Help with layover in Athens
 

We will be stuck for 4 hours in the Athens airport awaiting a flight to Crete mid May this year.
Any suggestions for a quick look around the city or perhaps dining? Is it possible to store our carry ons in the airport??
Thanks for any suggestions

4 hours is not enough time to spend any quality time in the city. the Metro from the airport is down now anyway, which leaves the more than efficient bus, but it's speed is dependent upon traffic.
You cannot possibly spend less than several hours in Athens to get a feel for it or to see anything notable.

You can carry items at airport, at the check in, far end by the bathrooms by the exit.

We usually have 4 hours between our US flight and the Olympic flight to the island, and spend it browsing the shops in the airport, reading the paper and sitting in the taverna over a glass of retsina or two, talking over the month of fun to come!
That 4 hours goes by in a flash and before we know it we're in the air.

Thank you djuna.
I was hoping a hop in a cab and maybe somewhere for a short walk to combat jet lag etc..!
If anyone has any other suggestions we would love to hear from you.

There's a really nice hotel ( I want to say a SOFITEL, but I'm blanking right now if it is that or not) at the Athens airport, where we once had a very good dinner while waiting for a connecting flight. Don't think you really have time to go into Athens itself, since it's about a 45 minute cab ride.

Yes, it is the Sofitel at the airport, great way to spend time at the airport. I do not know if they still sell day passes to the spa, but a couple yearrs ago, we took a swim, steam (or sauna..my mind fails me), a shower, and had a light excellent meal..wonderful after the run from JFK! There is also a mall, IKEA, a Zoo, all close by. One year with a layover of six hours, we found a willing taxi, he sped us to Sounion and the Temple of Posedion, we took a quick dip, and back we went. He drove like a champ and knew the fastest route..it wasn't cheap, but it was a great way to arrive!

Thank you very much!
Sounds like we will have someting to pass the time and hopefully shake off the jet lag.
Thanks for your input.