When one thinks of Athens, the mind can only go to its countless beauties of an archaeological, cultural and historical sites to be visited by chartering a private jet, a travel solution that wealthier tourists are increasingly choosing because of the many advantages and services made available to them right from the airport itself.
Traveling with flexibility, privacy, personalized assistance and avoiding the very long queues at the terminal are parameters that private flight ensures travelers, thus giving them the opportunity to enjoy a carefree travel experience.
Whether on a business or leisure trip, Athens is always ready to offer a truly endless tourist heritage: just think of its most important monuments, such as the Acropolis, the many museum centers present, the National Garden, the historic center, as well as the Athenian Riviera filled with breathtaking beaches.
However, the Greek capital is also an important connecting hub that allows travelers to charter private jets to set off to explore the Greek islands: what and what about other info regarding that topic?
Let's explore them in depth in this guide!
Historical and geographical background on Athens
Athens is located on a plain situated in the very center of Attica, a very large region of Greece consisting of several surrounding municipalities belonging to the prefecture of the same name. In terms of land conformation, Athens stretches from the slopes of Mount Parnetes to the coastline on which the port of Piraeus and some suburbs are located. Its founding dates back to the Ionians, a people who inhabited and settled Attica, creating several population centers including the present Greek capital; for very long years, Athens lived under a regime of monarchy corroborated by the Aeropagus, the ancient court of nobles, before oligarchy and democracy took its place. The leadership of the Greek city, however, was succeeded by several tyrants who, at the expense of a dictatorial regime exercised over the inhabitants of the inhabited reality, nevertheless contributed to the growth of Athens' name and fame, as well as its economy internationally. Athenian history was also marked by the many Persian invasions and the endless war against Sparta that claimed many lives during the long years of the Peloponnesian War. In medieval times, Athens remained in the shadows: it was repeatedly sacked by various peoples until it was occupied by the Turks who made it a thriving religious center. In the late seventeenth century, the Greek capital came under the control of the Venetians; several years later, in about the middle of the nineteenth century, Athens became the capital of the kingdom of Greece. That was the first major step toward the proclamation of the Republic, which was not sealed until 1924; during World War II, Greece declared itself totally non-belligerent, attracting a very large number of immigrants and actually growing in population. In the late twentieth century, Greece joined the European Union, an event that made Athens an economic, political and cultural center that still attracts large numbers of tourists.
What to do and see in Athens
The archaeological beauty of Athens
One of the experiences that passengers on private flights should definitely have is to immerse themselves in the very rich history of Athens by taking part in specially organized private archaeological tours. These are guided tours that allow visitors to explore the iconic Acropolis, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Acropolis Museum for a close-up look at artifacts and treasures dating back several millennia. Such tours enable wealthy tourists to receive in-depth information about what Athens' history was and the role it played for centuries.
The Greek islands tour
Although Athens is certainly a city worth a thorough visit given its cultural and historical beauty, its airport is a very important stopover from which to charter a private jet to travel to the major Aegean islands. For example, among the most sought-after is undoubtedly Mykonos, a true gem known for its wonderful beaches and coves that can only be reached by sea; Santorini, another jewel characterized by its famous white houses with blue roofs and striking views overhanging the sea; Paros, with its lush pine forests and very lively town, Corfu, an island off the coast of Albania bathed by a sea tinged with emerald and turquoise, Kefalonia, a mountainous island rich in villages, chic villages and breathtaking beaches, not forgetting some smaller islets such as Kos, Milos and Zakynthos but still worthy of a tour aimed at exploring them in detail, as well as some more distant islands such as Crete and Rhodes. Each of the above-mentioned islands is easily accessible from Athens-these are true natural paradises where wealthy tourists have the option of chartering yachts or private boats to reach the most hidden coves and the most exclusive beaches.
Athens' gourmet restaurants
As an extremely cosmopolitan capital city, Athens offers tourists several upscale food and wine options such as Botrini's, a Greek-Italian gourmet restaurant that offers diners the best-known Greek culinary traditions with influences from Italian cuisine. Also worth mentioning is Varoulko Seaside, a seafood restaurant that bases its dishes on the freshest ingredients freshly caught in the Mediterranean, as well as Spondi, a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant that combines French cuisine with fine Greek wines, the perfect combination for unique flavors.
