Island Notes
Athens first or straight to the island?
Most travellers want to land on the island itself. Sometimes a stop in Athens makes for a better journey. How to decide between flying direct and connecting.
9 October 2026 · 4 minute read
The simplest journey to Mykonos or Santorini is a single flight: board in London, Paris or Geneva and step off on the island a few hours later. It is also the most popular. But there are good reasons to route through Athens instead, and in high summer they come up more often than people expect.
The case for flying direct
A direct flight saves the most time. There is one departure, one arrival and no change of aircraft, and your bags stay with you. From London, a business jet reaches Mykonos in roughly three and a half to four hours; from Paris, a little over three; from Nice, about two and a half. For most groups arriving in daylight on a normal summer day, direct is the answer.
When Athens makes more sense
- A late arrival. Island arrivals depend on airport hours, permissions and parking. Arriving late in the evening is easier at Athens, with a short hop to the island the next morning.
- A large aircraft in peak season. If your aircraft cannot stay on Mykonos, it will reposition anyway. Landing in Athens and taking a turboprop or light jet across can be simpler, and sometimes less expensive.
- A stay in Athens. Many travellers spend a night or two in the city first. Flying into Athens and on to the island later turns the routing into part of the holiday.
- Several islands. If the trip includes Santorini, Paros or Naxos, Athens is a natural hub, and smaller aircraft suit the shorter island runways.
- Arriving on an airline. Travellers flying long-haul into Athens often add a private hop rather than waiting for a connection or a ferry.
Direct and via Athens compared
| Factor | Direct to the island | Via Athens |
|---|---|---|
| Total journey time | Shortest | Adds a connection, or a night in the city |
| Island parking | Usually drop-off and repositioning in summer | Smaller aircraft for the hop is easier to accommodate |
| Late arrivals | Limited by island hours and permissions | More flexible |
| Several islands | One aircraft may not suit every runway | Hub for turboprops to the shorter runways |
| Bags and transfers | Bags stay on one aircraft | Bags move between aircraft with the handling agent |
The ferry option
From Athens, fast ferries to Mykonos take roughly two and a half to three hours from Piraeus or Rafina. They are comfortable on calm days and part of the island experience for many visitors. On windy summer afternoons, when the meltemi blows, crossings can be rough or cancelled, which is when a thirty-minute flight earns its place.
A sample plan through Athens
Consider a family of six flying from London in late July, landing in the early evening. A direct flight would arrive on Mykonos at the busiest time of day, with the aircraft likely needing to reposition. The alternative: a super-midsize jet to Athens, a night in the city or a hotel near the coast, and a turboprop to Mykonos after breakfast the next morning, when the wind is lighter and the island apron quieter. The family arrives rested, the bags move between aircraft with the handling agent, and the large jet waits in Athens for the return.
Time on the ground in Athens
A same-day connection in Athens is usually short when the handling agent can bring both aircraft close together. If you arrive from outside the Schengen area, passport control takes place in Athens rather than on the island, which can make the onward hop a simple domestic flight.
Costs, in broad terms
A direct flight is priced on the long leg and any island repositioning. A connection through Athens is priced on the long leg into Athens plus the short hop, which in a turboprop or light jet is relatively modest. Whether that adds up to more or less than direct depends on the season and the aircraft. Rather than guess, ask us to quote both; we often do so automatically in July and August.
Santorini and the other islands
Santorini's longer runway takes most business jets, so direct flights from western Europe are common, although its apron is busy in summer too. Paros, Naxos and Milos have short runways, and travellers usually reach them by turboprop from Athens or by ferry from Mykonos or Santorini. Our island hopping guide sets out the options.
The journey home
The return can follow a different pattern from the outbound. Many travellers fly direct to the island on arrival, when a smooth start matters most, and leave through Athens at the end, combining the last night with a dinner in the city. Others do the reverse. Because each leg is quoted on its own merits, there is no need to mirror the outbound plan.
Questions to ask when comparing
- Will the aircraft be able to stay on the island, or will it reposition, and what does that add?
- What time would we land on the island, and how busy is the airport then?
- How long is the connection in Athens, and who moves the bags?
- If the wind picks up on the day, what is the fallback for each option?
Our approach
We start from where you want to wake up on the first morning and work backwards. When the direct flight is right, we quote it. When Athens, a ferry or a different island airport would give you a smoother journey, we explain why and show the alternative with its own all-in price, so you can choose with both in front of you.