By Air
Athens International Airport (ATH), officially named Eleftherios Venizelos, is the main hub and handles most long-haul traffic. It sits about 27km east of central Athens. The metro (Line 3, blue line) runs directly to central Athens and onward to Piraeus, taking roughly an hour and costing €9. The express bus (X95) connects the airport to Syntagma Square in 45–60 minutes for €6. Taxis to the city centre run around €40 during the day and €55 at night.
Beyond Athens, Greece has more than 30 airports. Many islands — including Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Samos, Chios, and Skiathos — have their own airports with seasonal direct flights from across Europe. In summer, budget carriers serve these island airports from dozens of European cities, so you can often skip Athens entirely.
Thessaloniki (SKG) is the gateway for northern Greece and the country's second city, with international connections year-round. Heraklion (HER) in Crete is one of the busiest airports in the country during summer.
From North America, there are non-stop flights from New York JFK and a handful of other US cities to Athens. Flight time from New York is around 10 hours; from Los Angeles, plan on 13–14 hours with a connection.
By Sea
Greece has ferry connections to Italy from Patras and Igoumenitsa, with services to Ancona, Venice, Bari, and Brindisi. Crossing times vary from around 8 hours (Igoumenitsa–Brindisi fast ferry) to 20+ hours (Patras–Ancona). If you want to bring a car, the Italy ferries are the practical choice. Book well ahead in July and August.
Ferries also run between Greece and Turkey — Chios to Çeşme, Samos to Kusadasi, Rhodes to Bodrum, among others — and seasonal services connect Piraeus to Cyprus and Israel.
By Rail
Direct rail links from Western Europe into Greece are effectively non-existent. The most realistic option for rail enthusiasts is to travel by train to an Italian port and take the overnight ferry. The Greek national network (Hellenic Train) has improved considerably in recent years, particularly the Athens–Thessaloniki intercity route.
By Road
Overland entry from the north is possible via North Macedonia (at Evzoni and Niki), Bulgaria (at Promahonas and Kulata), and Turkey (at Kipi and Kastanies). The drive from Central Europe to Athens is a serious commitment — roughly 2,000km from Vienna. Many drivers prefer to take the car to an Italian port and cross by ferry.