$137 Find Cheap Flights from Istanbul to Athens – Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Istanbul Airport to Athens flights:

• Aegean Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

4 airlines operate flights between Istanbul Airport and Athens. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Turkish Airlines
• Aegean Airlines
• Sky Express
• Sichuan Airlines

Flights from Istanbul Airport to Athens usually depart from Istanbul (IST) and arrive at Athens Eleftherios V. (ATH).

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Aegean Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Sky Express: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Turkish Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Istanbul Airport to Athens:

• Economy class
• Business Class

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than stopover options on average. Direct fares average $223 return, compared with $247 via a stopover through Budapest Ferenc Liszt Intl (BUD).

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $29–$139 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Airbus A321neo family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320neo variants.

One-stop flights from Istanbul Airport to Athens most commonly connect through:

• Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) – 60% of one-stop connections
• Budapest Ferenc Liszt Intl (BUD) – 10% of one-stop connections
• Frankfurt am Main (FRA) – 10% of one-stop connections
• Bucharest Otopeni Intl (OTP) – 10% of one-stop connections

Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 14% on the Istanbul Airport to Athens route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $209 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $241, a difference of $32. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Istanbul Airport to Athens route, 16% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 33 minutes.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Istanbul Airport to Athens flights, with 45% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 22%, Night flights for 22%, and Evening flights for 11%.

Some of the most popular sights in Athens are Syntagma Square, Ermou Street, and Acropolis. These are among the most viewed places in Athens on KAYAK.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Istanbul Airport to Athens:

• Earliest: departs at 01:45 and lands at 03:15
• Latest: departs at 22:45 and lands at 00:15.

The flight takes about 1h 30m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 15% above the route average of $223. Book 21 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Istanbul Airport to Athens takes 1h 30m, covering 890 km.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

One-way fares from Istanbul Airport to Athens are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about $137.

Sky Express is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Turkish Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Istanbul Airport to Athens flights are:

• Sky Express: 92% on time
• Turkish Airlines: 87% on time
• Sichuan Airlines: 82% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 84% of the time.

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Bucharest Otopeni Intl (OTP) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 11h 09m, compared to 11h 19m via Thessaloniki Makedonia (SKG) and 12h 06m via Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG).

Athens Eleftherios V. Airport (ATH) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $3 for economy cars. Top options include:
· Centauro
· Record go
· Europcar
· SURPRICE CAR RENTAL
· Alamo

Return flights from Istanbul Airport to Athens range from $173 to $293, with an average of $223 over the past 12 months. Anything below $173 counts as a good deal.