Athens Travel Answers

It's not the best airport I've been in for resting between flights, but your best chance without leaving the airport is in the secure departures area. Find an empty terminal near your own departure terminal and lay out on some seats or on the floor. If it begins to fill up find another. It used to be that the upstairs area near the airport chapel was a good place to take a nap but I've read recently that airport security doesn't allow it anymore.

For you are looking for a hotel, the Sofitel Athens Airport is very conveniently located. No need to take a bus or cab: you get out of the airport and you will see the hotel just across the street.

Although the hotel sounds like a good idea if the layover is long enough, note that there are seven business lounges at the airport. aia.gr/pages.asp?pageid=1005... Normally, these lounges are available only to 1st class and maybe Business class passengers as well as frequent flyers who are members of the "club" (think: Admirals Club for American Airlines). However, there are some airports that permit you to buy a day pass to a lounge (although the official website doesn't mention this), and there are some airlines that permit you to buy a day pass to their lounge (i.e., American does this from time to time in the US). So I would suggest to you that you contact your airline and ask them if they have any deals on getting into a lounge. While a lounge won't have beds, it'll probably be a nicer place than hanging out in the main terminals with the hoi poloi ;-) Well, this gives you three options: hotel, lounge, or just the less busy part of a terminal... Bill

As Brotherleelove said the airport Chapel was a good place for a nap, but it is not allow, and generally looks bad when the staff is going into work with campers all over the hall ways and their front door. (I was one of them) Many people still sleep all over the place and camping under escalators like myself and spill into the Mc Donalds coffee lounge until we all get kicked out, Athens facilities is very poor in planning as I go out there year after year and get into Athens to wait for a connection at all hours of the night, It a shame that even the simple rat holes near the airport charges 50 plus euros a night while the better ones will charge way over 100 euros. so if you budget travel ,you have a long stay in Athens Airport to walk the grounds and look at their indoor museums. During the day you can take the bus and go shopping at Ikea nearby, or if you have lots of time, go into the city and tour Athens. It will get better when you reach your final destination with some extra Euros to spend for Grappa or Restina. LOL O pa cheers tommy x

As Brotherleelove said the airport Chapel was a good place for a nap, but it is not allow, and generally looks bad when the staff is going into work with campers all over the hall ways and their front door. (I was one of them) Many people still sleep all over the place and camping under escalators like myself and spill into the Mc Donalds coffee lounge until we all get kicked out, Athens facilities is very poor in planning as I go out there year after year and get into Athens to wait for a connection at all hours of the night, It a shame that even the simple rat holes near the airport charges 50 plus euros a night while the better ones will charge way over 100 euros. so if you budget travel ,you have a long stay in Athens Airport to walk the grounds and look at their indoor museums. During the day you can take the bus and go shopping at Ikea nearby, or if you have lots of time, go into the city and tour Athens. It will get better when you reach your final destination with some extra Euros to spend for Grappa or Restina. LOL O pa cheers tommy x

As Brotherleelove said the airport Chapel was a good place for a nap, but it is not allow, and generally looks bad when the staff is going into work with campers all over the hall ways and their front door. (I was one of them) Many people still sleep all over the place and camping under escalators like myself and spill into the Mc Donalds coffee lounge until we all get kicked out, Athens facilities is very poor in planning as I go out there year after year and get into Athens to wait for a connection at all hours of the night, It a shame that even the simple rat holes near the airport charges 50 plus euros a night while the better ones will charge way over 100 euros. so if you budget travel ,you have a long stay in Athens Airport to walk the grounds and look at their indoor museums. During the day you can take the bus and go shopping at Ikea nearby, or if you have lots of time, go into the city and tour Athens. It will get better when you reach your final destination with some extra Euros to spend for Grappa or Restina. LOL O pa cheers tommy x

As Brotherleelove said the airport Chapel was a good place for a nap, but it is not allow, and generally looks bad when the staff is going into work with campers all over the hall ways and their front door. (I was one of them) Many people still sleep all over the place and camping under escalators like myself and spill into the Mc Donalds coffee lounge until we all get kicked out, Athens facilities is very poor in planning as I go out there year after year and get into Athens to wait for a connection at all hours of the night, It a shame that even the simple rat holes near the airport charges 50 plus euros a night while the better ones will charge way over 100 euros. so if you budget travel ,you have a long stay in Athens Airport to walk the grounds and look at their indoor museums. During the day you can take the bus and go shopping at Ikea nearby, or if you have lots of time, go into the city and tour Athens. It will get better when you reach your final destination with some extra Euros to spend for Grappa or Restina. LOL O pa cheers tommy x

Wow Tommy VT must have been in slow mode for you to hit the button so often...LOL Marg

The seats in the downstairs part of the airport are metal and very uncomfortable to lie on. If your layover extends into the night, go up to the second floor (near the on-site museum - which is a good way to use up some time) and stretch out on the upholstered couches outside the restaurant (it closes down at night). When I was there, the whole floor was empty. Nobody had thought to go up there.

Manara gives you the most useful advice, so undoubtedly try Sofitel! Gilabrand (yes, benches are generally very uncomfortable!) and Brotherleelove (in deed, airport security staff does the best!), imagine the lounges of the Athens International Airport as an endless camp...for sleeping backpackers. Ask them if they can accept this scene in any international airport of their country!

Unfortunately the Athens Airport Sofitel Hotel is very expensive and does not offer use of their rooms for just a few hours at a reduced rate. If you want to go there to take a nap be prepared to pay a high premium rate as a walk-in.

YES WISE GIRL, THAT IS WHY WE NEED A EDIT BUTTON OPEN for the first 30 minutes. I did not mean to send so many times. I THINK THE connection was jammed. I do wonder why there are not many budget hotels for layovers. The greeks need to think outside the boxes like the Nippons because I see layover casualties all through the summer in Greece and i have been going there for the summer for the past ten years. cheers tommy x

Agree absolutely Tommy....same with reviews...we need 24 hours for corrections before they become updated instead of new.