Are you dreaming of discovering Greece, but don’t know the ideal season or length of time to explore the country? Then take a look at our travel guide, which will help you choose the right tour for you!
There’s so much to discover in Greece, you need to choose your travel itinerary carefully. If you’re planning a one-week trip, you can visit several islands in the Cyclades, thanks to the many ferries that link islands such as Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Santorini. 7 days is also the ideal length of time for a self-drive tour of Crete, from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos, so don’t miss out on the must-sees of Greece’s largest island.
If you’re lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Greece, you can discover several of the Cycladic islands or take a self-guided tour of mainland Greece from Athens to the Peloponnese via Delphi, giving you a good overview of Greek culture.
Greece can be visited in any season, but the climate varies from region to region. The country has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Find out more about the climate of each region in our climate article.
A week in the Cyclades
This archipelago of 56 islands scattered in the heart of the Aegean island provides enough distractions for an entire week. Good liaisons between the islands are maintained by a constants ferry service. Start in the north with Mykonos and make your way south through Naxos and Paros, finishing with Santorini. These four islands will give you a fairly comprehensive feel for the marvels of the Cyclades. In Mykonos, visit the capital and stroll along its narrow roads to discover its picturesque windmills. In Paros, don’t miss the capital Parikia and its Ekatontopolani church. You should also visit the village of Naoussa, a typical fishing village. From here take a ferry to Naxos. Pause in Hora to admire its Portara and the Kastro, the ancient Venetian castle before going off to discover the Kouras. Then, spend two days in Santorini exploring this scorched volcanic island. Visit the caldera and the little villages perched on the mountainside.
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Travel in Crete
A self drive tour through Crete starting at Heraklion is probably the best option for your discovery of the island and will allow you to see all of its must see sites. Start with Heraklion as it is the easiest of access (by boat and plane). Then visit the ancient site of Knossos before lounging the coast to the east to get to Elounda and Agios Nikolaos and their superb landscapes. Don’t miss out on Phaestos and the ruins of its Minoan palace. Continue along the coast to the west on an excursion to the Samaria Gorges. Drive back up to Chania and then Rethymon. Don’t hesitate to consult us to enquire about a tailor made trip to Crete.
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Travellers planning a trip to Greece should consider the climactic conditions before their departure. The weather in Greece varies greatly depending on the region you are interested in visiting. Most of Greece, nevertheless, sports a fairly typical Mediterranean climate.
An average Greek winter is not too cold but rainy, normal for a Mediterranean climate. It lasts roughly from October to March. Meanwhile, it is very common to enjoy a few sunny days in January and February, called “halcyon days”. If you are going to Athens in July or August, you likely won’t have any rain because the hottest and driest period of the year. The temperatures can easily hike up to 30 degrees Celsius, but cool down a bit in the spring and autumn where they float around 16 to 20 degrees. The further you go into the Peloponnese, the higher the temperatures will be. In northern Greece the winters are longer and colder but even in Macedonia, summers stay nice and warm. We would recommend, if possible, travelling during seasons of medium tourist flow like in April, May or September. This way you’ll avoid either extreme and the weather will alternate between sun and showers but you won’t be constantly stifled by the heat on your visits.
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