best time to visit greece

You didn’t say where you are going, but Athens is probably a good bet to sit out the key days of Easter as many people will have left and things will be quiet AND you will have more choices for places to eat. Or would you recommend another island near Mykonos? Maybe 10th-18th. Best Time to Visit Greece for Honeymoon: June and September. This is a musical, dance, and drama extravaganza, with local and international performers taking the stage at crumbling, historic venues. Mykonos Bay Resort is on a decent beach about a 10 minute walk from Mykonos Town. With just 10 days I would not do more than one other island. When is the Best Season to Travel to Greece? The portal was also an added plus. It was very trendy back in the 60s and 70s and still maintains its air of now post-hippy happiness, though people no longer make a home in the troglodyte-like caves that back the rather languid bay-wrapped beach. The tourist season usually gets into gear after Easter. Ideally, the location would give a good cultural taste of Greece, be scenic, not require hiring a car, have good food/drink, be somewhat romantic and have some nightlife (we won’t be up all night dancing, but do like to go out). Here are a few of our favorite travel towels. Best time to visit Greece for beach activities and sunbathing: June to September Like most places in Europe, Greece’s high season runs from June to mid-September. The other option is to transfer the points to a large selection of airlines such as United, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Southwest, or Korean Airlines. Thanks so much. The best months for swimming and sunbathing on the Greek islands is from June to September. And you can see the islands with a lovely green all over. This is one of the best all-around credit cards for travel! There are lots of shops, restaurants, and car-hire places and the long beach is generally sandy and shelving. Rhodes has an average high of 29°C. It’s also in June that the humidity levels aren’t too high yet, so you’re not feeling the heat as strongly. There will be ferries to Santorini and to Mykonos but not ferries between Santorini and Mykonos. Food in general is commonly limited to ‘vegetarian food’ particularly during Holy Week. Page Contents [ hide] 1 The Best Time to Visit Greece by Season Towards the end of the month, things start to get a bit warmer and a bit sunnier. Prices on accommodation and car rentals will drop during this time. Even the night temperatures (around 19°C) mean that you may not have to wear a sweater to dinner anymore. The best time to visit Santorini is from September to October and April to May when the weather is warm and the crowds are scarce. I am going to be in Greece (Athens & Santorini) during part of Holy Week (18 Apr to 24 Apr) and trying to sort out the best timing for my locations. Besides Crete, which other islands would you recommend visiting in May on a 10 day trip? Rain increases. There will likely be a Crete to Mykonos ferry (with stops in Santorini, Paros, and Ios along the way). People will be parading in colorful costumes, eating, drinking, and then on the first day of Lent, things get calmer (see below). To avoid the crowds and the intense heat of the Mediterranean country, the best time to visit Greece in 2021 for weather is May and October. Greece Weather in January-February : With the air being damp (Humidity is 76%) and temperature being as low as -0℉ , you can expect cold weather on your visit to Greece in these months. We created climate tables and charts for the locations of Athens und Thessaloniki. Certainly be prepared for a little rain but you’ll likely get good sightseeing weather in Athens and Santorini. Thanks! Loving your work and happy to be a Patron to support this great website. (On websites it shows being closed on “Easter Sunday” so I imagine that means the 8th not the 1st.) If you can only visit one island then Santorini is definitely the highlight – especially in April when it’s not beach weather (Santorini’s views are great year-round). shoulder seasons – spring (from April until mid-June) and autumn (September- October Yes, I think Santorini is nice in March and your best choice for what you’re looking for. The end of November can be pretty rainy, and temperatures drop a little to around 14°C. March through May can be an ideal time to travel to Greece, enjoying mild weather, fewer crowds and possibly discounts on airfare and accommodation too – outside of Easter week that is, when many of the locals are enjoying festivities and their own vacations. Better know the the other places and a bit more up-market. One more question – where (town/village) on Crete, Mykonos, or Rhodes would you recommend we stay? We plan to fly in/out of Athens so I think both islands is too rushed. I have been researching some and I think we would love to do Athens for a short stay and then Santorini and Naxos. August means the Moon Festival. The average hours of sunshine per day are still only about three, which isn’t very fun at all. When you go sailing during June, May, or April, you tend to pay way lesser than the other months. As full-time travelers, we often use our daypacks for trips to the beach since a tote is unnecessary. I was thinking thinking Corfu for one of our destinations… we are thinking about last week of July for timing. There…, If you’re planning on exploring Cyprus you’re going to need a rental car. 3 nights (2 full days) should be enough for Athens but if you’re really keen on history then you could easily fill 3 days. As mentioned above the Greek islands get so incredibly busy during peak season. If you’re open to something on the mainland then do an overnight trip from Athens to Nafplio. The easiest way to book and