Greece › Flights
Updated: May 10, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

See Also

• Greece Travel Guide
• Best Hotels in Athens
• Where to Stay in Athens
• Santorini Travel Guide
• Mykonos Travel Guide
• Crete Travel Guide
• Greek Ferries

Flying to Greece: Flights, Airports, Tickets, and Booking Tips

The biggest mistake when booking flights to Greece is assuming you need a simple round-trip ticket to Athens. Sometimes that is the cheapest and easiest option. But for many Greece itineraries, the smarter move is to fly into Athens and home from an island airport, or connect through a European hub directly to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, or Zakynthos.

I almost always start by searching a multi-city ticket, not a round-trip ticket. For example: fly into Athens, visit the mainland or Cyclades, then fly home from Santorini, Mykonos, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, or Corfu. It can save a full travel day, one ferry ride, one hotel night in Athens, and a lot of end-of-trip stress.

Flying to Greece: Quick Advice

• Best flight search tools: Use Google Flights for flexible dates and Kayak.com for comparing fares. Always check the airline’s own site before booking.
• Search multi-city first: Try Athens in, Santorini/Mykonos/Crete/Rhodes/Corfu out. Then compare it with a normal round-trip Athens ticket.
• Book earlier for summer: July and August flights, nonstop routes, and small-island domestic flights are the first to get expensive or sell out.
• Don’t assume Athens is required: Many Greek islands have seasonal nonstop flights from Europe.
• Be careful with separate tickets: A cheap self-transfer through Athens can become expensive if your first flight is delayed.
• No nonstop flights from North America to the Greek islands: Travelers from the USA and Canada fly nonstop to Athens or connect through Europe or the Middle East.

Best Way to Book Flights to Greece

Start with three searches.

First, search a round-trip ticket to Athens. This is often the cheapest fare, especially from North America, Australia, and the Middle East.

Second, search a multi-city ticket. Try flying into Athens and out of Santorini, Mykonos, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, or Corfu. It may cost more upfront, but it can save a ferry, a transfer, and a wasted night near Athens Airport.

Third, search a European connection. If you are going straight to an island, compare flights through London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Vienna, Zurich, Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai. From Europe, seasonal nonstop flights to the islands can be much easier than flying through Athens.

For complicated itineraries, tight connections, checked bags, or family travel, I prefer booking directly with the airline after using Google Flights or Kayak to compare options. If anything goes wrong, it is much easier to deal with the airline than a third-party booking site.

Which Airport Should You Fly Into in Greece?

Fly into Athens (ATH) if it is your first trip to Greece, you want a few days in Athens, you are visiting the mainland, or you want the widest choice of onward flights and ferries. Athens is the easiest all-purpose gateway.

Fly into Santorini (JTR) if Santorini is your main destination, or if you are combining Santorini with nearby islands like Ios, Folegandros, Naxos, or Paros.

Fly into Mykonos (JMK) if you are staying on Mykonos or connecting by ferry to Tinos, Syros, Paros, or Naxos.

Fly into Heraklion (HER) for Knossos, Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, central Crete, and eastern Crete.

Fly into Chania (CHQ) for Chania old town, western Crete, Balos, Falassarna, Elafonisi, and Rethymno.

Fly into Rhodes (RHO) for Rhodes, Symi, Halki, and parts of the Dodecanese.

Fly into Corfu (CFU) for Corfu and the Ionian Islands. For Corfu-only trips, connecting through Europe is easier than going through Athens.

Fly into Thessaloniki (SKG) for northern Greece, Halkidiki, Meteora from the north, or onward Balkan travel.

When to Book Flights to Greece

For July and August, start watching fares 8 to 10 months in advance. Book when you see a good fare, especially for nonstop flights, weekend departures, and island airports.

For May, June, September, and October, 3 to 6 months ahead is fine, but book earlier if you are flying to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, or Corfu during a holiday week or school-break period.

For November to March, fares are lower and availability is easier, but there are fewer nonstop flights to the islands. Athens remains the main year-round gateway.

For domestic island flights, book earlier than you would book ferries. Flights to Naxos, Milos, Paros, Syros, Leros, Astypalaia, and other smaller islands use small planes and can sell out well before ferry tickets sell out.

