Best Airports To Land In Greece For Travelers

Greece has 15 international airports, most of which are located on islands, as well as 13 domestic airports. The largest and busiest international airport in Greece is Athens International Airport, which is located just outside the capital and can be reached by bus, train, or metro from the city centre. The airport handles the majority of foreign visitors to Greece, who then catch connecting flights or ferries to the islands. The second-largest international airport is Thessaloniki Airport, which is the main airport of Northern Greece. Other notable international airports include Heraklion, Santorini, and Mykonos, which are very popular during the summer.

International Airports in Greece

Greece has several international airports, which serve both domestic and international flights. The country's international airports are situated in various locations in Greece and its islands. The largest and busiest international airport in Greece is the International Airport of Athens "Eleftherios Venizelos", located near the city centre of Athens. This airport is the main gateway for most foreign visitors arriving in Greece, and it also receives direct flights from most European capitals and some smaller European cities. Intercontinental direct flights are also available from Athens to the US, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Athens Airport is easily accessible by bus, suburban railway, or metro from the city centre.

The second biggest international airport in Greece is Thessaloniki Airport, officially named Makedonia Airport, which is the main airport in Northern Greece. It is quite popular among tourists spending their vacation in the northern part of the country. The airport has two terminals and is served by airlines such as Eurowings, Wizz Air, Aegean Airlines, British Airways, and Transavia. Non-stop and direct flights from Europe and neighbouring Asian countries are also common at Thessaloniki Airport.

Other notable international airports in Greece include Heraklion International Airport, Santorini (Thira) International Airport, Mykonos International Airport, Chania International Airport on Crete, Paros International Airport, Rhodes International Airport, Samos International Airport, Skiathos International Airport, and Zakynthos International Airport. These airports tend to be quite crowded during the summer as they serve several seasonal flights from abroad.

In addition to the international airports, Greece also has several national airports that mainly serve domestic flights, making it easier for travellers to reach different destinations within the country.

Domestic Airports in Greece

Greece has a number of domestic airports, which are generally smaller than international airports and are located on islands and in some mainland cities. Domestic flights are a good option for travellers arriving at Athens International Airport who want to save time by avoiding the ferry to the islands.

Athens International Airport (IATA: ATH) is the largest and busiest airport in Greece, located just outside the capital. It has two terminals and serves as a hub for Aegean Airlines, as well as many other airlines. It is connected to all other airports in Greece and also receives direct flights from most European capitals and some smaller European cities.

The second-busiest airport in Greece is Heraklion International Airport (IATA: HER) on the island of Crete, located 5km from the city centre. The airport has a single terminal for domestic and international departures and arrivals. It offers flights to the biggest European destinations and leisure centres and, during the high season, connects to more than 100 locations.

Mykonos Airport is located just 4km from the city centre. It has limited flight connections and operating hours during the low season, but in summer, it becomes a popular tourist destination with direct and non-stop flights to and from major European cities.

There are 13 international airports on the Greek islands, and another 13 islands have domestic airports. However, some islands do not have airports and can only be reached by ferry.

Airports in Greek Islands

Greece has 13 international airports on its islands, with a further 13 islands hosting a domestic airport. The Greek islands are a popular destination, with millions of visitors arriving each year.

International Airports

The following Greek islands have international airports:

• Crete – Chania International Airport (CHQ)
• Crete – Heraklion International Airport (HER)
• Paros – New Paros Airport (PAS)
• Rhodes – Rhodes International Airport (RHO)
• Santorini – Santorini (Thira) International Airport (JTR)
• Samos – Samos International Airport (SMI)
• Skiathos – Skiathos International Airport (JSI)
• Zakynthos – Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH)

Domestic Airports

Some Greek islands, such as Naxos, only have domestic airports with connections to the mainland. However, it is worth noting that some domestic airports may offer charter flights from abroad.

Island Hopping

If you are planning to visit multiple Greek islands, it is worth noting that some islands do not have airports and can only be reached by ferry. For example, if you wanted to visit Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos, you could fly into Athens Airport and then get a connecting flight to Santorini. From there, you could take a ferry to Mykonos and then fly back to Athens.

Airports in Mainland Greece

There are 14 airports in mainland Greece, 7 of which are international. The most important airport in mainland Greece is Athens International Airport, the biggest airport in the country. It is located just outside the capital and can be reached by bus, suburban railway, or metro from the city centre. It is the busiest airport in Greece and receives the majority of foreign visitors arriving in the country. From Athens, you can reach practically all the Greek islands by travelling to the port of Piraeus, Rafina, or Lavrio, depending on your destination. Alternatively, you can catch a domestic flight if your destination island has an airport.

The second most important airport in Greece is Thessaloniki Airport, which serves as the gateway to the Halkidiki Peninsula, one of the two most important tourist destinations in mainland Greece. From the port of Thessaloniki, it is not possible to reach any islands directly, but it is an important port of call for reaching many Greek islands in the different archipelagos.

Other important destinations in mainland Greece can be reached by internal flights. The airports serving these destinations include Alexandroupoli, for reaching Thrace, Ioannina in the inner part of Epirus, and the airports of Kastoria and Kozani in North Macedonia.

There are also secondary airports intended for small private planes, such as Megara, Messolonghi, and Karditsa airports.

Airports in Northern Greece

When travelling to Northern Greece, the main airport you will be landing at is Thessaloniki Airport (SKG). It is the second-largest airport in the country and the second most important tourist destination in mainland Greece. It is also the main airport of Northern Greece and serves the city of Thessaloniki, the popular tourist destination of Halkidiki, and the surrounding cities of Macedonia. The airport has two terminals arranged in a T-shape, with parking lots located directly in front of Terminal 1. The ground floor of the original terminal serves arrivals, while the second floor serves departures and includes a shopping centre.

Thessaloniki Airport opened in 1930 and was the second-busiest airport in Greece in 2016 in terms of flights served and the number of passengers. In 2021, a second terminal was constructed, and modernisation works were undertaken, including an upgraded baggage handling system and the construction of a new airport fire station.

Other airports in Northern Greece include Kavala International Airport, which has flights to the islands, and its port is the starting point for many islands in the North-Eastern Aegean. The Peloponnese has two airports: Kalamata and Patras. Patras is also an important port of call for ferries from Italy. Preveza Airport is very close to Lefkada, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

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