10 Best Things to Do at Athens Airport During a Layover

Visit the Animals at Nearby Attica Zoological Park

If you're craving some fresh air and have several hours to kill, take a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport to Attica Zoological Park, where you can see everything from lions, alligators, and Asian elephants to tortoises, snakes, and zebras at the 49-acre park. Home to mammals, marine life, amphibians, reptiles, and birds of all shapes, sizes, and species, it's a great place to stretch your legs after along flight and makes a great way to pass the time, especially if you're traveling with curious little ones.

Spend a Few Hours at a Nearby Beach

If you've got an extra-long layover of five hours or more, why not secure your bags at the airport (more on that later) and head to the nearest Athenian Riviera beach? Instead of sticking around the airport, spend a few hours outside soaking up some sun, strolling along the sand, and noshing on fresh seafood at a local taverna. Popular Athenian Riviera beach towns to the east include Artemis Beach (15 minutes away) and Rafina (25 minutes away). Otherwise, try Vouliagmeni Beach or Voula Beach, located just 25 minutes west of the airport.

Get Your Fill of Greek Food

If you're going to be hanging around the airport for a few hours, you might as well tuck into some tasty Greek food. Stop by Eat Greek, a restaurant and café specializing in traditional Greek dishes including homemade sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, and of course, legendary Greek gyros.

If you want to pick up some Greek culinary treasures, Fournos Theophilos is located in the departures level of the Non-Schengen area, while Kostarelos is located in the departures level of the Schengen area. Each offers authentic Greek cheeses, cookies, fine nuts, and other treats to enjoy as your last taste of Greece.

Of course if your layover is extra long and you end up heading into Athens (more on that later), you really go wrong—the food is amazing everywhere in the city so keep an eye out for where the locals are lining up and enjoy!

Store Your Luggage

Your stay at the airport will be lightened—both emotionally and physically—if you drop your luggage at the luggage drop located at the end of the terminal. It will cost you a little for this privilege, but I promise you won't regret it, as you'll then be free to take a taxi to a nearby restaurant, spend some time looking at the artifacts in the airport's museum areas, or enjoy a nice meal, all without the additional burden of your cumbersome luggage. Care4Bag Baggage Storage is located in the Arrivals Hall next to Gate 1 and operates 24 hours a day.

Chill Out in the Lounge

Depending on the type and airline it is connected with, some airport lounges are open to those who are not members if you are willing to purchase a day pass, providing good food and drinks, reliable Wi-Fi, and a calm, relaxing environment to pass the time in. See if you can buy passes online through LoungeBuddy, or else you'll need to rely on having high status with the airline or other connections to it through travel rewards credit cards, which sometimes allow access to Priority Pass lounges (at this airport, those would be the Skyserve lounges listed below).

Athens International Airport's lounges are located inside security in Terminal A (Non-Schengen) and include the Aegean Business Lounge, Swissport Executive Lounge, and Skyserv Aristotle Onassis Lounge. In Terminal B (Schengen), you'll find the Skyserve Melina Merkouri Lounge, Aegean Business Lounge, and the Lufthansa Business Lounge. There are also two Goldair CIP Lounges, each located inside security in Terminal A (Non-Schengen) and Terminal B (Schengen).

Rest Up at the 5-Star Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel

If you are craving a change of scenery or want to let your hair down and stay overnight in a real bed instead of a packed airport seating area, walk directly across the street to the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel, where you can enjoy the property's 5-star facilities including restaurants, bars, and a luxurious hotel spa. Spend a moment on the way in checking out its small pond and feeling the grass under your feet instead of airport tiles. There are even screens showing flight times and other departure information so you won't miss a beat. Best of all, Sofitel Athens Airport is only 35 minutes from central Athens by metro in case you feel like venturing in.

See Archeological Artifacts Up Close

In Athens International Airport's Main Terminal Building (departures level, entrance 3), you'll find a permanent exhibition of archaeological artifacts discovered in Mesogaia, a region of Attica in Greece. The exhibit, open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., houses 172 archaeological artifacts dating from the Neolithic and Early Helladic to the Post-Byzantine periods. Copies of some of the more important artifacts discovered during the construction of AIA can also be found at the front entrances to the airport on the departures level.

Grab a Taxi or Take the Metro into Athens

If you have the time and are feeling confident enough to leave the airport, the nearby Attica area offers a number of great local wineries, restaurants, and other points of interest. When taking a taxi, negotiate prices beforehand; otherwise, drivers may try to charge you a higher rate. If you have five or more hours to fill, this may be a good option.

When riding the Metro, expect to buy and validate your ticket before getting on. The Athens underground connects important landmarks of the Greek capital, such as the Acropolis, Athens Airport, Port of Piraeus (the cruise terminal), Central Railway Station, and Olympic Stadium, in addition to connecting downtown Athens with the suburbs. Having a map and figuring out your route and timing is essential during a layover. In some of the underground stations, you'll be able to see archeological exhibits displaying artifacts discovered during construction.

Get Some Much-Needed Retail Therapy

Airport shopping areas can be dismal, but this one is a pleasure and has a few boutiques you may want to seek out even if you don't have much time between flights. There's a long list of duty-free shops, specialty stores, food, bookstores, and electronics shops. Hellenic Gourmet offers dozens of good Greek wines and to refresh yourself, Apivita sells natural, holistic products for your face, hair, and body by the oldest Greek manufacturer of natural beauty products. There are also several newsstands offering books, toys, and other treasures.

While it may not sound exciting on the surface, Athens International Airport is also home to an excellent pharmacy, which offers medicines—many without a prescription. Its greatest strength lies in a wonderful array of health and body products all created by Greek manufacturers. The white-coated saleswomen will be glad to help you find a whole new beauty regime at just a fraction of what similar products cost back in the United States—even with the Euro exchange rate. The pharmacy is located on the arrivals level in the free access area.

Learn About the Importance of Eleftherios Venizelos

A permanent display honoring the famous Greek politician—and the namesake of this particular airport—Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), is located on the Departures Level of the Main Building. It is understandable that the exhibit is in the airport because the establishment of Greece’s first Ministry of Aviation by him was a major milestone in the country’s development of civil aviation.

You'll also see illustrations of the important role Venizelos played in shaping the history and social direction of the Greek government. A series of photographs illustrates the most significant events in his life and highlights political events throughout modern Greek history.