Greece

Airports in Greece: which one to fly into

Fly into Athens (ATH) for a first trip, the mainland or a Cyclades ferry chain; it has metro, rail and bus links to the centre and Piraeus. Choose Heraklion (HER) or Chania (CHQ) for Crete, Thessaloniki (SKG) for the north, and a seasonal island airport only if your hotel is on that island.

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Updated Sep 20263 min read

GuideGreece

Key facts

Best all-round gateway: Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) — metro, suburban rail and bus to the centre and Piraeus
Crete: Heraklion (HER) for the centre and east; Chania (CHQ) for the west
Northern Greece: Thessaloniki (SKG)
Island airports: Santorini (JTR), Rhodes (RHO), Corfu (CFU) and others take direct European flights mainly in summer; small and crowded
Domestic flights: Aegean, Olympic and Sky Express; Athens–Santorini, Heraklion or Rhodes 45–60 min, €50–180 (2026 estimate)
Island-to-island flights: Few; most routes connect through Athens
Airport transfer cost: Athens metro or bus to the centre is a few euros; taxi €40–55 (2026 estimate)
Busiest season: July–August; book flights and ferries early

Details

Greece has one year-round hub and a ring of seasonal island airports. Almost every long-haul flight lands at Athens, and most domestic connections route through it, so the airport you pick decides how much of your trip is spent in transit.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) sits about 30 km east of the centre. The metro line runs to Syntagma and Monastiraki, the suburban rail continues to Piraeus for ferries, and express buses cover both. If your plan is Athens plus two Cyclades islands, land here, sleep in Athens, then take a ferry from Piraeus.

For Crete, Heraklion (HER) is the main airport for the centre and east, with Chania (CHQ) serving the west and the road to Balos and Samaria. Both take direct European flights in summer and domestic flights year-round. Crete is big enough that flying into the wrong end adds two to three hours of driving.

Thessaloniki (SKG) is the gateway to northern Greece and the Athens–Thessaloniki rail line. Santorini (JTR), Rhodes (RHO) and Corfu (CFU) are the best-known island airports: convenient if you are staying on that island, awkward if you are not, because inter-island flights are rare and usually mean a connection through Athens.

Season matters. Direct flights from the US and UK to island airports mostly run from spring to early autumn; outside that window you fly to Athens and continue by domestic flight or ferry. In July and August, island airports are small and crowded, so allow extra time for bag drop and transfers.

Summary table

Use this to match your first destination to an airport. Transfer times are estimates for the fastest public option; check schedules before you book.

Summary table
Airport	Code	Best for	Transfer to the centre
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos	ATH	First trip, mainland, Cyclades ferries from Piraeus	Metro, suburban rail or bus; taxi €40–55 (2026 estimate)
Heraklion	HER	Central and eastern Crete	Bus or taxi to Heraklion; check times
Chania	CHQ	Western Crete, Balos, Samaria	Bus or taxi to Chania; check times
Thessaloniki	SKG	Northern Greece, Athens–Thessaloniki rail	Bus or taxi to the centre; check times
Santorini	JTR	Staying on Santorini	Bus or taxi to Fira and Oia; small and crowded in summer
Rhodes	RHO	Rhodes and Dodecanese ferries to Türkiye	Bus or taxi to Rhodes city; check times
Corfu	CFU	Corfu and Ionian ferries to Albania and Italy	Bus or taxi to Corfu Town; check times

Island airports have limited winter flights; confirm before booking a winter trip.

Tips

Book the Athens leg first, then ferries. Ferry seats and cabins sell out in summer, and a cheap flight is useless if the boat is full.

If you are heading straight to an island, compare a domestic flight with the ferry: a 45–60 minute flight (€50–180, 2026 estimate) against a 4–8 hour ferry (€40–130).

At Piraeus, check which gate (E1–E12) your ship uses and arrive 30–60 minutes early.

Non-EU licence holders need an International Driving Permit to hire a car in Greece, which matters if you fly into an island airport and plan to drive.

Keep a buffer day before an international flight home; meltemi winds cancel fast ferries first.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Which airport should I fly into for Greece?

Athens (ATH) for a first trip, the mainland or a Cyclades ferry chain. Heraklion (HER) or Chania (CHQ) for Crete, Thessaloniki (SKG) for the north, and a seasonal island airport only if you are staying on that island.

How do I get from the airport to the city in Greece?

Athens has metro, suburban rail and express buses to the centre and Piraeus, plus taxis (€40–55, 2026 estimate). Other airports use buses or taxis; check current times and fares on arrival.

Which airlines fly to Greece from the US and UK?

Long-haul and UK flights concentrate on Athens year-round, with seasonal direct services to island airports such as Santorini, Rhodes and Corfu. Domestic hops use Aegean, Olympic and Sky Express; check schedules for your dates.

Can I fly between Greek islands?

Rarely. Most island-to-island routes connect through Athens, so a ferry is often faster and cheaper for short hops. Check both before booking.

Do Greek island airports operate in winter?

Many run reduced or no direct international flights outside spring to early autumn. In winter, fly to Athens and continue by domestic flight or ferry; check schedules.

Deep dive

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