Ways to the Athens Airport
 

We are flying out at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday. We will be staying at the Amaryllis Inn, which appears to be in the Omonia area, a block away from the Metro. I, know from reading, that the metro will not be ready yet (as I go in early june). What would be the best way to get there (4 adults)?

A taxi will cost 30EUR at most, mine from airport to Hotel Grande Bretagne cost 15EUR on the meter, so for four adults this is most reasonable.

Athens police are really cracking down on cabbies that overcharge. After we paid the cabdriver at the airport, police stopped the cab and asked us how much we had paid. When we indicated that we paid the official amount, the cabbie was free to go.

Marija
That's interesting news and not before time, I was ripped off in 2002 and vowed I would not be caught but was.
The bus from the airport to Syntagma Square is so easy and convenient, a taxi to Omonia Square from there would be the best bet.

Definitely take the dedicated, express bus to Syntagma. The 2.90 fare includes all day on the Metro and other buses. A rare travel value.

Ok, maybe I am alittle dense. Once I get to Syntagma Sq. how do I get to the airport? The metro isn't open to the airport yet, right? Is that square a hub for Express busses to the airport? And if so, is there plenty of room on them for luggage? And do they run early hours? I am sorry if this all sounds elementary, but my Brother-in-law tour guide is staying in Crete, so he won't be there to shuffle us around.

These 3 links might shed some light on the situation. There's a Metro Stop at Omonia but not an airport bus. For that you have to go to Syntagma Square. The Metro directly to the airport is supposed to be in the testing stage and is scheduled for use beginning the middle of July. Theoretically, once it's in operation, you can get on the Red Line Metro at Omonia, transfer to the Blue Line at Syntagma and ride all the way to the airport.


http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_infor...king/body.shtm

http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_infor...images/map.gif

http://www.aia.gr/EN/passenger_infor...s/WE95A_en.pdf

The first Metro out of Omonia to take to Syntagma, which is the central location from which the airport bus runs, does not leave until something like 5:40 a.m. If you took the first train, and then a bus to the airport (which tends to meander around and always takes longer than I think it should), I don't think you would get to the airport in time for an 8 am international flight.

With four adults you should be able to fit in one taxi, especially if you call the night ahead to arrange the pick up. If you are flying out at 8am on an international flight to the US, you probably want to be at the airport at 6am. If you are taking a taxi, that means you should arrange for the taxi to pick you up at the hotel at around 5:15am (this will give you enough leeway to deal with, for example, a taxi that is a little late). This is what I would really recommend, so that your trip ends on a positive high note, rather than in a flurry on last minute hassles.