If you find yourself on an overnight layover during your flight through Athens, Greece, there are fortunately a number of great ways to beat the boredom and get some rest while you wait for your connecting flight at Athens International Airport.

Although there is a hotel relatively close, the Athens Airport Sofitel, it can be quite expensive, and oftentimes overnight layovers are too short to justify spending extra on accommodations for the night. There are hotels about an hour away via airport bus, such as the Oceanis in Glyfada, but the commute alone will consume most of your rest time.

For those traveling during the summer and busy tourist months, however, there are numerous fantastic facilities, activities to explore, and lounges where you can spend a significant amount of time at the airport.

Ways to Enjoy an Overnight Layover at Athens International Airport

Overnight in the Arrivals Lounge

Upon landing, you’ll be directed to the Arrival Lounge, which offers various facilities and entertainment options for weary travelers. Depending on your arrival time and whether you’re traveling in the off-season, many of these facilities may be closed.

Travel and car rental agencies, as well as coffee stands serving small meals, usually remain open later than most businesses. Notably, both travel agencies, Anistorion and Pacific, are known to stay open late, providing assistance and information to visitors, alongside the coffee shops in the Arrivals Lounge.

However, luggage check and other shops in the Arrivals Lounge typically close earlier in the night. Around 3 a.m., staff at the luggage check may not be available, but you might still find an open pharmacy or newsstand to grab snacks while you wait.

Additionally, there’s a convenient area in front of the pharmacy and opposite a florist where many travelers use the open benches or their luggage carts to catch a few moments of rest while they wait out the flight connection. Overnight travelers at Athens International Airport are generally seen as a necessary inconvenience rather than as vagrants who must be kept moving.

Late in the Departure Lounge

The Arrivals Lounge is noticeably quiet at night; however, even at 4 a.m., the Departures Lounge is often populated. Overnight sleepers can be found throughout the area, even in well-lit, public spaces. A helpful tip is that some benches in the shopping area do not have dividers, making them more comfortable than the benches in the outer parts of the departure area.

Moreover, you can discover numerous sleeping areas on the upper level—a darkened theater space located near the small museum showcasing archaeological finds from the airport area. While the information video plays continuously, this spot is ideal if you require darkness for your overnight stay at the airport.

Aside from clothing shops, which are closed at night, many stores remain open. You can purchase Mastica toothpaste at the Mastica Shop, Boutari wine from the Wine Cave, Korres beauty products from their store, and a variety of travel items available at several general stores that operate during late hours.

The Food Court typically remains open late, offering travelers a diverse selection of sandwiches, fresh pizza, and possibly less appetizing sushi, along with popular staples like McDonald’s and other international fast-food chains that usually serve decent, affordable coffee.

While shopping areas near the gates require a boarding pass—which might not be feasible if the airline counter has not opened—the vicinity around the main food court is accessible to all. Flight status monitors are conveniently placed nearby, so there’s no need to return downstairs to check on your flight.

Areas outside the Gates, which necessitate possession of a boarding pass, provide five-minute massage chairs and a private relaxation area. However, it’s advisable to be cautious, as airport personnel may ask you to leave if you attempt to sleep in this commercial zone.