Getting Around Athens at Night: Taxis, Metro and Safe Rides Home

Athens comes alive after dark. Dinner rarely starts before 9 pm, rooftop bars fill up late, and many flights and ferries leave in the small hours. Here is how to get around the city at night without stress.

The metro at night

On most nights the metro stops running around midnight and starts again early in the morning. Since September 2025, Athens has been running a 24-hour service on Saturday nights on some metro lines, with some tram and bus lines as well. It is a big help for a night out, but check the current schedule on the official STASY and OASA websites before you rely on it, especially for an early flight.

Yellow taxis after midnight

Licensed yellow taxis run all night. Between midnight and 5 am the meter switches to a higher night tariff, and the official fixed fare from the airport to the city centre is also higher at night. Use licensed taxis or a taxi app, check the meter is running, and agree the price before longer trips. In busy areas like Syntagma, Monastiraki and Gazi, the queue for a taxi late on a weekend can be long.

When a pre-booked driver makes sense

• Early flights and ferries. A 5 am pickup for the airport or Piraeus is booked and confirmed the day before, so you are not looking for a taxi in the dark with your luggage.
• Late arrivals. Your driver tracks your flight and waits in arrivals with a name sign, even if you land after midnight.
• A night out in a group. One minivan for up to 6 people, a fixed price, and a ride back to your hotel or Airbnb when you are ready.
• Dinner by the sea. A table in Vouliagmeni or Varkiza on the Athens Riviera is easy to reach by car and awkward by public transport late at night.

Our services between 23:30 and 06:30 carry a 20% night surcharge, and the price is still agreed in advance, per car. See our Athens taxi prices, or book a night airport taxi.

Night safety tips

• Athens is generally safe at night, but keep an eye on phones and bags in crowded areas and on the metro.
• Only get into licensed taxis or cars you booked yourself. Ignore unofficial drivers offering rides at the airport or port.
• Keep your hotel’s address written down, in Greek if possible.
• Check for public transport strikes the day before an early departure.

Weighing up a taxi against a private driver? Read our honest comparison, or ask us for a fixed price for your late-night or early-morning ride.