Flights to Athens — What to Expect
Athens is served by Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH), located about 35 kilometres east of the city centre in Spata. It's a well-organised, modern airport and one of the busiest in southeastern Europe, so you'll find direct flights from virtually every major European city. From London, you're looking at roughly 3.5 hours in the air. From Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris, expect around 3 hours. Budget carriers dominate the short-haul routes — easyJet flies from London Gatwick and Manchester, Ryanair connects dozens of European cities, and Wizz Air is strong from Central and Eastern Europe. If you prefer a full-service experience, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM all operate flights to Athens from their respective hubs. Greece's own carrier, Aegean Airlines, is genuinely good and worth checking — it often matches low-cost prices on European routes while offering a proper seat and a snack without the theatrics.
For cheap flights to Athens, the sweet spot is booking 6–10 weeks ahead for shoulder season travel. Flights from London to Athens typically range from €60–€130 return in spring and autumn, climbing to €180–€300+ during July and August peak. Flights from Germany or the Netherlands tend to be slightly cheaper given more competition on those routes. If you're flexible on dates, mid-week departures (Tuesday and Wednesday) almost always beat weekend prices. Athens flight deals pop up regularly on comparison sites, so setting a price alert is worth doing if you have a rough target window in mind.
Best Time to Visit Athens
Athens has a classic Mediterranean climate — long, hot, dry summers and short, mild winters with the bulk of annual rainfall packed into November through February. That said, not all months are created equal for visitors.
April to June is genuinely the best time to visit Athens. Temperatures sit between 18–27°C, the city is green from winter rains, the Acropolis isn't yet a sweat box, and you can walk around Monastiraki or Plaka without being shoulder-to-shoulder with tour groups. May is arguably the ideal month — warm enough for outdoor dining every evening, cool enough for uphill walks to ancient sites. September and October run it close. The sea is still warm from summer (you can easily swim in September), crowds thin out noticeably after the first week of September, and accommodation prices drop. October brings the occasional shower but stays comfortable at 20–25°C well into the month. July and August are brutal — not unmanageable, but 38–40°C heat in a city built on white marble is no joke. The Acropolis sometimes closes by early afternoon due to heat advisories, and the city fills with tourists. If summer is your only option, book early, start sightseeing by 8am, and embrace the slower afternoon pace. November to March is Athens' off-season. Prices drop significantly, the museums are quiet, and the city has a local, unhurried feel that's actually quite appealing. You won't be sunbathing, but the archaeological sites are uncrowded and the tavernas are full of Athenians. January and February are the wettest months, though rarely cold enough to be miserable — think London autumn rather than northern European winter.
Getting Around Athens
From the airport, the metro is the cleanest and most reliable option — Line 3 (blue line) runs directly into the city centre, stopping at Syntagma and Monastiraki, and takes around 40 minutes. A single ticket costs €9 (or €16 return) and runs from around 6am to midnight. Taxis from ATH to the centre cost a fixed rate of roughly €38 during the day and €54 at night — useful if you have heavy luggage or arrive late. Ride-hailing apps like Beat (popular in Greece) and Uber also operate in Athens and are often cheaper than street taxis. Within the city, the metro network is efficient and covers most tourist areas. Trams run along the coast toward Glyfada. Walking is genuinely the best way to explore the historic centre — the area between the Acropolis, Monastiraki, and Syntagma is compact and mostly pedestrianised.
Where to Stay in Athens
The neighbourhood you choose changes the experience significantly. Monastiraki and Plaka put you right at the foot of the Acropolis — great for first-timers, though noisy and tourist-heavy. Mid-range hotels here run €80–€150 per night. Koukaki, just south of the Acropolis, has become the favourite of repeat visitors — quieter, more residential, excellent coffee shops, and slightly lower prices. Good boutique hotels start around €70. Kolonaki is the upscale neighbourhood on the slopes of Lycabettus Hill — think designer shops, polished restaurants, and hotels from €130 upward. For budget travellers, Exarchia and Metaxourgeio are edgier, more bohemian, and significantly cheaper, though less immediately convenient for the main sites. Luxury stays cluster around Syntagma Square and the waterfront at Piraeus — the Hotel Grande Bretagne is the grand dame of Athens accommodation if budget isn't the constraint.
Top Things to Do in Athens
- Acropolis and Parthenon: Go first thing in the morning, ideally when the gates open at 8am. The combined ticket (€30) also covers the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, and several other sites — it's valid for five days, so spread it out.
- National Archaeological Museum: One of the great museums in the world, full stop. The Antikythera Mechanism alone is worth the trip. Allow at least three hours.
- Monastiraki Flea Market: Best on Sunday mornings when the street market expands. Mix of genuine antiques, vinyl records, leather goods, and tourist tat — half the fun is sorting through it.
- Eat in Psiri and Thisio: These neighbourhoods just west of Monastiraki have the best tavernas for actual Athenian food — grilled octopus, lamb chops, proper tzatziki. Avoid the tourist-facing restaurants directly below the Acropolis.
- Cape Sounion day trip: A 70km drive or bus ride south of Athens, the Temple of Poseidon sits on a clifftop above the Aegean. Go late afternoon for the sunset. KTEL buses run from Pedion tou Areos.
- Lycabettus Hill at dusk: Take the funicular or walk up through Kolonaki for a panoramic view of the city as the lights come on. Better than the Acropolis viewpoint for city skyline shots.
Practical Travel Tips
Visas: EU citizens need only a valid ID card. UK citizens (post-Brexit) can visit Greece visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period — your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. No visa required for most Western countries. Currency: Greece uses the Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants, but carry cash for markets, smaller tavernas, and taxis — some still prefer it. ATMs are plentiful around Syntagma and Monastiraki. Tipping: Not obligatory but appreciated. Rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% is the local norm. Don't expect to leave it on the card — leave cash on the table. Safety: Athens is a safe city for tourists by any reasonable standard. The usual urban cautions apply — watch your bag on the metro (pickpockets operate on Line 3 from the airport) and be aware of the occasional scam around Omonia Square. The historic centre is well-lit and busy until late.
FAQ — Flights to Athens
How much do flights to Athens cost?
Return flights to Athens from major European cities typically range from €60–€130 during the shoulder seasons (April–June and September–October). Peak summer fares (July–August) can reach €200–€350 return depending on your departure city. Winter fares drop the lowest, often below €60 return from London or Amsterdam if you book ahead and travel mid-week.
Which airlines fly to Athens?
Budget carriers including easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air cover most of Europe with direct flights to Athens (ATH). Full-service options include British Airways from London Heathrow, Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Munich, Air France from Paris CDG, and KLM from Amsterdam. Aegean Airlines — Greece's main carrier and a Star Alliance member — is well worth checking for competitive fares with better service than the budget alternatives.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Athens?
January and February consistently offer the lowest fares to Athens, though you're trading price for weather. If you want cheap flights to Athens without sacrificing decent conditions, November and early March are the practical sweet spots — fares are still low, and the city is quiet and pleasant enough for sightseeing. Athens flight deals in these windows can be genuinely excellent.
How long is the flight to Athens from London?
Flights from London to Athens take approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes. From Amsterdam or Frankfurt, expect around 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. From Paris it's roughly 3 hours. All major European hubs have direct, non-stop routes to Athens making it one of the more accessible Mediterranean capitals to reach without connections.