One Ticket vs Separate Tickets

This is the most important booking decision when flying to Greece.

One ticket means a protected connection. If you book New York to Athens to Santorini on one itinerary, the airline is responsible for getting you to Santorini if the first flight is late. Your checked bags are tagged through to your final destination. This is the safest way to connect.

Separate tickets mean you are self-transferring. If you book a flight to Athens and then separately book a Sky Express, Aegean, Ryanair, or Volotea flight to an island, you are on your own. If your first flight is late and you miss the second flight, the second airline does not have to rebook you for free.

At Athens Airport, a protected connection of 60 to 90 minutes can work when the airline sells it as one itinerary. For separate tickets, I would treat 2 hours as the bare minimum with hand luggage and an on-time arrival. With checked bags, summer crowds, non-Schengen passport control, or nervous travelers, 3 hours is much safer.

Flights to Athens

Athens International Airport (ATH), also called Eleftherios Venizelos, is the main airport in Greece and the best gateway for most first-time visitors. It is modern, efficient, and well connected to central Athens, Piraeus ferry port, Rafina ferry port, and the Greek islands.

Flying to Greece from the USA and Canada

Most nonstop flights from North America to Greece go to Athens. Recent summer schedules have included nonstop flights from New York/JFK, Newark, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Toronto, and Montreal, but routes and airlines change by season. Always confirm current schedules before building an itinerary around a nonstop flight.

There are currently no regular nonstop flights from the USA or Canada to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, or other Greek islands. North American travelers must connect in Athens, another European city, or a Middle Eastern hub.

West Coast travelers connect through the eastern U.S., Canada, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, or Istanbul.

Flying to Greece from the UK and Europe

UK and European travelers have the best island flight options. From spring through autumn, there are seasonal nonstop flights from many European cities to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Skiathos, Samos, and other islands.

Not every route operates daily, and many island flights are seasonal. Always search the island airport directly, not just Athens. A London to Santorini or Paris to Heraklion flight can be much easier than flying to Athens and then connecting onward.

Flying to Greece from Australia and New Zealand

There are no nonstop flights from Australia or New Zealand to Greece. The easiest routings are through Dubai, Doha, Singapore, or a major European hub.

Emirates via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha are the simplest one-stop patterns to Athens. If your final destination is an island, compare a one-stop flight to Athens plus a domestic connection with a route through Europe that continues directly to Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, or Corfu.

Flying Directly to the Greek Islands

Many travelers are surprised to learn they can bypass Athens entirely. This is especially useful if your trip is focused on one island or one island group.

Santorini (JTR) has seasonal nonstop flights from many European cities and year-round or near-year-round connections through Athens.

Mykonos (JMK) has strong summer service from Europe and Athens. It is also a useful ferry hub for nearby Cyclades islands.

Crete has two main international airports: Heraklion (HER) and Chania (CHQ). Heraklion is better for central and eastern Crete. Chania is better for western Crete. Sitia has a smaller airport with limited service and should not be treated as a main international gateway.

Rhodes (RHO), Corfu (CFU), Kos (KGS), Zakynthos (ZTH), Kefalonia (EFL), Skiathos (JSI), Samos (SMI), and Lesvos (MJT) also have international flights, mostly seasonal.

For island-only trips, always search the island airport first. If the price is reasonable, flying directly to the island can be far better than landing in Athens, transferring to Piraeus, and taking a long ferry.

Best Flight Routes for Popular Greece Itineraries

Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos

Fly into Athens and out of Santorini or Mykonos if the fare is reasonable. Use ferries between Santorini and Mykonos, with stops or routes through Paros or Naxos. Flying Santorini to Mykonos usually means connecting through Athens and is rarely worth it.

Athens and Santorini

Fly into Athens and out of Santorini, or the reverse. If the open-jaw fare is much higher, fly round-trip Athens and use a domestic flight or ferry one way.

Athens and Crete

Fly into Athens and out of Heraklion or Chania. Crete is large, and flying one way saves a full travel day. For many trips, it is better to arrive in Heraklion and depart from Chania, or the reverse.

Santorini Only

From Europe, search direct flights to Santorini. From North America, search Athens, London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, or Istanbul connections.

