Athens Becomes Easier to Reach From Rotterdam
AEGEAN is now flying directly between Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Athens, giving travellers in the western Netherlands another way to reach the Greek capital without travelling via Amsterdam Schiphol or connecting elsewhere in Europe. The service operates twice a week on an Airbus A320neo with 180 seats, adding a convenient option for city breaks as well as trips continuing beyond Athens.
How the Rotterdam–Athens Route Operates
- Route: Rotterdam The Hague (RTM) – Athens (ATH)
- Airline: AEGEAN
- Launch: 3 September 2026
- Frequency: twice weekly
- Operating days: Thursday and Sunday
- Aircraft: Airbus A320neo, 180 seats
- Season: scheduled through 25 March 2027
- Current Rotterdam departure: 17:00, flight A3635
- Booking: available through AEGEAN and Rotterdam The Hague Airport
Athens has enough for several days, with the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Plaka, Monastiraki and the National Archaeological Museum among the main stops. Travellers staying longer can also add Cape Sounion, Delphi or parts of the Peloponnese, all of which are reachable without adding another flight. The new Rotterdam link also makes it easier to build a trip that combines a city stay with one or two mainland day trips.
Beyond Athens, the route also works for short island extensions. Piraeus is the main ferry gateway for the Saronic islands, with services to Aegina, Hydra and Spetses. Aegina is especially easy to add, with crossings listed at around 40 minutes by Flying Dolphin or 1 hour 15 by ferry. Winter travellers should check ferry timetables, as frequencies can be lower outside summer.
The twice-weekly schedule works best for trips that can be built around Thursday and Sunday departures. Travellers based around Rotterdam or The Hague can avoid the extra journey to Schiphol, but those with fixed dates may still find Amsterdam offers more choice. Compare the full door-to-door journey, including rail or parking costs and departure times, rather than looking at the airfare alone.
