Flights to Athens

Athens flights land the visitor in the capital city of Greece and one of its most historic places, home to some of the world's most famous temples and monuments including the mighty Parthenon on the Acropolis.

Brimming with history and culture, trips to Athens will transport you to another time. Find out why you should visit this fascinating city...

Athens is a centre of Greek history and culture, boasting a number of museums and galleries around the city together with many displays of Islamic art. Spiritual home of the Olympic Games, there is a wealth of history in this city, which houses temples to the many Gods including the mighty Zeus. For unrivalled views, head for Lykavittos Hill which is the highest point in the city at 227 metres and gives visitors the chance to view the city from above.

The Roman Agora is a rectangular courtyard surrounded by buildings dating from the 1st Century BC and thought to have been built under the instructions of Julius Caesar. It is home to the Tower of the Winds which is believed to pre-date the Agora and is an octagonal clock tower housing sundials and a water clock. The Panathenaic Stadium played host to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It is constructed from white marble and is believed to be one of the oldest such buildings in the world.

Not all of the buildings celebrate early Greek gods and Christianity has a part to play in the city. The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation is the cathedral more commonly known as the Metropolis and took 20 years to build, with work commencing on Christmas Day in 1842.

With so much to see and do in this city, it's important to know where to go to sit and relax and watch the world go by. Head for the Plaka, which is the area below the Acropolis and is home to a busy market. Together with the area known as Anafiotika, this is the place to head for when looking for somewhere to eat, drink and shop.

There are plenty of attractions within the city to keep visitors entertained, but travellers should try to make time for a day trip to Delphi, home to the ancient Oracle and the Temple of Apollo. And don't forget you can always find cheap flights to Athens by using TravelSupermarket's price-comparison tool.

Flights to Athens take a little over three hours from the UK. Find out the best way for you to get there...

Athens airport (ATH) is situated near the town of Spata approximately 25 miles east of the city, having been built for the 2004 Olympic Games to replace the old airport nearer the city by the coast.

Flights operate daily from London Heathrow with British Airways, as well as Aegean Airlines, which also operates a summer service from Manchester. Easyjet also flies non-stop to the Greek capital from Gatwick, Edinburgh and Manchester.

During the summer months there are also charters with companies such as TUI. Additionally you can fly year round to Athens on flights via European hubs such as Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Zurich and Frankfurt with a range of European airlines.

Once your flight lands on Greek soil you'll want to get to your accommodation as quickly and conveniently as possible. Here are your options...

The airport has excellent links to the city via metro, train, bus and taxi. A bus service connects the airport to Piraeus port, which has ferry links to the main Greek islands. Board a ferry to beautiful islands Zante, Skiathos and Poros in Kefalonia

The 'cradle of Western civilisation' is a culture lover's dream and Athens has plenty of accommodation options for you to choose from. But where are the best places to stay?

You will no doubt be hoping to see Athens' fantastic ancient monuments on your trip here, and the recently introduced archaeological promenade makes this fairly straightforward. The tree-lined walkway links all the major historical sites so you will be able to visit the Acropolis and Parthenon Temple, for example, with ease.

Staying in one of the areas that borders the archaeological park therefore makes sense. The historical neighbourhood of Plaka, for example, is beautiful with a village-like feel and here you will find restaurants, bars, shops and plenty to keep you entertained. Other options include grungy Monastiraki and chic Kolonaki which both boast a good nightlife, as well as Syntagma.