Flights to Santorini from the UK: Direct Routes, Season and Getting to Your Hotel

Santorini is on almost every Greek island wish list, and flights from the UK are easier to find than many people think. In the summer season several airlines fly direct from London and regional airports to Santorini International Airport (JTR), a small, busy airport on the island’s east coast, about 6 km from the capital, Fira. Out of season, or if there’s no direct flight from your airport, you can connect through Athens by air or by ferry. Here’s what you need to know before you book.

Quick facts: Santorini from the UK

• Flight time from the UK: about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes direct, depending on your departure airport.
• Time difference: Greece is 2 hours ahead of the UK.
• Season: direct flights to Santorini from the UK run mainly from late spring to October. Start and end dates vary by airline and airport.
• Airport location: on the east coast, about 6 km from Fira and a few minutes from Kamari.
• Currency: euro (EUR).
• Mobile data: EU visitors can usually roam at home prices, but many UK mobile plans now charge a daily fee in Greece. Check your plan before you go, or buy a local data eSIM in advance, for example a Greece eSIM from Airalo (affiliate link).

Which UK airlines offer direct flights to Santorini?

Based on published schedules checked on October 8, 2026, these airlines run seasonal direct flights:

• easyJet: from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester.
• Jet2: from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and London Stansted, with Leeds Bradford announced for 2027.
• British Airways: from London Heathrow.
• Ryanair: from London Stansted.
• Wizz Air: from London Gatwick, a route launched in July 2026.
• TUI: from Manchester, mainly for package holidays, although it sometimes sells spare seats as flight-only.

However, most routes operate only a few times a week, and some only in the peak summer months. Always check the airline’s timetable for your airport and dates before you book.

When are flights to Santorini from the UK cheapest?

Santorini is one of the most in-demand destinations in Greece, so fares and room rates peak in July, August and the UK school holidays. May, June, September and early October usually offer the best balance of warm weather, calmer crowds and lower prices. Midweek departures are often cheaper than weekends, and booking early matters more here than on bigger islands because direct flights are less frequent.

No direct flights to Santorini? Go via Athens

Athens has year-round flights from many UK airports (see flights to Athens from the UK). From there, you then have two options:

• Domestic flight: Aegean Airlines, its regional partner Olympic Air, and Sky Express fly from Athens to Santorini in about 45–50 minutes, with several flights a day in summer but fewer in winter. If you book through to Santorini on one ticket, your bags can usually be checked through.
• Ferry from Piraeus or Rafina: high-speed ferries take around five hours, while conventional ferries take about seven to eight hours, and longer on routes with several island stops. Ferries arrive at Athinios port, about 10 km south of Fira. If you’re starting from the airport, Rafina is closer than Piraeus. Read Athens airport to the city center for transport options.

Separate tickets leave you without protection if the first leg is delayed, so allow plenty of time between your UK flight and a domestic flight or ferry, or plan a night in Athens. In that case, our guide to where to stay in Athens can help.

Planning a night in Athens on the way? Find hotels near Athens Airport (affiliate link). This link goes through Stay22 to booking sites such as Booking.com and Expedia, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transfer times from the airport

Santorini is small, but its roads get very congested in summer, especially around Fira and Oia in the evening. Note that these are approximate driving times in normal traffic:

Destination	Approx. time by car
Kamari	5–10 minutes
Fira	10–15 minutes
Firostefani and Imerovigli	15–20 minutes
Perissa and Perivolos	15–20 minutes
Pyrgos	10–15 minutes
Oia	25–35 minutes
Athinios port	About 20 minutes

KTEL buses link the airport with Fira, the hub for the rest of the island, so heading to Oia or the beaches usually means changing buses in Fira. Taxis are limited for the number of visitors in summer, and queues at the airport can be long, so a pre-booked transfer is worth considering, especially with luggage or a late arrival. GetTransfer (affiliate link) lets you request a private transfer in advance and compare offers from local drivers. Car and ATV rental is widely available, but parking in Fira and Oia is very limited in high season.

Where to stay

Caldera-view villages such as Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia are the classic choice, while Kamari and Perissa offer beaches and better value. Before you book, read where to stay in Santorini for a full comparison of the areas.

Looking for somewhere to stay? Compare hotels and apartments in Santorini (affiliate link). This link goes through Stay22 to booking sites such as Booking.com and Expedia, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Combining Santorini with other islands

In summer, ferries link Santorini with other Cyclades islands, including Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Ios, and with Heraklion in Crete. For example, a popular plan is to fly into Santorini and out of another island, or out of Athens, which saves backtracking. Check that your return flight leaves from the island where you’ll end your trip, and remember that operators publish ferry schedules in spring and that sailings can change with the weather. See flights to Crete from the UK if you’re thinking of adding Crete.

Booking tips

1. Book early for summer. Direct flights to Santorini from the UK are limited and fill up, especially on weekends and during school holidays.
2. Check arrival times. A late-evening arrival can mean a long taxi queue. So pre-book your transfer.
3. Compare flight-only and packages. UK package holidays that include flights normally come with ATOL protection, unlike most flight-only bookings.
4. Consider shoulder season. In May, June, September and early October, Santorini is still warm, and both flights and hotels are usually cheaper.

Flying from elsewhere? Search Bristol–Santorini, Edinburgh–Santorini, Dublin–Santorini or London–Athens for connections.

Plan the rest of your trip

• Where to stay in Santorini: Fira, Oia, Imerovigli or the beaches?
• Flights to Athens from the UK, for year-round connections
• Athens airport to the city center: metro, bus and taxi
• Flights to Crete from the UK: Heraklion or Chania?

How we research: this guide is based on official sources and published airline and transport schedules, not on a sponsored visit. We checked this information on October 8, 2026. Schedules, routes and prices change, so confirm with the airline, operator or venue before you travel.

Sources

• Fraport Greece (operator of Santorini airport): jtr-airport.gr
• KTEL Santorini (bus routes and timetables): ktel-santorini.gr
• Greek National Tourism Organisation: visitgreece.gr
• UK Civil Aviation Authority, ATOL protection: caa.co.uk
• Airline websites: easyjet.com, jet2.com, britishairways.com, ryanair.com, wizzair.com, tui.co.uk, aegeanair.com, skyexpress.gr

Featured image: The terminal building at Santorini (Thira) International Airport. Photo: Lacu Schienred, June 19, 2019, via Wikimedia Commons (file “Santorini Airport Building.jpg”), CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Resized and compressed.