When is the best time to fly to Athens?
Peak Season:
The summer in Athens can be extremely hot, but this doesn't stop flocks of tourists taking flights to Athens for a well deserved break. August time is incredibly crowded, to the point where most Athenians have left the city for a holiday and tourists take over. Flights to Athens aren't too expensive, but during these peak months in can be harder to find deals on your flight tickets. Visit the attractions during the morning and rest or nap during the hottest parts of the day if you do fly to Athens during the summer months. In Mid-June until the middle of September there is the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. It's a fantastic celebration of music, dance and theatre. Flights to Athens will also be pricey during festivals and events so make sure to book in advance.
Off Season:
Spring and late autumn offer pleasant weather that is warm but not overwhelming, and the restaurants, bars and clubs are still open. You'll find the cheapest flights to Athens during this time and also have a better chance of finding hotel deals too. In March there is the National holiday of Independence Day and Evangelismos. It's celebrated with dances and parades and commemorates the revolt against the Ottomon Empire. Winter time will benefit your finances as you can find cheap flights to Athens as well as accommodation bargains, however the weather is chilly and can be wet.
When is the best time to book a flight to Athens?
You'll find the cheapest flights to Athens between November and February, with prices shooting up from there onwards. If you're flexible with your dates you can grab cheap flights to Athens, but make sure you book in advance for the best savings. If you want to visit during the peak summer months or when festivals or events are on, make sure you book your flights to Athens as early on as possible to save on your flight tickets. Certain dates in December are the best dates to find the cheapest flights to Athens, however a Christmas break might set you back slightly.
How long is the flight to Athens?
Flights from London (All airports) to Athens - 3 hours 40 minutes
Flights from Manchester to Athens - 3 hours 50 minutes
Flights from Birmingham to Athens - 5 hours 10 minutes
Flights from Glasgow to Athens - 6 hours 10 minutes
Which airlines operate flights to Athens?
Although Greece as a country has lost popularity in recent years as a tourist destination, there are still lots of airlines operating flights to Athens. EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Aegean are just four of them. Budget airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair generally offer the best prices, but you will be compromising comfort for the cheap flights to Athens. Also, you'll have to work out the cost of baggage as Ryanair charge a high price for a 15kg checked in bag during the summer. British airways are good as they offer complimentary food and drinks but the price for flights to Athens is more expensive.
How to get from the airport to the city centre?
One way of getting to the city from the airport is a taxi. There are normally several waiting outside the terminals and will happily take you to your destination. However there are several 'Cowboy Taxis' which will overcharge tourists who don't know their way around. They might also pick up other passengers along the route or refuse to take you to your hotel because they get commission to take you to another one. After your flight to Athens this kind of thing is the last thing you would want, so if you do want a taxi it is best to book and pay for one online before you travel. That way you're guaranteed a price, you don't need to pay the driver as this was done online and they'll be waiting with a sign when you arrive. Another option is to jump on one of the express buses which run 24 hours a day from the airport to the centre. They can sometimes be very overcrowded and make it difficult if you have lots of baggage, but due to their frequency it is a great alternative. Lastly you can ride the metro directly from the airport to a few stops, and it has expanded in recent years to offer more routes. Once you get to the airport you can decide on your best option to get to your hotel.