London to Athens plus Greek Island Hopping, starting in London and ending in Athens, Season 2024 (2023)

FAQs

Which Greek islands can I fly to from London? ›

The average flight time from London to Greek Islands is 7 hours 55 minutes. Nearby airports to consider flying from include: London City Airport (LCY), London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London Stansted Airport (STN).

There is no direct connection from London to Greek Islands. However, you can take the train to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, take the walk to London Heathrow airport, fly to Athens, then take the travel to Greek Islands.

While the Greek islands are stunning at any time of year, aim to visit between Orthodox Easter (usually April) and the end of May, or from September to mid-October. During these times, services and amenities are up and running, temperatures are balmy and crowds are thinner.

And the proximity of Corfu – closest Greek isle to the UK, just 1,250 miles from Gatwick – means that the Venetian streets of its capital are often choked. The tougher the journey, the thinner the crowds; and the Cyclades, sitting pretty in the centre of the Aegean, has several candidates for escape.

Ionian Islands

These islands are easy to visit when visiting Greece from Italy, one of the many popular Greek island hopping routes. Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Ithaka are some of the best-known Ionian Islands.

The average cost of a trip to Greece for two ranges from $1000 for a budget stays to $3500 and up for a luxury stay of 7 days. For a budget trip, you could plan on spending about $150-$200 a day. You could have a very nice romantic Greek vacation for around $300 per day.

Traveling from London to Athens by train is an exciting journey with some wonderful scenery. The two leading companies serving this route are Eurostar and SNCB. The entire trip takes over 36 hours, with many connections.

Corfu is the closest Greek island to the UK and is especially popular with holidaymakers seeking sun, sea and sand. Holidays in Corfu are not complete without a visit to the island's capital, Corfu Town.

Which Greek island is the cheapest? ›

The most affordable Greek Islands to visit include Crete, Andros, Tinos, Corfu and Naxos. These cheap Greek Islands don't get nearly as many visitors as others, making everything from transportation to food and accommodations more affordable. And often, they're not even very far from the more popular islands.

Departing from one of Athens' three ports on the Greek mainland, Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion, you can hop on a ferry to the nearby islands. Not only are the island-hopping Greece ferries more affordable than flights, but you can enjoy much better views of the ocean and islands.

13 Travel tips for Greek island hopping

For the purposes of this article, “a budget” will be around 50-60 euros per person per day. This might seem like too little for some people, but it's absolutely doable. All you need is some careful planning!

The best times to visit the Greek Islands are the summer months of June and July. August is a popular month to visit but it can be incredibly crowded. Some islands are also great to visit as early as April or May and as late as September. Generally, winter is not a great time to visit the Greek Islands.

Mykonos. There's no better way to start your Greek island hopping adventures than with Mykonos. This enchanting Greek island is famous for its vibrant nightlife, pebbled streets, whitewashed houses and, of course, some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean.

Mykonos is without a doubt the most popular party island in Greece. The island has something for everyone, from world-famous beach clubs to lively bars and nightclubs. It's known for having some of the best nightlife in Greece.

This year, Kefalonia won first place in the preferences of the British as the best Greek island. The largest consumer research organisation 'Which?' asked over 1,000 Brits who have visited the country in the last two years to rate the 10 most popular Greek islands.

Santorini is probably the most popular Greek Island. Afloat in the Aegean, east of the mainland, it is typically Cycladic with its blinding white houses, blue and pastel shutters and roofs.

Corfu. Corfu (Kerkyra) is one of the best Greek Islands for older couples and one of the most popular Greek islands period. This is the second-largest of the Ionian islands and its Ioannis Kapodistrias international airport is one of the most popular gateways into the country.

Which Greek island is the least touristy? ›

Overlooked for neighbouring hotspots Santorini and Mykonos, Koufonisia has all the charms of its world-famous neighbours without the influx of tourists and cruise ships. Koufonisia is technically three islands, including the uninhabited Kato Koufonisi and Keros, but all ferries arrive at the tranquil Ano Koufonisi.

How Many Days in Greece: For most tourists, I recommend a visit of 10 to 15 days. This allows for a few days in Athens; a day trip to Nafplio, Delphi, or the Meteora; and a few nights on 2 or 3 Greek islands. Of course, trips of more or fewer days are possible.

Greek cuisine and restaurants are usually straightforward and still largely affordable – typically €12–20 per person for a substantial meal with house wine. Even when preparation is basic, raw materials are usually wholesome and fresh.

How much does a meal cost in Greece? Meal prices in Greece vary a lot. It is possible to eat for under 10 euro per person, especially if you are a large group and can share all dishes. Allow for about 20 euro per person for a decent meal for two with house wine or beer.

