Greece is one of the best-connected destinations in Europe. Direct flights to Athens-Eleftherios Venizelos run year-round from most major European capitals, with London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Zurich and Frankfurt all offering daily service. Flying time from London is around 3h45, from Paris about 3h15. Carriers include Aegean (the excellent flag carrier), British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Lufthansa and KLM; low-cost airlines typically offer the best fares, often €80–€180 return when booked two to four months ahead. From North America, direct flights to Athens run seasonally from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto.
In high season (June to September), an array of charter and scheduled flights also operate directly to the islands, bypassing Athens entirely. Santorini (Thira), Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Heraklion (Crete), Chania and Kefalonia all receive direct international flights. Avoid last-minute July–August bookings: fares to flagship islands routinely top €400–€500 return. The best pricing strategy for Greece is simple — travel in May–June or September, when both demand and weather are at their sweet spot.
The time difference is modest: Greece is in the Eastern European Time zone (UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer), one hour ahead of the UK and two hours ahead of central Europe, which makes jet lag a non-issue for European visitors.
Once you're on the ground, the islands are reached primarily from Piraeus, Athens's vast main port, with daily ferries to all of the Cyclades, the Dodecanese and the Sporades. From Rafina (closer to the airport), you can reach Mykonos, Naxos and Paros quickly. A conventional ferry to Santorini takes 7–8 hours; high-speed catamarans cut that to roughly 4–5 hours. Domestic flights from Athens reach Santorini or Mykonos in 45 minutes — book early to avoid summer surge pricing. On bigger islands like Crete, Rhodes and Lesvos, a hire car is the most practical way to explore.
Getting from Athens airport into the city is straightforward: the Metro Line 3 reaches Syntagma Square in around 40 minutes, and the X95 express bus runs 24/7. If you're flying into Athens and ferrying onwards the same day, leave a generous buffer — the run from the airport to Piraeus can take close to an hour at rush hour. Book ferry tickets online a few weeks in advance, especially in peak summer, to secure decent seats and avoid the rolling queues at the port. A small amount of planning goes a long way to making the Greek logistical puzzle feel effortless.
Read also
- The Cyclades — Santorini, Mykonos and the white-and-blue archipelago.
- Santorini — The Aegean's most dramatic caldera.
- Mykonos — Glamorous beaches and legendary Cycladic nights.