Layover hotels in Athens airport – costs, cheaper alternatives, and what to do at the airport

If you have a trip planned that involves a long layover at Athens airport, you’ll need somewhere to stay overnight.

Here’s a handy guide to hotels in Athens airport, so you can get some rest and relaxation before your onward flight. You’ll also find other options for accommodation in Athens itself, just in case you have some time free for sightseeing.

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Hotels in Athens airport

If you want to stay within the airport itself or very close to it, there’s only really one option in Athens. This is the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel, which is just 50m (a 2-minute walk) from the airport².

Cheap hotels near Athens airport

Have a little longer to spend in Athens? You might be able to save money by staying slightly further away from the airport, and perhaps see something of the city at the same time.

There are a number of options for accommodation in Athens near the airport, including the Holiday Inn Athens Airport and the Pantheon Hotel Athens Airport.

The Holiday Inn offers a free shuttle service to and from the airport. But for stays at the Pantheon Hotel, you’ll need to get a bus or taxi from the airport to Markopoulo - a drive of around 10 minutes. A taxi could cost up to £34³, but it’s the most direct option.

Holiday Inn Athens - Airport

An IHG hotel, the Holiday Inn Athens Airport, is just a 10-minute drive from the airport. The hotel also offers a free 24-hour airport shuttle service.

The hotel is fully equipped with a restaurant, bar, indoor pool, fitness centre, business facilities and free Wi-Fi⁴. A stay in a spacious standard room with a king-size bed costs from around £130 a night⁵.

Pantheon Hotel Athens Airport

The Pantheon Hotel Athens Airport is around a 15 minutes drive from the airport, in the tranquil town of Markopoulo. It has just 15 rooms⁶, making it perfect for a quiet stay.

The hotel has a 24-hour reception, café, bar, free parking, free Wi-Fi and a car rental service⁶. It doesn’t offer an airport shuttle service, but the staff can make taxi arrangements for you. Prices for a double room with balcony and mountain or garden view start from £55 a night⁷.

Cheap accommodation options in Athens

If you’re including a short stay in Athens as part of your trip, why not book a room in the city centre? This means you’ll be close to all the city’s major attractions, as well as bars, restaurants and transport links.

Here’s a quick look at options for a cheap hotel in Athens city centre.

Motels and hostels in Athens

• When In Athens Hostel - a boutique hostel in the centre of Athens, in a lively area close to Lycabettus Hill. The hostel has dorm room accommodation, with shared bathroom facilities, air-conditioning, shared lounge and garden. Prices start from around £20 a night for a bed in a Deluxe 8 Bed Mixed Dorm⁸.

• Nubian Hotel Athens - located in the colourful neighbourhood of Exarcheia in downtown Athens. Facilities include free high-speed Wi-Fi, shared kitchen and common areas, and even a back garden with outdoor seating. Prices start from around £22 for a bed in a 4-bed mixed dorm⁹, or £52 for a private room with ensuite bathroom¹⁰.

Airbnb options around Athens

Airbnb also has options for staying in Athens. The housing options on the platform are constantly changing, so the flats described might not be available for your preferred dates. However, you can still get an approximate feel about the price and quality positioning.

• Athens Boutique Pod (Syntagma Square) - a light-filled loft apartment in the centre of Athens, just a couple of minutes from the Syntagma metro station. The flat is kitted out with kitchenette, king-size bed, washer/dryer and 4K TV. Prices start from £109 a night, including cleaning and service fees¹¹.

• Mediterranean apartment, Monastiraki - located in the Monastiraki neighbourhood just 12-minute walk distance from the Acropolis, this flat offers a king-size bed, HD TV with Netflix, high-speed Wi-Fi, kitchen and even a vintage record player. Prices start from £80 a night, including cleaning and service fees¹².

Staying at Athens airport

If you don’t have much time during your layover, you might choose to simply stay in the airport. Let’s run through the essential info you need to know, including airport facilities and contact information.

Also, if you don’t want to visit a currency exchange desk or withdraw money from an ATM to spend in the airport, get yourself a Wise debit card. You can simply use the card to spend at the airport shops and restaurants, and it will automatically convert your GBP to EUR at the mid-market exchange rate.

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What can I do in the airport during my layover?

• Duty free. Athens Airport duty free includes everything you’d expect to find, from beauty, fragrance and cosmetics to alcohol, gifts and confectionery. You can even reserve online¹³ at the Hellenic Duty Free Shops website and collect once you land.

• Shops. Alongside duty-free outlets, the Athens Airport shops list also includes Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Montblanc, Sim Local, Sunglasses Boutique, Swarovski, WH Smith and the Naxos Apothecary. There’s even a Greek deli and mini market.¹⁴

• Lounges/VIP areas. There are no fewer than seven Athens Airport lounges, most aimed at business travellers. This includes the Aegean Business Lounge and the Lufthansa Business Lounge.¹⁵

• Restaurants/cafés. The wide range of Athens Airport restaurants and cafés includes Burger King, Bufala Gelato, Camden Food Co, Eat Greek Kouzina, Goody’s Burger House, Green Juice Bar, Bistrot Attica, Puro Gusto, Starbucks and La Pasteria Flocafe.¹⁶

• Bars/Pubs. Want to get a drink while you wait for your next flight? Pop into The Beer House, serving up beer and wine alongside a full burger menu.¹⁶

Can I leave Athens airport during a layover?

UK citizens don’t need a visa to enter Greece for periods of up to 90 days¹⁷, so you’re free to leave the airport after you land.

Can I stay at Athens airport overnight?

You can stay at Athens airport overnight, but you may not find it terribly comfortable if you’re trying to get some sleep.

You can book a stay at the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel as it’s really close to the airport, or look into buying a pass for one of the airport’s business lounges.

Can I shower in Athens airport?

There aren’t any public showers at Athens Airport, although some business lounges may offer shower facilities.

Does Athens airport have sleeping pods, and how much do they cost?

Unfortunately, there are no sleeping pods available at Athens airport, or dedicated sleep areas.

Contact options and a phone number for Athens airport

Need to get in touch with the airport? Here’s the Athens Airport contact number and other key details¹⁸:

• Phone number: (+30) 2103530000
• Email: airport_info@aia.gr
• Website: www.aia.gr

After reading this guide, you should be all set to plan your layover at Athens Airport. We’ve covered the nearest hotels if you’re purely looking for convenience, as well as some cheap hotels near Athens Airport if price is a concern.

And if you’d like to see some sights in Athens while you’re there, why not stay in the city centre and look around? Whichever option you choose and wherever you’re heading to, hopefully you’ll be well rested.

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