buy Greek ferry tickets in advance. Here there are orchestras from all over the world performing at venues in Thera. Greece gets a lot of attention in the summer, Santorini is one of the most popular islands in Greece. We believe the best time to travel is in the shoulder season. And the Highspeed 7 which leaves Mykonos at 13:50. It’s probably a good idea to stay out of the rays when it’s at its hottest in the early afternoon. Best time to visit Greece for the Weather: May, June, July, September and October are great for swimming all over the country. In the off-season you’re better to visit Santorini and Paros or Naxos as the ferry connections run all-year and there’s more to see and do in the quiet months on Paros/Naxos than on Mykonos. Also, the ideal time to visit Athens and benefit from the very popular tour – Athens city break. Hi there! It’s a nice time of year to go to Greece. The best time to visit Greece based on the optimal combination of good weather, fewer crowds, and when to book for the cheapest flights. your website has made my planning effortless. Conversely, the Cyclades are close together and it’s easy (and lots of fun) to ferry from one to the next. Some Tips on the Best Time to Visit Greece: The winter months aren’t freezing like elsewhere in Europe, but rain is common November-February. Festivities begin with the first day of Lent, Kathara Deftera – or ‘Clean Monday.’ Picnics and kite-flying abound. We have two other families (similar composition) joining us. In my opinion, this is the best time to cruise the Greek islands. In Athens the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, the historical sites in the Plaka, and the National Archaeological Museum are the highlights. This is when you will find the best sunny weather as noted above, but also crowds, especially on the popular islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete. Expect temperatures of around 10°C – and don’t be surprised if it dips below freezing in some places. Then fly directly to Santorini. Should we do two islands (one night each) or two nights on one island? We are considering flying between Athens and Santorini. I am seeing it as April 8 this year, so am I correct to assume that the week leading up to the 8th is the Holy Week? thanks so much! It’s hard to recommend one over another as they do vary considerably in price, but there are the areas that you need to be looking at. Cloudy, overcast days are beginning to settle in for the fall towards the end of the month, but still there’s not a lot of rain. The islands are beautiful, swarming with history, and are populated with some of the friendliest people in the world. Because the Greek islands get so incredibly busy (and hot) during peak season I think the shoulder season is the best time to visit the Greek islands. Hi Dave, The trip is in late September. Hey Dave! Naxos is the best island for what you’re looking for (though Crete, Paros, Mykonos, Ios, and Rhodes are also good choices). Amit. Skyscanner finds the cheapest rates. It celebrates the full moon, naturally, and people all over come out from their houses for parties in town squares. May 1 is Labor Day (and the Feast of the Flowers) and is marked by a general shift from cities to countryside by the Greek population. We are exploring all your suggestions. You beat the summer crowds, but you also miss the colder, wetter weather of winter. Get yourself some Rainbow brand sandals, seriously everyone around you will be wearing them – and for a good reason. There are other times of the year that might appeal, obviously. Knossos (near Heraklion) is one of the top historical sites in Greece and worth a visit. It’s touristy, but not overly so and there are many family hotels dotted along the coastline. Really want to chill out, nice accommodation? Likely want to fly into Santorino instead of Ferry. Stay at Casa Delfino. With 7 or 8 nights I’m thinking 2 locations. Sea temperatures are a not-too-bad 22°C. In sum, the vibe of Naoussa is more of what you’re looking for, but Naxos is more convenient. In June, you start to realize just why Greece is such a popular vacation spot. Thanks, Nihal. December is one of the coldest months of the year: the average temperature is a mere 12°C. The first is Plakias (further west yet from Matala – 72kms) and while it never garnered a hippy heritage, it has stood the test of time as a popular traveller haunt, with yet enough creature comforts to make a honeymoon here an attractive option. There are carols (kalanta) on Christmas Eve, boats festooned with lights are erected in town squares and people’s homes (it’s a tradition), and naturally, the food is awesome. This all depends on where you’re heading to the beach, but a portable Bluetooth speaker is great to have when you’re in a group. Lakshmi. Does Crete connect with Folegandros as I could do Crete – Folegandros – Mykonos? I looked at Elounda but the hotels seem to all get mixed reviews. The beach scene in the town centre – heading on out to the fortress – is actually pretty amenable and the water swimmable. The Sunday before Palm Sunday is St Lazarus’ Day, marked by fireworks. If you want to find us, head to the nearest coffee shop or check back here! Again it’s a ‘cozy’ village (for want of a better word) and similar in style to the previous two. Thank you for any advice on whether Naxos or Paros is best for us. My eldest daughter wants to see the Parthenon in Athens and the other two want to enjoy family beach and relaxation. Agree there are few Airbnb rentals but not sure why that’s a necessity. What do you think, do you know this hotel? If you are thinking about when to go to Greece then, come visit Greece at it's best time where you can make a memorable experience without having to worry about small issues. If we stay in Paros, my concern was it seemed a little less likely that we could get a compact experience, where we stay in a nice hotel (e.g. In the Greek islands, temperatures can be a bit cooler, with an average of about 24°C; though the south is much warmer, naturally, than the north. Momondo is the best for first and business class tickets. This is to throw in anything like towels, a book, a speaker, sunglasses, snacks, and sunscreen. When is the best time to visit Greece? I am not a big fan of cruises in the Greek Islands so would definitely recommend doing and planning it yourself. In Crete, there’s even a local tradition where people light bonfires to burn effigies of Judas. In Athens, temperatures can easily hit highs of around 33°C, and it rarely drops below 24°C. