dutyfree

I am trying to find a place for my family of four (two adult kids) to go to over a two week Christmas vacation. Our family would be leaving out of London and would like the flight from there to be no more than 4-5 hours.
I am curious as to how Rhodes, Crete, Santorini,etc. would be over the Christmas holidays.Has anyone ever been to any of those islands during Christmas (last two weeks of December) and found things open and things to see and do? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

clausar

From all 3 islands i would recommend Crete, a big island with large permanent population.

Chania and Rethymno in the west are beautiful cities and there is a lot to do and see.
Heraklion is the biggest city of Crete, and a further option, even though i find it less beautiful than the other two cities.

Santorini will be absolutely boring, only a few hotels will be open and most cafes and restaurants will be closed for the winter.

Rhodes will be somewhere in the middle, it does have permanent population, some parts of the city, especially in the newer part near the beach will not be very active.

dutyfree

Thanks Clausar for your tips-I really appreciate it !

yipper

There is an interesting blog called ramblingsfromrodes . Check it out for Christmas and you can email the author for info.

Ackislander

You do know that Orthodox Christmas is not until January 7?

Religion may not enter into it for your family, but a festive atmosphere may, and I would want to know what "holiday festivity" means in the Greek islands and when it takes place. Surely there are enough expats in Crete that some sort of West European Christmas on offer. Or you may be trying to escape that whole thing.

I would also want to know about weather, sea temperatures, and when the rainy season comes.

Pepper_von_snoot

We were in Rodos in July, staying at Rodos Park Hotel.

We were told by a waiter at a restaurant that he goes to live in Astoria, Queens NY from October to April because there is no business in the town.

That tells me that December in Rodeos would not be a good idea.


Thin

Heimdall

>>You do know that Orthodox Christmas is not until January 7? <<

Not in Greece! Christmas in Greece is December 25th.

Ackislander

Oh, yeah. It depends on whether they are on the Julian or Gregorian calendar.

My bad. Don't go to Serbia or Russia.

clausar

Greece is following the Gregorian calendar since 1923, the Greek Orthodox Church since 1924 with the permission of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Only Easter is celebrated according to the Julian calendar.

I think that the orthodox churches of Bulgaria and Romania are following the Gregorian Calendar as well.

Heimdall

Ackislander, thanks for giving me a good laugh! You got the date wrong and then wrote that rather pompous <i>"...and I would want to know what "holiday festivity" means in the Greek islands and when it takes place." </i>

If I were you I would ask the moderators to remove the post, or your mistake will be on Fodor's forever. ;-)

KatPen

I assume you want sun if you are asking about the islands? But if not, read the trip report I just posted about winter in central Greece. Charming villages, beautiful scenery and a lot more. And if you do want more of the sea, look at the Pelion peninsula. The seaside towns were also quiet during January when we were there, but the villages were full of people and festivities.

clausar

Christmas in Central Greece ( Epirus, Thessalia ) is a good idea, but there are good chances that the weather will be really cold and there might be lots of snow too.

If the OP is looking for milder climate and higher temperatures i would stick to the original idea of Rhodes or Crete.

Personally i would recommend Crete and a few days in Athens.
There will be festivities for sure, as everywhere in Greece, Christmas is a big celebration in the Greek calendar !!!!