Yes, Uber operates in Athens and across Greece, but only for taxis, as UberX is banned! Here is why – and four great alternatives you can safely use.
Last updated: 7 Nov 2025
One of the most common questions visitors ask when coming to Athens, Greece, is: “Is there Uber in Athens?”. And it makes perfect sense.
The app serves more than 10.000 cities worldwide and offers affordable transportation.
I also use it on many of my trips; I think it’s an excellent way to understand better the city I am visiting by starting a conversation with the local drivers.
However, the legal framework varies from country to country; consequently, the application’s services must be modified.
Greece, of course, is no exception. In 2018, after many protests from taxi associations and legal disputes, Uber decided to suspend its UberX service.
In case you did not know, UberX is the company’s basic service provided by non-professional drivers.
At the time, UberX employed about 1.300 amateur drivers in Athens.
Conditions were tense, with professional taxi drivers characterizing Uber drivers as “pirates” who were “illegally stealing their work”.
As a result, there were even violent reactions when striking taxi drivers met Uber drivers.
Does Athens have Uber?
Following the court decision, the technology company decided to modify its operations in Greece.
Leaving the country was not an option. Thus it made only the Uber Taxi service available, which includes hiring a regular taxi with a professional driver.
Initially, Uber limited its operation to Athens; the Greek capital is a market too valuable to lose.
It has a significant population of 4.000.000 inhabitants, while it is also a top-rated tourist destination.
A few years later, in 2021, Uber started offering its services in more Greek destinations.
Today, you can find Uber in Greece not only in its two largest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, but also on eight of the country’s most popular islands, including Paros and Santorini.
Back in Athens, when you choose to use the Uber app, your ride will always be one of the city’s classic yellow taxis.
These are licensed vehicles equipped with a taximeter.
You will also know the car’s registration number and model in advance, and you can check the driver’s rating before confirming your ride.
Lastly, you can pay by card or PayPal, even if the driver does not have a POS machine.
Uber Alternatives in Athens
If you can’t find a ride on Uber in Athens -or simply want to explore alternatives- here’s what locals also use:
1. FREENOW. The most popular alternative among locals. Its popularity is such that most taxi drivers in Athens use it. However, it adds a €1.20 fee to your ride compared to hailing a taxi directly on the street.
2. Taxiplon. A local taxi app that has been growing in popularity recently.
3. Bolt. As of 2025, the European competitor to Uber has also launched operations in Athens.
Be careful, nevertheless; finding a taxi with any application during rush hour isn’t easy. Drivers prefer to turn off their phones and pick up passengers from the street to avoid paying commission fees.
4. Right off the street. If you’re not in a hurry, you can always try to hail a taxi on the street. However, e.g., if you’re landing in Athens, I recommend using a pre-booked taxi to avoid the hassle.
The service I usually recommend, especially for airport and port transfers, is the local startup Welcome Pickups. They offer excellent service and have expanded to many cities abroad.
Even though their flat rate is a few euros more expensive, they are worth it.
They use only top-rated drivers, wait for you at the arranged meeting point even if your arrival is delayed, and have numerous positive reviews on TripAdvisor and Trustpilot.
Uber, though, is significantly better when it comes to daily commuting in the city. Without a doubt, it offers much better prices and greater availability.
How Much Will I Pay for a Taxi?
The state of Greece is the one that sets the taxi fares in Athens, which also applies to Uber Taxi.
The final price is calculated based on travel time, distance, and any related surcharges. Moreover, taxis have different prices based on the time of day.
Therefore, expect the same ride to have an additional fare late at night, contrasting with the morning.
Specifically, the charges are the following:
| Minimum fare | €4,00 |
| Base fare | €1,80 |
| Cost per km | €0,90 between 05:00 and 23:59 and €1,25 between 00:00 and 04:59. |
| Cost per minute | €0,30. This charge only applies when the taxi fully stops (e.g., traffic lights, STOP signs, etc.). |
Furthermore, there are specific surcharges:
| Airport surcharge | €4,00 |
| Luggage surcharge (heavier than 10kg) | €0,39 each |
| Harbor or bus station surcharge | €1,07 |
Remember that the car’s taximeter will be operational throughout your journey and will calculate your fare in real-time, minus any surcharges.
