Coastal metropolitan park
A large new public park along the Athens Riviera waterfront.
Athens Riviera · The Ellinikon
Hellinikon Casino: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens
An integrated casino resort under construction at The Ellinikon on the Athens Riviera, developed by Hard Rock International and GEK TERNA on the site of the former Hellinikon Airport.
Construction began 2023 · opening targeted for around 2026
Overview
What is Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens?
Also spelled Elliniko, Ellinikon or Hellenikon — all refer to the same place.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens is the integrated casino resort being built inside The Ellinikon, the large redevelopment of the former Athens International Airport at Elliniko, which closed in 2001. It combines a casino floor, a hotel tower, a live entertainment venue and a large convention and exhibition centre in one complex on the Athens Riviera, south of central Athens.
The project was previously announced as "Inspire Athens" under Mohegan Gaming, and many people still search for it under that older name. It is now developed and branded by Hard Rock International, which holds 51% of the venture, together with Greek infrastructure group GEK TERNA on 49%, operating under a 30-year casino concession.
Construction began in 2023. As of September 2026, the publicly stated target is an opening around 2026, but megaproject timelines shift and no firm opening date should be treated as confirmed. This page tracks what has been officially stated rather than speculation.
Specifications
Key facts
The headline specifications of the Hellinikon casino resort as publicly stated by its developers.
~15,000 m²
Casino floor area
~200
Gaming tables
~2,000
Gaming machines
~1,100
Hotel beds (900 rooms + 200 suites)
~3,000
Hard Rock Live indoor seats
+7,500
Extra guests via outdoor stage extension
23,000+ m²
Convention & exhibition space
30 years
Casino concession term
- Developers
- Hard Rock International (51%) and GEK TERNA Group (49%)
- Location
- The Ellinikon, Athens Riviera, former Elliniko/Hellinikon Airport site
- Former project name
- Inspire Athens (under Mohegan Gaming)
- Hotel amenities
- Rooftop pool, Rock Spa, Body Rock Fitness
- Construction start
- 2023
- Opening
- Expected around 2026 — not officially fixed
Context
The Ellinikon: the bigger picture
The casino resort is one piece of The Ellinikon, one of Europe's largest urban regeneration projects. The masterplan converts the disused airport and its coastal frontage into a new district for the southern Athens suburbs.
That wider development gives the resort its context: visitors arriving for a show or a stay will find a park, a marina and retail on the doorstep rather than an isolated gaming venue.
Marina & waterfront
Rebuilt marina and beachfront access on the Saronic Gulf.
Retail & offices
Shopping and commercial districts inside the masterplan.
Schools & health
New education and healthcare facilities for the district.
History
From Athens Airport to Ellinikon
Hellinikon was Athens' former airport before The Ellinikon redevelopment began turning the disused airfield into a new coastal district.
- 1938
- The site opened as Kalamaki Airfield, about 8 km south of central Athens.
- 1957 onward
- It became Greece's main international airport and the home base of Olympic Airways, the airline founded in 1957 with backing from Aristotle Onassis.
- 1969
- The East Terminal, designed by architect Eero Saarinen, was completed and is being preserved as part of The Ellinikon redevelopment.
- 1940s–1991
- The United States Air Force used facilities at Hellinikon from the 1940s until 1991.
- March 2001
- Hellinikon closed when Eleftherios Venizelos Airport opened ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games.
- 2004–late 2010s
- The disused site briefly hosted 2004 Olympic venues for field hockey, baseball, softball and canoe-kayak slalom, then sat largely derelict for nearly two decades.
- Around 2020
- Demolition and redevelopment work began turning the former airport into The Ellinikon.
Location & distances
Getting to Hellinikon
Hellinikon sits about 10 km south of Syntagma in central Athens, with Metro Line 2, tram connections and road access linking it to the Athens Riviera.
- Central Athens (Syntagma)
- About 10 km south. Metro Line 2 runs from Syntagma to Elliniko in roughly 17–18 minutes before any last-mile connection; taxis often take about 20–30 minutes outside heavy traffic.
- Tram access
- Tram T6 connects Syntagma with Pikrodafni, and Tram T7 runs along the coast between Agia Triada and Asklipieio Voulas, serving Elliniko, Glyfada and Voula.
- Nearest beaches
- Alimos, Glyfada and Voula beaches sit along the coastal tram corridor within a few kilometres of Hellinikon; Vouliagmeni is farther south on the Athens Riviera and is usually reached by road or onward local transport.
- Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
- For travelers flying in, express bus X97 links Eleftherios Venizelos Airport with Elliniko Metro Station in roughly 40–45 minutes; taxi times vary with traffic.
Things to do nearby
What to do around Ellinikon
The area around Hellinikon combines The Ellinikon coastal park, Athens Riviera beaches, Glyfada and Vouliagmeni day-trip stops before the casino resort opens.
The Ellinikon coastal park area
The coastal park area is the public-space anchor of The Ellinikon redevelopment and the clearest way to understand the scale of the former airport site.
Glyfada marina and shopping streets
Glyfada is the closest established Riviera hub, with marina walks, cafés, shops and beach access south of Hellinikon.
Vouliagmeni Lake
Vouliagmeni Lake is a thermal lake farther south on the Athens Riviera and is one of the best-known natural sights near Hellinikon.
Nearby Athens Riviera beaches
Alimos, Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni give visitors several beach options within the southern coastal suburbs.
Glyfada Golf Club of Athens
Glyfada Golf Club of Athens is the long-established golf course nearest to The Ellinikon site.
Where to eat
Eating near Hellinikon
The easiest eating areas near Hellinikon are Glyfada, Alimos, Vouliagmeni and the local streets around Elliniko and Argyroupoli.
Glyfada centre
Use Glyfada for the widest mix of cafés, casual restaurants, bakeries and evening dining near Hellinikon.
Marina Alimos
Marina Alimos is useful for waterfront dining north of Hellinikon, especially before or after a coastal tram trip.
Vouliagmeni and Laimos
Vouliagmeni and the Laimos area are better suited to seafood tavernas and Riviera-style meals farther south along the coast.
Elliniko and Argyroupoli
The inland streets around Elliniko and Argyroupoli are better for local, everyday restaurants away from the beachfront.
Accommodation
Where to stay near Hellinikon
The resort hotel is not open yet. Until it is, the Glyfada, Elliniko and Alimos coastal suburbs are the closest bases for visiting the Athens Riviera, all within a short tram or metro ride of the Ellinikon site.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When will the Hellinikon casino open?
Construction began in 2023 and the publicly stated target is an opening around 2026. As of September 2026 no firm opening date has been confirmed, and large projects of this scale commonly shift, so treat any date as provisional.
How big is Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens?
The casino floor is planned at approximately 15,000 m² with around 200 gaming tables and about 2,000 gaming machines, alongside a hotel tower of roughly 1,100 beds and more than 23,000 m² of convention and exhibition space.
How far is Ellinikon from central Athens?
Hellinikon is about 10 km south of Syntagma in central Athens. Metro Line 2 runs from Syntagma to Elliniko in roughly 17–18 minutes before any last-mile connection, while taxi times depend on traffic.
What was at Ellinikon before the casino?
Hellinikon was Athens' former international airport before The Ellinikon redevelopment. The site opened as Kalamaki Airfield in 1938, closed in March 2001 when Eleftherios Venizelos Airport opened, and later hosted several 2004 Olympic venues.
What can visitors do near Hellinikon before the casino opens?
Visitors can use Hellinikon as a base for The Ellinikon coastal park area, Glyfada, nearby Athens Riviera beaches, Vouliagmeni Lake and Glyfada Golf Club of Athens before Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens opens.
Is there legal gambling in Greece?
Yes. Greece has a licensed and regulated gambling market covering land-based casinos, betting and licensed online operators. The Hellinikon resort operates under a 30-year casino concession awarded for the site.
Where is Hellinikon located?
Hellinikon (Elliniko) is on the Athens Riviera in the southern suburbs of Athens, Greece, on the site of the former Athens International Airport, which closed in 2001. It sits on the coast between Glyfada and Alimos.
What was Inspire Athens?
Inspire Athens was the earlier name for the same Hellinikon casino resort project, announced under Mohegan Gaming. The scheme is now developed and branded as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens by Hard Rock International with GEK TERNA.
Who is building the Athens Riviera casino resort?
The venture is led by Hard Rock International with a 51% stake, together with Greek infrastructure and energy group GEK TERNA holding 49%, under a 30-year concession at The Ellinikon.
Looking for casinos you can play at today in Greece?
The Hellinikon resort is still a construction site. If you want licensed options that are available right now, this overview of legal casinos in Greece is a useful starting point:
Legal casinos in Greece (νόμιμα καζίνο στην Ελλάδα)