A Greece package tour from Dubai usually combines return flights from Dubai International (DXB) to Athens, two or three nights in Athens for the Acropolis, and four to six nights on one or two islands such as Santorini, Mykonos or Crete, linked by ferry or short domestic flights. Emirates flies nonstop from Dubai to Athens at least twice a day, and flydubai lists direct routes from Dubai to Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu, which lets you skip Athens altogether on an island-only trip. Most UAE travellers plan 7–10 days and go between May and October.
What is included in a Greece package from Dubai?
- Flights from DXB to Athens (ATH), or directly to an island when seasonal flights run.
- Hotels in Athens and on one or two islands. Island hotels range from simple family-run rooms to cliffside suites with caldera views in Santorini.
- Island connections: ferries from Athens’s ports (Piraeus or Rafina) or domestic flights. Good packages time these so you are not waiting half a day at a port.
- Transfers between airports, ports and hotels, which saves a lot of effort on islands where taxis are limited in summer.
- Tours such as a guided Acropolis visit, a Santorini caldera boat trip or a day trip from Athens to Delphi or Cape Sounion.
Fixed packages use set hotels and dates. Modular packages let you choose the islands, the number of nights and the hotel class, which matters because Santorini and Mykonos cost far more in peak season than Crete or Naxos.
How do you fly from Dubai to Greece?
- Emirates flies nonstop from DXB to Athens at least twice a day. One of its daily flights continues from Athens to Newark in the US, which is why it is often busy in summer.
- flydubai lists Dubai routes to Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu. These island routes are seasonal, and fares show only in the months they operate, typically the summer season. Check flydubai’s schedule for your dates.
- From Abu Dhabi: Etihad flies nonstop from AUH to Athens, usually up to twice a day, with a flight time of about five hours according to Etihad.
A useful pattern for island trips is to fly from Dubai into Santorini or Mykonos and home from Athens, or the reverse, so you never travel back to your starting point. Search dates and fares on our flight search. Gulf flight schedules changed often in 2026, so check the live timetable before you book.
When is the best time to visit Greece from Dubai?
- May–June and September–early October: warm sea, long days and fewer crowds than midsummer. This is the best window for most travellers.
- July–August: the hottest and busiest months, overlapping with UAE school holidays. Ferries and island hotels sell out, so book early.
- November–March: Athens is good for museums and ancient sites, but many island hotels and restaurants close, and ferry services to smaller islands drop.
Sample 8-day Greece itinerary from Dubai
This plan covers Athens and two islands, flying out of Dubai to Athens and home from Mykonos (or via Athens if no direct flight runs on your date).
- Day 1 – Dubai to Athens. Arrive in the afternoon, check in near Plaka or Syntagma and walk to Monastiraki for dinner.
- Day 2 – Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Enter the Acropolis at opening time to avoid the heat and crowds, then visit the museum below it. Entry is by timed ticket, sold on the official Hellenic Heritage site, hhticket.gr.
- Day 3 – Day trip. Choose Cape Sounion for the Temple of Poseidon at sunset, or a full day at Delphi.
- Day 4 – Ferry or flight to Santorini. Settle in Fira, Firostefani or Imerovigli for caldera views, or Kamari and Perissa for beaches and lower prices.
- Day 5 – Caldera boat trip. Visit the volcano and hot springs by boat, then watch sunset from Oia or a quieter spot along the caldera path.
- Day 6 – Ferry to Mykonos. Walk Mykonos Town, Little Venice and the windmills.
- Day 7 – Beaches or Delos. Spend the day at a beach, or take the short boat trip to the archaeological site of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Day 8 – Mykonos to Dubai. Fly home direct if a seasonal flight runs that day, or connect through Athens.
For a quieter or family trip, swap Mykonos for Naxos or Crete. For a history-focused trip, add Nafplio and the Peloponnese instead of a second island. Our guide to lesser-known Greek islands has more options.
How much does a Greece trip from Dubai cost?
Costs swing widely with season and island choice, so a single package price would mislead. The main items to compare:
- Flights: the biggest variable. Direct island flights are convenient but can cost more than flying to Athens and taking a ferry.
- Island hotels: caldera-view rooms in Santorini and central Mykonos hotels are the most expensive in Greece in July and August.
- Ferries and domestic flights: each leg adds cost and time; two islands is usually the practical limit for a week.
- Entry tickets and tours: the Acropolis, boat trips and day tours.
- Food: tavernas away from the main viewpoints are far cheaper than caldera or waterfront restaurants.
Prices and hours change — check the official site before you go.
Do UAE residents need a visa for Greece?
Greece is in the Schengen area. UAE passport holders are on the EU’s visa-free list for short stays. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa, which you apply for through Greece’s visa application service in the UAE before travel. Summer appointment slots fill quickly, so apply early. Check the latest rules before you travel with the Greek embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Greek consulate in Dubai.
Tips for a Greece trip from Dubai
- Pick islands by style: Santorini for views and couples, Mykonos for beach clubs and nightlife, Crete and Naxos for families, food and longer stays.
- Book ferries early in summer, especially on weekends, and allow a buffer before a flight home in case of rough seas.
- Visit sites early. Greek summer heat is dry but strong, and ancient sites have little shade.
- Stay central in Athens so you can walk to the Acropolis and Plaka. Compare options on our Athens hotels page.
