Cheap Flights to Greece

For cheap flights to Greece, compare Athens and Thessaloniki with the airport nearest your island or mainland resort. UK and European return fares can fall around £60–£180 (€70–€210) in quieter periods, while USA–Greece economy returns may cost roughly $500–$900 outside peak summer; prices vary considerably. Non-stop flights typically take 3–4½ hours from the UK, 1½–4 hours from much of continental Europe and around 9–12 hours from eastern and central US gateways. Athens offers the widest year-round choice, while many international island routes operate seasonally.

Which Greek airport should you fly into?

Choose your arrival airport before chasing the lowest fare. A cheaper ticket can lose its advantage once you add an overnight stay, a long road transfer or a ferry. These are the main gateways for travellers flying into Greece:

• Athens (ATH): Greece’s principal international hub, serving the capital, Attica and onward domestic connections. Compare flights to Athens for year-round access and multi-stop itineraries.
• Thessaloniki (SKG): Best for northern Greece, city breaks and Halkidiki. Flights to Thessaloniki can save a lengthy journey north from Athens.
• Heraklion (HER): Convenient for central and eastern Crete, including Hersonissos, Malia and Agios Nikolaos.
• Chania (CHQ): Usually the better arrival point for western Crete. Compare both airports when searching flights to Crete, but account for the distance between them.
• Rhodes (RHO): Serves Rhodes Town and resorts across the island. Check flights to Rhodes against your intended resort and transfer costs.
• Corfu (CFU): Close to Corfu Town, with road transfers to northern and southern resorts. Browse flights to Corfu for your preferred travel dates.
• Kos (KGS): The gateway for Kos Town, Kardamena, Kefalos and beach resorts across the island.
• Santorini (JTR): Convenient for Fira, Oia and the east-coast beach villages; international services are concentrated in the warmer months.
• Mykonos (JMK): Serves Mykonos Town and southern beaches, with a strongly seasonal international network.
• Zakynthos (ZTH): Also marketed as Zante, with easy access to the island’s southern resorts.
• Kefalonia (EFL): Useful for Argostoli, Lassi and southern beaches; northern villages involve longer transfers.
• Skiathos (JSI): Serves Skiathos and, with an additional ferry journey, neighbouring Skopelos. Ferry connections need separate planning.
• Preveza/Aktion (PVK): A mainland gateway for Lefkada, Preveza and Parga. Compare flights to Preveza for Lefkada and Parga; Lefkada is connected to the mainland by road.
• Kalamata (KLX): Useful for the southern Peloponnese, particularly Messinia and parts of the Mani, with international flights largely seasonal.

Airlines and departure airports

Flying from the UK

British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and Aegean are among the airlines worth checking, depending on your departure airport and destination. London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton provide different route choices; Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands also have Greek services, many seasonal. Not every airline serves every airport.

Corfu, Crete’s Heraklion and Chania airports, Rhodes, Kos, Santorini, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Skiathos receive non-stop flights from selected UK airports during the holiday season. Preveza and Kalamata also have seasonal UK links. Direct island services often operate between spring and autumn, but start dates, end dates and frequency vary by route and year.

Flying from continental Europe

Aegean, easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Eurowings, Transavia and Volotea are useful starting points alongside national carriers. Gateways such as Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, Milan, Vienna and Zurich offer different combinations of Athens, Thessaloniki and seasonal leisure routes. Smaller departure airports can be competitive, though limited frequencies may dictate your holiday length.

The main holiday islands listed above receive direct services from selected European cities, with the widest choice in summer. Athens and Thessaloniki retain broader winter networks. Compare the total journey from home, including airport transport and any overnight stay, rather than the airfare alone.

Flying from the USA

Athens is the main gateway for non-stop travel from the USA. American Airlines, Delta, United, Emirates and Norse Atlantic are among the airlines to check, depending on the route and season. New York-area airports and gateways such as Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington Dulles feature in transatlantic networks, but availability changes and many services are seasonal.

For Greek islands, plan a connection in Athens or a European hub rather than assuming a non-stop US service. Our guide to direct flights from the USA to Greece can help you compare gateway options. A single through-ticket usually offers better protection if a delayed inbound flight causes a missed connection.

