Athens is Greece’s main gateway, and if you’re flying to Greece from anywhere outside the country, chances are you’ll land here first. Athens International Airport (ATH) handles the vast majority of international arrivals, connects to hundreds of European cities, and serves as the jumping-off point for domestic flights to the Greek islands. Getting here is straightforward, but knowing when to book, which airlines to consider, and how to navigate the airport can save you money and hassle.

Athens International Airport (ATH)

Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” sits about 33km (20 miles) southeast of the city center. It’s modern, efficient, and handles around 32 million passengers annually (2024 data). The airport opened in 2001 ahead of the Athens Olympics and replaced the old Hellinikon Airport, so everything’s relatively new and well-maintained.

Facilities include shops, restaurants, free WiFi throughout the terminal, ATMs, currency exchange (though rates are better in the city), and all the standard airport amenities. There’s one main terminal with separate areas for Schengen and non-Schengen flights.

Getting to/from Athens City Center

You’ve got several options for reaching central Athens from the airport, depending on your budget and how much luggage you’re hauling.

Metro (Line 3 – Blue Line) is the most popular choice for solo travelers or couples without tons of luggage. The metro connects the airport directly to Syntagma Square in the city center in about 40 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes from 6:30am to 11:30pm. A one-way ticket costs €9 per person (€4.50 for kids, teens, and seniors over 65), and return tickets are €16. The station is inside the airport terminal, clearly signposted, and easy to find.

Express Bus X95 runs 24/7 between the airport and Syntagma Square, making it the best option for late-night arrivals when the metro isn’t running. The journey takes about 60 minutes, though it can stretch to 90+ minutes during rush hour traffic. Buses depart every 20-40 minutes depending on time of day. Tickets cost €5.50 (€2.70 reduced rate), available from the kiosk outside Arrivals between Exits 4 and 5, or you can pay on board.

Taxis use fixed flat rates, which is brilliant because you know exactly what you’re paying upfront. The official rate is €40 during the day (5am-midnight) and €55 at night (midnight-5am). The rate is based on when you arrive at your destination, not when you leave the airport. Journey time is 25-40 minutes depending on traffic. Yellow taxis line up outside Exit 3 of Arrivals. Make sure the driver uses the meter or agrees to the flat rate before you start—taxi scams exist, though they’re less common with the fixed pricing.

Pre-booked private transfers cost around €40-50 and offer the convenience of someone waiting for you with your name on a sign, no queuing, and direct door-to-door service. Worth considering if you’re traveling with a group or have lots of luggage, since the per-person cost works out similar to taxis but with less stress.

Rental cars are available from all major companies at the airport if you’re planning to drive around Greece or head straight to the Peloponnese. That said, you absolutely don’t need a car in Athens itself as the city center is walkable and the metro system is excellent.

Airlines Flying to Athens

Within Europe

Athens is brilliantly connected to Europe with both budget airlines and legacy carriers serving the route.
Budget airlines dominate European routes to Athens. Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air offer the cheapest fares and the most routes. Ryanair flies directly from 22 European cities, easyJet from 16 cities (including multiple UK airports like London Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol), and Wizz Air covers Central and Eastern European routes.

These budget carriers make Athens accessible on a shoestring—you can sometimes find flights from London or other major European hubs for under €50 round-trip if you book early and travel with just hand luggage. The catch? Extra fees for checked bags, seat selection, and everything else. But if you’re traveling light, they’re unbeatable value.

Legacy carriers like Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, and Aegean Airlines (Greece’s national carrier) also serve Athens from major European cities. They’re more expensive but include checked bags, seat selection, and better customer service. Worth considering if you’re on a business trip, have lots of luggage, or want more flexibility with changes and cancellations.

Aegean Airlines flies directly from 99 European cities to Athens, making it the biggest operator. They’re a solid choice – decent service, part of Star Alliance, and they actually care if you miss your connection.

From Outside Europe

North America: Direct flights to Athens are available from New York (JFK), Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington DC. Delta, American Airlines, and United operate most routes, often in partnership with European carriers. Flight time from the US East Coast is roughly 9-11 hours, from the West Coast expect 14-16 hours with at least one stop.

Prices vary wildly -you might find deals around $400-500 round-trip from East Coast cities if you book well in advance for shoulder season travel, but expect $800-1200+ for summer peak season.
Middle East: Athens has excellent connections via Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). These are often cheaper routes from Asia, Australia, or even North America if you don’t mind the extra stop.

Domestic flights

Flights from Athens to Greek islands are operated mainly by Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, and SKY express. Popular routes include Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete (Heraklion and Chania), Thessaloniki, Naxos, and Paros. Domestic flights are affordable -often €50-120 one-way depending on season and how far in advance you book.

