Athens to Santorini is a short, scenic hop — about 50 minutes in the air to one of the most famous islands in the world. It is also far cheaper than most people expect: checking every fare on sale, low-cost returns run €35–€45, and that includes August departures in the middle of peak season. The alternative is the ferry from Piraeus, which takes most of a day. This guide covers who flies the route, what a return actually costs in euros, and how to weigh the plane against the boat.
Route: Athens (ATH) → Santorini (Thira) (JTR)
Distance: approximately 220 km (135 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 50 minutes — every non-stop we track runs 45 to 50 minutes
Direct flights: Yes — every single fare we track on this route is non-stop. Aegean Airlines and Sky Express fly it year-round, and Ryanair operates it seasonally at well under half their fare. The ferry is the slower alternative.
Fares from Athens to Santorini (EUR)
Santorini is heavily seasonal in every respect except, it turns out, the air fare. The island fills from June to September and empties in winter, and spring and early autumn remain the sweet spot for weather and crowds. But the low-cost fare barely responds: when we checked every departure on sale, an August return cost the same €35–€45 as a September or October one. What changes with the season is which airlines fly — in winter only the year-round carriers remain, and their fares are roughly double. The table below is about demand on the island, not a price forecast.
| Month | Demand on the island | What we actually found |
|---|---|---|
| January | low | very quiet; only the year-round carriers fly |
| February | low | quietest stretch of the year |
| March | low-medium | season has not started; a full-service return near €91 |
| April | medium (Easter) | venues begin reopening |
| May | medium-high | warm, open and far calmer than August |
| June | high | peak season begins |
| July | very high | busiest weeks on the island |
| August | very high | crowded — but the low-cost return still priced at €35–€45 when we checked |
| September | high | still warm, same €35–€45 low-cost fares |
| October | medium | season winds down; low-cost fares from €35, full-service near €89 |
| November | low | very quiet on the island |
| December | low-medium (holidays) | year-round carriers only; a return near €92 |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write: the low-cost non-stop runs €35 to €45 return, and that is not an off-peak figure — nearly half the fares in that band are August departures, in the middle of peak season. The year-round full-service carriers sit at €89–€92 return, roughly double, and in December and March they are the only option. So a return under about €50 is simply the going rate rather than a find, and €90 is what you pay for a full-service seat or an out-of-season date. If you are being quoted well over €100 for a summer return, check the low-cost carrier before you book — and add bags to its fare before comparing.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 45–50 minutes):
- Ryanair — seasonal, and comfortably the cheapest: it accounts for four out of five of the fares we track, at €35–€45 return. Those are hand-baggage prices, so add a bag before comparing — even then it usually wins.
- Aegean Airlines — the main year-round operator, with frequent daily flights on Airbus jets and ATR turboprops. In our data its returns run €89–€92, and outside the summer season it is one of the few ways to reach the island by air.
- Sky Express — also flies the route year-round, at about €89 return in our data. Useful for schedule and for winter dates, though not the cheapest option it is sometimes described as.
- Volotea — has served Athens → Santorini seasonally; it did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked, so compare it against Ryanair on your dates.
The slower, cheaper alternative — the ferry:
- Ferries from Piraeus reach Santorini in about 5 hours by high-speed catamaran or 7–8 hours on a conventional boat, and give you a proper Aegean crossing — but they cost the best part of a day each way. Price the boat against the flight rather than assuming it is cheaper: at the €35–€45 returns we are seeing, the plane is often the better deal on money as well as time.
On time alone the plane wins easily — under an hour versus five hours or more — and on the fares we can currently see it is not obviously dearer either. The ferry makes sense if it is genuinely cheaper on your dates, if you want to island-hop, or if you simply prefer arriving into Santorini’s caldera by sea.
When to book & how to save
- Book ahead for the seat, not the price. Santorini is one of Greece’s most in-demand islands and summer flights fill up — but the low-cost fare itself held at €35–€45 even for August dates when we checked, so book early for availability rather than in fear of a price spike.
- Travel in May, June or September for warm seas, open venues and prices well below the August peak.
- Mix and match plane and ferry. Flying one way and taking the ferry the other can save money and add a scenic leg to the trip.
- Check the bag rules — this is where the gap narrows. Aegean usually includes a cabin bag and often checked luggage; Sky Express, Volotea and Ryanair sell bags separately on their cheapest fares. On a €42 return a checked bag is a large share of the total, so always compare the all-in price.
- Fly early or late. The first and last departures of the day are often the cheapest, and Santorini’s small airport is calmer outside the midday rush.
Arriving in Santorini
All flights land at Santorini (Thira) National Airport (JTR), on the east side of the island about 6 km from the main town of Fira. It’s a compact, busy airport in summer. A local bus runs to Fira for around €2, from where you can connect to Oia and the caldera villages; taxis are limited and in high demand, typically €20–€30 to Fira and more to Oia. Many hotels offer transfers, and pre-booking one in peak season is wise.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Athens to Santorini?
The non-stop flight from Athens to Santorini takes about 50 minutes — every non-stop we track runs between 45 and 50 minutes. It’s a short domestic hop, so the actual time in the air is brief; allow the usual time for check-in and the small, busy island airport at either end in summer.
Are there direct flights from Athens to Santorini?
Yes — every single fare we track on this route is non-stop. Aegean Airlines and Sky Express fly it all year, and Ryanair adds seasonal service that is much the cheapest, with Volotea also serving it seasonally. There is no need to connect, and in peak season there are many departures a day.
How much does it cost to fly from Athens to Santorini?
Less than most people expect. The low-cost non-stop runs €35–€45 return, and that holds for August departures as well as the shoulder months — peak season did not lift it in the fares we checked. The year-round full-service carriers run €89–€92 return, and in winter they are the only option. Add bags to the low-cost fare before comparing.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Athens to Santorini?
This route does not really have one. The low-cost fare held at €35–€45 across August, September and October alike when we checked, so the month you choose should be about the island rather than the air fare. Winter is quietest but the seasonal low-cost service stops, leaving only the year-round carriers at around €90. For warm weather with fewer crowds and everything open, May and late September into October remain the sweet spot.
Which airlines fly from Athens to Santorini?
Aegean Airlines and Sky Express fly year-round, joined by Ryanair and Volotea in summer. Aegean has the fullest schedule, but Ryanair is by a wide margin the cheapest in our fare data at €35–€45 against about €89–€92 for the two year-round carriers — just check the baggage rules before you compare.
Which airport do I fly into in Santorini?
You’ll land at Santorini (Thira) National Airport (JTR), the island’s only airport, about 6 km from Fira on the east coast. It’s small and can be crowded in summer, so leave extra time for departures and arrange your onward transfer in advance during the peak months.
How far in advance should I book Athens to Santorini flights?
For summer, book 2 to 3 months ahead. Santorini is one of the most popular islands in Greece, so peak-season fares rise early and seldom drop close to departure. Winter and shoulder-season flights are far more forgiving on timing.
Is it better to fly or take the ferry to Santorini?
Fly if you value time — it’s 45 minutes versus about 5 hours on the fast ferry (7–8 on a conventional boat) from Piraeus. Take the ferry if it’s clearly cheaper on your dates, if you want to island-hop, or if arriving into the caldera by sea appeals. A popular option is to fly one way and sail the other.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Prices are indicative economy returns and change with demand — always check the live fare before booking.