Typical fares by season

The following are broad planning ranges for return economy tickets, not live quotes or guaranteed offers. GBP and EUR figures describe broadly comparable short-haul budgets; USD figures refer to USA–Greece travel, not currency conversions. Prices vary with route, demand, booking date and baggage, and peak-date fares can exceed these ranges.

• Low season, November–March, excluding holidays: UK £60–£180; continental Europe €60–€200; USA $500–$900. Athens and Thessaloniki offer more practical choices than islands with limited winter international services.
• Shoulder season, April–May and late September–October: UK £100–£260; continental Europe €90–€280; USA $650–$1,150. Easter and school holidays can push prices higher.
• Early summer, June: UK £140–£340; continental Europe €130–€360; USA $850–$1,400. Popular weekends and island routes may cost more.
• Peak summer, July–August: UK £200–£500; continental Europe €180–€500; USA $1,000–$1,800. Convenient departure times and last-minute bookings can exceed these budgets.

A low-cost headline fare may include only a small under-seat bag. Compare like-for-like totals with cabin luggage, checked bags, seats and transfers added. For families, an apparently dearer flight into the right airport can be the cheaper overall trip.

When to book and the cheapest months to fly

January, February and November often offer good value for city-focused trips, outside holiday peaks. For an island holiday with more open hotels and international routes, compare May, late September and October. Sea temperatures, weather and resort openings vary; southern destinations generally have a longer holiday season than northern ones.

Start monitoring short-haul fares around two to six months ahead and US fares around four to nine months ahead. These are useful search windows, not a rule that prices bottom out then. Book earlier if you need school-holiday dates, adjacent family seats or a route operating only a few times weekly.

Search a few days either side of your preferred dates and compare nearby departure airports. Midweek travel sometimes costs less, but there is no reliably cheapest weekday to buy a ticket. Greek Orthodox Easter, UK half-term breaks and August holidays can create demand spikes. Set fare alerts and buy when the complete price fits your budget.

Flight times and connections via Athens

• UK to Greece: Usually around 3–4½ hours non-stop, depending on the departure airport and whether you are heading to the Ionian Islands, mainland or southeastern Aegean.
• Continental Europe to Greece: Approximately 1½–4 hours from many central and western European gateways; northern and more distant departures can take longer.
• USA to Athens: Roughly 9–12 hours non-stop from eastern and central gateways. Connecting journeys take longer, and westbound return flights commonly have longer scheduled durations.
• Athens to Greek islands: Many domestic sectors take around 35–65 minutes in the air, but airport procedures and connection time add substantially to the journey.

Aegean, Olympic Air and SKY express provide domestic options, depending on destination. Athens is particularly useful outside the international charter season or for combining a city stay with an island. Check the actual domestic timetable before buying the long-haul ticket.

Allow a comfortable connection buffer, especially when entering the Schengen Area, collecting luggage or travelling on separate tickets. A self-transfer may require baggage collection and another check-in; the second airline generally need not rebook you free if the first flight is late. Consider an overnight stop when a missed connection would disrupt the holiday.

Arriving in Greece: transfers and typical costs

Public transport is usually cheapest for towns, while taxis and pre-booked transfers become more useful for remote resorts or late arrivals. The following are approximate planning ranges in euros; prices vary by destination, time, vehicle size and season. Check current fares and operating hours before departure.

• Athens: Budget around €6–€10 per person for an airport express bus or metro journey towards central Athens. A taxi to the central fare zone typically requires roughly €40–€60 per vehicle, depending on the applicable tariff. Allow around 40–70 minutes, sometimes longer in traffic.
• Thessaloniki: Airport buses generally cost around €2–€3 per person; a taxi to the centre may cost roughly €25–€40. Road journeys often take around 30–50 minutes.
• Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes and Corfu: Airport-to-town buses commonly cost around €2–€5 per person. Taxis to the respective main towns may run around €15–€40, with airport distance accounting for much of the difference.
• Santorini and Mykonos: Airport buses generally cost around €2–€4 per person where available. Budget approximately €20–€50 for a taxi or booked transfer to common bases; availability can be limited at busy times.
• Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Skiathos: Bus journeys, where suitable services operate, may cost around €2–€6 per person. Taxis to nearby towns or resorts can cost roughly €15–€50; longer cross-island trips cost more.
• Preveza and Kalamata: Relevant local or regional buses may cost around €2–€10 per person. Allow roughly €20–€50 for shorter taxi trips, and €50–€120 or more for farther resorts, depending on distance.

