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Travelling to Greece from Australia: Visas, flights, costs, and travel tips
Everything Australians need to know about travelling to Greece: flights and stopovers, visa requirements, best time to visit, costs, and on-the-ground tips.
Greece is one of those destinations that genuinely delivers: ancient ruins, whitewashed islands, and a food culture that rewards the curious. It is a long way from Australia, but with one stopover and solid planning, the journey is very manageable.
This guide covers everything Australians need to know before booking: how to fly there, visa requirements, the best time to visit, getting around, costs, and practical on-the-ground tips.
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How to fly from Australia to Greece
There are no direct flights from Australia to Greece. All routes involve at least one stopover, typically through a Middle Eastern or Southeast Asian hub. The most common stopover cities are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Singapore. Most itineraries involve a single stop, though some budget-conscious routing options include two.
When comparing airlines, look beyond the ticket price, layover duration, baggage allowance, and stopover city, all of which affect the overall experience on such a long journey.
How long is the flight from Australia to Greece?
Flights from Sydney to Athens average around 22-30+ hours, including layover time. Perth travellers have the shortest routing, the quickest one-stop flight from Perth takes around 18 hours and 30 minutes, making it one of the fastest Australia-to-Europe options.
Melbourne and Brisbane sit closer to the Sydney total, typically in the 24–33 hour range, depending on the layover.
How much do flights from Australia to Greece cost?
Round-trip ticket prices vary considerably by season and by how far in advance you book. As a general guide:
- Sydney (SYD): around $1,400-2,100 AUD
- Melbourne (MEL): around $1,500-2,200 AUD
- Brisbane (BNE): around $1,800-2,300 AUD
These are the common starting prices, but peak season and last-minute bookings will push fares higher. Booking 3–6 months out generally offers the best combination of price and seat selection.
The cheapest windows are typically October to November and February to March, when demand from both Australian and European travellers drops off. October to November has the added appeal of still-warm shoulder-season weather on arrival, while February to March lines up with the tail end of the Australian summer, a practical time to travel before Easter.
Do Australians need a visa to visit Greece?
Australians can enter Greece without a visa for tourism stays of up to 90 days within any 180 days. Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so that allowance applies across all member countries combined. Like many visa-free countries for Australians in Europe, Greece still requires you to comply with Schengen time limits, so track your days carefully if you’re visiting multiple destinations.
There are two new EU border systems are worth knowing about before you travel:
- EES (Entry/Exit System): Fully operational since 10 April 2026, EES replaces manual passport stamps with biometric registration, a facial image, and fingerprints at the border. It applies to all non-EU citizens, including Australians, on every entry and exit.
- ETIAS: Not yet live, but expected to launch in late 2026. Once operational, Australians will need to apply online before travel. It is not a visa, but a pre-travel authorisation similar to the US ESTA. Once applied, it’s valid for three years or until your passport expires.
Check the Smartraveller website for the latest entry requirements before you depart, as these systems are still rolling out.
Best time to visit Greece from Australia
The best time to visit Greece from Australia depends on what you’re optimising for: weather, budget, or crowds. Here is how the seasons break down from an Australian perspective.
| Season | Months | Weather in Greece | Best for Australians |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | July–August | Hot (30–35°C+) | Escaping Australian winter, busy and pricier, but great beach weather |
| Shoulder (spring) | May–June | Warm (22–28°C) | Travelling before or after Australian school terms, good value |
| Shoulder (autumn) | September–October | Warm (22–28°C) | Post-peak quiet, warm seas, lower fares from Greece |
| Low | November–March | Cool (10–16°C) | Aligns with Australian summer, budget travel, and fewer crowds |
July and August fall during Australian winter, which makes Greece a perfect escape from the cold. Expect beach weather, vibrant nightlife, and peak energy, but also the highest prices and busiest ferries of the year.
May to June and September to October are the sweet spots for most Australian travellers. The weather is warm, the seas are swimmable, crowds are manageable, and accommodation costs less than in peak summer.
These months also sit outside Australian school holiday peaks, making them ideal if you have flexibility. These shoulder seasons are also considered the best time to visit Europe from Australia, offering a balance of good weather, lower costs, and fewer crowds across multiple destinations.
November to March aligns with the Australian summer holiday period, including Christmas and New Year. Greece is quiet, many island businesses close entirely, but Athens and Thessaloniki stay lively year-round. For families or budget travellers who don’t mind cooler temperatures and a slower pace, this window offers the lowest fares and the fewest crowds.
