Greece has more than 5.000 islands and islets out of which only about 200 of them are inhabited and travelling to Greece has never been easier than today.

Some of them are so small that they can be reached by ferry, while other Greek islands with airports are true gateways for that part of the world.

If you are not a fan of sea trips and don’t want to spend many hours on a ferry then this article might be exactly what you are looking for to be able to plan your trip properly.

Which Greek islands have airports

For a better understanding and to help you plan your trip easier, I decided to split the Greek islands into the following categories:

• Crete
• Dodecanese
• Cyclades
• Sporades
• Eptanisa
• Northern Aegean

1. Greece islands with airports in Crete

The largest Greek island and one of the largest from the Mediterranean Sea, Crete has two main airports: Chania and Heraklion and a smaller one named Sitia.

1.1 Heraklion Airport (HER)

Heraklion International airport “N. Kazantzakis” is located 4 kilometres away from the city with the same name in the middle of the island.

This is the second busiest airport of Greece and is transited by more than 8 million passengers each year.

Throughout the year it serves for both domestic flights from and to Athens and also for charter flights from many European cities.

1.2 Chania Airport (CHQ)

On Crete, the largest of all Greek islands with airports is also located the International Airport of Chania “Ioannis Daskalogiannis”.

It is located in the Akrotiri peninsula, 14 kilometres away from Chania town.

This airport serves for domestic flights to and from Thessaloniki and Athens as well as for charters from many European destinations during the summer season.

This airport is much smaller than Heraklion being transited by only 3 million passengers each year.

1.3 Sitia airport (JSH)

Sitia Airport is a small airport located in the eastern part of Crete that is open only during peak season.

It is used only for charter flights operated by Olympic Air, Sky Express, Jet Time and Scandinavian Airlines.

2. Greek islands with an airport from the Sporades

On the list of which Greek islands have airports are the island’s world known as the Sporades, out of which Skiathos is the most famous one.

2.1 Skiathos airport (JSI)

The main airport from the area is Alexandros Papadiamantis airport which is used for domestic and international flights.

More than 500.000 tourists visit this airport each year and it is considered one of the most interesting airports in the world is often compared with Princess Juliana on Saint Maarten.

Because the terrain on the island of Skiathos is very uneven, the airport was constructed by reclaiming land from the sea and practically it united the island of Skiathos with the smaller island of Lazareta into a larger one.

2.2. Skyros airport (SKU)

On the list of Greek islands with airports is also Skyros, a small island with its own airport.

The airport is located 17 kilometres north from the main town from the island called Trachi and was opened in 1984.

It is mostly used for domestic flights to and from Athens and Thessaloniki, especially during summertime.

3. Greek islands with airport from the Dodecanese

The Dodecanese archipelago consists of 12 islands out of which there are only 7 Greek islands with airports and is one of the most popular destinations in Greece.

The main airport from the area is the one from Rhodes, followed by the one from Kos, Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos and Leros.

3.1 Rhodes Airport (RHO)

Rhodes International airport is located on the northern part of the island, 15 kilometres away from Rhodes town.

It is one of the busiest airports from Greece, especially during summertime when it receives flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete and other Greek islands.

The airport is also used by many charter companies from all over Europe which brings thousands of tourists to spend their summer holiday in this magnificent place.

More than 60 airlines fly into Rhodes airport, especially during summertime, while other international companies like Sky Express, KLM and Aegean Airlines operate flights all year round.

3.2 Kos Airport (KGS)

The next on the list of which Greek islands have airports is Kos with a small airport located right in the centre of the island, near the village of Antimachia.

This airport is used mostly for domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki and sometimes, during the summer season charters from European destinations or from other Greek islands land here.

3.3 Astypalaia Airport (JTY)

This small airport operated only domestic flights to and from Athens and Thessaloniki, mostly during the summer season.

It is a very small airport and many of you probably never heard about it as it is transited by less than 15.000 passengers over a whole year.

3.4 Karpathos Airport ( AOK)

On the list with Greek islands with airports is also Karpathos, a small and beautiful island with a pretty limited airport.

The initial airport was opened in 1970 and because the number of tourists increased the necessity of building a new one was more than obvious.

So, a new airport was built between 2005 to 2009 and today it is used for domestic flights and also for charters from all major European cities during the summer season.

3.5 Other small airports for the Dodecanese

Kalymnos– is an airport which operates flights especially during the summer season and most of them are from Rhodes, Athens and other nearby islands.

Kasos– this tiny airport operates flights just from nearby islands of Karpathos and Rhodes

Leros– another small airport which operates domestic flights with small aircraft from Rhodes, Athens and other nearby islands so book some time for island hopping once you reach the Dodecanese Archipelago.

4. Greek islands with airports from the Cyclades

No matter if you choose to take a ferry trip or jump on a plane you definitely have to visit at least once the Cyclades islands as they are easily accessible by air or sea.

This group of islands is very well connected with Greece and Europe by air or by sea, so reaching them should not be difficult.

Here are the main airports from the Cyclades:

4.1 Mykonos International Airport (JMK)

Listed on the top 10 busiest Greek airports, Mykonos International Airport is located 2 kilometres away from the town with the same name and 4 kilometres from the port which serves ferries to many other Greek islands.

