Flying from Rome to Athens
The Rome to Athens route covers around 675 miles across the Adriatic and Ionian seas, making it one of the more convenient Mediterranean city pairs. You're looking at a flight time of roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes nonstop — short enough that you barely finish a meal before you're on descent into Attica. Both cities are served by their main international airports: Rome Fiumicino (FCO), officially Leonardo da Vinci International, and Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH). There's no reason to use Rome Ciampino (CIA) for this route unless a Ryanair deal specifically routes you through there, so always double-check which terminal and airport you're departing from when booking budget carriers.
This is a well-served route with multiple daily departures spread across the day, from early morning slots around 5:45 AM right through to late evening around 10:20 PM. Whether you're heading to Athens for a weekend in Monastiraki, a longer Greek island-hopping trip starting from Piraeus, or a business trip to the city center, there's a departure window that works. Flights from Rome to Athens operate every single day of the year, which gives you real flexibility.
Airlines on This Route
Four airlines currently operate nonstop flights from Rome to Athens: ITA Airways, Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, and Sky Express. ITA Airways is the most frequent operator with 21 weekly flights, making it the closest thing to a shuttle service on this route. Aegean Airlines runs 14 flights per week and is consistently rated the best overall experience by passengers — they scored an 8.1 on KAYAK user reviews. Both ITA and Aegean operate out of FCO's main terminal infrastructure and include standard full-service perks like checked baggage and seat selection in their base fares.
Ryanair is the budget option here, operating with their usual no-frills model. Fares can look extraordinarily cheap at first glance, but remember to price in cabin baggage fees, seat selection, and check-in charges before comparing against Aegean or ITA. Sky Express is a smaller Greek carrier worth checking — they sometimes offer competitive pricing with slightly more comfort than Ryanair. For connecting flights, options include Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Lufthansa via Munich, KLM via Amsterdam, and Air Serbia via Belgrade. These are generally only worth considering if direct fares are unusually high or if you're collecting miles on a specific alliance.
Flight Prices: Rome to Athens
Cheap flights from Rome to Athens genuinely exist — Ryanair regularly posts one-way fares starting from as low as €24 to €40 if you book well in advance and travel light. Round-trip deals can come in under €60 total in the right conditions. More realistically, if you want to fly Aegean or ITA with a checked bag and a normal seat, budget around €130 to €200 for a round trip. The average across all airlines sits somewhere around €120 to €160 for a return, depending on season.
For the best Rome to Athens flight deals, book at least 6 to 8 weeks out for summer travel. In the shoulder seasons — spring and autumn — you can often find last-minute availability at reasonable prices because demand drops off sharply after peak summer. Avoid booking within two weeks of travel in July and August; that's when prices spike hard. Use Google Flights' price calendar view to slide across dates and find the cheapest 3-day window around your target travel time.
Best Time to Book Rome to Athens Flights
The cheapest months to fly this route are typically November, December, January, and February. Winter fares can drop to €75 or less one-way on full-service carriers, and budget fares get even lower. The trade-off is that Athens in January is grey and quiet — fine if you want museums and tavernas without the crowds, less ideal if you're hoping for rooftop bars and island ferries.
Spring — particularly April and May — represents the sweet spot: prices haven't fully peaked yet, the weather in Athens is genuinely pleasant, and the city feels alive without being overwhelmed. September and October are similarly good value, with summer crowds thinning out but temperatures still warm enough for the Acropolis in a t-shirt. Peak pricing kicks in from late June through August, when this is one of the busiest leisure routes in southern Europe. If you must fly in summer, book at least 2 to 3 months out and set a price alert on Skyscanner.
Athens Airport Guide
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) is a single-terminal airport located about 27 kilometers east of the city center in Spata. It's clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate — arriving passengers clear customs and exit into the main arrivals hall relatively quickly. From the airport into central Athens, you have three real options: the Metro Line 3 runs directly to Syntagma Square in about 40 minutes and costs €9 one-way (€16 return), making it the best value for most travelers. Taxis to the center run a fixed rate of €38 during the day and €54 at night — don't negotiate, that's the regulated flat fare. There's also an express bus (X95) to Syntagma for €6, taking 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. If you're staying near Monastiraki, Plaka, or Koukaki, the metro drops you within walking distance of most hotels.
FAQ — Rome to Athens Flights
How long is the flight from Rome to Athens?
A nonstop flight from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Athens (ATH) takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. This is consistent across all carriers on the route. Connecting flights will obviously add several hours depending on the layover city and duration.
What is the cheapest time to fly from Rome to Athens?
The cheapest period is generally November through February, when demand drops significantly and airlines discount heavily to fill seats. April and October also offer good value. Avoid July and August if budget is a priority — peak summer fares can be three to four times higher than winter prices on the same routes.
Which airlines fly from Rome to Athens?
Four airlines operate direct flights on this route: ITA Airways, Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, and Sky Express. ITA flies the most frequently at 21 times per week. For connecting options, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, and Air Serbia all serve the route via their respective hubs.
How much do Rome to Athens flights cost?
One-way fares start from around €24 to €40 with Ryanair on sale, though €60 to €90 is more typical for budget carriers once fees are added. Full-service airlines like Aegean average around €180 return. Round-trip prices across all airlines generally range from €56 to €200 depending on the season, how far in advance you book, and whether you need checked luggage included.