Flying is the easiest and fastest way to get to Greece, whether you’re planning a classic Athens city break or heading straight to the islands. Greece’s airports handled nearly 80 million passengers in 2024, which is genuinely impressive for a country of 10 million people, it shows just how connected and accessible the place is.

Most international travelers land at Athens or Thessaloniki, and from there you can continue to the islands by plane or ferry. Connections are smooth, both major airports are modern and efficient, and honestly, the whole process is way less stressful than arriving in many other European capitals.

Main International Airports for Flights to Greece

Athens International Airport (ATH)

Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is Greece’s busiest airport and your most likely arrival point. It handled 31.9 million passengers in 2024, making it the 16th busiest airport in Europe and the dominant hub for Greece, accounting for about 40% of all passenger traffic in the country.

It’s modern, well-signposted, efficient, and connected to pretty much everywhere: all major European cities, Middle East hubs, North Africa, and several long-haul destinations including direct flights from the US East Coast.
Location-wise, it sits about 27km northeast of Athens and is connected to the city by Metro Line 3, suburban railway, express buses, and the Attiki Odos motorway. Getting to central Athens takes 40 minutes by metro or 25-30 minutes by taxi, and the whole setup is straightforward.

Athens serves as the main domestic hub: from here you can fly to y every Greek island with an airport, making it your connection point for onward travel.

>> Red more about: Flights to Athens

Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)

Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia” is Greece’s second busiest, handling 7.4 million passengers in 2024. It’s the main gateway to northern Greece, Halkidiki, and an excellent alternative entry point if you’re exploring that region or want to avoid Athens crowds.

The airport is compact and easy to navigate, located about 15km southeast of Thessaloniki city center. It’s served primarily by European and Middle Eastern airlines, with seasonal routes increasing dramatically in summer.

Thessaloniki works brilliantly if you’re planning to visit northern Greece, then island-hop from there. Domestic connections to islands are frequent, and the city itself is worth spending time in: excellent food scene, Byzantine history, and way more authentic than Athens.

>> Read more about: Flights to Thessaloniki

Island Airports with International Flights to Greece

While Athens and Thessaloniki handle most international arrivals, several islands receive direct seasonal flights from Europe, primarily April through October:

Heraklion International Airport (HER)

Heraklion Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” on Crete is Greece’s second busiest overall with 9.4 million passengers in 2024. It’s the main entry point for Crete and one of Europe’s busiest island airports during summer.

The airport handles massive charter traffic plus scheduled flights from across Europe. If Crete is your main destination, flying directly here saves the Athens connection and gets you straight to the island. Multiple airlines operate direct routes from major European cities, especially May through October.

Heraklion has also become a growing domestic hub with new routes to other islands like Rhodes, Naxos, Corfu, and Kos, making island-hopping from Crete easier without routing back through Athens.

Rhodes International Airport (RHO)

Rhodes Airport “Diagoras” handled 6.9 million passengers in 2024, making it Greece’s fourth busiest. It’s the gateway to the Dodecanese islands and sees heavy summer traffic with direct flights from across Europe.

Rhodes is increasingly functioning as a regional hub with new inter-island connections, so you can fly directly between Rhodes and other major islands like Santorini, Crete, and Corfu without backtracking to Athens.

Corfu International Airport (CFU)

Corfu Airport “Ioannis Kapodistrias” served 4.3 million passengers in 2024, making it the fifth busiest. It’s the main gateway to the Ionian islands and receives heavy summer traffic from the UK, Germany, and other European countries.

The airport is tiny and right next to Corfu Town (about 2km), which makes transfers quick but also means it gets chaotic during peak season with limited facilities.

>> Read more about: Cheap Flights to Corfu

Mykonos (JMK) and Santorini (JTR) are also most famous, with direct flights from London, Paris, Milan, and other major European cities during summer. If you can snag a direct flight, it’s the easiest way to reach these islands and skip the Athens connection entirely.

Zakynthos (ZTH), Kos (KGS), Kalamata (KLX), and Skiathos (JSI) also receive seasonal international charter and scheduled flights, mainly from the UK and Germany.

These routes are heavily seasonal and change year to year based on demand, so availability varies. But if a direct flight exists to your island destination, it’s worth considering.

When to Book Flights to Greece

Timing matters significantly for flight prices:

For summer travel (June-September): Book 3-6 months ahead minimum, especially for Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete. The earlier the better since prices climb steadily as summer approaches and popular routes fill up fast.

For shoulder seasons (April-May, October): Prices are lower and more stable, so 2-3 months ahead is usually enough. These months offer the best value—warm weather, fewer crowds, lower accommodation costs.

For winter trips: You can find great last-minute deals, especially for Athens and Thessaloniki. Many islands reduce or eliminate flights in winter, so options are limited.

A quick tip: prices tend to jump after Easter and again in late June. If you see a good fare before those dates, grab it.

What to Consider Before Booking Your Flight to Greece

Small island airports are basic. Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, and Naxos have tiny airports with minimal facilities. Don’t expect to arrive hours early and hang out comfortably. There’s often just one small waiting area.

Weather delays happen. Strong winds, especially in the Cyclades, can delay or cancel flights. Morning flights are usually more reliable than afternoon departures when winds pick up. Always leave buffer time if connecting to international flights.

Budget airline baggage rules. Low-cost carriers to islands often exclude checked bags by default. Double-check what’s included before booking as fees add up fast.

Connection time matters. If you’re flying internationally to Athens and connecting to an island the same day, leave at least 2-3 hours between flights. Customs, baggage collection, and domestic check-in take time, and missing your island connection would suck.

Peak season chaos is real. Greek airports in July-August get absolutely packed. Arrive early, be patient, and accept that things might run a bit behind schedule. It’s worth it once you’re on the beach.

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Photo credit: Manfred Werner (Tsui) via Wikimedia