Attempts to bring seaplanes to Greece have been going on for years. Finally, it sounds like the excitement is about to be made a reality. Recently in the port of Lavrio, which is south of Athens, Hellenic Seaplanes operated one of its first test flights, with the goal of launching regular services this summer.
Deputy Transport Minister Christina Alexopoulou was on board the test flight with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, and she was quoted saying that “today is an important day for the transport sector in Greece.” Hellenic Seaplanes plans to start this summer in western Greece with the areas that are already licensed, like Patra, Corfu, and Paxi. The timetables are not yet released.
Alexopoulou then added that Greece’s transport ministry supports the creation of a comprehensive waterway network and seaplane ports across Greece. For example, the seaplane port was approved by Greek authorities in September 2022 and plans to be the first location in Attica to make seaplane flights to the Cyclades islands.
Prices for seaplane flights with Hellenic Seaways depend on the duration of the flight. For example, a half-hour flight will cost 80-85 euros. It is also possible to charter one of their planes for a group. In total, the capacity is either 9, 12, or 19 people, depending on the size of the seaplane.
Resort Transfers
It is also possible to be taken directly to a resort, provided that the resort has the infrastructure to host seaplanes.
Imagine that you want to get from Sifnos to Tinos in the Cyclades island group. Normally, you would take a ship, which makes the same journey in 4 hours and 20 minutes, with a stop in Mykonos as well. In contrast, a seaplane journey from Sifnos to Tinos would take 17 minutes. Seaplanes are generally useful for islands that don’t have airports, or which have rare connections via boat.
Hellenic Seaplanes hopes to create what they call the Hellenic Water Airports network. In other words, this will be a network of ports in Greece that can manage seaplane traffic. Some of these Water Airports are already built, others are under construction, and others are waiting for permits. Out of the Aegean islands, there are already water ports in Tinos, Patmos, and Sifnos, with plans in place for other islands.
Hellenic Seaplanes's Water Airports can be split into 2 categories. The first picture below shows where Water Airports already exist. The second picture shows where permits have been granted (but there is no physical Water Airport built yet).
Water Airports Already BuiltWater Aiports Waiting for Permits
For many people who own, or plan to buy, a home in Greece, the journey is part of the experience. Some fly directly to Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, or Chania. Others prefer slower travel, combining trains, ferries, buses, and regional routes across Europe. Until now, however, planning a cross-border trip by train has often required patience, several booking platforms, and a healthy tolerance for uncertainty. A new proposal from the European Commission aims to make that process much simpler. The plan introduces a more unified system for booking cross-border journeys across Europe, especially train journeys involving more than one operator. The goal is clear: travellers should be able to search, compare, and book a complete journey through one platform, even when different transport companies are involved. For international buyers, second-home owners, and regular visitors to Greece, this could become an important step towards easier, more flexible travel across Europe.
A third Cretan beach, Falassarna, also appears in the global top 20, ranking 11th. Alongside them, Paleokastritsa in Corfu takes 14th place, giving Greece one of the strongest national showings in the ranking. At the very top of the list is Isla Pasión in Mexico, praised for its tropical scenery and distinctive natural shape. But while Mexico may hold first place, Greece clearly dominates the podium, with Crete claiming two of the three highest positions.
Law 5293/2026 introduces a framework that redefines the role of the notary in property transfers in Greece. The notary is designated as a “one-stop shop” for the completion of transactions involving the transfer of property rights. The provisions apply to transfers arising from sale, donation, parental gift, or inheritance.
In The News
