Best time to go to Greece
 

Hello

I have two vacation periods in the next 12 months - july/august 2013 and may/jun 2014. Was wondering which one would be better for me to go to Greece. Of course, it would have to be a period where you were certain to get blue skies and a beautiful yellow sun!

Thanks

I would go in May or June rather than July or August; I think it would be cooler. I went in mid-September, and the weather was beautiful; it was even quite cool up in the mountains near Delphi (Arachova). I guess it also depends on what region(s) you plan to visit.

May/June, absolutely without a doubt is a better time than July/August.

Another vote for May/June. Have visited Greece in both time periods, and July/August can be brutally hot, and is generally much more crowded than May/June.

I would find it difficult to wait until 2014 for my trip to Greece. How much flexibility do you have within the July/August or May/June vacation periods, and how long will you spend in Greece? Will you go to the islands, the mainland, or a combination of both? Are you primarily interested in sightseeing, or do you prefer a beach oriented holiday?

I agree that May/June on the whole is preferable, but personally don't like early May because the weather is still unsettled, the sea too cold for swimming (unless you can tolerate the cold), and ferry timetables reduced. If you can travel in late May or anytime in June, though, that would be perfect.

One advantage of July/August is that sea temperatures are much warmer. Daytime temperatures are high, especially on the mainland, so sightseeing can be unpleasant. The period from mid-July to mid-August is very crowded on the islands, but I have been in Greece three times then and really enjoyed it. The end of August into early September is another of my favourite times to visit Greece. :-)

It is a bit off topic.... but visiting an island in the winter by ship, could look like on the following video, that was taken on 25/3 at the harbour of the island of Kimolos.
Just saw it, and would like to share it with you all...
( move to the 8th minute to view the best part)

http://tinyurl.com/cbyoxta

Thank you, clausar, that was amazing! I have great admiration for the ferry crews, who have to get it right every time, even in bad weather.

Wow, I agree that's amazing.

June is surprisingly hot inland, and I've been badly sunburned then.

If you're planning serious activity in archaeological sites, no time of year is too cool, except in the most mountainous of locations: the Acropolis in Athens is far, far nicer to walk round on a cold January day than on a lateish Easter Sunday. Orthodox Easter is typically, though not always, a month later than Catholic/Protestant Easter, and the Acropolis is horrid when crowded and can be uncomfortably hot to climb even in mid May.

If you want to sit on a beach, even the most brutal time for burning sun (the last week of June) might be a bit chilly for swimming in Northern Greek seas

Fantastic video!

brotherlee

I wouldn't want to be on a boat on such a day....lol
and somehow, i have never had such an experience so far :)

Greece is all about its beaches and islands. So unless you're planning to spend your time inland, I see no reason not to go in August. In fact, July and August is the best time to visit Santorini and Rhodes. Go as soon as you can!

What do you like to do? We love being in Greece in June and July because of the "blue skies and beautiful yellow sun"! It is a great time to be there for the beach and a daily swim. I have not had the luxury to be there in May - that will happen when I retire from teaching. I hear it is beautiful when the spring flowers bloom. But if you like the heat and the water, you'll enjoy the summer. In spite of the heat, there is often a breeze in the islands and always a cool drink nearby. I believe that August is the most crowded month in the islands, so we clear out by then. From our experience, the tourism really picks up in the islands about mid-July.

Amazing video! And this was only a few days ago...

Hi guys,

Thank you all for the responses. In fact, my vacation periods are relatively flexible. And although I would not miss the archaelogical sites,of course, I confess the Greek beaches and islands have always fascinated me. I also don´t mind the heat but would definitely like to be able to go for a swim without freezing. Still it´s no fun being on the islands unless the skies are blue and the sun is bright. So, would end of august/september be a better option? Not to crowded or brutally hot anymore, seas still warm and sure to get blue skies?

Not clear what your trip length would be ... a month, a week, 2 weeks? If the last, then 1st 2 weeks of June seem perfect ... water swimmable, sunshine every single day, temps average 28-29°C (84-85) in afternoons, 18°(65°F) at midnight. I've traveled in Greece during both times, and my bias toward LATE-may/early-June is based on (1) greenery -- still fresh after Spring rains, whereas by Fall, with 4 rainless months, things get brownish, and (2) more Sun for your money! sunset is not till 8:45, whereas in Sept it's dark by a little after 7, and (3) Greek "burn-out"; after the Mob Scene of high season, staffs in hotels/tavernas seem tired and ready to move on, thinking about their off-season time, getting their kids into school etc. By contrast, in early Summer, things are open but not crowded, and sociable Greeks have time to talk & laugh with you. Just a personal preference; both times are good.

Late August - early September is a perfect time to visit the Greek Islands. The water is as warm as it will ever be, and it's a favourite time for couples and single travellers. Although the days are shorter, few people stay on the beach past 5:30 or 6:00, so that's not really a problem. In fact it's better, because the sun is lower and you are less likely to sunburn.

Nor is that fabled "burn-out" a problem - the pressure is off after a busy summer, and islanders can relax and talk to their customers. Oh, and that's when the shops have their sales, so you can pick up some bargains in September.

I have often been on the islands in both June and September, and the main difference I've noticed is, apart from sea temperatures, in June in June the islands will be teeming with young children, while in September they are all back in school. :-)

Thank you so much travelerjan and Heimdall. Will analyse carefully all you said.

Since i hijacked that thread already once, please forgive me for doing it again.....

All of you who thought that you didn't speak Greek
please have a look at the following link :) :

http://edufire.com/content/articles/...-words-amazing