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months but are also the best for nightlife and beach parties. You may be wondering just what to pack for Greece. The day of the Panagia (August 15) is the second biggest day, only after Easter, in Greece. Grecotel Caramel has some stuff within walking distance but not the main town. The week preceding Easter is indeed Holy Week (it translates as ‘Big Week’ in Greek) and it is marked by a series of church events each evening prior to the midnight Resurrection on the Eve of Easter Sunday. Also, please confirm if it will be fairly easy to book a flight to Athens from either island. You could easily spot a relaxing week of your honeymoon in these two centres. Such as where to stop, how long to stay, hotels? The Best Times to Visit Cities in Greece The two biggest cities in Greece are the capital, Athens , and Thessaloniki. The average temperature of the sea is around 20°C, but there’s not much heat in the air to cool off from, so you probably won’t want to be venturing into it all that much. Athens’ average temperature is 20°C, but after dark, it still drops quite a bit to 10°C. We´re not looking forward to beach weather, but is it nice for sightseeing? I know it’s early season but need to know where the best chance of good weather is. Conscious I need to get back to Athens to fly home and feel I’m heading in the wrong direction! The best time to visit the Greek Islands for beaches, swimming, and water sports is from late May to early October. Planning a trip to Greek islands and Athens for late September and October. Lambs are roasted on spits and much food and drink is consumed in a family-oriented celebration. The 10 Best Greek Islands To Visit in 2020, 19 Best Things to do in Paros, Greece • Paros Island Travel Guide, Traveling to Greece? Our first time in Greece! Military parades in towns and cities, as well as a lot of flag-waving, are par for the course. The Hellenic Highspeed which leaves Mykonos at 10:15. Travel during Easter week will be busy and you should book ferries in advance even though it is low season. Spring and Autumn are warm, but not too warm, so it’s great for couples who want to do outdoor activities. Wed 20th June – fly into Chania from Dublin, arrive late. We are thinking of going to Crete in late November (in the next few weeks). During January you get an average of three hours of sunshine every month. We love the Chase Sapphire Preferred as it was one of the first travel rewards we received and it’s well-loved by plenty of others. We are planning a visit to Greece in early May. All three are good islands to find what you seem to be looking for, all you have to do is start looking for that best combination of accommodation and entertainment for your three families. My wife and I are celebrating her 40th birthday. No island has a robust nightlife in March but Santorini has the most and you should be able to find some fun in Fira (though nothing too crazy). More info here: Should I Take A Santorini Cruise? Santorini sounds the best to us and we arent into the party scene so sightseeing in Naxos sounds interesting. A short day trip is fine by bus or taxi, but would given the short time, that would be limited. We’re talking around 7°C, so you’ll still need to wrap up warm if you’re staying out all day. Would you recommend travelling the islands on your own, or taking a small cruise to cover more territory by night and explore the islands by day. Hire a car and get out and see an island! It’s the coldest month of the year, but it’s still generally warmer (on average) than most European countries further north. I like to travel with a microfiber towel because they are light and fold up small, and they also don’t cling on to sand our dirt. No matter what you will need a beach bag when heading to the beach. The average low is 7°C – cool, not cold, making it one of the cheapest times to visit Greece. Do you know the exact times? May, early June, September, and October will provide pleasant temperatures and fewer people. April sees a definite increase in temperatures, with a sunny start to the month and only a few rainy days scattered here and there. I agree, Crete is great and should have nice-ish weather in mid-March but probably won’t be swimming as most pools are not heated. Most people like this but if you’re after very hot then you might be disappointed. Planning to come April 8-15th approx. On this site, you’ll find our experiences, photography, and informative travel guides. From what I’ve read from your blog so far (which has been super helpful so thankyou!) Crete, for example, boasts daytime highs of 16°C during February. Has a very nice pool (but I would still prefer to stay right in Mykonos Town). The upper end of the most depressing part is the best islands to Athens Nafplio. Nissaki ) and walk to either town or beach most ferry connections with Crete websites it... 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