Athens is Greece’s capital and the city where most of the tourists land, before starting to explore the rest of the country. Those who plan to visit the city can indulge in its historical landmarks, museums and, of course, Greek food.

Athens is, thankfully, served by a variety of European low-cost carriers. There are direct flights from many large European towns, which makes flying to Greece an affordable affair.

Budget airlines that fly to Athens

The capital is served by Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (IATA: ATH) , located 33 km southeast of Athens. It is hub for Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines, Athens Airways, Viking Hellas and Hellenic Imperial Airways. It serves more than 16 million travelers annually and has become a very popular gateway into Africa and Middle East.

The following European low-cost carriers fly into Athens:

• EasyJet – London Gatwick
• Air Transat – Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver
• Cimber – Copenhagen
• Eurowings (former Germanwings) – Majorca, Barcelona, Marseille, Bologna, Verona, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna, Stuttgart, Munich, Dresden, London Stansted, Hamburg, Berlin, Stockholm
• SAS – Copenhagen, Munich, Frankfurt

How to fly budget airlines to Athens

When booking a fight with a low-cost carrier, please make sure to avoid the hidden costs. These are typically related to the means of payment you choose (bank account vs credit card, etc), the travel insurance, priority boarding, etc. Also, you can usually find the best fares right on the airlines’ website.