Paris to Athens is a well-served short-to-medium haul route with plenty of non-stop choice: full-service Air France and Aegean from Charles de Gaulle, Greek carrier Sky Express, and low-cost Transavia and easyJet from Orly. That competition keeps fares low outside summer. This guide covers who flies it, a fair return in euros, and when to book.
Route: Paris (CDG / ORY) → Athens (ATH)
Distance: approximately 2,100 km (1,310 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 3h 10m – 3h 20m.
Direct flights: Yes — Air France, Aegean and Sky Express fly non-stop from Charles de Gaulle; Transavia and easyJet fly non-stop from Paris Orly. Several daily in summer.
Fares from Paris to Athens (EUR)
Athens is a strongly seasonal route. Summer (June to early September) and the Greek Easter period are the busiest and priciest, while late autumn to early spring is the cheapest — and Athens itself is a great city-break in the mild shoulder months. The figures below are typical economy return fares in euros; the lowest come from the low-cost carriers out of Orly.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low |
| March | — | low-medium |
| April | — | medium (Easter) |
| May | — | medium-high |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | very high |
| August | — | very high |
| September | — | high |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | medium (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, which airport you leave from matters more than the season: Transavia from Orly runs €81–€90 return, median €87, and carries about four in five of the cheap fares. From Charles de Gaulle the full-service carriers are roughly double — Aegean €141–€169 and Air France €164. So a return in the eighties is the going rate rather than a find, and anything under about €85 is as good as this route gets. Our sample includes August departures and the dearest fare in it, any month, was €169.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop from Charles de Gaulle (about 3h15):
- Air France — the most frequent operator, daily, with a checked bag on most fares and full SkyTeam connections.
- Aegean — Greece’s Star Alliance flag carrier, consistently well-rated economy; strong onward links to the Greek islands from Athens.
- Sky Express — Greek carrier flying CDG → Athens; good for connecting onward to island destinations.
Non-stop from Orly (usually the cheapest):
- Transavia — low-cost, non-stop from Paris Orly; frequently the lowest headline fares if you travel light.
- easyJet — low-cost, non-stop from Orly; competitive fares, checked bags and seats cost extra.
With two low-cost airlines out of Orly and three full-service options from CDG, this is a genuinely competitive route. If price matters most, watch the Orly carriers and travel with cabin baggage; if you want a bag, a seat and connections included, the CDG full-service fares are often close once you add the extras.
When to book & how to save
- Book 2–3 months ahead for summer — July and August fares to Athens climb steadily and sell out on popular dates.
- Travel in the shoulder months (May, late September, October) for the best mix of warm weather, thinner crowds and lower fares.
- Fly from Orly on Transavia or easyJet if price is the priority, and factor bags into the all-in comparison.
- Use Athens as a gateway: if you’re heading to the islands, Aegean and Sky Express offer smooth same-airline connections from ATH.
- Avoid Greek Easter and mid-August, the two demand spikes when both fares and airports are at their busiest.
Arriving in Athens
All flights land at Athens International “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH), about 33 km east of the city. The easiest ways in are the Metro Line 3 to Syntagma in the centre (around 40 minutes, roughly €9), the X95 express bus (about 60 minutes, around €6, 24 hours), or a fixed-rate taxi to the centre for roughly €40 by day (more at night). The airport also has direct suburban-rail and coach links if you’re heading beyond the city.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Paris to Athens?
The non-stop flight takes about 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 20 minutes. All the direct carriers fly a similar time; a connecting itinerary would add several hours and rarely saves money on this well-served route.
Are there direct flights from Paris to Athens?
Yes. Air France, Aegean and Sky Express fly non-stop from Paris Charles de Gaulle, and low-cost Transavia and easyJet fly non-stop from Paris Orly. There are several departures a day in summer, fewer but still daily in winter.
How much does it cost to fly from Paris to Athens?
A typical economy return runs about €81–€169 depending on which airport and carrier you pick, median €88. Off-peak the Orly low-cost carriers drop returns well under €110 — usually into the eighties — while the CDG full-service fares sit at €141–€169. School-holiday weeks in July and August can price above this range, so book a couple of months ahead for summer travel.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Paris to Athens?
January, February and November are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, returns started at €81. July and August are the peak-summer months, along with Greek Easter, when demand is highest — though in our sample they priced closer to the rest of the year than is usually assumed.
Which airlines fly from Paris to Athens?
From Orly: Transavia carried about four in five of the cheap fares we found, at €81–€90. From Charles de Gaulle: Aegean, the well-rated Greek flag carrier (€141–€169), Air France, the most frequent full-service option (€164), and easyJet (€141). Sky Express also flies from CDG but did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked, and a Ryanair connection from Beauvais came in at €99. The Orly departures really do offer the lowest fares — by a wide margin.
Which airport do I fly into in Athens?
You arrive at Athens International “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH), the city’s single main airport, about 33 km east of the centre. The metro (Line 3) reaches Syntagma in the heart of Athens in around 40 minutes for about €9.
How far in advance should I book Paris to Athens flights?
For summer, aim to book 2 to 3 months ahead, as July and August fares climb steadily and popular dates sell out. For winter and shoulder-season trips you have more flexibility, but the cheapest low-cost fares still go quickly, so it pays to book once your dates are set.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are typically cheaper than Friday–Sunday, especially in summer when weekend island-hopping demand peaks. Flying out and back midweek can save €30–€80 on a return.
Can I connect to the Greek islands from Athens?
Yes — Athens is the main hub for domestic flights across Greece. Aegean and Sky Express in particular offer frequent same-airline connections from ATH to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and the other islands, so booking Paris–Athens on one of them can make an onward island leg smoother.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
