London to Athens is a short, competitive route with lots of non-stop choice: full-service and budget airlines fly direct in around three and three-quarter hours, so fares stay low outside the summer peak. This guide covers who flies the route, what a fair return fare looks like in pounds, and when to book for the best price.
Route: London (LHR / LGW / LTN / STN) → Athens (ATH)
Distance: approximately 2,400 km (1,490 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 3h 25m – 4h 00m eastbound
Direct flights: Yes — British Airways and Aegean Airlines fly non-stop from Heathrow, Aegean from Gatwick too, easyJet from Gatwick and Luton, Wizz Air from Luton, and Ryanair from Stansted. Plenty of daily choice — and in our fare check Wizz Air UK out of Luton held five sixths of the cheap seats at £42–£49, with Aegean at £122–£123.
Fares from London to Athens (GBP)
Athens is a year-round city break, but fares track the Greek summer closely. Peak season (June–September), along with Easter and the Christmas/New Year break, is the priciest; winter and the shoulder months are much cheaper. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds — the lowest are budget-airline fares booked early, with peak-summer and full-service tickets toward the higher end.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low |
| March | — | low-medium |
| April | — | medium (Easter) |
| May | — | medium |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | very high |
| August | — | very high |
| September | — | high |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | medium-high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, this route is far cheaper than it is usually described: the median return is £47, the floor £42, and four fares in five are Wizz Air UK from Luton or Ryanair from Stansted between £42 and £49. So a fare in the forties is the going rate rather than a find. Then the market jumps: nothing at all sold between £49 and £122, where the bag-included Aegean tickets begin.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 3h 40m — all the choice you need):
- Wizz Air UK — non-stop from Luton, and the cheapest by a distance in our fare check: £42–£49 return on five sixths of the low seats. Travel light, because bags and seats are extra.
- Ryanair — non-stop from Stansted; rock-bottom base fares at £47–£49, strict cabin-bag rules.
- Aegean Airlines — non-stop from Heathrow and Gatwick; the Greek flag carrier, consistently well-rated, with a bag usually included, at £122–£123.
- British Airways — non-stop from Heathrow; full-service with a checked bag on most fares and frequent daily flights. It did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked.
- easyJet — non-stop from Gatwick and Luton; low base fares with bags and seats added on, likewise absent from the cheapest fares we found.
With this much competition the route almost never needs a connection — a non-stop is both the fastest and usually the cheapest option. On the budget carriers, the trick is adding up bags and seat selection so you compare the true all-in price against Aegean or BA.
When to book & how to save
- Book 4–10 weeks ahead for city breaks; for peak summer (July–August) book 2–3 months out before fares climb.
- Travel in the shoulder months (October–November, February–March) for the lowest fares and pleasant, quieter sightseeing.
- Be flexible on London airport: Stansted, Luton and Gatwick budget fares are often cheaper than Heathrow, but factor in your travel time to the airport.
- Compare all-in prices with bags: a Wizz Air or Ryanair base fare can end up dearer than Aegean or BA once you add hold luggage and seats.
- Fly midweek where you can — Tuesday to Thursday departures are usually cheaper than Friday–Sunday weekend breaks.
Arriving in Athens
All flights land at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH), about 33 km east of the city centre. The easiest ways in are the Metro Line 3 straight to Syntagma and Monastiraki (around 40 minutes, roughly £8), the cheaper airport express buses (about £5, running 24 hours), or a fixed-fare taxi to the centre for around £35–£45 by day. Greece uses the euro, so carry some for tickets and taxis.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from London to Athens?
Non-stop flights take about 3 hours 25 minutes to 4 hours eastbound from London, and a similar time on the return. There’s no need to connect on this route — every major London airport has a direct service to Athens.
Are there direct flights from London to Athens?
Yes — lots of them. British Airways and Aegean Airlines fly non-stop from Heathrow, Aegean from Gatwick as well, easyJet from Gatwick and Luton, Wizz Air from Luton, and Ryanair from Stansted. With multiple daily departures, a non-stop is almost always the best choice on price and time — every one of the hundred cheapest fares we found is direct, from £42 return.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Athens?
A typical hand-luggage economy return runs about £43–£49, median £47, with the Wizz Air and Ryanair fares spanning £42–£49. The bag-included tier is Aegean at £122–£123, and nothing sold in between. Peak summer and holiday weeks push both bands up — the dearest fare in our check was £169.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Athens?
January, February and November are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, returns started at £42. Avoid July and August, the peak-summer high season, along with Easter and the Christmas break, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Athens?
Non-stop, cheapest first in our fare data: Wizz Air UK from Luton (£42–£49 for the bulk of its fares, and five sixths of the cheapest seats), Ryanair from Stansted (£47–£49) and Aegean Airlines from both Heathrow and Gatwick (£122–£123). British Airways from Heathrow and easyJet from Gatwick and Luton also fly it non-stop but neither appeared among the cheapest when we checked. The budget carriers do have the lowest base fares; BA and Aegean include more in the ticket.
Which airport do I fly into in Athens?
You arrive at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH), the city’s only major airport, about 33 km east of the centre. It’s well connected by metro, bus and taxi, so getting into the city or on to the ferry ports is straightforward.
How far in advance should I book London to Athens flights?
For most trips, 4 to 10 weeks ahead gets a good fare. For peak summer, Easter or Christmas, book 2 to 3 months out before prices climb. Off-season, you can sometimes find cheap seats closer to departure, but popular dates still sell out.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Usually, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are often cheaper than Friday–Sunday weekend-break dates, and the difference can be £20–£60 on a return. Shifting your trip by a day or two is one of the easiest ways to save on this route.
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.
