Greek Island Hopping: Airports And Easy Access

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe, boasting 1,400 islands, 227 of which are inhabited. Many of these islands are easily accessible by plane, with both international and domestic airports. The largest airport in Greece is the International Airport of Athens, which is located just outside the capital. However, there are several Greek islands that have international airports with direct flights from abroad. Here is a list of some of the Greek islands with international airports:

- Crete: Heraklion International Airport and Chania International Airport

- Santorini: Santorini (Thira) International Airport

- Mykonos: Mykonos International Airport

- Rhodes: Rhodes International Airport

- Corfu: Corfu International Airport

- Zakynthos: Zakynthos International Airport

- Kos: Kos Island International Airport

- Skiathos: Skiathos Island International Airport

Greek islands with international airports

There are several Greek islands with international airports, which can be reached directly from abroad or via a domestic flight. These include:

Crete

Heraklion International Airport and Chania International Airport offer direct flights from various European cities, as well as from the Middle East. Crete is the largest Greek island and is located in the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of the Peloponnese. It is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, romantic getaways, and nature.

Santorini

Santorini (Thira) International Airport offers direct flights from major European cities, as well as the Middle East and other international destinations. Santorini is famous for its sunsets, volcanic rocks, and incredible wine. It is one of the most popular airports in the area, with around 2.3 million visitors annually.

Mykonos

Mykonos International Airport offers direct flights from various European cities and the Middle East. Mykonos is one of the busiest Greek airports, with year-round flights from Athens and charter flights during peak season.

Rhodes

Rhodes International Airport offers direct flights from several European cities and the Middle East. Rhodes is the largest and most popular island in the Dodecanese complex, with over 5.5 million visitors annually.

Corfu

Corfu International Airport offers direct flights from various European cities. Corfu, or Kerkyra, is the northernmost Ionian island and has the fifth busiest airport in Greece.

Zakynthos

Zakynthos International Airport offers direct flights from various European cities. Zakynthos, or Zante, is one of the most famous Greek islands, with almost 2 million visitors in 2019.

Kos

Kos Island International Airport offers direct flights from several European cities. Kos is a popular destination, serving about 2.5 million visitors annually.

Skiathos

Skiathos Island National Airport offers direct flights from several European cities, both international and domestic. It is the main airport in the Sporades area, with half a million annual arrivals.

Kefalonia

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, known for its stunning beaches and rich cultural history. Its main airport welcomed 700,000 visitors in 2019, mostly during the summer months.

Other Greek Islands with Airports

In addition to the islands mentioned above, there are several other Greek islands with airports, including Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Paros, Naxos, Milos, Syros, Ikaria, Lesbos, Samos, Lemnos, and Chios. These islands offer a mix of domestic and international flights, with some having more limited services and seasonal operations.

Greek islands with national airports

Greece has a number of national airports, which serve domestic flights and, occasionally, charter flights from abroad. Here is a list of Greek islands with national airports:

Crete

Crete is the largest Greek island and one of the largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It has three airports: Chania, Heraklion, and a smaller one in Lassithi, also referred to as Sitia Airport. Heraklion Airport is the second busiest in Greece, welcoming over 8 million annual visitors. Chania Airport serves approximately 3 million visitors, while Sitia Airport operates during the summer months with charter flights from several airlines.

Dodecanese

The Dodecanese complex of Greek islands has seven airports across its twelve islands. The most popular island and largest airport is located in Rhodes, with more than 5.5 million people flying through each year. Other airports in the Dodecanese include Kos, Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, and Leros.

Cyclades

The Cyclades islands are well connected to the rest of Greece and Europe. Santorini is the most popular airport in the area, with around 2.3 million visitors each year. Mykonos International Airport is also very busy, with year-round flights from Athens and charter flights during peak season. You can also fly into Paros, Naxos, Milos, and Syros.

Eptanisa (Ionian Islands)

The largest of the Ionian Islands is Kefalonia, with a main airport that welcomed 700,000 visitors in 2019, mostly during the summer months. Other airports in the region include Zante (Zakynthos), Corfu (Kerkyra), and Kythira.

Sporades

The Sporades complex has twenty-four islands, but only four have permanent residents. Skiathos is the main airport in the area, with half a million annual arrivals, both international and domestic. The much smaller Skyros airport only serves Athens and Thessaloniki during the summer.

North Aegean

The North Aegean islands are some of the least visited and lesser-known islands in Greece. The airport of Lesvos, Mytilene International Airport, receives half a million visitors. Other North Aegean islands with airports include Samos, Lemnos, Chios, and Ikaria.

Popular Greek islands

Greece has six main island groups, as well as the stand-alone island of Crete. The most popular Greek islands are:

Santorini

The most popular airport in the area, Santorini is famous for its stunning sunsets, cliffside villages, and beaches with black and red sand. It is considered the top tourist destination in Greece and is ideal for first-timers. It is also known for its romantic atmosphere, with golden sunsets and boutique hotels.

Mykonos

Mykonos is considered the Greek sister of Ibiza. It is known for its nightlife and picturesque windmills. It is also a popular destination for luxury getaways and wild partying. It is one of the busiest Greek airports and is considered one of the best Greek islands for nightlife.

