The cheapest week to fly to Greece is not in August.
Fares to the islands roughly triple between mid-July and the third week of August. Move your trip by fourteen days in either direction and the same flight, the same hotel and the same beach cost about half.
Late May and early June, sea is swimmable, prices are shoulder-season, everything is open.
Mid-September to early October, the warmest water of the year and half-empty flights.
Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently the cheapest days out of Athens.
Six to ten weeks ahead is the sweet spot for island hops. Earlier rarely helps.
Athens to Santorini, average one-way
Indicative seasonal shape, in euro
Low Shoulder Peak
More routes worth comparing
ATH → JTR
Athens to Santorini · Direct 45m · Aegean, Sky Express, Volotea