Crete Only

Search both Heraklion and Chania. They serve different parts of the island, and the “better” airport depends on where you are staying.

Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Zakynthos, or Kefalonia

For island-only trips, connecting through Europe can be easier than connecting through Athens. This is especially true in summer.

How Much Do Flights to Greece Cost?

Flight prices to Greece vary widely by season, route, airline, luggage rules, and how flexible your dates are. Treat these as rough planning ranges, not live fares.

From the USA or Canada to Athens, good shoulder-season fares can sometimes be found in the $600 to $900 range. Summer nonstop fares are closer to $900 to $1,500 or more, especially in July and August.

From London to Athens, cheap fares can be very low outside peak periods, but summer flights with luggage and seat selection cost much more than the headline fare.

From London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam to the Greek islands, fares are best when booked early and when flying midweek. Weekend flights to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu can jump quickly.

From Athens to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, or Thessaloniki, domestic flights are reasonable when booked early. Last-minute summer flights can be expensive.

From Athens to smaller islands like Naxos, Milos, Paros, Syros, Leros, and Astypalaia, prices can be high relative to the short flight time because planes are small and seats are limited.

Flying Within Greece

The main domestic airlines in Greece are Aegean Airlines, its regional partner Olympic Air, and Sky Express. Volotea and Ryanair also operate some Greece routes, especially seasonally.

Domestic flights are useful for Athens to Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Chios, Samos, Lesvos, and other distant islands. They are also useful for small islands with limited ferry connections.

But flights are not helpful for island hopping within the Cyclades. To get from Santorini to Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Ios, or Milos, ferries are more practical than flying through Athens.

Small Plane Warning

Flights to smaller islands such as Naxos, Milos, Paros, Syros, Leros, Astypalaia, and Kalymnos use smaller aircraft. Overhead bins can be limited, and standard U.S.-style roller bags may need to be gate-checked. A soft duffel or backpack is easier.

Always check your airline’s baggage rules before flying. Cabin baggage allowances differ by fare, aircraft, and operator.

Flying vs Ferry to the Greek Islands

Fly if the island is far from Athens. Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Samos, Lesvos, Chios, and Zakynthos are better by plane, especially if you are short on time.

Fly if you get seasick. Summer winds can make fast ferries rough, especially in the Cyclades.

Fly if you are arriving from abroad and connecting onward the same day. Athens Airport is much easier than landing, transferring across Athens to Piraeus, and catching a ferry.

Take the ferry if you are island hopping within one island group. Santorini to Naxos, Paros, Ios, or Mykonos is better by ferry. Athens to Hydra, Aegina, Poros, Andros, Tinos, Syros, and many Cyclades islands is also better by ferry.

Take the ferry if the airport is not close to where you are staying. Some islands have airports, but the ferry port may still be more convenient depending on your hotel location and route.

Athens Airport to Athens, Piraeus, and Rafina

Athens Airport is well connected, but arrival logistics matter.

To central Athens: Metro Line 3 connects the airport with Syntagma, Monastiraki, and other central stops. The airport metro ticket is €9 one-way and €16 return. Trains run every 30 minutes, and the ride to Syntagma takes about 40 minutes.

To Piraeus ferry port: Metro Line 3 runs from Athens Airport to Piraeus. The trip takes about 60 minutes. This is useful, but check your ferry gate before relying on the metro. Some Piraeus gates are a long walk or short taxi ride from the station.

To Rafina ferry port: Rafina is closer to the airport than Piraeus and is useful for ferries to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, and some Cyclades routes. The regional KTEL bus is cheap but schedules change. A taxi or pre-booked transfer is easier with luggage or a tight ferry connection.

For late-night arrivals: A taxi or pre-booked airport transfer is easier than public transport, especially after a long international flight.

Should You Rent a Car at the Airport?

If you need a rental car, airports are the easiest pickup point. Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, and Corfu airports generally have better inventory, longer hours, and more automatic cars than small city or port offices.

But do not rent a car for central Athens. Traffic is stressful, parking is difficult, and the metro, taxis, walking, and tours work better. If you are driving to Delphi, Meteora, the Peloponnese, or mainland beaches, pick up the car at Athens Airport and head straight to the highway.

