong Aegean hub with excellent city links, offset by summer delay rates and crowded Hall A Priority Pass capacity. ## Airportist Score **7.5 / 10** - Comfort: 7.4 - Navigation: 7.8 - Food: 8.0 - Transport: 8.4 - Disruption resilience: 6.2 ## At a glance - Passengers: 34.0M - Terminals: 1 main terminal (Halls A/B) + Satellite Building - Typical security: 15 min - On-time: 63% - Disruption: moderate ## Best for - Greek-food last meal before departure - Door-to-door taxi value for groups - Star Alliance / Aegean status lounge access - Straightforward single-terminal navigation off-peak ## Watch out for - Summer departure delays (often >50% late in peak months) - Hall A PP lounge waitlists at Goldair Extra - Tight island connections with checked bags - EU Entry/Exit System passport queues for non-Schengen ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/ath/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/ath/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/ath/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/ath/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/ath/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/ath/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/ath/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/ath/reviews.md)