Island airport buses may run less often outside summer and do not necessarily serve every resort directly. Check the final leg carefully: reaching Rhodes Town is not the same journey as reaching Lindos, and reaching Argostoli does not cover a transfer to Fiskardo.

Baggage tips before you book

Check each airline’s dimensions and weight limits, not just the phrase “cabin bag”. The cheapest ticket may exclude an overhead-locker case, and adding luggage at the airport usually costs more than arranging it beforehand. Checked-bag allowances can differ between outbound and return flights if you use different carriers.

On a through-ticket, confirm whether baggage is checked to your final destination. With separate tickets, assume you may need to collect and recheck it unless the airlines confirm otherwise. Keep medicines, valuables and essential overnight items in your hand luggage, particularly when connecting to an island.

Where to go in Greece and where to base yourself

Greece rewards a little geographical restraint. Rather than trying to combine several distant islands in one week, choose one region and leave time for beaches, archaeological sites and unplanned meals. Athens pairs naturally with a nearby island or a mainland road trip; Crete can fill an entire holiday without an additional flight. Your airport should support that plan rather than determine it solely on price.

In Athens, the Acropolis and its museum give context to the ancient city, while the streets around Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio make sightseeing on foot straightforward. Stay centrally for a short visit, particularly if you want to explore early or linger over dinner without a long journey back. Our guide to where to stay in Athens explains the main neighbourhood choices. Allow a couple of full days before moving on.

Thessaloniki offers a different urban break, with a waterfront promenade, Byzantine monuments, Roman remains and a lively food scene. It also works as the starting point for Halkidiki, although beach resorts require an onward road journey. In the south, Kalamata puts you close to Messinian beaches and within driving reach of Ancient Messene and the Mani. These mainland options suit travellers who prefer exploring by road to coordinating ferries.

Crete combines major archaeological sites, mountain scenery and very different coastal landscapes. Heraklion is the practical gateway for Knossos and central or eastern bases; Chania suits the Venetian harbour and western beaches. Distances are substantial, so resist treating the island as a small resort destination. Split a longer stay between east and west, or choose one side and explore locally. Rethymno offers another appealing historic-town base between the two main airports.

For the Cyclades, decide whether views, beaches or nightlife matter most. Santorini’s caldera settlements deliver the famous volcanic panorama, while Kamari and Perissa offer a more beach-led stay. Our guide to where to stay in Santorini helps distinguish those experiences. Mykonos combines a whitewashed main town with well-known beach clubs, but accommodation and dining can be expensive in peak summer. Check the full holiday budget before committing to a bargain flight.

Corfu and the other Ionian islands suit travellers drawn to greener scenery, bays and village drives. Corfu Town makes a good cultural base; beach resorts vary considerably in atmosphere. Rhodes combines a remarkable medieval old town with beach stays and excursions to Lindos. Kos is appealing for beaches and accessible archaeological sights, while Skiathos offers a compact island base. Wherever you choose, match the resort to your mobility, evening plans and appetite for driving, not simply its distance from the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airport in Greece is usually cheapest to fly into?

Athens often has competitive fares because of its broad network, but seasonal low-cost flights can make Thessaloniki or an island cheaper from your departure airport. Compare total costs to your final destination, including luggage and transfers.

Which Greek islands have direct flights from the UK?

Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Santorini, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Skiathos have direct flights from selected UK airports, mainly seasonally. Availability depends on your departure point and travel dates, so check both legs before reserving accommodation.

Can I fly directly from the USA to a Greek island?

For most itineraries, expect to connect in Athens or another European hub. Athens is the established Greek gateway for non-stop US services. Do not assume an island has a direct US flight without checking current schedules.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Greece?

January, February and November are often good starting points for lower fares, excluding holiday peaks. For island trips, May and October can balance price with seasonal services, although weather and resort openings are less predictable than in summer.

Is flying via Athens better than taking a direct island flight?

A direct flight usually saves time and reduces connection risk. Athens can offer more date choices, useful winter access or a worthwhile city stop. Compare the complete ticket price and journey time, especially if the connection involves separate bookings.

Are baggage and airport transfers included in cheap fares?

Usually not unless explicitly stated. Basic fares often include only a small personal item, while larger bags and seat selection cost extra. Airport transfers are normally separate on flight-only bookings; check the inclusions before paying.