Flights to Greece: How Americans Get There and When to Book

Many travelers from the U.S. reach Greece through Athens, either on a nonstop or on a one-stop itinerary through a European hub. Fares swing with the season, so the month you pick matters.

Is there a nonstop flight from the U.S. to Greece?

Yes, from the New York area. Nonstops to Athens appear in recent listings from New York JFK, including a Virgin Atlantic option that takes about eleven hours. Check your own arrival time when you plan your first day. Schedules change without notice, so confirm what's flying on your dates before you build a trip around a nonstop.

From elsewhere in the country, expect at least one stop. Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco all show fares to Athens, and many of them connect in Europe.

How long does the flight take?

A nonstop from New York takes under ten hours on the way over and a little longer coming home. With one stop, plan on roughly 13 hours at the very least. The layover decides the rest, and some one-stop itineraries in recent listings run past a full day.

Look at total travel time next to the price before you book. A small saving is a poor trade if it costs you a day in Greece.

Which European hubs do Americans connect through?

Recent listings route travelers through London Heathrow on British Airways, and TAP Air Portugal is among the popular carriers flying from the U.S. to Greece. A few itineraries skip Europe for the connection and stop in Toronto or Montreal on Air Canada.

What does a flight to Greece cost, and when is it cheapest?

Fares move daily, and the clearest pattern is seasonal. February is generally the cheapest month to fly from the U.S. because it falls in the off-season, and January is also affordable. Holiday weeks and busy travel seasons cost more. A winter trip trades beach days for lower fares. Greek winters are mild and often wet, and the sea around the islands is warm enough for swimming from mid-May through September.

Time of day matters too. Evening departures tend to be the least expensive, and midday flights the priciest. If your schedule has some give, fly on less in-demand days and check fares a few days either side of your plan to turn up cheaper tickets.

When should you book?

For most trips, book one to three months ahead. American Airlines calls this the typical best timing for Greece. Once you have dates in mind, set a price alert. momondo, for example, tracks a route and emails you when prices change. A posted fare is a snapshot, and the price you see may no longer be available when you go to book. Airlines collect them within the last day or two, and the seat may be gone by the time you book.

Read the fare rules before you buy. At Delta, a Basic ticket gets no seat assignment until check-in. It is also non-refundable, with a fee to change or cancel once the risk-free cancellation period ends. If your plans might shift, a more flexible fare earns its extra cost.

How do you get from Athens to the islands?

Athens International, Greece's largest airport, is also the gateway to the islands. It has easy access to the Acropolis and onward connections to Crete, Santorini and Mykonos, which makes it simple to pair a few days among ancient sites with a beach stay.

You can also fly straight into an island airport. Heraklion on Crete shows up in New York fare listings. It is worth comparing the total cost of flying to Athens and continuing on with the cost of flying direct to an island.

Leave breathing room on connection day. Around one in five flights between the U.S. and Greece is delayed in a given week, by nearly three hours on average. Transportation strikes are also common in Greece and can halt seaports, airports, public transportation and taxis, sometimes with little notice. A late long-haul arrival makes a tight same-day transfer a gamble. Plan a night in Athens, and check current ferry and domestic flight schedules before you pay for anything nonrefundable.

What should Americans know before flying?

The U.S. State Department rates Greece a generally safe destination. U.S. citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. The passport needs at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, so check its expiration date before you book. A passport you have reported lost or stolen will not get you in, and you may be sent back to where you started. Officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket or other evidence of departure, so keep your onward booking handy. Official and diplomatic passport holders need a Schengen visa before arrival.

The Athens airport and metro are fully accessible, with ramps and elevators. On the metro, keep valuables close, since pickpocketing is common there. If you plan to rent a car, Greek law requires an international driver's permit along with your U.S. license, even when the rental company doesn't ask to see it.