Athens is served by Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH). Average flight prices are €60-130 for short-haul European flights; €400-650 for intercontinental routes. Best time to book: Book 6-10 weeks in advance for European flights and 3-4 months for long-haul. November to March offers the lowest prices, with fares 40-50% below summer peaks. The absolute cheapest window is mid-January to mid-February. Summer (June-September) is peak season for both leisure and island-hopping connections, with prices at their highest in late July and August.. Top airlines: Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air.
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Athens International Airport, named after the great Greek statesman Eleftherios Venizelos, is the primary gateway to Greece and a critical hub for onward connections to the Greek islands. The airport handles over 28 million passengers annually and serves as the main base for Aegean Airlines, Greece's flag carrier and a Star Alliance member. The modern facility, built for the 2004 Olympics, features two terminals connected by a short indoor walkway.
For travelers heading to the Greek islands, Athens is the essential connecting point. Aegean Airlines and its subsidiary Olympic Air operate dozens of daily flights to popular islands including Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu. Sky Express, a growing Greek regional carrier, offers additional island connections at competitive prices. During summer, charter flights and seasonal routes from across Europe also bring direct connections to many islands, but Athens remains the most reliable year-round gateway.
The airport is further from the city center than most European airports (33 km), but the Metro Line 3 provides a reliable direct connection to Syntagma Square in about 40 minutes. The X95 express bus is a cheaper alternative running 24 hours. Athens has flat-rate taxi fares from the airport — €40 during the day and €55 at night — which are reasonable for groups of two or more travelers splitting the cost.
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Metro Line 3 runs directly to Syntagma Square in about 40 minutes for €10 (€5 for under-18s). The X95 express bus costs €6 and runs 24 hours to Syntagma. Taxis charge a flat rate of €40 during the day (5 AM-midnight) or €55 at night.
Yes, Athens has extensive connections to Greek islands. Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air serve Santorini, Mykonos, Crete (Heraklion and Chania), Rhodes, Corfu, and many others. Sky Express and Volotea offer additional routes. Flight times to most islands are 30-60 minutes.
Mid-January to mid-February is the cheapest period, with European flights often under €40 one-way. November and March also offer good deals. Summer prices peak in late July and August — if you must travel in summer, early June or late September offers better value with still-warm weather.
Aegean Airlines is consistently rated among the best regional airlines in Europe by Skytrax. As a Star Alliance member, it offers reliable service, decent legroom for a European carrier, and complimentary meals and drinks on most flights. It is generally preferred over budget carriers for comfort on longer routes.
Athens has limited red-eye options on international routes, mainly to Middle Eastern hubs like Istanbul, Dubai, and Doha for connecting flights. The airport is open 24 hours, and the X95 bus runs all night, but metro and suburban rail services stop around midnight and resume at 5:30 AM.
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