Greek Islands International Airports

[Cassaundra Marley]

Whenit comes to investing in Greece, as a non-European investor, it is convenient to know which regions of Athens are easily accessible to travel conveniently to your new home in Greece with your Golden Visa. There are many Greek islands with International airports that are ideal investment destinations as many tourists visit every year and a property there can be easily rented out.

In order to help you with your research, we have created a comprehensive map and a bullet list, illustrating and listing the Greek Islands that you can travel to by airplane directly from abroad or via a domestic flight (which tend to be very cheap and no more than 45 minutes maximum).

Especially in the summer, direct flights from abroad are frequent. In the winter, routes are normally limited since there are less people visiting Greek islands, but the airports are still open and can be reached via a connecting flight from Athens.

For Golden Visa investors, this information can be taken into consideration when buying a property in Greece, since islands with International airports attract even more tourists, a feature which may prove profitable when renting out your property. Naturally, easy access to the islands is also convenient if you are planning to use the property for your own use, to live permanently or for summer vacations.

Sources: Image of Woman in Airport by Jan Vasek on Pixabay

Image of view from ferryboat by Cosmic Time Traveller on Unsplash

Image of villa with pool from our real estate database

Map with pins on destinations with National & International airports created by our team.

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The airports of Greece serve millions of locals and visitors from abroad throughout the year, making it possible to reach various locations on the Greek mainland or the islands in no time.

The biggest airport in Greece is the International Airport of Athens, which is located right outside the capital and can be easily reached by bus, suburban railway, or metro from the city center. Athens International Airport receives the majority of foreign visitors arriving in Greece; from there, most of them catch a connecting flight to travel to the Greek islands by plane or get to one of the ports of Athens to travel to the islands by ferry.

It is good to know that the majority of airports in Greece are not connected via direct flights; to get from one place to the other, most of the time you will have to get a connecting flight at the Airport of Athens or take a bus, train, private transfer or ferry.

Greece boasts some International Airports, which serve domestic and international flights, and National Airports which only serve domestic flights (maybe some charter flights from abroad from time to time, too).

Below, you will find more information on both types of airports in Greece.

Situated at various locations in Greece and the Greek islands, the country's International Airports have been designed to receive domestic flights, as well as scheduled or charter flights from abroad.

The largest and busiest International Airport in Greece is the International Airport of Athens "Eleftherios Venizelos", near the city center of Athens. This airport is connected to all the airports of Greece, while it also receives direct flights from most European capitals and some smaller European cities. Intercontinental direct flights between Athens and the US, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also available.

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

Other notable international airports include the ones of Heraklion, Santorini, and Mykonos, which get quite crowded during the summer, as they serve several seasonal flights from abroad.

Note: International Airports on the Greek islands make it possible to get there directly from several locations outside Greece, without having to get a connecting flight at the airport of Athens. However, if a flight from the capital is required to reach an island, keep in mind that depending on your destination, travel time is usually between 40 and 60 minutes.

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

National Airports are generally smaller than International ones. They are situated in various locations, including many islands and a few cities on the mainland. Most of them serve only domestic flights directly from Athens and a few ones from Thessaloniki, allowing travelers to reach another location easily.

Domestic flights are highly recommended to visitors from abroad who arrive at Athens International Airport and wish to travel to the islands. In this way, you will save a lot of time by not having to go to the port to catch a ferry.

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Do you have a question about Greece and the Greek islands? Where to stay? Where to eat? And more?

Do not hesitate to ask the community! Greeka team and its community members will be delighted to help you!

Ready to explore the enchanting Aegean Sea? Or maybe the Ionian Sea and a few Greek islands? Start your journey here with our comprehensive guide to every airport on the Greek Islands!

There are 13 main airports that offer international flights on the Greek islands and another 13 islands with domestic flights. This means that a total of 26 Greek islands have airports, either international or domestic airports.

Many Greek islands have direct flights from various European cities, including Corfu and Rhodes. Additionally, the main international airport of Athens offers connections to multiple European destinations.

The most popular Greek islands can be reached by direct flights from major European cities to their respective international airports. Additionally, ferry boats are available for travel between islands.

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Chania Airport, in the western part of Greece, serves approximately 3 million visitors. Sitia Airport is a smaller airport on the eastern coast of Crete, that operates during the summer months. Charter flights from Olympic Air, Sky Express, Jet Time and Scandinavian Airlines fly through Sitia Airport.

The airport of Skiathos, named after the famous novelist and local, Alexandros Papadiamantis, is often considered one of the most interesting airports worldwide, drawing comparisons to Princess Juliana on Saint Maarten. Aviation enthusiasts can watch as planes approach the runaway and perform impressive low landings. Accidents are few but can happen.

The much smaller Skyros airport only serves Athens and Thessaloniki during the summer months.The islands in the complex of Sporades are known for their lush forests, green waters, peaceful beaches and traditional aesthetic. Whether you choose to fly into Skiathos or catch a ferry from the mainland you will arrive sure of having made the right choice!

The most popular island and largest airport is located in Rhodes. More than 5.5 million people fly through Rhodes International Airport each year, to discover the beauty of The Island of Knights, as it is often referred as. More than 60 airlines fly into Rhodes airport with most international destinations only operating during the busy summer months. Rhodes is also an excellent winter time island destination. You can still find flights during the winter but you will most probably have to transit through Athens or Thessaloniki.

Santorini is the island of sunsets, volcanic rocks, otherworldly views and incredible wine. It is also the most popular of the airports in the area, with around 2.3 million visitors each year. More than 20 airlines fly into Santorini and you will find plenty of direct flights from European cities during the summer months.

Mykonos International Airport is on the Top 10 of busiest Greek airports, behind Santorini and Zakynthos. You can also find year-round flights for Mykonos from Athens as well as charter flights during the busy season. Outside of the two main airports you can also fly into Paros, Naxos, Milos and Syros.

The largest of the Ionian Islands is Kefalonia, with stunning beaches and a rich cultural history. The main airport welcomed 700 thousand visitors in 2019, mostly during the summer months. Flights also operate year-round from Athens through Olympic Express.

The airport of Lesvos, Mytilene International Airport, receives half a million visitors. Sky Express and Olympic Air have regular flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. There are also charter flights from other European cities during the summer.

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