It takes an average of 3h 17m to travel from London to Ath by train, over a distance of around 178 miles (286 km). There are normally 10 trains per day travelling from London to Ath and tickets for this journey start from €67.40 when you book in advance.

How Long is a Direct Flight from the US to Greece? Direct flights between the US and Greece can vary between 9 hours and 15 minutes – 12 hours and 05 minutes.

The train distance from Paris to Athens is around 1299 miles (2095 km).

The best websites for booking a Greek holiday are Booking.com (for hotels) • Kayak.com (for flights) • Ferryhopper.com (for ferries). It's fun and easy to book your own trip – and much more rewarding.

The distance between England and United States is 4,419 miles or 7,112 km. What is the shortest flight duration from England to United States? The shortest flight time from England to United States is 8 hours 40 minutes.

Which Greek islands can you fly to directly? There are 13 Greek islands you can fly to directly. Namely, these are Crete, Corfu, Karpathos, Kefalonia, Kos, Lemnos, Lesbos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Samos, Skiathos, and Zakynthos.

Where is the best Greek island? ›

The cheapest months to book a flight to Greece: September and October, followed by November. Booking a flight in September can see as much as 13% savings compared to the average yearly flight price. The most expensive months to book a flight to Greece: May and June.

The cheapest city to fly into is Athens, and the cheapest airport serving this city at the moment is Athens International.

Depending on how long the ferry ride is and what kind of seat or accommodation you opt for, ferry tickets range from around $20 to $100. Not only are the island-hopping Greece ferries more affordable than flights, but you can enjoy much better views of the ocean and islands.

It is a good idea to always have some cash on hand if you are island hopping in the Greek Islands. You can use a cash card on ATM machines but rates can be high and it is not unknown for Greek cash machines to run out of money, especially on the less popular islands.

Inter-island travel means taking ferries, catamarans or hydrofoils, which will eventually get you to any of the sixty-plus inhabited isles. Internal flights are relatively expensive, but can save literally days of travel: Athens–Rhodes is just two hours return, versus 28 hours by boat.

In the original "Mamma Mia," the Greek island of Skopelos played the fictional island of Kalokairi. But to shoot "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," filmmakers turned to the island of Vis, off the coast of Croatia.

Aegina. Just an hour from the port of Piraeus, Aegina is the island closest to Athens.

Note that we have not included flights as this will vary depending on where you're traveling from. Based on these estimates, a two-week trip to Greece costs around $4214 (€3886) on average for two people — excluding airfare.

What are the best and worst months to visit Greece? ›

The best time to visit is late spring (May) and fall (Sept-Oct). It's pleasant, with comfortable weather, no rain, and smaller crowds (except during holiday weekends). Winter (late Oct through mid-March) is colder, with some rainfall.

Greece has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. If you're a sunseeker the best time to visit Greece is between June and September. The hottest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum of 33 C and an average low of 17 C.

The hottest months in Greece are July and August.

Saronic islands - Poros | Aegina | Hydra | Spetses

The closest island cluster to Athens is the Saronic, and it includes the islands of Salamina, Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses.

Symi island

The island is accessible by ferry from the Piraeus port or the neighboring islands. Symi is surely a unique island in Greece with interesting architecture, stunning natural beauty, and wonderful beaches.

The Cyclades Islands

This archipelago is the most common first stop for American travelers in Greece, with two of the most-visited islands: Mykonos and Santorini.

easyJet flies most frequently to Heraklion from London. In general, British Airways, Jet2 and Ryanair fly the most to Crete.

It mostly comes down to supply and demand. "Demand is contributing to higher prices as travel continues to surge post-pandemic," Berg said. "Sustained strong demand in 2023 continues to put additional pressure on prices, especially to and within regions where travel has only recently reopened like parts of Asia."

Which Greek island is cheapest to fly to? ›

1. Crete – The best Greek island for low prices. Crete is Greece's largest island. It's also one of the most beautiful, diverse and cheapest islands in Greece.

Corfu is the closest Greek island to the UK and is especially popular with holidaymakers seeking sun, sea and sand. Holidays in Corfu are not complete without a visit to the island's capital, Corfu Town.

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 in order to travel to the islands by ferry.

Crete is Greece's largest island and it is home to three airports. Heraklion (HER) is usually the cheapest option, with flights departing from all of London's major airports. It is the most convenient option for many travellers, right in the centre of Crete.

Delta Airlines

This is also the fastest non-stop flight between the US and Greece for 2023. The DL240-241 flight will have the following schedule. For more information, you can visit the official Delta Airlines website.

Overview: Train from Athens to London

Trains from Athens to London cover the 1482 miles (2391 km) long journey. There are direct train services available. Travelers depart most frequently from Athens and arrive in London Victoria.

It takes an average of 3h 17m to travel from London to Ath by train, over a distance of around 178 miles (286 km).