How to Get to Greece
The fastest way to get to Greece in 2026 depends on your starting point:
- From the US: Delta, American, and United fly nonstop to Athens (ATH) from New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas. Fares average €650-€1,200 roundtrip.
- From Europe: Ryanair and easyJet offer direct budget flights to Athens and islands like Santorini or Mykonos from €50-€150.
- From Italy: Ferries from Ancona, Venice, or Bari to Igoumenitsa and Patras cost €90-€150 and take 16-24 hours via Minoan or Superfast Ferries.
Jump straight to specific routes: Domestic Transport Hub · Ferry Routes · Island Guides
Major Airports
15+
International airports (Fraport operates 14 regional)
Direct Routes
150+
From 45+ countries (9 US nonstop to Athens)
Flight Time
2-11h
From Europe/US
Best Prices
Nov-Mar
Off-season deals
International Flights to Greece
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Direct Flights from North America to Athens (ATH)
- From New York (JFK/EWR): Direct flights via Delta, Emirates, and American Airlines. Flight time is 9-10 hours. Expect to pay $900-$1400 in the peak summer season (June-August).
- From Chicago/LA: No direct flights; connections required via United, Lufthansa, or Air France. Flight time is 11-14 hours.
- Pro Tip: Consider booking an "open-jaw" ticket (e.g., flying into Athens and flying out of Thessaloniki) to save up to 30% on round-trip fares.
Flights from Europe to Greece
- From London: Frequent flights via British Airways, Aegean, easyJet, and Ryanair. Flight time is 3h 45min. Prices range from £50-£300 depending on the season.
- From Amsterdam: Direct flights via KLM, Transavia, and Aegean. Flight time is 3h 30min. Prices range from €80-€350.
- From Frankfurt/Munich: Multiple daily flights via Lufthansa and Aegean. Flight time is around 3 hours. Prices range from €100-€400.
Budget Airlines to Greece
- Ryanair: Fares from €20 one-way, serving over 40 European cities.
- easyJet: Fares from £25 one-way, covering the UK and major EU cities.
- Wizz Air: Fares from €30 one-way, with a strong focus on Eastern European routes.
- Volotea: Fares from €40 one-way, offering many direct flights to the Greek islands.
Flight Booking Tips & Tricks
When to Book
- International flights: 2-3 months ahead for best prices
- Peak season (Jun-Aug): Book 3-4 months in advance
- Shoulder season: 6-8 weeks usually sufficient
- Best booking days: Tuesday & Wednesday
Money-Saving Strategies
- Use incognito mode when searching multiple times
- Consider nearby airports (save 20-40%)
- Multi-city tickets often cheaper than round-trip
- Check airline websites directly for deals
Pro Tip: Open-Jaw Tickets
Consider flying into Athens and out of Thessaloniki (or vice versa). This can save money and time if you're exploring multiple regions. Example: NYC → Athens, Thessaloniki → NYC can be 30% cheaper than round-trip to Athens.
Greece's International Airports
Athens (ATH) - Main Hub
- • Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
- • 20km from city center
- • Metro Line 3 to center (40 min, €9)
- • Express buses to city/port (€5.50)
- • Taxi to center: €35-45 flat rate
Island Airports
- Santorini (JTR): Busy in summer, book transport ahead
- Mykonos (JMK): Close to town, easy connections
- Crete - Heraklion (HER): Largest island airport
- Rhodes (RHO): Good international connections
- Corfu (CFU): Direct flights from UK/Germany
Crossing by Sea
Arriving by Sea
Greece can be reached by ferry from Italy, Turkey, and Albania, plus numerous cruise lines stop at Greek ports.
Ferry Routes from Italy
Ancona/Bari → Patras
- Operators: Superfast, Anek Lines, Minoan
- Duration: 16-21 hours
- Frequency: Daily in summer
- Prices: €80-150 (deck), €200+ (cabin)
- Car: €120-180 additional
Venice → Patras/Igoumenitsa
- Operators: Anek Lines, Minoan
- Duration: 26-32 hours
- Frequency: 2-3 weekly
- Prices: €100-180 (deck)
- Popular with: Interrail passengers
Tip: Book cabins early in summer. Deck passage is budget-friendly but bring a sleeping bag!
