Flights to Santorini — What to Expect
Santorini is served by Santorini Airport (JTR), a small but well-connected island airport about 5km southeast of Fira. Direct flights to Santorini operate from most major European hubs during the summer season, typically running from late March through October. Carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, and Aegean Airlines cover routes from London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, and beyond, while British Airways and Lufthansa offer full-service options if you'd rather skip the scramble for overhead bin space. Outside summer, your best bet is usually a connecting flight through Athens (ATH) on Aegean Airlines or Olympic Air — the Athens–Santorini hop takes about 45 minutes and runs year-round.
On pricing: flights from London to Santorini in peak July and August can easily run £180–£350 return on a budget carrier if you leave it late, but book three to four months ahead in the shoulder season and you're regularly looking at £80–£160 return. Flights from continental Europe — Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris — tend to be slightly cheaper, often €70–€130 return in May or September. The best Santorini flight deals consistently appear for travel in late April, May, and October, when airlines are still filling seats and haven't yet capitalised on summer demand. Set a price alert and move fast when you see something reasonable — fares on this route spike quickly once school holidays loom.
Best Time to Visit Santorini
Skip July and August unless a crowded infinity pool and €25 cocktails sound appealing. The island gets absolutely swamped — cruise ships disgorge thousands of passengers daily into Oia and Fira, sunset viewpoints turn into contact sports, and hotels charge peak rates with zero apology. The weather is genuinely beautiful, but so is the weather either side of summer, without the chaos.
Late April to June is arguably the sweet spot. Temperatures sit comfortably between 20–27°C, the sea warms up enough for swimming by late May, the wildflowers are still doing their thing on the volcanic hillsides, and you can actually walk around Oia without being someone's accidental selfie backdrop. Hotel rates are 20–40% lower than peak, and flights from Europe are noticeably cheaper. September and October run it close — the sea is at its warmest (around 24–25°C in September), the light is extraordinary for photography, and the crowds thin considerably after the first week of September. October still offers 23°C days and around 290 sunshine hours for the month. November is workable in the first half but increasingly unpredictable. Winter (December–February) is quiet to the point of emptiness — many restaurants, hotels, and boat tours simply close. Fine if you want the island almost to yourself and don't mind limited options, but not the Santorini most people are picturing.
Getting Around Santorini
From the airport, a taxi to Fira costs around €15–20 and takes 10 minutes. KTEL buses also connect the airport to Fira's central bus station for about €1.80 — they run regularly in summer, less so off-season. From the Athinios ferry port (used if you arrive by boat from Athens or other islands), the bus to Fira is again about €1.80, or a taxi runs €15–25 depending on your destination.
Once on the island, the KTEL bus network connects the main towns — Fira, Oia, Perissa, Kamari, Akrotiri — and is genuinely cheap at €1.80–2.50 per journey. It's slow and can be packed in summer, but it works. Renting an ATV is the local favourite for flexibility: expect to pay €25–40 per day, and be aware the island's roads are narrow and steep — ride carefully. Car hire is available from around €35–60 per day. Note that Oia and much of Fira are pedestrianised, so you'll be parking and walking regardless. Taxis exist but are limited in number — book ahead or use the official taxi rank in Fira.
Where to Stay in Santorini
Oia is where you'll find the famous blue-domed cave hotels and cliffside infinity pools — it's stunning and it's priced accordingly. Budget travellers won't find much below €150 per night here in season; premium cave suites run €400–1,000+. Fira, the capital, offers more variety — midrange hotels from €80–180, good restaurant access, and the caldera views without quite the same price tag. Firostefani and Imerovigli sit between Fira and Oia along the caldera path — quieter, still gorgeous, slightly better value than Oia. Perissa and Perivolos on the east coast are where budget travellers actually stay: guesthouses and smaller hotels from €40–80, the black sand beach right there, and a solid bar and restaurant scene. It's a different vibe — less dramatic, more relaxed — and it's a bus ride from the caldera, but your wallet will thank you.
Top Things to Do in Santorini
- Watch the sunset from Oia (strategically): Everyone goes, so go early — claim a spot on the castle ruins at least an hour before sunset or find a quieter viewpoint in Firostefani instead.
- Hike from Fira to Oia: A 10km trail along the caldera rim, taking 3–4 hours. Do it in the morning before the heat builds — the views are genuinely world-class and it's free.
- Visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri: A Minoan Bronze Age city preserved under volcanic ash, sometimes called the Pompeii of the Aegean. Entry is €12 and absolutely worth it.
- Swim at Red Beach: The dramatic red volcanic cliffs above a dark sand beach near Akrotiri. Get there early — it's small and it fills up fast.
- Take a caldera boat tour: Half-day trips to the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, with hot springs swimming. Prices start around €25–35 per person from Fira's old port.
- Taste local wine at a Santo Wines or Estate Argyros: Santorini's assyrtiko white wine is distinctive and excellent — crisp, mineral, unlike anything produced on the mainland. Both wineries have caldera views and run tastings from €15–25.
Practical Travel Tips
Visa: EU passport holders need nothing beyond their ID card. UK travellers post-Brexit can enter Greece visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period — no visa required, but ETIAS pre-travel authorisation is expected to launch for UK citizens in 2025/2026, so check the current status before you travel. Currency: Greece uses the Euro (€). ATMs are available in Fira and Oia; smaller villages may be cash-only, so carry some. Tipping: Not obligatory but appreciated — rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% in restaurants is normal practice. Safety: Santorini is very safe for tourists. The main practical hazards are sunburn (the reflection off whitewashed buildings is brutal), dehydration on hikes, and overpriced tourist menus in Oia — walk one street back from the caldera edge and prices drop noticeably. Petty theft is rare but standard travel precautions apply.
FAQ — Flights to Santorini
How much do flights to Santorini cost?
Return flights to Santorini from the UK typically range from £80–160 in shoulder season (May, June, September, October) on budget carriers like Ryanair or easyJet, rising to £180–350+ during peak July and August. From continental European cities, expect €70–180 return depending on origin and timing. Booking 8–12 weeks ahead generally gets you the best prices.
Which airlines fly to Santorini?
Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air cover most budget routes from the UK and Europe directly to Santorini (JTR) in summer. Aegean Airlines flies Athens–Santorini year-round, making it the default option outside the summer season. British Airways operates seasonal direct flights from London Heathrow, and Lufthansa connects Frankfurt. For connections, Athens is the primary hub — Aegean and Olympic Air both run the short hop frequently.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Santorini?
October and November offer the lowest fares of the year for flights to Santorini, followed closely by late April and early May. If you want good weather alongside cheaper flights, May and October are the practical sweet spot — warm, sunny, and significantly less expensive than summer peak pricing. January and February are cheaper still but the island is largely shut down.
How long is the flight to Santorini from London?
Direct flights from London (Gatwick or Heathrow) to Santorini take approximately 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours. From other European hubs: Frankfurt is around 2 hours 45 minutes direct, Amsterdam roughly 3 hours 15 minutes, and Rome about 1 hour 50 minutes. If connecting via Athens, add the 45-minute domestic hop plus connection time — allow at least 2 hours between flights at Athens International.