Customs & Immigration

If you’re arriving from another EU/Schengen country, you’ll breeze through. No passport control, no customs checks unless you’re randomly selected. Just follow signs for “Arrivals” and you’re out in minutes. Easy.
For Non-Schengen Passengers

If you’re coming from outside the Schengen zone (UK, US, Canada, most non-EU countries), you’ll go through passport control. Greece uses automated e-gates for many nationalities including US, UK, Canada, Australia, which speeds things up significantly. Have your passport ready, scan it at the e-gate, and you’re through.

The whole process is usually quick:15-30 minutes even during busy periods. Immigration officers are professional and it’s straightforward.

Customs uses a three-channel system but honestly, most people just walk straight through the green “Nothing to Declare” channel without being stopped. If you’re carrying restricted items or quantities exceeding legal limits (large amounts of cash, tobacco, alcohol beyond duty-free allowances), use the red channel. EU passengers use the blue channel with no routine checks.

When to Book Flights to Athens

This is where you can save serious money or waste it, depending on your timing.

How Far in Advance

For summer travel (June-August): Book 10-12 months ahead if possible. Summer is peak season when everyone wants to visit Greece, and prices climb steadily as flights fill up. The earlier you book, the better your chances of decent fares and good flight times.

For shoulder season (April-May, September-October): Book 2-8 months ahead. You’ll still get good prices and availability without needing to plan a year in advance.

For winter travel (November-March): You can often book 1-3 months out and still find deals, sometimes even cheaper last-minute if airlines are trying to fill seats.

General rule: booking 45 days in advance typically gets you the best average prices. Prices tend to jump at 21 days, 14 days, and 7 days before departure, so book before those points if you can.

Best Days to Book

Data shows that Sunday is statistically the cheapest day to book flights, with savings of 6-13% compared to booking on Fridays (the most expensive day). Is it guaranteed? No. But if you’re watching prices, hitting “book” on a Sunday might save you a few euros.

Cheapest Months to Fly

February is typically the cheapest month to fly to Athens, followed by January and November. October and April are also good value—you get pleasant weather without peak summer prices.

July and August are the most expensive months, often 30-50% higher than shoulder season. If your dates are flexible at all, avoid peak summer and you’ll save significantly.

Day of Week

Flying midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday) is usually cheaper than weekends. Friday afternoon flights are typically the priciest because everyone wants to maximize their weekend. If you can leave on a Tuesday or Wednesday and return midweek, you’ll often find better deals.

Booking Your Flight to Athens: Do It Yourself or Use a Travel Agent?

Book It Yourself If:

• You’re comfortable searching online and comparing prices
• Your itinerary is straightforward (direct flight or simple connection)
• You want full control over airline, times, and seats
• You’re flexible and can adjust if plans change

Use our trustworthy affiliate. Once you find the flight you want, book directly through them. You can also book direct with the airline and you’ll often get the same price. It’s easier to make changes or contact them if issues arise.

Set up price alerts if you’re booking months ahead. You’ll get notifications when prices drop, and you can decide whether to wait or book.

Use a Travel Agent If:

• You’re booking complex multi-city itineraries
• You’re organizing group travel for 10+ people
• You want package deals (flight + hotel + transfers)
• You’re not confident booking online

You want someone to handle everything if things go wrong

Travel agents can sometimes access bulk fares or package deals that aren’t available to individuals. The convenience of having someone else handle the logistics might be worth a small fee, especially for complicated trips.

Other Tips Worth Knowing

Connecting Through Athens to Islands: Many travelers fly international to Athens then catch a domestic flight to islands the same day. If you’re doing this, leave at least 2-3 hours between flights to clear customs, collect bags, and re-check in. Athens airport is efficient but delays happen, and missing your island connection would be frustrating.

Multi-city Tickets: Consider flying into Athens and out of Thessaloniki (or vice versa) if you’re exploring mainland Greece. Or fly into Athens and out of a Greek island if they have international connections (Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete). Multi-city tickets cost slightly more but save backtracking.

Budget Airline Gotchas: Read the fine print. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and similar carriers charge for everything: checked bags, carry-on bags over a tiny size, seat selection, printing boarding passes at the airport, changing flights. What looks like a €30 flight can become €80 with fees. Not a problem if you know what you’re getting into, but don’t be surprised.

Loyalty Programs: If you fly frequently or plan multiple trips to Greece, joining an airline loyalty program makes sense. Aegean Airlines is part of Star Alliance, so you can earn and use miles across multiple airlines.

Note: this page includes links that may qualify as affiliate links. If you book through them, I might earn a small commission.

Photo by: George Kokkinidis-GR (via Wikimedia)