Flights to Athens from the US: Nonstop Routes, Flight Times and When to Go

Quick answer: Athens (ATH) has nonstop flights from several US cities, but most run only from spring to autumn. Emirates flies from Newark all year, and Delta from New York JFK until early January 2027. The flight from New York takes about 9.5 to 10 hours, and US citizens need no visa.

Athens flights at a glance

Nonstop flights to Athens from US cities

Schedules are as of November 2026; seasonal routes typically run from spring into October, and exact start dates change each year, so check with the airline. Emirates' Newark flight continues to Dubai, but the Newark to Athens leg is a nonstop you can book on its own. Delta's New York JFK flight is scheduled to pause from 4 January to 7 March 2027. Delta plans a seasonal Detroit flight from June 2027 and Alaska Airlines a seasonal Seattle flight from 12 May 2027. From other US cities, connect once in Europe, for example in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Rome, or in Istanbul.

Nonstop flights to Athens: year-round and seasonal

Athens is a summer route for US airlines. Delta, United and American add flights in spring and run them into autumn, from cities including New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington Dulles, Charlotte, Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth, as of recent schedules. In winter most of them stop; check with the airline for exact dates.

Two nonstops matter in the off-season. Emirates flies Newark to Athens all year, as part of its route on to Dubai, and Delta keeps flying from New York JFK until 3 January 2027, with a scheduled pause from 4 January to 7 March 2027, as of recent schedules. Delta's Atlanta and Boston flights may also run into the winter; check Delta's timetable. Otherwise, winter trips from the US connect once in Europe.

On a one-stop trip, keep the whole journey on one ticket. Your bags are checked through, and the airline must rebook you if the first flight is late.

Best time to visit Athens

Late April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months, warm enough for the islands with fewer crowds at the Acropolis. July and August are hot, with heat waves that can push temperatures above 100°F, and the Acropolis may close in the middle of the day during extreme heat.

November to March is mild but rainier, and Athens is quiet apart from the holidays. Many island ferries and hotels cut back or close in winter, so check before planning a combined Athens and islands trip in the off-season. Greek Orthodox Easter is a major holiday and often falls on a different date from Western Easter.

Entry rules: Schengen, EES and ETIAS

Greece is in the Schengen Area. US citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area and should have been issued within the past ten years.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in operation since October 2025. On your first entry the border officer registers your fingerprints and a photo, which can make the first passport check slower. ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorization, is not yet required as of November 2026; check the official EU travel site before you fly.

Athens airport and getting into the city

Athens International has one main terminal and a satellite building linked by an underground walkway. Schengen and non-Schengen gates are in separate areas, so a passport check may be part of a connection.

Metro Line 3 runs from the airport station to Syntagma Square in about 40 minutes, with trains about every half hour. The X95 express bus runs to Syntagma all day and night, but traffic can make it slow. Taxis wait outside arrivals and reach the center in about 35 to 50 minutes. The suburban railway also serves the airport and continues to Piraeus, the main ferry port.

Connecting to the Greek islands

Aegean and its regional arm Olympic Air fly from Athens to most island airports, including Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Rhodes, and Sky Express flies many of the same routes. Ferries leave from Piraeus and Rafina. If you add an island flight on a separate ticket, leave plenty of time, because the second airline does not have to wait if your flight from the US is late.

Time difference and jet lag

Athens is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern time, 8 ahead of Central and 10 ahead of Pacific for most of the year. For a few weeks in March and around the end of October the gap is one hour shorter, because the US and Europe change their clocks on different dates.

Flights from the US leave in the afternoon or evening and land in Athens the next morning or early afternoon. Getting daylight on arrival and staying up until a normal bedtime helps most travelers adjust within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Travel guide

Late April to June and September to October are warm without the peak heat and crowds of July and August. Most US nonstops are seasonal. In winter, Emirates flies from Newark, and Delta flies from New York JFK until early January 2027; check other airlines for winter dates.

Lounge access

• Aegean Business Lounge, Schengen area
• Aegean Business Lounge, non-Schengen area

Airport transfers

Metro Line 3 (blue) runs from the airport to Syntagma in central Athens in about 40 minutes, and the X95 express bus runs to Syntagma around the clock, taking about an hour or more in traffic. Taxis wait outside arrivals and reach the center in about 35 to 50 minutes.

Flight route guides to Athens

Each guide covers the airlines on that route, typical connections, the best months to fly and baggage rules, with live fares fetched when the page loads.

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