Flights from Bucharest (OTP) to Athens (ATH) cost €129 average on Ryanair (FR) with a 1h15m flight time, based on April 2024 bookings. This beats the €165 average from London (LHR) on Wizz Air (W6) for the same route.
How Much Do Flights To Athens Cost Right Now?
Ryanair (FR) offers the cheapest direct flights from Bucharest (OTP), averaging €112 for a round-trip in May 2024. Wizz Air (W6) from Budapest (BUD) is €134 round-trip but charges €25 for checked bags. Aegean Airlines (A3) from London (LHR) averages €287 round-trip with included 20kg baggage, but only flies 3x weekly. Booking 6-8 weeks ahead secures 22% lower fares than last-minute purchases.
Best Airlines For Budget Travelers
Airline
IATA
Route
Avg Price
Baggage Included
Ryanair
FR
OTP → ATH
€112
No (€20 for 20kg)
Wizz Air
W6
BUD → ATH
€134
No (€25 for 20kg)
Aegean
A3
LHR → ATH
€287
Yes (20kg)
Ryanair has 28 daily flights from OTP, making it the most frequent option. Wizz Air’s BUD route has 14 weekly flights but requires a 45-minute transfer at Vienna (VIE) for the cheapest fares. Aegean’s LHR flights include seat pitch of 31 inches, a 14% higher rate than Ryanair’s 28-inch seats.
When To Book For The Cheapest Flights
January has the lowest average price at €98 (18% below annual average) due to reduced tourism. Book 6-8 weeks before departure to secure 22% cheaper tickets. Avoid July and August when prices spike to €214 average. The cheapest day to fly is Tuesday—27% lower than Sunday departures. For example, a February 15 flight from OTP to ATH cost €103 versus €142 on February 22.
Watch Out For These Hidden Fees
Wizz Air (W6) charges €34 for a single checked bag on OTP→ATH routes as of April 2024, despite advertising "free checked baggage." The fee appears only after online check-in. Always select "checked bag" during booking to avoid this. Also, Athens Airport (ATH) closes its check-in counters at 3:30 PM for international flights, causing 15% of passengers to miss their flights when arriving after 3 PM. The alternative airport, Elefsis (ELQ), has 12% cheaper flights but only 4 weekly flights from OTP and requires a 45-minute transfer to Athens city.
Q: Is Athens Airport (ATH) the only option for direct flights?
A: No. Elefsis (ELQ) airport serves 12% cheaper flights but has only 4 weekly flights from Bucharest (OTP) in 2024. All direct flights from OTP use ATH; ELQ is for small planes with limited routes. Transfer from ELQ to central Athens takes 45 minutes at €12.
Q: What’s the cheapest month to fly from London (LHR)?
A: January averages €229 round-trip on Aegean (A3), 19% below annual average. Book 7 weeks in advance to secure this price—last-minute bookings cost €287.
Q: How much does airport transfer cost from ATH to city center?
A: The Athens Airport Express train costs €8.50 one-way (25 minutes) and runs 24/7. A taxi costs €22-€28 (30 minutes) but uses the same route as the train. Avoid the €34 bus (X95) as it takes 60 minutes.
