Athens Metro Line 3 Night Closures, September 2026: Airport Line Splits in Two
Update 11 October 2026: this block ended on 8 October. The works have now moved to the Ambelokipi–Chalandri section on the nights of 11–15 and 18–22 October, with different stations and different times — see our October 2026 Line 3 night closures alert.
Updated 27 September 2026: Athens Metro Line 3 — the blue line that runs directly to Athens International Airport — is being cut into two separate sections at night while rail-replacement works continue between Elaionas and Monastiraki. The programme has been extended: after the first block of 7–10 September, the same night closures apply again on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September, and every night from Sunday 20 to Thursday 24 September 2026, and OASA now confirms a further block every night from Sunday 27 September to Thursday 1 October 2026, and has since added another block from Sunday 4 to Thursday 8 October 2026. The stations Elaionas, Kerameikos and Monastiraki close at 21:40, about two and a half hours earlier than usual, and after that time every airport train starts or finishes at Syntagma. If you have a late evening flight or a late arrival on those nights, the metro will not take you the whole way.
| What changes | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nights affected | 7–10, 16–17, 20–24 September, 27 September–1 October and 4–8 October 2026, from 21:40 until end of service |
| Stations closing early | Elaionas, Kerameikos and Monastiraki — shutters down at 21:40 |
| Line 3 split into | Dimotiko Theatro – Egaleo, and Syntagma – Doukissis Plakentias – Airport |
| Last through train to the airport | 21:06 from Dimotiko Theatro (Piraeus) |
| Last through train from the airport | 21:10 from Athens Airport towards Piraeus |
| Airport trains after 21:40 | Depart Syntagma at 22:02, 22:38 and 23:14 only |
| Trains from the airport after 21:40 | Depart 21:46, 22:22, 22:58 and 23:34 — all terminate at Syntagma |
| Replacement bus | Temporary line X24, Syntagma Metro Station – Egaleo Metro Station, running Sunday to Thursday from 21:40 to end of service |
What is happening on Line 3
Attiko Metro is replacing rails on the section between Elaionas and Monastiraki, and the works move to that stretch from Monday 7 September. Because trains cannot pass through the closed section at night, Line 3 will run as two independent shuttles once the restrictions take effect at 21:40: one between Dimotiko Theatro and Egaleo in the west, and one between Syntagma, Doukissis Plakentias and the Airport in the east. The three stations in the middle — Elaionas, Kerameikos and Monastiraki — simply close for the night.
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Welcome PickupsThe last trains heading east towards Doukissis Plakentias leave Dimotiko Theatro at 21:06, Egaleo at 21:20, Elaionas at 21:22, Kerameikos at 21:25 and Monastiraki at 21:27. In the other direction, the last train towards Dimotiko Theatro leaves Doukissis Plakentias at 21:30, Syntagma at 21:49, Monastiraki at 21:51, Kerameikos at 21:53 and Elaionas at 21:56.
To bridge the closed section, OASA is running a temporary bus line, X24 Syntagma Metro Station – Egaleo Metro Station, from 21:40 until the network shuts down. Heading from Syntagma towards Egaleo it calls at Syntagma on Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, Omonia on Panepistimiou Street, Monastiraki on Ermou Street and Kerameikos on Iera Odos.
What this means for your airport transfer
The practical problem is not the works themselves — it is that Monastiraki, the station most visitors use for Plaka, and the whole Piraeus end of the line are cut off from the airport branch after 21:40. On every affected night:
- Departing on a late flight? The last direct metro to the airport from the Piraeus side leaves Dimotiko Theatro at 21:06. After that you must reach Syntagma yourself and catch the 22:02, 22:38 or 23:14. Miss the 23:14 and there is no metro to the airport at all.
- Arriving late? The last four trains from the airport (21:46, 22:22, 22:58, 23:34) stop at Syntagma. They will not take you to Monastiraki, Kerameikos, Egaleo or Piraeus — you finish the journey on foot, on the X24 bus or by taxi, with luggage, close to midnight.
- Staying in Piraeus for an early ferry? There is no late metro link from the airport to the port on these nights.
For any arrival or departure after about 21:00 on these nights, a pre-booked door-to-door transfer is the simpler option: a fixed price, a driver waiting in arrivals, and no changing trains or hunting for a replacement bus stop at 23:00 with suitcases. Daytime travel on these dates is completely unaffected — Line 3 runs normally all day and the €9 one-way airport metro ticket is unchanged.
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Welcome PickupsSource: Athens Transport, 4 September 2026 and Athens Transport, 16 September 2026, reporting the Attiko Metro and OASA announcements.
Skip the late-night changeover
If your flight lands or leaves after 21:00 on one of these nights, book a fixed-price Athens airport transfer and go straight to your door.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Athens airport metro closed in September 2026?
No. Line 3 keeps running to the airport all day and evening. From 21:40 on the nights of Monday 7 to Thursday 10, Wednesday 16 to Thursday 17 and Sunday 20 to Thursday 24 September the line is split, so airport trains only run between Syntagma and the airport. The last airport-bound train leaves Syntagma at 23:14 and the last train out of the airport departs at 23:34, terminating at Syntagma.
Which Athens metro stations close early on those nights?
Elaionas, Kerameikos and Monastiraki close at 21:40, roughly two and a half hours before their normal closing time. Every other Line 3 station stays open on its usual schedule, and Lines 1 and 2 are not affected.
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Welcome PickupsHow do I get from Athens airport to Piraeus late at night during the works?
The metro will only take you as far as Syntagma after 21:40. From there you would need the temporary X24 bus towards Egaleo and a further connection, or a taxi. The 24-hour X96 airport bus to Piraeus and private transfers run as normal, and a pre-booked transfer is the most direct way to reach Piraeus or a port hotel late at night.
Related guides
- Athens strikes and travel disruptions: live tracker
- Athens airport metro guide: tickets, times and route
- Athens airport taxi guide 2026: fixed fares explained
- Athens airport buses: X95, X96 and X93 explained
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