Flying to the Greek Islands ✈️🇬🇷

One of the first things you have to figure out when planning a Greek island trip is HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THE ISLAND?! 😂 Depending on where you're going, you may be able to fly from Athens, take a ferry, or fly directly to certain islands from another European city. For me, flying is usually the winner when time matters and you do not have a vehicle. Many of the larger and more popular Greek islands have airports, including Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and Zakynthos. Some have international flights during the tourist season, while others are primarily reached by a short flight from Athens. Many flights from Athens to the islands are only around 40 minutes to an hour, which means you can leave Athens and be standing on a Greek island ridiculously quickly.

And after you've already spent nine or ten hours flying overnight from Boston, sometimes the thought of adding several hours on a ferry is enough to make you say, GET ME ON THE LITTLE PLANE. 😂

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LUGGAGE! 🧳

If you remember nothing else from this post, remember this: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LUGGAGE WEIGHT!

I cannot stress this enough. Do NOT assume the luggage allowance you had on your international flight is going to be the same allowance you have on your flight from Athens to an island. Your giant suitcase that happily traveled all the way from Boston to Athens may suddenly become a whole expensive situation. 😂

Baggage allowances can vary considerably depending on the airline and even the particular fare you purchased. Before you book, check exactly how many bags are included, the weight allowance for your checked luggage, the size and weight allowed for your carry-on and what it costs to add additional baggage. And if you're an overpacker—like me—Do not wait until you're standing at the Athens airport with your suitcase open on the floor, surrounded by your life's possessions, desperately moving shoes and underwear between bags trying to make one of them weigh three pounds less. Pay for what you need ahead of time and save yourself money and the aggravation.

Some of the Island Airports Are TINY ✈️

Another thing to understand is that some Greek island airports are small. Do not arrive expecting Logan Airport. Depending on the island, you may not have endless restaurants, stores, lounges and entertainment while you're waiting for your flight. There may be limited choices, especially compared with the major airports you're used to at home.

Bring some snacks and water, especially if you're traveling with kids, babies or anyone in your family who turns into a monster when they're hangry. 😂. I would also make sure you have anything important with you rather than assuming you'll be able to buy it at the airport. Once you're on an island, everything just operates a little differently.

Give Yourself Some Time ⏰

We've also learned through experience that flights involving the Greek islands don't always leave exactly when you expect them to.

Weather, wind and normal island logistics can cause delays, particularly during the busy summer travel season. That doesn't mean you should expect every flight to be delayed. It just means don't build an itinerary where one little delay destroys your entire day. If your flight is scheduled to land at 2:00, don't book something incredibly important for 2:30. Give yourself some breathing room.

Why I Choose the Plane ✈️❤️

The biggest advantage to flying is obvious: IT'S FAST.

You can leave Athens and, depending on the island, be there in less than an hour. If you only have a week or ten days in Greece, those hours matter. I would much rather spend an extra afternoon sitting beside gorgeous blue water with a drink in my hand than spend half the day getting somewhere simply because I thought I was supposed to take the ferry. There is no rule saying that a proper Greece vacation requires you to travel everywhere by boat. Sometimes the plane simply makes more sense.

Flying is especially appealing to me when we're arriving in Greece after that overnight flight from Boston. You've already been traveling forever. Nobody slept properly. Everyone feels terrible. You're trying to remember what day it is. 😂 If I can get onto another short flight and be at my destination instead of adding several more hours of travel, PUT ME ON THE PLANE.

There are downsides, of course. You have stricter luggage limits, smaller planes, limited seats and the possibility of delays. Flights can also sell out during the busy summer months, especially on popular routes, so this isn't something I would necessarily leave until the last minute.

Book early if you know your itinerary.

My Biggest Flying Tips 🇬🇷✈️

The biggest things I want you to remember are simple. Check your luggage allowance before you buy the ticket, not when you're standing at the airport. Pay for additional baggage ahead of time if you know you're going to need it. Don't expect every little island airport to have all the amenities of a major international airport. Bring snacks, especially with kids. Don't make your schedule so tight that a flight delay ruins your plans. And during the busy summer months, book your island flights early when you can.

Most importantly, remember that getting there is part of the trip. You are about to land on a Greek island.

NOW THE VACATION REALLY STARTS. 🇬🇷✈️❤️