How long is the flight to Athens and Greece: flight times, airlines and time difference
Flight times from Tel Aviv and Haifa to Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini, who flies nonstop to Athens, and the time difference. Checked on 4 October 2026.
- Tel Aviv–Athens: about 2h10 on average. Shortest: Rhodes, about 1h35.
- El Al, Israir, Arkia, Bluebird, Aegean and Sky Express fly nonstop to Athens.
- For most of the year there is no time difference. In 2026 only 27–29 March differed.
A flight to Greece takes about two hours, and you usually don't need to change your watch.
In short
- How long is the flight to Athens? About 2 hours 10 minutes from Tel Aviv on average, according to FlightConnections. The distance is 1,193 km.
- Shortest flight to Greece: Rhodes, about 1 hour 35 minutes. Longest among the main destinations: Thessaloniki, about 2 hours 25 minutes.
- Time difference: for almost the whole year there is no time difference between Israel and Greece. In 2026 there was a one-hour difference only from 27 to 29 March.
- Nonstop to Athens: El Al, Israir, Arkia, Bluebird, Aegean and Sky Express, with about 35 flights a week.
Flight times from Tel Aviv to Greece
| Destination | Code | Average flight time | Nonstop airlines (Sept–Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | ATH | about 2:10 | El Al, Israir, Arkia, Bluebird, Aegean, Sky Express |
| Thessaloniki | SKG | about 2:25 | El Al, Israir, Arkia, Aegean |
| Heraklion, Crete | HER | about 1:55 | El Al, Israir, Arkia, Bluebird, Aegean |
| Chania, Crete | CHQ | about 1:55 | Bluebird (summer route) |
| Rhodes | RHO | about 1:35 (fastest) | El Al, Israir, Arkia, Bluebird, Aegean |
| Mykonos | JMK | about 1:55 | El Al, Arkia, Bluebird |
| Santorini | JTR | about 2:00 | El Al, Israir (one flight a week in October 2026) |
Times are average scheduled flight times from FlightConnections. Actual times depend on wind, routing and airport congestion. Most island routes are seasonal.
Detailed guides: flights to Crete, flights to Thessaloniki and flights to Rhodes.
Flight times from Haifa
airHaifa flies from Haifa to Greece on smaller aircraft, so flights take longer. According to FlightConnections:
| Destination | Flight time |
|---|---|
| Athens | about 2:55 |
| Thessaloniki | about 2:55 (route starts 25 October 2026, per Wikipedia) |
| Heraklion | about 2:20 |
| Mykonos | about 2:30 |
| Rhodes | about 2:00 |
| Karpathos | about 2:00 |
Who flies nonstop from Tel Aviv to Athens
According to FlightConnections, the Tel Aviv–Athens route averages about 5 flights a day, from 00:30 to 23:30.
- Israeli airlines: El Al, Israir and Arkia.
- Bluebird: a Greek airline founded in Heraklion that flies mainly from Tel Aviv. Athens is one of its main destinations.
- Aegean and Sky Express: the two Greek airlines.
- Ryanair: according to Masa Israel, in September 2026 it had still not returned to Israel because of a dispute over slots at Ben Gurion.
- Wizz Air: returned to Israel in 2026 after a break caused by the Iran war. We did not find it in current Athens schedules. Check the airline's website.
Time difference between Israel and Greece
- Israel and Greece share the same time zone in winter (UTC+2) and summer (UTC+3), so for most of the year the time is the same.
- The difference comes from the daylight saving dates. In 2026 Israel switched to summer time on 27 March and Greece on 29 March. On those days Israel was one hour ahead.
- Back to winter time in 2026: both countries on the same night, 24–25 October.
- Tip: times on your flight ticket are always local time at each airport.
Tips before you fly
- Strikes: Greece has occasional aviation strikes, such as the strike called for 9 October 2026. Strike calendar and check a date.
- After landing: how to get from Athens airport to the centre.
- Heading to an island: our ferries guide.
- Insurance: what to check in travel insurance for Greece.
- Prices: cheapest flights from Tel Aviv to Greece, updated every morning.
FAQ
How long is the flight from Tel Aviv to Athens?
About 2 hours 10 minutes on average, according to FlightConnections schedules. The distance between Tel Aviv and Athens is 1,193 km.
How long is a flight to Greece?
From about 1 hour 35 minutes to Rhodes to about 2 hours 25 minutes to Thessaloniki. Crete, Mykonos and Santorini take about 2 hours.
Is there a time difference between Israel and Greece?
For most of the year, no. The only difference is a few days in late March, because Israel switches to summer time earlier. In 2026 that was 27 to 29 March.
Which airlines fly nonstop to Athens?
El Al, Israir, Arkia, Bluebird, Aegean and Sky Express, according to FlightConnections.
Does Ryanair fly Tel Aviv to Athens?
According to Masa Israel, in September 2026 Ryanair had still not returned to Israel, with no return date.
How long is the flight from Haifa to Athens?
About 2 hours 55 minutes with airHaifa, according to FlightConnections.
What is the closest destination in Greece?
Rhodes. The fastest nonstop from Tel Aviv takes about 1 hour 35 minutes.
Flight times and airlines checked on 4 October 2026 using FlightConnections, Wikipedia and Masa Israel. Schedules change, so check the airline's website before you book.
