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The cheapest order to fly Athens, Santorini and Istanbul from New York

There are 6 ways to fly these cities, and 2 of them can be priced from fares we have seen. They do not cost the same. The cheapest works out at about $915 a person and the most expensive at $951, a difference of $36 for visiting exactly the same places.

Fly them in this order

New York → Athens → Santorini → Istanbul → New York

About $915 per person in flights, based on fares recently seen on these routes, and the cheapest of the 2 ways round we could price.

The 2 we can price

  1. New York → Athens → Santorini → Istanbul → New York$915
    cheapest order
  2. New York → Istanbul → Santorini → Athens → New York$951
    $36 more per person

Why Athens first

  1. New York to Athens$324
  2. Athens to Santorini$50
  3. Santorini to Istanbul$146
  4. Istanbul to New York$395
  • Out of New York, Athens is the cheapest first stop at about $324. Istanbul would be $354.
  • Istanbul to Athens is about $40, but the other way round is $56. Same two cities, $16 apart on direction alone.
  • Istanbul to New York is 43% of what the cheapest order spends on flights, so it is the leg to watch.

Between the cities

  • Athens to Santorini: about 230 km (140 miles) as the crow flies. Also by ground: Piraeus to Santorini (Blue Star / SeaJets), about 5h 30m, usually $45 to $90.
  • Santorini to Istanbul: about 600 km (370 miles) as the crow flies. No train or bus we would suggest instead of flying.

Entry rules on a US passport

  • US passport: visa-free in the Schengen area for 90 days in any 180. The Entry/Exit System registers biometrics at the border, and the ETIAS pre-travel authorisation may now be required; check the official site. Official source
  • US passport: visa-free in Türkiye for up to 90 days in any 180. No e-Visa since December 2023, so you can leave the airport on a layover. Official source

Rules change; check the official source for your passport and dates before you book.

What these numbers are

Cached one-way fares, 10 of 12 legs priced from real observations, put together on October 29, 2026, from fares departing October 30, 2026 onwards. Right for comparing one order with another, not a quote for your dates.

A plan prices your own dates and weighs hours as well as fares, so it can pick a different order from this page.

Other trips priced this way

From New York

Trips through the same cities

Put dates on it

Same cities on real dates, plus what one search cannot show: layovers long enough to count as a free city, two tickets that beat one, and cheaper days either side. No account and no card.

One press starts it on January 2, 2027 to January 16, 2027, 14 days, for 2 travelers. Our dates, not yours, and about two minutes.

Plan Athens, Santorini and Istanbul from New York nowOpen the form instead and pick your own dates

Signed out, 3 plans a day per address, priced from cached fares and the free sources, so some legs may be estimates and the plan says which. Signed in, legs are checked live, with 2 free trips you can change afterwards.