Why are taxis to and from the Athens airport so expensive? Any way to avoid this?

[mastichas09]

This is such an annoying problem that I always run into! I visit friends in Kapandriti and it really isn't accessible any other way and buses are really a hassle with a bunch of suitcases. Is there any way around this fee? And is it with all taxis?

 

[Jerry s]

It should be about 65-75 Euros but it is over 50 km, it is reasonable for a taxi in my opinion.
I don't know where you live, I live about 38 km from Sydney airport and I pay the equivalent of about 70-75 Euros.
I would rent a car if I was you, pick up at the airport and drop it back there when you fly out. You have the use of the car all the time you stay in Greece too.

 

[Deborah]

All airport taxis must comply with the fixed rate charge of €38 to downtown Central Athens. The rate goes up if you’re traveling before 6 am or late at night. You can also take the 95 bus to Syntagma Square. I would not recommend the Metro if you’re dealing with luggage; this marks you as a tourist and an easy target for pick pockets.

 

[Deborah]

Sorry…re-read your post. Since you’re not going to Central Athens, I agree with the car rental as previously stated.

 

[dubai_suzie]

All airport taxis must comply with the fixed rate charge of €38 to downtown Central Athens. The rate goes up if you’re traveling before 6 am or late at night. You can also take the 95 bus to Syntagma Square. I would not recommend the Metro if you’re dealing with luggage; this marks you as a tourist and an easy target for pick pockets.

This is the first time I've seen someone lay out all of the prices. Thank you! I was always so confused with why I was paying a little bit more when I always thought that taxis are generally cheaper in Greece than in other countries

 

[mastichas09]

Sorry…re-read your post. Since you’re not going to Central Athens, I agree with the car rental as previously stated.

Thanks for the advice!!

 

[mastichas09]

It should be about 65-75 Euros but it is over 50 km, it is reasonable for a taxi in my opinion.
I don't know where you live, I live about 38 km from Sydney airport and I pay the equivalent of about 70-75 Euros.
I would rent a car if I was you, pick up at the airport and drop it back there when you fly out. You have the use of the car all the time you stay in Greece too.

That's a good point, thank you. I just didn't know why they charged a bit extra from the airport. I guess it's standard

 

[Jerry s]

This is the first time I've seen someone lay out all of the prices. Thank you! I was always so confused with why I was paying a little bit more when I always thought that taxis are generally cheaper in Greece than in other countries

Well it depends what countries you are comparing with. Greece is a European country and as such you have to compare prices with Europe or other first world countries .
Taxi fares compare favourably with most others in Europe. Years ago pre EU Greece was much cheaper than the rest of Europe but joining EU and the Euro currency has changed all that .

 

[Jerry s]

That's a good point, thank you. I just didn't know why they charged a bit extra from the airport. I guess it's standard

Just like everywhere else there is a charge for Taxis picking up and dropping off at the airport, I think they charge them 3 Euro but not sure on the quantum.
How much would the Taxi fare be in your country for traveling the same distance? As I pointed out in Sydney Australia it is more expensive. Forget about parking at Sydney airport for even short a period, it is exorbitant.

 

[cf_fraiser]

Well it depends what countries you are comparing with. Greece is a European country and as such you have to compare prices with Europe or other first world countries .
Taxi fares compare favourably with most others in Europe. Years ago pre EU Greece was much cheaper than the rest of Europe but joining EU and the Euro currency has changed all that .

Very true, the euro plays a big role in why some things are higher priced in Greece than one would expect

 

[Hash]

Very true, the euro plays a big role in why some things are higher priced in Greece than one would expect

Having lived in Mykonos from the early 90s onwards I have witnessed the transformation of the Drachma into Euro which has driven the cost of living out of all proportions.I used to get 25% interest on my deposit when the inflation was running at 28%>>>>[relativity]...Cost of the frappe alone tripled!!!......Had they not manipulated the figures into Entry into European Union,I bet our Hellas would be much more stronger position today 'without'.... owing €160 Billion?... Life with the mighty Drachma was cheap and wanderful!.... Kalley Mera from Thailand.

 

[seleanor]

Having lived in Mykonos from the early 90s onwards I have witnessed the transformation of the Drachma into Euro which has driven the cost of living out of all proportions.I used to get 25% interest on my deposit when the inflation was running at 28%>>>>[relativity]...Cost of the frappe alone tripled!!!......Had they not manipulated the figures into Entry into European Union,I bet our Hellas would be much more stronger position today 'without'.... owing €160 Billion?... Life with the mighty Drachma was cheap and wanderful!.... Kalley Mera from Thailand.