Ferry Routes from Turkey
Bodrum → Kos
- Duration: 1 hour
- Price: €35-50
- Frequency: 1-2 daily
Marmaris → Rhodes
- Duration: 1 hour
- Price: €40-60
- Frequency: Daily in season
Çeşme → Chios
- Duration: 35 minutes
- Price: €25-40
- Frequency: 1-2 daily
Major Cruise Ports
Piraeus (Athens)
Busiest port, gateway to Athens
Santorini
Tender port, cable car to town
Mykonos
Tender port, shuttle boats
Rhodes
Walk to medieval town
Sailing & Yachting to Greece
Popular Sailing Routes
- • Ionian Islands: Calm waters, ideal for beginners
- • Cyclades: More challenging, meltemi winds
- • Dodecanese: Great facilities, Turkish coast nearby
- • Saronic Gulf: Close to Athens, protected waters
Entry Requirements
- • Transit log (from last port)
- • Crew list and passports
- • Boat registration
- • Insurance documents
- • Check-in at first port of entry
Overland Routes
Overland Routes to Greece
Greece shares land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. All borders are open to tourists with proper documentation.
Driving to Greece
Popular Routes
- Via Italy: Ferry from Ancona/Bari
- Via Balkans: Through Serbia & North Macedonia
- Via Bulgaria: Sofia to Thessaloniki (3 hours)
- Distance from:
- • London: 3,000km (30 hours driving)
- • Berlin: 2,200km (22 hours)
- • Vienna: 1,500km (15 hours)
Requirements
- • Valid driving license
- • Car registration documents
- • Green card insurance
- • Warning triangle & first aid kit
- • Reflective vest (mandatory)
- • Consider breakdown cover
Train Connections
Direct international trains to Greece are currently limited. Most routes require connections:
- From Sofia (Bulgaria): Daily train to Thessaloniki (7 hours)
- From Belgrade: Train to Thessaloniki via Skopje (14+ hours)
- Interrail Pass: Valid in Greece, combine with ferries from Italy
- Within Greece: Limited network, Athens-Thessaloniki main route
International Bus Services
From Balkans
- • Sofia → Thessaloniki: €15-25, 5 hours
- • Skopje → Thessaloniki: €20-30, 4 hours
- • Tirana → Athens: €35-45, 10 hours
- • Istanbul → Thessaloniki: €40-60, 11 hours
From Western Europe
- • Eurolines from major cities
- • Munich → Athens: €80-120, 30 hours
- • Vienna → Athens: €70-100, 24 hours
- • Often cheaper than flying but very long
Border Crossing Information
Main Border Points
- 🇦🇱 Albania: Kakavia, Ktismata
- 🇲🇰 N. Macedonia: Evzoni, Niki
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Promachonas, Ormenio
- 🇹🇷 Turkey: Kipoi, Kastanies
Border Tips
- • EU citizens: ID card sufficient
- • Non-EU: Passport required
- • Some borders busy in summer
- • Have vehicle documents ready
- • Currency exchange available
Visa & Entry Requirements
Schengen Area Rules
Greece is part of the Schengen Area. Eligible visa-exempt non-EU nationals may visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Exemption depends on nationality and the travel document used, so confirm the official EU entry rules for your trip.
- • 90/180 day rule applies
- • For non-EU nationals using the Schengen short-stay rules, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended EU departure date and have been issued within the previous 10 years.
- • Evidence of return travel may be requested
- • Travel insurance highly recommended
ETIAS status: not operational
ETIAS is not operational. It is planned for the last quarter of 2026, but the exact start date has not been announced. The application fee will be €20.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational at external Schengen borders on April 10, 2026. No ETIAS application is currently available or required. Check the official ETIAS website before travel.
Embassy & Emergency Contacts
Tourist Police
171
24/7 Multilingual support
Emergency Services
112
EU-wide emergency number
US Embassy (Athens)
+30 210 721 2951
91 Vas. Sophias Ave
Plan Your Journey
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Frequently Asked Questions
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