Eastern Attica: From the Margins to the Center of Development
At the heart of the Mesogeia plain operates Athens International Airport, Greece’s primary air gateway and one of the most important transportation hubs in Southeastern Europe. Its presence alone has reshaped the geography of Eastern Attica, but recent developments suggest that its influence is now entering a new phase.
In the first half of 2025, the airport handled more than 15 million passengers, recording strong growth compared to the same period last year. This upward trend reinforces the airport’s central role not only in tourism, but also in business mobility, logistics, and regional development.
At the same time, extensive expansion works are underway. New terminal facilities covering approximately 150,000 square meters aim to increase annual capacity to 40 million passengers. When completed, Athens’ airport will stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe’s major aviation hubs, significantly upgrading Greece’s international connectivity.
A Strategic Pair: Airport and Passenger Port
Only a short distance to the east lies the Port of Rafina, completing a rare and powerful infrastructure pairing. As the second-largest passenger port in Attica, Rafina serves over 1.5 million passengers each year, with particularly strong connections to the Cyclades.
Recent upgrades to its facilities underline Rafina’s broader importance. Far from being a purely local harbor, it has become a key link in Greece’s maritime transport network, supporting island accessibility and reinforcing the country’s tourism backbone.
The close proximity of a major international airport and a high-capacity passenger port within such a limited geographic area is a combination few European regions can match and one that significantly amplifies Eastern Attica’s strategic value.
Greece’s Strongest Retail and Leisure Cluster
Eastern Attica has also emerged as the country’s most concentrated retail and entertainment destination. Smart Park, with its mix of stores, restaurants, and open green spaces, has become a benchmark for contemporary commercial development.
Nearby, Designer Outlet Athens and Factory Outlet Airport form a unique retail cluster of national reach. Easy access from the Attiki Odos motorway and the airport further enhances the area’s appeal.
Adding another layer is the Attica Zoological Park, the largest zoo in Greece, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Together, these activities have created thousands of jobs and transformed Spata into a destination with influence well beyond the region itself.
A Quiet but Decisive Shift Toward Digital Infrastructure
Beyond transport, retail, and leisure, Eastern Attica is undergoing a less visible but equally significant-transition. In Spata, close to the commercial core, a cutting-edge data center is being developed by the Data In Scale consortium, with the participation of Public Power Corporation and international investors.
The first phase alone provides 12.5 MW of capacity, supported by investments reaching hundreds of millions of euros, with clear potential for future expansion. This type of infrastructure underpins cloud services, data storage, cybersecurity, and the digital operations of large organizations.
At the same time, major water and sewage projects are being implemented by EYDAP, strengthening the basic infrastructure that any long-term development strategy depends on.
Microsoft and the Emergence of a Regional Data Hub
Within this evolving ecosystem, Microsoft’s decision to invest in hyperscale infrastructure marks a turning point. The planned data center campus in Spata, with an investment approaching €1 billion, positions Eastern Attica as a key node in Southeastern Europe’s digital landscape.
The choice reflects a combination of factors: proximity to international transport links, reliable energy supply, advanced telecommunications, and available land. Just as importantly, it opens the door to attracting skilled professionals and complementary technology-driven activities.
Redefining Eastern Attica’s Role
The long-standing perception of Eastern Attica as a secondary or overlooked region no longer aligns with reality. A globally connected airport, a strategic passenger port, the country’s strongest retail and leisure hub, and landmark investments in digital infrastructure form a development profile of national importance.
The new data centers in Spata are not isolated projects. They signal a deeper shift: Eastern Attica’s transformation into a strategic center for infrastructure, technology, and investment.
What matters now is how this transformation is understood and managed. For local communities, it must translate into improved quality of life, resilient infrastructure, and meaningful employment. For the country as a whole, it is clear evidence that Eastern Attica has moved decisively from the periphery to the forefront of Greece’s development story.