I completely agree, and this is something that I hear from many different people from all walks of life. It's a shame that many people in Greece can't actually afford to live there anymore. I wish that Greece can escape this mess one day, I'm really really hoping

 

[Hash]

I completely agree, and this is something that I hear from many different people from all walks of life. It's a shame that many people in Greece can't actually afford to live there anymore. I wish that Greece can escape this mess one day, I'm really really hoping

You know the price of fuel was nearly 4 fold, living on the small island the car consumes much more gasoline than on big roads.....to eat and going out with the days with 5000 Drachmas, staying out all night and coming home with some change came to an end overnight.... tourism industry collapsed in 2003/4/5....I couldn't believe the change in attitude and hotels empty all week except for affluent Greek Weekenders......we could hardly manage to fill less a third of the normal occupancy for Excursions....my rent increased by 50%>>>>>But even then after all this life was fantastic!..... Kalley Mera from Thailand!

 

[greek_ggirl]

You know the price of fuel was nearly 4 fold, living on the small island the car consumes much more gasoline than on big roads.....to eat and going out with the days with 5000 Drachmas, staying out all night and coming home with some change came to an end overnight.... tourism industry collapsed in 2003/4/5....I couldn't believe the change in attitude and hotels empty all week except for affluent Greek Weekenders......we could hardly manage to fill less a third of the normal occupancy for Excursions....my rent increased by 50%>>>>>But even then after all this life was fantastic!..... Kalley Mera from Thailand!

Wow that is so interesting, for some reason I thought everything in Greece changed after the crisis, but I guess it was a slow change after the Euro.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

Wow that is so interesting, for some reason I thought everything in Greece changed after the crisis, but I guess it was a slow change after the Euro.

From what I can gather, the changeover to the Euro was one of the items that caused the financial crisis in Greece. There was so much more to the whole thing and I don't know all the details, but certainly this didn't help.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

Having lived in Mykonos from the early 90s onwards I have witnessed the transformation of the Drachma into Euro which has driven the cost of living out of all proportions.I used to get 25% interest on my deposit when the inflation was running at 28%>>>>[relativity]...Cost of the frappe alone tripled!!!......Had they not manipulated the figures into Entry into European Union,I bet our Hellas would be much more stronger position today 'without'.... owing €160 Billion?... Life with the mighty Drachma was cheap and wanderful!.... Kalley Mera from Thailand.

I don't think you are alone with this opinion. I've spoken to a lot of Greeks who have said the same thing! I've been to Greece both before and after, and it is different now. It's still a lovely place, but it's just different than it was in the 90's. Thanks for sharing your insights!

 

[Deborah]

Membership into the E.U. and the change to euro currency has not been kind to Greece. Yes, Greece got some new infrastructure (and multi-language road signs in English) but politically and economically I don’t think that Greece got the support it needed or expected from E.U. membership. For the people it meant many-times-over higher prices for their daily needs (even for a cup of coffee) and a lot of new regulations and conformity to E.U. policies that changed their traditional ways of doing business. For example instead of buying Greek-raised lamb, the E.U. might set up a contract with New Zealand or Australia. The Sicilian orange crop was left to ruin because the EU. designated Spain as the orange producer. Getting back to the taxis, however, I personally am glad that the taxi fare is regulated and that one knows what to expect. There is always the #95 airport bus into Central Athens if the taxi fare is too expensive. Both taxi and bus take about the same time, depending on traffic.

 

[d_kakavouli]

Membership into the E.U. and the change to euro currency has not been kind to Greece. Yes, Greece got some new infrastructure (and multi-language road signs in English) but politically and economically I don’t think that Greece got the support it needed or expected from E.U. membership. For the people it meant many-times-over higher prices for their daily needs (even for a cup of coffee) and a lot of new regulations and conformity to E.U. policies that changed their traditional ways of doing business. For example instead of buying Greek-raised lamb, the E.U. might set up a contract with New Zealand or Australia. The Sicilian orange crop was left to ruin because the EU. designated Spain as the orange producer. Getting back to the taxis, however, I personally am glad that the taxi fare is regulated and that one knows what to expect. There is always the #95 airport bus into Central Athens if the taxi fare is too expensive. Both taxi and bus take about the same time, depending on traffic.

I totally agree, its a shame that Greece doesn't get the benefit from being in the union like other countries