Your Stairway To Greek Heavens: How To Reach the Greek Islands from anywhere in the world!
Greece is one of the most visited countries worldwide during the April-October period.
A large number of tourists are transported to the Greek islands every year by airports throughout Greece. You will learn more about the locations of the international airports in the following write-up.
Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)
The Athens Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, is the busiest airport in Greece, handling over 22 million passengers each year. The airport is located in Spata, about 33 kilometers from the center of Athens.
The airport has two terminals, known as the “main terminal” and the “Satellite” terminal. The terminals are connected by an underground link. The main terminal is the main airport for flights and generally accommodates the majority of airline companies.
Eleftherios Venizelos is a modern airport with a wide range of amenities and services for passengers. These include airport parking, duty-free shopping, restaurants, cafes, bars, banks, currency exchange offices, car rental agencies, and a Sofitel Airport Hotel.
How to get to the Greeks Islands from Athens
From Athens airport you can either catch a domestic flight or hop on a ferry from one of three nearby ports Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio.
It’s important to note that not all Greek islands have a domestic airport.
Greek Islands with an Airport International and Domestic include: Crete, Corfu, Kos, Rhodes, Kefalonia Lemnos Mykonos Lefkada Samos Santorini, Skiathos, Zakynthos, Astypalea
Greek Islands with a Domestic (National) Airports include: Chios Ikaria Kalymnos Kasos Kastellorizo Kythira Leros Milos Naxos Paros Skyros Syros
Some of the islands listed above have international airports where you fly directly from abroad. These airports are discussed further below in the article.
Ferry Ports of Athens
If you’re traveling to the Greek islands from Athens by ferry, your journey will begin at one of three ports of Athens: Piraeus, Rafina, or Lavrio.
Piraeus Port
You can go from the airport to the Piraeus port by metro, railway, and frequent airport buses.
The Piraeus port is one of the busiest ferry ports in Greece. Every day, ferries depart from the port to various Greek islands. The port is also a popular tourist destination in its own right, with many restaurants and shops to explore.
From Piraeus Port, you can choose between ferry routes that transport you to the following Greek Islands:
Islands of the Saronic Gulf: Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Spetses, Hydra, Salamina
Cyclades: Amorgos, Anafi, Donoussa, Folegandros, Ios, Iraklia, Kimolos, Koufonisia, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Patmos, Santorini, Serifos, Schinoussa, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros.
Islands of the Eastern Part of Greece: Ikaria, Astypalaia, Chios, Karpathos, Kalymnos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Kimolos, Kos, Lipsi, Nisyros, Samos, Symi, Tilos, Fournoi, Psara, Oinousses, Rhodes.
Islands of the Southern Part of Greece: Crete (Heraklion, Chania, Kissamos, Rethimno, Sitia)
Islands of the Northern Part of Greece: Lesvos, Lemnos
Islands at the Eastern Shores of Peloponnese: Hermione, Antikythera, Kythira
Rafina Port
Another port located near Athens is Rafina port. The port town is situated on the east coast of Attica, and it is the second largest port in the region. Rafina is a popular destination for ferry services to the Greek islands.
From Rafina Port, the ferry routes depart towards the following islands: Andros, Ios, Koufonisi, Naxos, Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Tinos.
Lavrio Port
Lavrio Port is located just south of Athens, and is a popular destination for those looking to escape the city. Lavrio Port is easy to get to by car or public transportation. The port has a long history dating back to the Bronze Age, and its natural harbor has been used by ships for centuries. Today, the port is home to a variety of ferries that service both locals and tourists alike. Once at the port, you can purchase tickets for ferries to the Greek islands. The journey between Lavrio and most of the islands takes only a few hours, making it possible to visit several islands in one day.
Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or a longer vacation, Lavrio Port is the perfect place to start your journey.
Lavrio Port has frequent ferry routes arriving at: Agios Efstratios, Andros, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Lemnos, Chios, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Sikinos, Siros.
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
Thessaloniki Airport is an international airport located in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the second busiest airport in the country after Athens International Airport and serves as a hub for Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air.
