Greece is visited by millions of tourists every year. However, many of you might ask yourselves what is the best time to visit Greece? This question has many answers and most of the time it depends on what you are looking for. Therefore, in this extensive yet helpful article, we will cover some aspects of the best time to visit Greece.

Summer in Greece

Summer is definitely the most popular and for many, the best time to visit Greece. Just think about the places you saw online and brochures. Beaches, alleys, entertainment, islands, dining by the sea; those are summer attractions or at least most of them.

May & June in Greece

When you think of summer in Greece, do not think only about July and August. Summer starts earlier in our country. The first wave of “summer travellers” comes in May. Let’s face the fact that many people from central and north Europe and of course from other countries enjoy the weather in May. It is mostly sunny, especially in Cyclades and southern, and you can even do a little bit of swimming in the sea. That is why our hotels and villas open even before 1^st of May.

In June, the travel industry in Greece operates in full capacity however the rates are lower than in full season. Every tavern, every shop are most likely open from 1^st of May therefore, you will experience every aspect of summer. In May, many destinations are not crowded yet and therefore you will have the opportunity to enjoy other aspects. The authenticity of a destination will be easier to see and to enjoy. The famous word “kalimera” (good morning) is heard more often and even ferry ticket availability is higher. Museums are not full with people yet so, you will enjoy exhibitions even more comfortably.

Regarding the temperature during those two months, it varies quite a bit. Below you will see the average temperature in few selected location in Greece.

Athens – May: 21, June: 26

Thessaloniki – May: 20, June: 25

Paros Island – May: 20, June: 24

Rhodes – May: 21, June: 25

Chania – May: 20, June: 25

Corfu – May: 20, June: 24

Zakynthos – May: 20, June: 24

Skiathos – May: 20, June: 24

Chios – May: 20, June: 25

July & August

Those two moths attract most of travellers and as far as summer goes, this is the best time to visit Greece. Due to this fact, in famous summer destinations there are a lot of tourists. This is a good thing because you will have the opportunity to meet new people and cultures. There is nothing you can do in Greece that you couldn’t in June. The only factor that changes is the temperature, which is of course higher.

Summer is considered as the best time to visit Greece because of the activities you can participate in. From daily cruises on small boats between islands to paragliding activities in the mountains. Those are all summer activities however, you will read later on that Greece is quite interesting in winter as well.

Below, you will find the average temperatures for selected locations.

Athens – July: 28, August: 28

Thessaloniki – July: 27, August: 26

Paros Island – July: 25, August: 25

Rhodes – July: 26, August: 27

Chania – July: 27, August: 26

Corfu – July: 27, August: 27

Zakynthos – July: 26, August: 26

Skiathos – July: 26, August: 25

Chios – July: 28, August: 27 

Easter in Greece

During recent years, a lot of tourists started visiting Greece for Easter; and they have a good reason. Easter in Greece features its own character. Traditional festivals are countless and differ from location to location. Therefore, it is practically impossible to present all traditions that Greek people kept “alive” since Turkish occupation. Yes, that is when most of festival started. To honour these events, we would like to mention few.

Rocket War on Chios Island

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkI4Iqm-1Wg 

This probably is the most famous and spectacular Eastern event in Greece. However, not many visitors of Greece even know where Chios is. It is situated in the region of North-East Aegean, just few miles away from the coast of Turkey.

This tradition is all about firework “war” between two churches, Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani. Local people make thousands of rockets by hand every year and preparations take months. After all safety measures have been taken, the “war” starts at 00:00.

Clay Pots in Corfu

This is also one of the most well-known events. Local residents fill up with water pots made from clay and they throw them from their balcony. Some historians say that this tradition has its origin from Venetians. They used to throw old things from their windows in order for the new year to bring them new ones. People of Corfu adapted this and made it their Easter tradition.  Because of the uniqueness of this event, many visitors from around Europe and Greece arrive in Corfu for Easter.

Balloons in Leonidio

Leonidio is a small village on the east coast of Peloponnese. It became known to almost everyone in Greece for its Eastern tradition. This is balloon launch and therefore you can understand how impressive it is. These balloons are made by hand and there are hundreds of them in the air. Depending on the wind conditions, they can stay in the air even for 30 minutes. Because Leonidio is not that well-known, it is visited during Easter time mainly by Greek tourists.

Easter on Paros Island

Easter in Paros is concentrated in Naoussa village. Because of the fact that Naoussa is one of the most picturesque places in Greece it does not need introductions. Celebration of Easter here is quite straight forward. The space in the small port becomes one table where hundreds of people dine and dance. The weather is always sunny and you will have the opportunity to connect with locals as well.

The above Easter traditions are just a taste. Like we mention above, every location, every island and almost every town has its own.

Winter in Greece

Winter in Greece does not look like most of our visitors think. Due to the geography of Greece, there are many variations in temperature and in weather generally. Allow us to explain it. From Athens and towards the south (Cyclades, Crete, Rhodes etc.) it is usually not that cold. If the temperature is around 8 degrees Celsius in these parts of Greece, we usually say that it is a cold day. Of course, we do not say the same in locations at high elevations. Now, north of Athens (Thessaloniki, Chalkiditki etc.) during cold days the temperature is around 0 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you could be wondering why you should visit Greece in the winter? Well, it depends on what are you looking for.

Archaeology

If you archaeology enthusiast and you love history, you can visit Greece at any time of the year to explore it. Museums and archaeological sighs are of course open during winter. Additionally, it even might be easier to explore them as temperatures are low and there are less people. For example, it is easier to reach Acropolis in Athens when it is 10 degrees than when it is 30 degrees. Archaeological sites all over Greece, like Delphi or Ancient Olympia, are welcoming tourists all year around.

As you can see, visiting Greece for history tourism is worth your while. However, you should have Athens or Thessaloniki as your starting point. That is due to easy bus connection (organized trips) to the attractions.

Snow in Greece

Yes it snows in Greece! Winter vacation in Greece is becoming more and more popular, especially in the European travel market. Ski centers in Greece are becoming popular and we have about 19 of them all over the country. However, it is not only about the sport; it is about locations as well. What we mean is that ski centers are situated near beautiful mountain villages. A visit there is unforgettable and you do not have to be ski enthusiast. Usually they are built on mountain slopes, consisting of traditional houses built from rocks. Hotels have fireplaces in their suites, restaurants serve delicious local recipes and the wine is amazing. You should look up few of the destinations like Metsovo, Arachova, Pelion and Kalavrita. Winter vacation in these destinations should be on your bucket list. Probably the best time to visit them and encounter snow is in January and February. However, Christmas time there is magical.