Holidays from Leeds Bradford to Greece

Direct routes from Leeds Bradford are rarely the only option, so we focus on which destinations are practical to reach and how to plan the journey once you land.

• Athens: Athens is the usual arrival point for travellers from Leeds Bradford, with the airport about 35 to 40 km from the city centre and reachable by metro and express bus. Our view is that Athens works best as either a short city stay before heading to the islands or a destination in its own right, since the Acropolis and the Plaka district reward a few days of exploration. Plan your Athens holidays with care, because the metro is quick but onward crossings to the islands start from a separate port.
• Piraeus: Piraeus is the largest passenger port in Greece and the main ferry hub for the Cyclades, Saronic and Dodecanese islands, linked to the city centre by metro. This makes it straightforward to transfer from the airport and continue onward the same day. It is not a resort, but it is the practical hinge of most island holidays and worth understanding before you book.
• Rafina: Rafina is a smaller ferry port east of the capital, serving some Cycladic and Euboean islands such as Andros and Tinos. It is noticeably quieter than the main hub, which many travellers appreciate when they want a calmer departure point. The trade-off is fewer sailings and a longer transfer from the city, so we would recommend checking timetables carefully before choosing it.
• Heraklion: Heraklion is the largest city on the island and is reached from the capital by domestic flight or by ferry links, so it can be a sensible route from the North for a longer stay. The city works as a base for visiting Knossos, one of the most significant Bronze Age palace sites in Europe. Ferry journeys are long, so most travellers find a short flight a more comfortable connection. It is exactly the brief our Greek island holiday deals are built around. This is also exactly the brief our holiday deals for this island are built around.
• Rhodes: Rhodes is reached by domestic flight from the capital or by ferry, and it has direct flights from some UK airports, which means it is worth checking whether a route from your nearest airport suits your timings. The island offers sandy beaches alongside a medieval Old Town, giving a useful mix of resort and history. Because schedules change with the season, we confirm all onward connections with you before you travel. It is exactly the brief our Rhodes holidays deals are built around.