Greece has seven main airports that UK carriers serve regularly, and prices vary considerably between them. The cheapest routes are almost never Santorini or Mykonos — those are served by full-service carriers at premium prices and stay expensive year-round. The best value is on the larger islands with multiple UK carriers competing: Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, and Kos.
Crete (Heraklion, HER) is the most competitive in terms of airline choice — easyJet flies from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted, Jet2 from Manchester and Birmingham. That competition keeps prices lower than you'd expect for a 3.5-hour flight. Current early-summer fares for June departures are around £70–100 one-way from Gatwick.
Rhodes (RHO) is the second-best value — Jet2 dominates from northern UK airports and prices competitively. easyJet and TUI also fly from Gatwick. Current fares for late June: around £75–105 one-way. The island has excellent beaches and a genuinely impressive medieval old town in Rhodes City.
Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh
Cheap Flights to Greece from the UK 2026
Which Greek island to fly to, which airport to use, and when to book
About these prices: All price ranges shown are indicative, based on typical fares seen on Aviasales for each route. Actual prices change daily depending on date, availability and how far ahead you book. Always search for live prices using the tool below — it pulls real-time data directly from Aviasales.
Which Greek destination is actually cheapest from the UK
Island by island: current fares and what you get
Crete (HER / CHQ) from Gatwick or Manchester: easyJet from Gatwick and Ryanair from Stansted both compete. June fares around £70–100 one-way. Crete is the biggest Greek island — you need a car to explore properly, but the variety is exceptional. Chania in western Crete is arguably the most beautiful town in Greece. Book early for July and August; peak prices reach £150–200 one-way.
Rhodes (RHO) from Manchester or Gatwick: Jet2 from Manchester around £80–110 one-way for early June with bags included. easyJet from Gatwick similar. Rhodes old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The east coast beaches are consistently excellent. Good choice for a first Greek island trip.
Corfu (CFU) from Birmingham or Manchester: Jet2 from Birmingham and Manchester, Ryanair from Stansted. June fares around £65–95 one-way. Corfu has a Venetian old town and lush interior that sets it apart from the more barren Aegean islands. Good for combining beach and culture.
Kos (KGS) from Gatwick or Manchester: easyJet from Gatwick, Jet2 from Manchester. Around £70–100 one-way for June. Kos is popular with younger travellers; the main town is lively, the beaches are good, and it's one of the closest Greek islands to Turkey (visible from the beach). Avoid peak July/August if crowds aren't your thing.
Rhodes (RHO) from Manchester or Gatwick: Jet2 from Manchester around £80–110 one-way for early June with bags included. easyJet from Gatwick similar. Rhodes old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The east coast beaches are consistently excellent. Good choice for a first Greek island trip.
Corfu (CFU) from Birmingham or Manchester: Jet2 from Birmingham and Manchester, Ryanair from Stansted. June fares around £65–95 one-way. Corfu has a Venetian old town and lush interior that sets it apart from the more barren Aegean islands. Good for combining beach and culture.
Kos (KGS) from Gatwick or Manchester: easyJet from Gatwick, Jet2 from Manchester. Around £70–100 one-way for June. Kos is popular with younger travellers; the main town is lively, the beaches are good, and it's one of the closest Greek islands to Turkey (visible from the beach). Avoid peak July/August if crowds aren't your thing.
See live prices now — fares change daily. Search real-time results from Aviasales.
Search flightsAthens, Santorini, and Mykonos — the honest picture
Athens (ATH) is served by British Airways, easyJet and Aegean from Gatwick. Fares from around £90–120 one-way for summer — more expensive than the islands but the city itself is free of the island markup once you're there. The Acropolis, museums, and neighbourhood restaurants make Athens a strong choice for a city break rather than a beach holiday.
Santorini (JTR) is beautiful and expensive. There are no direct budget carrier flights from the UK — you're looking at British Airways or Aegean, often with a connection through Athens. Summer fares easily reach £250–350 one-way. The island is tiny and heavily visited; accommodation is among the most expensive in Greece. If the photos are what you're after, the reality is similar — just smaller and more crowded than you'd expect.
Mykonos (JMK) is even worse value for UK travellers — no direct budget flights, full-service fares at £200–300+ one-way, and then accommodation starting at €200/night for anything decent in summer. Both Santorini and Mykonos are experiences, not budget destinations.
Santorini (JTR) is beautiful and expensive. There are no direct budget carrier flights from the UK — you're looking at British Airways or Aegean, often with a connection through Athens. Summer fares easily reach £250–350 one-way. The island is tiny and heavily visited; accommodation is among the most expensive in Greece. If the photos are what you're after, the reality is similar — just smaller and more crowded than you'd expect.
Mykonos (JMK) is even worse value for UK travellers — no direct budget flights, full-service fares at £200–300+ one-way, and then accommodation starting at €200/night for anything decent in summer. Both Santorini and Mykonos are experiences, not budget destinations.
When to book and how to get the best prices
Book June or September, not July/August. Greece in June (24–28°C) and September (24–27°C) is marginally cooler than July/August, genuinely less crowded, and 20–35% cheaper on flights and accommodation. The sea temperature in September is actually warmer than June. Unless school holidays force your hand, June and September are the obvious choices.
Jet2 vs easyJet comparison for families. Jet2 includes 22kg checked baggage per person and seat selection — for a family of four, that's potentially £200–350 saved in bag fees versus Ryanair or easyJet on a one-week holiday. Where Jet2 flies your route (mainly northern UK airports), they're frequently the better total-cost option.
Flying from Birmingham or Bristol can be cheaper than London. BHX and BRS have fewer connections but occasionally see Jet2 and Ryanair fares that undercut London airports on the same dates. Always check your regional airport before assuming Gatwick or Stansted is cheapest.
Book summer Greece before mid-May. Summer Greek island fares accelerate sharply as schools approach their end-of-term dates. Anything leaving after July 19 will be noticeably cheaper if booked before May 15 versus after. If you're going in school holidays, book within the next two weeks.
Jet2 vs easyJet comparison for families. Jet2 includes 22kg checked baggage per person and seat selection — for a family of four, that's potentially £200–350 saved in bag fees versus Ryanair or easyJet on a one-week holiday. Where Jet2 flies your route (mainly northern UK airports), they're frequently the better total-cost option.
Flying from Birmingham or Bristol can be cheaper than London. BHX and BRS have fewer connections but occasionally see Jet2 and Ryanair fares that undercut London airports on the same dates. Always check your regional airport before assuming Gatwick or Stansted is cheapest.
Book summer Greece before mid-May. Summer Greek island fares accelerate sharply as schools approach their end-of-term dates. Anything leaving after July 19 will be noticeably cheaper if booked before May 15 versus after. If you're going in school holidays, book within the next two weeks.
Search live prices now
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