There are daily flights to and from Athens and Thessaloniki and also many charter flights from abroad in summer.

To get from the airport to the city or to your hotel you can choose to take public transport, arrange a private transfer or rent a car.

I personally advise you to rent a car as the prices are reasonable and you need it especially if you would like to explore the island and its hidden  and nice beaches.

Have a unique experience by exploring the area in your own rented car

Whether you prefer day trips from your hotel or a tour around the country, car rental is the best way for creating your own experience and live your dream vacation

4.2 Santorini Airport (JTR)

Located in the region of Monolithos/Kamari, just 6 kilometres away from the capital of Fira, Santorini Airport is served by domestic and international flights from many European countries like Germany, France, UK and more.

Being located so close to the main port from the island, the airport is also used by tourists interested in reaching the nearby islands from the Cyclades.

You can take a plane up to Santorini and from there take a ferry ride and go to a remote island from the nearby for a relaxing vacation and to explore more from what Greece has to offer.

4.3 Paros Airport (PAS)

The list of which Greek islands have airports is filled in by Paros Airport located in the region of Alyki, 9 kilometres south of Parikia.

There are daily flights from and to Athens, the capital of Greece and many charter flights land here, especially during the summer season.

4.4 Milos Airport (MLO)

Located 5 kilometres away from Adamas, in the region called Zephyria, Milos Airport is the main gateway to the island.

Only small aircraft are able to land here because of its positions and the limited services offered by the airport.

4.5 Syros Airport (JSY)

This is another extremely small airport with a single runway that is used only for domestic flights from and to Athens.

5. Greek islands with airports from Eptanisa

Eptanisa or the Ionian islands called after the sea where they are located are one of the most beautiful strips of land from the entire country.

These islands have a very tropical vibe mainly because of the lush vegetation from the islands and the turquoise waters.

From the total number of 7 islands, only 4 have airports: Cephalonia, Zante, Corfu and Kythira.

5.1 Kefalonia airport (EFL)

The next on the list of which Greek islands have airports is Kefalonia, which is the biggest island from the area.

The airport is located 8 kilometres away from Argostoli and is a very crowded place, especially during the summer season.

It receives daily flights from Athens and many charter flights from other Greek islands and main European cities.

5.2 Zante Airport (ZTH)

The most popular from all islands from the Ionian Sea, Zante or Zakynthos has the most popular airport from the entire area.

More than 2 million tourists from all over the world, but mostly from Europe transit this airport every year.

The airport is located 6 kilometres south of Zakynthos town and operates not just domestic flights from Athens, Thessaloniki and other nearby islands, but also international charter flights from abroad.

5.3 Corfu airport (CFU)

Another Greek islands with airports is Corfu or Kerkyra, which is transited every year by almost 3 million passengers from all over the world.

The airport is located in the region of Perama and operates domestic and international flights from many European destinations.

The airport was classified as the 5th busiest airport from Greece and the 4th busiest airport from Greek islands.

There are no bus services outside the airport, the only way to get to the hotel is by taxi, rented car or to arrange the transfer with your hotel.

5.4 Kythira Airport (KIT)

This small island from the Ionian group can be reached by plane within an hour if you choose for the domestic flight from Athens.

During the summer season, there are some charter flights from Europe which land on this airport, especially Transavia airlines from Amsterdam.

6. Greek islands with airports from North Aegean

The islands from this part of the world known as North Aegean Sea are probably some of the least visited and less famous from Greece.

There are in total 16 islands belonging to Greece and 2 small islands that belong to Turkey, out of which 5 have airports.

6.1 Lesvos Airport (MJT)

Lesvos airport known as Mytilene International Airport is the largest from the area and is visited by more than 500.000 people on a yearly basis.

Sky Express and Olympic Air have regular flights from Athens and Thessaloniki, while during summer season some charter companies offer direct flights from European cities to this island.

6.2 Samos Airport (SMI)

The next on my list of which Greek islands have airports is Aristarhos of Samos or Samos Airport.

This gateway to the island is very busy especially during the summer season when it receives flights from Athens, Thessaloniki and from other Greek islands as well as European cities.

6.3 Lemnos Airport (LXS)

The airport is located in the centre of the island and it receives flights from Athens, Thessaloniki as well as some charter flights from London Heathrow during summertime.

There are buses outside the terminal which transfer tourists from the airport to Lemnos, the capital of the island.

To get directly to the hotel or in other parts of the island we recommend you to take a taxi or to arrange the transfer with your hotel.

6.4 Chios Airport (JKH)

One of the less popular islands from this part of Greece is Chios with its almost 60 beaches spread along the island.

The airport is small and serves mainly for domestic flights from Greece main airports like Thessaloniki, Athens and some other Greek islands.

6.5 Ikaria Airport (JIK)

This small island has a small airport serving just for domestic flights from Athens.

These are all the Greek islands with airports where you can easily travel for your summer destination.

All of them have direct flights to and from Athens and in less than one hour you reach your destination.

Now that you know which Greek islands have airports and in which part of Greece are located start planning your trip as these places are really crowded during summertime.