The driver will stop the taximeter at the end of the route and determine the final fare, including any applicable surcharges.
On the contrary, note that the rate is flat if you plan to use a taxi to the city center from Athens airport.
Specifically, from 05:00 to 23:59, the route costs €40, and from 00:00 to 05:00, it costs €55. The prices include all base charges and surcharges plus tolls.
Do I Need Uber in Athens?
With the above in mind, you should know that you may not need a taxi if you plan to move only around the center of Athens.
As a rule, stick to the metro; it’s by far the most reliable option. Moreover, walk as much as possible.
It’s the best way to enjoy the sights, such as taking a walk to the famous Acropolis, the well-known Ancient Agora of Athens, and the picturesque Plaka.
On the other hand, if you plan to cover longer distances, such as going to the beach, you can always rent a car.
You can search online for the best prices on Discovercars.com. Furthermore, you will find all the necessary information in my quick and all-inclusive guide on how to get around Athens.
But if you need a taxi, then use one of the services mentioned above.
It is definitely better than taking a cab on the street.
Conclusion: Ridesharing and Accommodation Tips
I hope this article helped you understand what’s going on with Uber in Athens and across Greece.
If you want to learn more about Uber in Greece and how it operates in each destination, check out my detailed guides for:
Additionally, don’t miss my Bolt in Athens guide for everything you need to know about the service.
Lastly, if you are searching for accommodation, take a look at my “Top 10 Neighborhoods to Stay in Athens for Every Traveler” guide! It covers the most reliable neighborhoods, the city’s best hotels, and the areas you should avoid.
Make Your Trip Easier
Airport Transfer
If you want to get to and from Athens Airport with peace of mind, I recommend pre-booking your taxi with Welcome Pickups. Their flat rate is a few euros more expensive than random taxis, but it is totally worth it. They use local, English-speaking drivers, who will wait for you even if your flight is delayed and introduce you to the city during your ride.
Accommodation
I always book my accommodation through Tripadvisor. It compares prices from multiple booking platforms, like Booking.com, Agoda, Trip.com, etc., so you can easily find the best deal. It’s the simplest way to make sure you’re not overpaying.
Activities
From day trips to Greek islands to Acropolis Guided Tours, GetYourGuide will help you find some unique ideas for your trip.
Car Rental
If you decide to rent a car while in Athens, check Discovercars. It compares the most reliable companies and returns the best prices with free cancellation.
Free Athens Tours
If you have limited time or want a local guide to introduce you to the city, check GuruWalk. They offer free tours, and at the end, you give them the amount you think is fair.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you if you get sick or injured while abroad, or if you lose your luggage or your flight is delayed. On my trips, I use SafetyWing as it’s affordable and has a simple claims process.
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Andreas, like your webspace a lot, very informative. I fell across it looking for my former favourite baklava supplier (Karavan) which seems to have disappeared entirely. Lived in Greece for 20 years, during three different ‘postings’. Still have in-laws in Athens, but do not visit as often as in the past. During my last visit a couple of months ago I used Freenow almost exclusively. Freenow is exceptional (except on rainy days – Athenians will know what that means).
Keep up your extremely well written info.
Uber in Athens is a joke. They can add extras in the end and because most of the uber drivers are taxi drivers they continue to scam people even on uber. On my last trip from the house i stayed in Nea smirni to the Airport they added 10 euros in the end when it should have been only 4 euros to the airport as we did not go via the motorway ( Attiki odos) and the two luggage bags we had were each 5 kilos.
( normally it should be 50 pence for anything above 8 kilos)
When I used it to go to Athens from nea Smirni they added 1.50 euro in the end
UBER IN GREECE NEEDS TO SORT THEMSEVES OUT
Hello Grace,
Unfortunately, there are still a few drivers who try to overcharge passengers. That’s why I strongly recommend pre-booking a taxi, as the price is fixed in advance and eliminates any surprises.
Thank you so much for the information. I wasn’t sure if Uber was reliable, but now I understand it’ll be a yellow taxi. All good info about everything Greece/Athens related