Flights to Athens Greece
Athens had a chance to shine in 2004 when it hosted the Olympics but many tourists simply know it as the gateway to Greece. And for many of those tourists, that's all it is. There are certainly things to not recommend it: pollution, noise and frenetic driving all contribute to the average visitor's stay of one day. But free of the fumes and fuss of summer, Athens ' nightlife and sightseeing opportunities make it a worthwhile destination in its own right.
If you are planning to fly to Athens in the peak season there are lots of other cheap ways to get there. Easyjet flies to Athens from Gatwick and Luton, and charter company Flyglobespan have routes from Gatwick and Glasgow, as does Monarch(who also flies from Manchester). Air Scotland flies from Glasgow. For last-minute charter bargains, it's worth looking online and in the travel sections of the national papers, but always check the small print before booking. The times may be ungodly and the dates fixed but prices can be very reasonable.
There are also daily scheduled flights from London to the Greek capital courtesy of national carrier Olympic and British Airways, though carriers and times change all the time so it's worth checking online what the current options are before you book. Olympic operates flights from Manchester, as do Czech Airlines, who also flies from Dublin. Once you're in Athens, Olympic has onward connections to around 35 other destinations in Greece.
Athens ' new international airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, was opened in 2001. On the plus side it's well designed(quite a bit of marble) with plenty of amenities. On the minus it's nearly 17 miles outside the city. But it's relatively straightforward to get to by public transport, which can be quicker than a taxi if the city's famous congestion lives up to its reputation. There's a metro route from Syntagma and an over-ground train. There's also an express bus from Syntagma, and a regular bus from Piraeus. The departure tax from the airport is included in the price of the ticket.