Paros

Paros has become a very popular island, boasting stunning beaches, Cycladic architecture, and cosmopolitan charm. Its airport opened in 2016, with regular flights from Athens and seasonal charter flights during the summer.

Naxos

The largest island in the Cyclades, with sandy beaches and picturesque villages. It is a popular destination for families, with shallow, safe waters, and plenty of tourist amenities. It is also known for its windsurfing and kitesurfing, with schools on the bays offering lessons and equipment rental.

Rhodes

Rhodes is known for its walled city with Crusader castles and an ancient synagogue. It is one of the two largest Dodecanese islands, and is a popular destination for travellers flying in from England and Germany.

Kos

Kos is known for its beautiful beaches and ancient ruins, as well as its vibrant nightlife. It is one of the quieter Dodecanese islands, with around 2.5 million visitors per year.

Crete

Crete is the largest Greek island and one of the largest in the Mediterranean. It has two main airports and a smaller one in Lassithi, also referred to as Sitia Airport. It is known for its rich history, stunning beaches, and delicious cuisine.

Corfu

Corfu is one of the greenest islands, with lush vegetation and Venetian architecture. It is the northernmost of the Ionian islands and has the fifth busiest airport in all of Greece.

Zakynthos

Zakynthos is known for its blue caves and Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach). It is one of the most famous Greek islands, with almost 2 million visitors in 2019.

Skiathos

The main airport in the Sporades area, with half a million annual arrivals, both international and domestic. It is famous for its lush greenery, crystal-clear waters, and stunning beaches.

Greek islands with direct flights from abroad

Greece is among the most popular holiday destinations in the world, and many large airlines schedule flights to the country from various places around the world. The majority of tourists who travel to Greece arrive by plane. There are many airports in Greece, both on the mainland and on the Greek islands.

The biggest airport in Greece is the International Airport of Athens, which is located just outside the capital. Athens International Airport receives the majority of foreign visitors arriving in Greece. From there, most visitors catch a connecting flight to the Greek islands or get to one of the ports of Athens to travel to the islands by ferry.

The second-largest airport in Greece is the Airport of Thessaloniki, which is quite popular among those spending their vacation in the northern part of the country.

The islands that have international airports, such as Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Skiathos, Corfu, and Kefalonia, are usually connected to other islands via ferry crossings, which tend to be cheaper than plane tickets.

• Crete: Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” and Chania International Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” both have direct flights from various European cities. Heraklion Airport welcomes more than 8 million annual visitors, while Chania Airport serves around 3 million.
• Santorini: Santorini (Thira) International Airport receives direct flights from major European cities, as well as from the Middle East and other international destinations. More than 20 airlines fly into Santorini, and there are plenty of direct flights from European cities during the summer months.
• Mykonos: Mykonos International Airport receives direct flights from various European cities, as well as from the Middle East.
• Rhodes: Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras” has direct flights from several European cities, as well as from the Middle East.
• Corfu: Corfu International Airport “Ioannis Kapodistrias” receives direct flights from various European cities.
• Zakynthos: Zakynthos International Airport “Dionysios Solomos” receives direct flights from various European cities.
• Kos: Kos Island International Airport “Hippocrates” has direct flights from several European cities.
• Skiathos: Skiathos Island National Airport receives direct flights from several European cities.

These airports are served by various airlines, including major carriers such as Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, EasyJet, and TUI. However, it’s important to check with the airlines for the most up-to-date information on flights and schedules.

Greek islands with the busiest airports

There are several Greek islands with airports that are easily accessible by plane from Athens or other international airports. Here is a list of the Greek islands with the busiest airports:

Crete

Crete is the largest Greek island and one of the largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It has two main airports, Chania and Heraklion, and a smaller one in Lassithi, also known as Sitia Airport. Heraklion is the second busiest airport in Greece, receiving over 8 million visitors annually. Chania Airport serves approximately 3 million visitors, while Sitia Airport operates during the summer months, offering charter flights from various airlines.

Rhodes

Rhodes International Airport is the largest airport in the Dodecanese complex of Greek islands. Over 5.5 million people fly through this airport each year to visit Rhodes, also known as the Island of Knights. More than 60 airlines serve Rhodes Airport, with most international flights operating during the summer.

Kos

Kos is a popular Greek island with an international airport. Flights to Kos are available year-round from Athens and Thessaloniki. The flight duration from Athens to Kos is 1 hour, and the airport serves 2.5 million visitors annually.

Santorini

Santorini is one of the most popular airports in the Cyclades islands, known for its sunsets, volcanic rocks, and incredible wine. It receives around 2.3 million visitors annually, with more than 20 airlines flying into the island. Direct flights from European cities are also available during the summer months.

Mykonos

Mykonos International Airport is among the busiest in Greece, ranking in the top 10. It offers year-round flights from Athens and charter flights during the peak season.

Corfu

Corfu, also known as Kerkyra, is the northernmost of the Ionian islands. It boasts the 5th busiest airport in all of Greece and the 4th busiest island airport. In 2019, over 3 million people chose to visit Corfu by air.

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