The airport serves as a gateway to the Greek islands, with direct flights to popular island destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete.
Port of Thessaloniki
You can utilise the airport shuttle services from Thessaloniki Airport to arrive at the Port of Thessaloniki. The port is a hub for ferry services to the Greek islands, with over 30 routes connecting Thessaloniki to destinations such as Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Crete, Lesvos, and Rhodes.
Patras Airport (GPA)
Patra lies in the Peloponnese and is one of the most populated municipalities in Greece. You only have to remember that the Airport of Patra receives international flights solely during the Summer months. The airport is in Araxos, approximately 10 km from the center of Patra.
Unfortunately, there is no Public Transportation from the airport to Patra Port, and the only available option is taking a taxi. There are punctual shipping routes toward Corfu, Kefalonia, and Ithaca islands.
Aktion/Preveza International Airport (PVK)
The Aktion airport receives primarily charter flights from abroad. It is another airport that functions only during the summer months. After your arrival, you can rent a car and head to the magnificent Lefkada, which is 25 km away. You can book a sailing expedition from Lefkada to Ithaca, Kefalonia, Scorpios, and Meganisi.
Greek Islands with international Airports
Corfu Airport-Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport (CFU)
One of the most significant Greek islands could not handle the numerous visitors every year without a suitable airport. The Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport welcomes many tourists every Summer and festive season that either spend their vacations in Corfu or opt for the nearby destinations of Paxoi and Antipaxoi.
Paxoi and Antipaxoi are approachable only via the ferry line of Corfu. Alternatively, you can book a sailing expedition encompassing the exploration of the famous sea caves in Paxoi and Antipaxoi.
Kefalonia Airport (EFL)
The airport of Kefalonia is 8 km away from the island’s capital, Argostoli. The flights to and from the airport are predominantly from Athens. In the Summer, it receives many flights from overseas.
Zakynthos Airport (ZTH)
Zakynthos is another famous island in the Ionian Sea and receives many flights daily from Athens, Thessaloniki and abroad. Its location is in the region of Laganas.
Crete Airports (Chania-CHQ & Heraklion-HER)
The airport of Heraklion receives several flights from Athens, Thessaloniki and abroad throughout the year. The Chania airport plays a supplementary role during the Spring and Summer months when the most prominent Greek island accommodates countless visitors.
Cyclades Airports (Mykonos-JMK & Santorini-JTR)
Mykonos Airport is a popular destination throughout the year, but it gets exceptionally crowded during Spring and Summer. It receives charter and commercial flights both domestically and from abroad.
Santorini Airport is also highly frequented during the Spring and Summer months and provides excellent assistance to the people who strive to experience the magnetic sunsets of the island.
Skiathos Airport (JSI)
Skiathos Airport receives commercial flights from Athens and Thessaloniki and charter flights from abroad. It is your preferred airport if you are planning to visit the Sporades islands.
Airports of Dodecanese Complex (Rhodes-RHO, Kos-KGS, Karpathos-AOK)
The airport of Rhodes receives flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete and flights from overseas. From Rhodes, you can transport to all the islands of the Dodecanese complex or embark on a sailing adventure on the southeastern shores of Greece.
The Kos and Karpathos airports receive the same flights as Rhodes but not so frequently. As applies to all the Greek islands, they are more crowded during the Summer months.
Airports of the North-Eastern Part of Greece (Lemnos-LXS, Lesvos-MJT)
The officials of the Lemnos Airport greet flights solely from Athens and Thessaloniki. You can also arrive at Lemnos from Thessaloniki and Kavala ports.
Lesvos airport receives the same kind of flights as its Lemnos counterpart. You can also approach Lesvos shores from Thessaloniki and Kavala Ports.
Greek Islands with Domestic Airports
There are also the National Airports in Greece, which receive solely domestic flights infrequently.
These airports are in the following locations: Ikaria, Kalymnos, Lassithi (Crete), Naxos, Syros, Astypalea, Leros, Paros, Chios, Kythira, Milos, Skyros.
