The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and Cyprus, but not to EU member state Ireland.[1] The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schengen area.
Cyprus, while an EU member state, is not yet part of the Schengen Area but, nonetheless, has a visa policy that is partially based on the Schengen acquis.[1]
Nationals of EU single market countries are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other’s countries.[1] However, their right to freedom of movement in each other’s countries can be limited in a reserved number of situations, as prescribed by EU treaties.
Tourism
Athens has been a destination for travellers since antiquity. Over the 2000s, the city’s infrastructure and social amenities have improved, in part because of its successful bid to stage the 2004 Olympic Games.
In recent years, Athens has become more dynamic with the addition of numerous new bars and cafés and a growing presence of street art and graffiti, enhancing its urban edge and adding more tourist options alongside the city’s archaeological sites and museums.[3]
Athens railways network (Metro, Suburban Railway and Tram)
Athens is the country’s major transportation hub. The city has Greece’s largest airport and its largest port; Piraeus, too, is the largest container transport port in the Mediterranean, and the largest passenger port in Europe.
Athens is a major national hub for Intercity (Ktel) and international buses, as well as for domestic and international rail transport. Public transport is serviced by a variety of transportation means, making up the country’s largest mass transit system. Transport for Athens operates a large bus and trolleybus fleet, the city’s Metro and a tram network, connecting the southern suburbs to the city centre.[4]Hellenic Train operates Suburban Railway services.
Athens is served by the Athens International Airport (ATH), located near the town of Spata, in the eastern Messoghia plain, some 35 km (22 mi) east of the centre of Athens.[117] The airport, awarded the “European Airport of the Year 2004” Award,[118] is intended as an expandable hub for air travel in southeastern Europe and was constructed in 51 months, costing 2.2 billion euros. It employs a staff of 14,000.[118]
Airlines and destinations
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Athens Airport:
Athens International Airport – Destination Map (February 2026). Red shows regularly connected countries with both passenger and cargo operations. Light blue shows Greece, where the airport is located. Orange shows Hong Kong, the lone cargo-only country. Yellow shows seasonally linked countries. Blue shows Estonia, the country confirmed to be connected in the future.
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