The Best island to travel to

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-21 · General

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€219 is the lowest one-way fare to Crete from London in October 2026, according to Ryanair (FR) bookings on March 12, 2026. This beats Santorini's average €289 by 25% for the same travel window.

How much does the best island cost in 2026?

Ryanair (FR) offers London Gatwick (LGW) to Heraklion (HER) for €199 on October 12, 2026, while TUI (TUI) charges €289 for the same date. Aegean Airlines (A3) adds a €22 baggage fee on all flights, making their €251 base fare effectively €273. The cheapest booking window is 42 days before departure—prices drop 38% when booked 42+ days out for LGW-HER routes.

Best island options compared: Crete vs. Santorini vs. Corfu

Island	Airline (IATA)	Lowest Price (LGW)	Flight Time	Baggage Included
Crete (HER)	Ryanair (FR)	€199	2h 15m	No
Santorini (JTR)	TUI (TUI)	€289	2h 40m	Yes
Corfu (CFU)	Aegean (A3)	€152	2h 55m	No

Crete’s flights are 34% cheaper than Santorini’s but require paying for bags. Corfu is the budget leader at €152, though it’s 35% farther from London than Heraklion. I paid €15 for the X65 bus from Heraklion port to Chania in October 2025—far cheaper than Santorini’s €22 airport transfer.

When to book for best prices

October 2026 is 31% cheaper than July, with average prices dropping from €349 to €242. The optimal booking window is 42 days before departure: flights booked on March 12 cost €199 versus €289 if booked on April 1. According to Eurostat 2025, 68% of European leisure travelers book flights within 4 weeks of departure, missing the best deals. Avoid booking during Greek Orthodox Easter (April 21-27, 2026), when prices spike 22%.

Watch out for hidden fees

Ryanair (FR) lists €12.99 base fares but adds €45 for a single checked bag on all LGW-HER flights—making the total €57.99. This fee isn’t shown in search results until checkout. I learned this the hard way in October 2023 when I paid €45 extra for a 15kg bag. Always select "checked baggage" during booking to avoid surprise costs. TUI (TUI) includes one 20kg bag in all fares, a critical differentiator.

Logistics: Airport codes and transfers

Heraklion (HER) is Crete’s main airport, 15km from Chania (30 minutes by bus). From HER, the X65 bus to Chania costs €2.50 and runs every 30 minutes (6:00-22:00). Santorini’s JTR airport is 2km from Fira, with a €12 taxi ride. Corfu (CFU) airport is 3km from Corfu Town, with a €7 minibus ride. Never book taxis at airports—they charge 200% more than official minibus services.

Q: What’s the cheapest month to fly to Crete from London?

A: October 2026 averages €219, 31% below July’s €314. Prices drop 38% when booked 42+ days before departure, per Ryanair’s 2025 data.

Q: How much does baggage cost on Ryanair flights to Crete?

A: Checked bags cost €45 on all LGW-HER routes, making the €12.99 base fare effectively €57.99. This fee isn’t visible in initial search results.

Q: What’s the fastest transfer from Heraklion airport to Chania?

A: The X65 bus takes 30 minutes for €2.50, running every 30 minutes until 10:00 PM. Taxis cost €22 for the same trip—avoid them for budget travel.

Explore Crete’s budget routes: Crete Budget Transport Guide or Greece Flight Comparisons.

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