Climate and best time to visit Athens
Athens sees the dominance of a Mediterranean-type climate, with fairly hot summers and winters that are not too cold but with abundant rainfall. The spring period in the Greek capital is characterized by very pleasant weather: days are mostly sunny and temperatures average around 20°C, with some peaks even above 25°C in May. Rainfall still remains frequent, but the city is populated with tourists as the pleasant weather facilitates visits to the city's various archaeological sites. The Athenian summer is very hot and long, sometimes even boiling hot when hit by heat waves: temperatures soar well over 30°C, while sea temperatures settle at 25°C, making bathroom breaks real cooling treats. Given the favorable climate and the total absence of rainfall, a number of festivals and folk events are organized in the city with great tourist impact. The weather only cools down starting in October, a month that sees the diminishing of the asphyxiating heat and the transformation of nature's colors: from the bright and vivid ones to brownish hues that paint the city and immerse it in a magical atmosphere. Rainfall is not too heavy, so autumn is still a perfect time to visit museums or take long walks. A winter, temperatures are not too low as they range from 7 to 15°C, although in February instability takes over with alternating mild weather and cold spells. That said, the best times to charter a private jet to Athens remain spring or fall, segments of the year that are not too crowded with tourists and dominated by pleasant weather that allows sightseeing in the city.
How and why to fly by private jet to Athens
Athens International Airport (ICAO code LGAV) is a very important airport not only for the Greek domestic scene, but also for the European and continental scene. The terminal dedicated to general aviation is beautifully equipped and designed especially for VIP travelers as services designed for them abound and ensure a distinctly beneficial travel experience. They, in fact, have the opportunity to enjoy separate check-in, super-fast security checks and first-class treatment for all pre-flight and post-flight operations. As also mentioned earlier, Athens airport is a crucial hub for reaching many Greek islands scattered across the Mediterranean including Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Kefalonia, Rhodes, Crete, Kos, Zakynthos, Paros, and Milos always chartering a private jet. In any case, it is important to point out that during the months of July and August, the airports on these main islands may be decidedly congested: therefore, the Athens hub makes helicopter rentals available to wealthy travelers to still reach these islands quickly and comfortably. Not only that, inside the Athens airport stands a very capacious Lounge, several well-equipped conference rooms, a shopping mall equipped with stores, bars and restaurants in which passengers on private flights can relax before heading to their next destination. Since there is no restriction on night flights, you can take off and land in Athens 24/7 with any class, size and weight of aircraft. The city center is about 35 km from the airport, a distance that can be covered by cabs, rental cars and a limousine service, as well as a helicopter that can take the passenger to the heart of the capital within minutes.
How much does it cost to fly private to Athens
Among the most popular routes is the one linking the Greek capital to Paris, which is about 3 hours and 40 minutes away; chartering a Light Jet involves an expense of about €17,000, that of a Medium Jet implies a price of about €32,000, and that of a Large Jet is around €44,000. Athens is also connected to Barcelona by a flight of about 3 hours and 20 minutes; again, it is possible to charter a Light Jet for about €16,000, a Medium Jet for about €30,000 and a Large Jet for about €41,000. The duration of the flight from Rome Ciampino to Athens, on the other hand, is just 2 hours and 30 minutes, while the rental costs of a Light Jet, Medium Jet and Large Jet are about €11,000, €20,000 and €29,000, respectively.
The best jet to fly to Athens
One of the best performing light jets is definitely the Hawker 400XP, an ideal aircraft for short trips as it can give a perfect balance between performance, comfort and consumption. Its 7-seat cabin is highly comfortable, while its attainable speed of about 800 km/h enables it to provide speed and comfort. Similar parameters are found at the Cessna Citation VII, Medium Jet that consists of 8 seats in its revised and expanded comfortable interior cabin. The range that such an aircraft provides exceeds 3,500 km, while its cruising speed is around 800 km/h, figures that make it a good choice for covering medium-range distances. Among the Large Jets, it is worth mentioning the Dassault Falcon 50, an ultra-long-range jet since it can travel more than 6,000 km on a single tank of fuel; its extremely comfortable and spacious cabin allows the 9 accommodating passengers to get comfortable to enjoy a travel experience far beyond their wildest expectations!
Most frequent flights to and from Athens
Below of the most frequent connections to Athens:
