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An open-jaw flight for the Cyclades means flying into one island (or Athens) and out of another, avoiding the need to backtrack. The classic configuration: fly into Mykonos, island-hop south, fly out of Santorini. This eliminates one long ferry journey and creates a natural linear island-hopping route.
Best Open-Jaw Flight Combinations
Option 1 (Most Popular): Fly into Mykonos → Naxos (ferry 1h15m) → Paros (ferry 45min) → Santorini (ferry 2h) → fly out of Santorini. Option 2: Fly into Athens → ferry to Milos → Folegandros → Santorini → fly out. Option 3: Fly into Santorini → Ios → Naxos → Paros → Mykonos → fly out of Mykonos. Option 4 (Budget): Fly into Athens → ferries only → fly out of Athens (cheapest, most flexible).
How to Book Open-Jaw Flights
Most major airlines and booking platforms (Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak) support open-jaw bookings. Select "multi-city" or "add another flight" and enter your two city pairs. Sometimes costs the same as a return flight; sometimes a small premium (€30–€80).
Open-Jaw vs Return Flights: Cost Comparison
London → Mykonos + Santorini → London: typically €30–€80 more than a London → Santorini return. The time saved (avoiding a 6-hour return ferry to Mykonos) makes the premium worthwhile.
Airports in the Cyclades
Santorini (JTR): Direct flights from London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Berlin, etc. from April to October. Year-round flights from Athens. Mykonos (JMK): Similar international connections. Naxos, Paros, Milos: Small domestic airports, flights from Athens only (45 min, €50–€100).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an open-jaw flight worth it for Greece? Strongly yes if doing multi-island hopping. It saves 4–8 hours of ferry time and €30–€50 in ferry costs compared to returning to your starting island.
How far in advance should I book open-jaw flights to Greece? 3–4 months for summer travel. January–February booking gets the best prices for July–August. Spring/autumn open-jaws can be booked 4–6 weeks ahead.
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