How to get around Greece
Transport in Greece combines a few different options depending on where you’re headed. Here is a practical overview.
- Domestic flights are the most efficient option for reaching islands far from Athens, such as Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, and Kos, all of which have airports with regular services from Athens. A 50-minute domestic flight saves an 8–12-hour ferry ride for longer routes, and fares are often very reasonable when booked early.
- Ferries are the classic and often most practical way to island-hop around the Cyclades. For most classic routes, like Athens to Paros, Naxos, or Mykonos, the ferry is scenic, practical, and part of the Greece experience. For longer jumps like Athens to Rhodes or Athens to Kos, flying is faster and the smarter choice.
One important note: never take a ferry on the same day as your international flight home. Ferry strikes and bad weather do happen, so always spend your final night or two in Athens to avoid any risk of missing your flight.
- Car hire works well on the mainland and on larger islands like Crete and Naxos, where a car opens up villages and coastline that public transport doesn’t reach. An international driving permit is recommended alongside your Australian licence.
- The Athens metro is clean, affordable, and easy to navigate. A single ticket costs €1.40, and a three-day tourist pass including the airport link costs €22. It’s a good value if you’re spending a few days in the city before heading to the islands.
Top things to see and do in Greece
Ideally, a two-to-three-week trip comfortably covers Athens, two or three islands, and a mainland detour without feeling rushed, and even time for some must-do day trips from Athens. Many of the top 10 things to do in Greece combine ancient history, island scenery, and local culture, so it is worth building an itinerary that includes a mix of all three.
Start with a few days in Athens: the Acropolis, Plaka, and the food scene alone make it worth it. And whether you’re after the iconic caldera views of Santorini, the beaches of Mykonos and Crete, or the medieval old town of Rhodes, there is enough variety without repeating yourself. The best places to visit in Greece is a good starting point for narrowing down your itinerary.
How much does a trip to Greece cost from Australia?
Costs in Greece are mid-range by European standards, more affordable than France or the UK, but pricier than Portugal or Spain. Santorini and Mykonos sit in a different league, while the mainland and less-visited islands offer much better value.
The table below covers in-country costs only, excluding international flights. (Price in AUD).
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | $45–80 (hostel/guesthouse) | $140–260 (hotel) | $350+ (boutique/resort) |
| Food (per day) | $25–45 (street food, tavernas) | $60–105 (sit-down meals) | $140+ (fine dining) |
| Local transport (per day) | $9–18 (public transport, ferries) | $35–70 (mix of ferries and taxis) | $90+ (private transfers) |
| Activities (per day) | $9–26 (free sites, budget entries) | $35–70 (paid sites, tours) | $105+ (private tours, boats) |
| Daily total (excl. flights) | $88–140 | $175–260 | $440+ |
Practical tips for travelling to Greece from Australia
Greece is a well-worn destination for Australian travellers, but a few things are worth knowing before you land. Even if you’ve already planned your itinerary, a Greece travel guide can help you prepare for local customs, transport, seasonal differences, and day-to-day travel logistics.
- Currency: Greece uses the euro (€). Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but carry cash for smaller villages, local markets, and some tavernas. A low-fee card will save you on ATM and conversion fees across a longer trip.
- Power adapters: Greece plug types are Type C and F plugs (standard European two-pin) at 230V. Australian plugs (Type I) are not compatible, so pack a universal travel adaptor before you leave.
- Safety: Greece is generally safe for Australian travellers. Petty theft can occur in crowded tourist areas, particularly around busy Athens metro stations. Keep an eye on bags and wallets in those spots.
- Summer heat: July and August regularly exceed 35°C. Coming from Australia, the heat is familiar, but Greek summer heat is dry and intense. Plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning or late afternoon and carry water at all times.
- Staying connected: If you want data from the moment you land without hunting for a local SIM at the airport, a Greece eSIM from Holafly activates before you leave Australia and works across the mainland and islands. If your trip extends into other European countries, the Holafly eSIM for Europe covers 30+ destinations under one plan, handy if you’re doing the classic multi-country Europe trip.
Stay connected in Greece with Holafly
Holafly’s eSIM for Greece gives you unlimited data with speeds up to 5G and 24/7 customer support — active from the moment you land in Athens. Check ferry timetables, navigate the metro, book last-minute transfers, or look up taverna recommendations without burning through roaming data.
Holafly has your back even if your plan runs out mid-trip. Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data is included with every eSIM at no extra cost — keep your eSIM installed and it kicks in automatically, enough to navigate to your next island, message home, or sort a new plan while you’re on the ferry.
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