On the islands, avoid picking up a car immediately after arriving at a chaotic ferry port if you can. For Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete, it is easier to take a transfer to your hotel and rent the car later, or pick it up at the airport.

Greek Islands with Airports

Major International Island Airports

Santorini, Mykonos, Crete Heraklion, Crete Chania, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Skiathos, Samos, Lesvos, Lemnos, and Karpathos all have international service, though many routes are seasonal.

Domestic-Only or Mostly Domestic Island Airports

Naxos, Paros, Milos, Syros, Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Kythira, Ikaria, Skyros, Leros, and Kastellorizo are reached mainly through Athens or other Greek domestic connections.

Popular Islands with No Airport

Ios, Folegandros, Sifnos, Serifos, Hydra, Spetses, Tinos, Andros, Amorgos, Patmos, Symi, and Antiparos do not have airports. You must arrive by ferry.

Major Greece Airport Codes

• ATH: Athens
• JTR: Santorini
• JMK: Mykonos
• HER: Heraklion, Crete
• CHQ: Chania, Crete
• RHO: Rhodes
• CFU: Corfu
• SKG: Thessaloniki
• KGS: Kos
• ZTH: Zakynthos
• EFL: Kefalonia
• SMI: Samos

Frequently Asked Questions About Flying to Greece

What is the best airport to fly into for Greece?

For most first-time visitors, Athens is the best airport to fly into. It has the most international flights, the best domestic connections, and easy access to ferries. But if your trip is focused on one island, search that island airport too. Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Zakynthos, and Kefalonia can all be better than Athens for the right itinerary.

Is it cheaper to fly to Athens or directly to a Greek island?

Athens is cheaper, especially from North America and outside Europe. But a direct or one-stop flight to an island can be better value if it saves a ferry, hotel night, airport transfer, or backtracking day.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Greece?

November, February, and March are among the cheapest months to fly to Greece. For better weather with lower fares than summer, look at May and October.

How far in advance should I book flights to Greece?

For July and August, start looking 8 to 10 months ahead and book when you find a good fare. For May, June, September, and October, 3 to 6 months ahead is fine. For domestic island flights on small planes, book as early as your itinerary allows.

Can you fly directly from the USA to Santorini or Mykonos?

No. There are no regular nonstop flights from the USA or Canada to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, or other Greek islands. You need to connect through Athens, or another European city.

Can I fly directly between Santorini and Mykonos?

Usually no. Most commercial flights between Santorini and Mykonos require a connection through Athens, which is rarely worth it. The ferry is faster and easier.

How much time do I need to connect at Athens Airport?

If your flights are on one ticket, follow the airline’s itinerary. A 60- to 90-minute connection can work when sold by the airline. If you booked separate tickets, allow at least 2 hours with hand luggage and 3 hours with checked bags, summer crowds, or a non-Schengen arrival.

Should I book one ticket or separate tickets to Greece?

One ticket is safer. Separate tickets can be cheaper, but they add risk. If your first flight is late, you can lose the second ticket. I only book separate tickets when the savings are meaningful and the connection buffer is generous.

Is business class worth it on domestic Greek flights?

Sometimes, but not for the seat. On short domestic flights, the onboard seat will not be any different (it’s a normal 3-seat row with the middle seat left empty). The real value is priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, lounge access (sometimes), and Fast Track security at Athens (sometimes).

Is it better to fly or ferry from Athens to Santorini?

Flying is faster and better if you are arriving from abroad, short on time, or prone to seasickness. The ferry is better if you want the sea approach, are stopping at other islands, or find a much cheaper fare. In summer, both flights and ferries should be booked in advance.

Which airlines fly within Greece?

Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, and Sky Express are the main domestic carriers. Volotea and Ryanair also operate some domestic or seasonal routes.

Do I need a visa to fly to Greece?

Travelers from the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia do not need a visa for short tourist stays in Greece and the Schengen Area of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned Schengen departure date, though 6 months is safer for avoiding airline or border problems.

What airport should I use for Crete?

Use Heraklion for Knossos, Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, and eastern Crete. Use Chania for Chania old town, western Crete, Balos, Falassarna, and Elafonisi. For longer trips, flying into one and out of the other can work very well.