Compare Cheap Flights from Brisbane to Athens
Known as one of the world’s oldest cities, Athens contains a combination of majestic ancient sites and urban culture. The capital of Greece has been a famous location of human civilization for over 3,000 years. Ancient Athens was a historical centre of architecture, philosophy, and the arts. Whether you immerse yourself in Athens’s ancient achievements or find yourself dazzled by the city’s modern culture, you will never want to leave this beautiful hub.
With over 1,200 return flights from Brisbane to Athens each week, Webjet will have you exploring ancient ruins of Greece and eating gyros in no time. Major airlines with cheap airfares from Brisbane to Athens Airport include Qantas, Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates. There are currently no direct flights, and all of these flights include a stopover. With a short stopover, cheap flights from Brisbane to Athens are about 21 hours long. Alternatively, you could plan a long stopover in several places, including Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Zurich, or Amsterdam to explore an extra city on your way from BNE to ATH.
Ready to book your return flights from Brisbane to Athens? Webjet has lots of deals on flights from BNE to ATH. Here is your guide to spending time in one of Europe’s most historic cities, Athens, Greece.
Things to do in Athens
National Archeological Museum
This impressive museum houses a large collection of Greek art, sculptures, and artifacts. The largest museum in Greece, the National Archeological Museum houses a selection of Egyptian objects, as well as artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. The museum charges an admission fee of €10. Visitors under the age of 18 can enter the museum for free if they present their passport.
Acropolis
The Acropolis is a collection of ancient ruins along the hills overlooking Athens. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes when you visit the Acropolis. The hike up the hill to this historic site is quite a workout. Tickets to enter the Acropolis cost €20, or €30 for a multi-site pass that includes a wider selection of sites in Athens. Students can gain entry for a lower cost when they have a valid student ID. Some of the most popular spots in the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Theatre of Dionysus.
The Parthenon was built between 447 and 438 BC and dedicated to Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and patron of Athens. This temple is an embodiment of classical Greek architecture, making use of both Doric and Ionic styles. The Parthenon is the most important spot in the Acropolis, and may be the most popular attraction in all of Greece.
The Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. On the south side of the temple, you can spot the Porch of the Caryatids, support columns carved into the shapes of female figures.
The Temple of Athena Nike is a fully Ionic temple dedicated to Athens’s patron goddess. Since “Nike” means “victory” in Greek, this temple represents the Athenian Empire’s success in war. These victories could be attributed to Athena, whom the Athenians worshipped during the Peloponnesian War.
The Theatre of Dionysus is considered to be the world’s first theatre. Ancient Greeks dedicated this site to Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and theatre. It served as the location of the ancient Greek festival, Dionysia, a celebration of Dionysus that held performances of ancient tragedy and comedy plays. The Acropolis is such an incredible site, and you can’t book return flights from Brisbane to Athens without visiting it.
Plaka
Plaka is a historical neighbourhood in Athens. Houses that line the street use neoclassical architecture practices that were incorporated into ancient Greek buildings. The Plaka neighbourhood is home to multiple museums, including the Acropolis Museum, the Museum of Greek Folk Art, and the Jewish Museum of Greece.
Temple of Hephaestus
This famous Doric temple looks similar to how it did during Ancient Greek times. The place of worship was named after Hephaestus, the god of fire and craftsmanship. If you’ve purchased an Acropolis ticket, you can visit the Temple of Hephaestus on the same day for free. Otherwise, entrance to the temple costs €8.
Shop on Ermou Street
Are you on the hunt for souvenirs, or just looking to refresh your wardrobe? Ermou is a pedestrian-only street containing a combination of locally owned shops and commercial stores, such as H&M, Zara, Nike, and Marks & Spencer. The popular Greek department store, Fokas, is worth a visit. Since your Australian dollars will go far in Greece, you can get significant discounts on clothing compared to what you might pay back home. If you’re shopped out, there’s plenty of people-watching to take part in on Ermou Street. Street performers, merchants and food vendors line the street, making it a rambunctious, action-packed place to spend the afternoon.
Herod Atticus Odeon
This theatre was originally finished in 161 AD, but experienced extensive renovations in 1950. Due to its recency, it is in much better current condition than the Theatre of Dionysus. Historically, this venue was used for music and theatre performances. When you visit Athens, you can attend a performance of works by Aristophanes, Aeschylus, and other classic Greek playwrights. Experiencing a historical work of theatre performed in an ancient venue is truly a breathtaking experience.
Panathenaic Stadium
One of the most popular attractions in Athens, this stadium is built entirely of marble. Although it was built in 144 AD, it did not hold an Olympic ceremony until 1870. It also hosted the first modern Olympics in the summer of 1896, which held 14 nations in 43 events. It hosted the Olympics again in 2004, this time with a more substantial turnout. General admission tickets to this stadium only cost €5.
Departing from Brisbane
Located northeast of the city, Brisbane Airport is one of the largest Australian hubs for international flights. Each day, there are more than 184 cheap flights from Brisbane to Athens. Virgin Australia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas are just a few of the many airlines with cheap airfares from Brisbane to Athens. Although there are no direct flights available from BNE to ATH, you will be able to book an affordable 1-stop flight into Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) in about 21 hours.
Getting to Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Brisbane has an Airtrain that can take you from the CBD to the airport in just 20 minutes. The train runs every 15 minutes during peak time and every 30 minutes outside of peak time. It operates 5AM-10PM on weekdays and 6AM-10PM on the weekends. The Airtrain also has connections from the Gold Coast and Brisbane suburbs, so you can easily get to the airport no matter where you are travelling from in the Brisbane region. The Airtrain varies in price based on which station you travel from, and tickets can be purchased for a discount on the Airtrain website. Tickets from Brisbane Central Station cost $18 for adults.
You can also catch a taxi or an Uber to Brisbane Airport. The journey from Brisbane’s CBD to the airport takes about 20 minutes, and the ride costs between $45-$55.
Parking at Brisbane Airport
If you plan on driving to the airport, Brisbane Airport offers several affordable parking options. For the best rates, pre-book your parking spot through the Brisbane Airport website.
AIRPARK Everyday is under 24/7 surveillance and is ideal for long-term parking. If your trip from BNE to ATH will be more than 10 days, you can use this car park for only $5 a day when you pre-book. If your trip to Athens will be a quick one, the car park is still a good option at $10 a day. A complimentary bus is available to take you from the car park to the airport terminals.
For the same cost as AIRPARK Everyday, you can also book a covered spot in AIRPARK Undercover—ideal for sheltering your car from the Brisbane sun. AIRPARK Undercover is only available to book online and also offers a complimentary shuttle bus to the airport terminals. This car park fills up quickly, so be sure to book your spot in advance.
Arriving in Athens
Athens has one major airport, Athens Airport, known in Greek as Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH). This airport is approximately 35 km outside of central Athens. There are multiple ways to get to your hotel in the city centre. How you decide to get there depends on your budget and your travel preferences.
Getting to central Athens from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH)
The easiest way to get into the city from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) is by taking a taxi. For a flat rate of €35, you can catch a taxi from the airport’s taxi waiting area into central Athens. (This rate becomes €50 between midnight and 5:00AM.) This option is cost-effective for groups of three or more travellers, and it gives you the privilege of being dropped off right outside your hotel.
Metro Line 3 is another convenient way to get from Athens Airport to the city, and vice versa. Trains run every 30 minutes from 6:30AM to 11:30PM and take about 40 minutes. If you decide to take the Suburban railway, which runs every 15 to 25 minutes, you will need to change trains to catch Metro Line 3 to get to the city centre.
