Athens to Santorini

There are lots of flights from Athens to Santorini as well as a ferry service from Piraeus, with flights to Santorini leaving from Athens International Airport.

Oia on SantoriniOia on Santorini

The reason for the number of flights from Athens to Santorini is because Santorini is one of the few islands in the Cyclades to have an airport of international standard. Anyone headed to Ios, for example, will have to fly to Santorini from Athens and then take the hour-long ferry ride to Ios.

Flights to Santorini leave from Athens International Airport, with a flight time of about 45 minutes. At the height of summer there can be 15-20 flights a day, and flights go all year round.

Santorini SunsetSantorini Sunset

Flights from Athens to Santorini

Obviously flight schedules from Athens to Santorini change regularly, in particular after the outbreak of Covid-19 which resulted in the cancellation of many flights during 2020. You should check direct with the airlines, but at the time of writing the main airlines operating Athens-Santorini flights are:

Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines operates seasonal flights to Santorini from various European destinations, including Thessaloniki within Greece, as well as from Athens. Under normal circumstances there are daily flights between Athens and Santorini, with several per day in the summer season, though fewer out of season. 

Olympic Air

Olympic Air is owned by Aegean Airlines and although they operate as separate companies, the flights (and prices) from Athens to Santorini are identical.

Ryanair

The Irish budget airline Ryanair flies between Athens and Santorini daily in the summer season and several times a week otherwise. 

Sky Express

Sky Express is a Greek airline based in Athens and Crete, and with flights between numerous Greek destinations as well as to several European countries. Its many Greek destinations range from Alexandroupolis to Zakynthos, including Santorini. In high season it might operate as many as nine flights per day between Athens and Santorini, though fewer out of high season.

Volotea

Volotea is a Spanish budget airline but its route network does include flights between Santorini and Athens. Flights operate from May to October, with 2-3 per day.

Some Cool Santorini Gifts

santorini-shower-curtain.jpg

Shower Curtain

santorini-personalised-iphone-14-cover.jpg

Personalised IPhone 14 Cover

santorini-wireless-charger.jpg

Wireless Charger

Santorini-luggage-tag.jpg

Luggage Tag

Santorini (Thira) International Airport

Santorini Airport is about 5 km (3 miles) southeast of the main town of Thira, less than a 10-minute drive to Thira and about 25 minutes if you're going to Oia. There are buses and taxis linking the airport with Thira, and many hotels operate shuttle buses when they have guests arriving or departing. You can also rent cars at the airport, with companies including Hertz, Europcar, and Sixt all having offices at the airport.

See Our YouTube Video of Santorini

In addition to the Athens-Santorini flights, you can fly to Santorini from Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Crete, and Mykonos. In the holiday season there are also charter flights from numerous European cities direct to Santorini. Out of season you'll need to fly to Athens and get a connection to Santorini.

Santorini Airport opened in 1972 and by 2019 it was being used by 2.3 million passengers, though obviously the number was a lot less in 2020 due to the coronavirus. The IATA code for the airport is JTR.

Athens to Santorini by Ferry

Cruise ships in the caldera of Santorini

You can catch the Athens to Santorini ferry in Piraeus. Santorini also has ferry connections with Thessaloniki, Crete, Mykonos, Rhodes, and many other Greek islands. The ferry from Athens to Santorini takes about 5 hours if using the more expensive high-speed service, or 8 hours on the regular car ferry.

Note that you must buy your ticket in advance, and you cannot get a return ticket, only two singles. In Piraeus you can buy a ticket from one of the ticket agent offices near gate E7 of the port, which is close to both the metro station if coming from central Athens, and close to the stop for the X96 airport bus. On Santorini there are numerous agencies where you can buy ferry tickets.

You can also buy tickets online through websites like Ferries in Greece.

Ferries in Greece

Ferries in Greece has an excellent and very thorough website where, in addition to checking ferry schedules and times, you can also book tickets and get lots of useful information about travelling by ferry in Greece.

Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides

Rough-Guide-Greek-Islands-2022.png

Other Santorini Pages

  • Hotels on Santorini, Greece, in the Cyclades, range from luxury choices to good cheap accommodation in Fira, with caldera views.

    Hotels on Santorini

    Hotels on Santorini, Greece, in the Cyclades, range from luxury choices to good cheap accommodation in Fira, with caldera views.

  • Luxury Weddings in Greece, including venues such as a boutique hotel with deluxe spa on Santorini, can be booked through Ionian Weddings.

    Luxury Weddings in Greece

    Luxury Weddings in Greece, including venues such as a boutique hotel with deluxe spa on Santorini, can be booked through Ionian Weddings.

  • Weddings in Greece and the Greek islands can be luxury or cheap, are easy to arrange from the UK or USA in Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes.

    Weddings in Greece

    Weddings in Greece and the Greek islands can be luxury or cheap, are easy to arrange from the UK or USA in Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes.

  • Santorini car rental companies include Budget, Hermes, VIP Rent a Car and Euro Dollar, with Santorini car hire at the airport, and around Santorini.

    Santorini Car Rental

    Santorini car rental companies include Budget, Hermes, VIP Rent a Car and Euro Dollar, with Santorini car hire at the airport, and around Santorini.

  • Some of the best things to do on Santorini, as well as seeing the caldera, include wine tasting, beaches, and visiting the sites of ancient Thira and Akrotiri.

    Things to Do on Santorini

    Some of the best things to do on Santorini, as well as seeing the caldera, include wine tasting, beaches, and visiting the sites of ancient Thira and Akrotiri.

  • Santorini or Thira in the Cyclades islands has cheap and luxury hotels, car rental, ferries from Athens, Crete and other islands, and flights from Athens.

    Santorini

    Santorini or Thira in the Cyclades islands has cheap and luxury hotels, car rental, ferries from Athens, Crete and other islands, and flights from Athens.

  • Visiting Santorini wineries is a popular activity on this Greek island in the Cyclades, whose volcanic soil provides a distinctive terroir.

    Santorini Wineries

    Visiting Santorini wineries is a popular activity on this Greek island in the Cyclades, whose volcanic soil provides a distinctive terroir.

  • Greece Travel Secrets brings together some outstanding pictures of Santorini in the Cyclades islands of Greece.

    Pictures of Santorini

    Greece Travel Secrets brings together some outstanding pictures of Santorini in the Cyclades islands of Greece.

  • This list of fun things to do on Santorini include visiting an old tomato canning factory, listening to Greek bagpipes, and enjoying some local beers.

    Fun Things to Do on Santorini

    This list of fun things to do on Santorini include visiting an old tomato canning factory, listening to Greek bagpipes, and enjoying some local beers.

  • Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Santorini, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

    Best Time to Visit Santorini

    Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Santorini, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

  • Greece Travel Secrets picks the best restaurants on Santorini, choosing the top gourmet and fine-dining eating places with some exclusive dining experiences.

    Best Restaurants on Santorini

    Greece Travel Secrets picks the best restaurants on Santorini, choosing the top gourmet and fine-dining eating places with some exclusive dining experiences.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Acropolis Museum Exhibition: The Parthenon and Byron

    On the occasion of 200 years since Lord Byron’s death, the Acropolis Museum in Athens is honoring his memory with a symbolic exhibition related to Lord Elgin’s taking of the Parthenon sculptures.

    Read More

  2. Greece Launches Contactless ‘Tap & Pay’ System on Athens Airport Express Buses

    The Greek Transport Ministry on Wednesday launched a pilot ‘Tap & Pay’ contactless payment system for passengers traveling on the express bus lines in Athens that connect to Athens International Airpo…

    Read More

  3. Greece Bans Sunbeds, Umbrellas, Bars on 198 Beaches

    Sunbeds, umbrellas, and all sorts of constructions have been banned on 198 beaches across Greece according to a joint ministerial decision signed this week by Economy & Finance Minister Kostis Hatzida…

    Read More

  4. Greece’s 10 Highest Mountains

    From myth-laden peaks to rugged alpine trails, we explore ten of Greece's highest mountains, where untamed beauty and boundless adventure meet.

    Read More

  5. 4 Guesthouses in Zagori that Are Worth Visiting

    Amidst the mountains and spectacular scenery, these four traditional guesthouses in the heart of Zagori, Epirus, offer the very best in Greek hospitality.

    Read More

  6. Paris 2024 Olympic Flame Lit at Ancient Olympia, Countdown to Games Begins

    The Olympic flame that will be burning for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer was lit in Ancient Olympia on Tuesday, April 16. Located in western Peloponnese, Ancient Olympia is one of the most…

    Read More

  7. April 17 Greece National Strike to Affect Public Transport, Ferry Travel

    Public transportation in Athens as well as ferry travel in Greece will be disrupted on Wednesday, April 17, due to a 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the cou…

    Read More

  8. The Ikaria Way

    the-ikaria-way-front-and-back-cover-900.webp
    Greece Travel Secrets reviews the Greek cookbook, The Ikaria Way by Diane Kochilas, containing 100 delicious plant-based recipes.

    Read More

  9. Greece Announces Steep Fines for Beach Access Violations

    The Greek Finance Ministry announced this week that it would taking strict measures including fines of up to 60,000 euros to ensure that Greece’s beaches are always accessible to the public. Fines ran…

    Read More

  10. Cyprus-Greece Ferry Connection to Start on May 29

    For a third year in a row, the ferry service linking Cyprus with Greece is scheduled to resume operations on May 29. The Cypriot-flagged Daleela, which can transport 400 passengers and 200 vehicles, w…

    Read More