Lisa

I am thinking about taking a Windstar Cruise, sailing from Greece to Turkey, during the last week in June. I would have preferred to travel in August, when I would have more time to add on additional nights at both the embarkation and debarkation ports, but I am concerned about the heat and the crowds.

If you have been to Greece in June and/or August, please share your opinions and experiences regarding the heat and the crowds. I am hoping that this information will help us to make a decision about when to go. Thank you in advance for your input!

Diane

I've been to Greece three times in early June. It was hot, but still enjoyable. I would not consider going in August -- hotter and more crowded than I care for.

frances

Lisa
The first time I ever went to Greece which was back in1971, we went in August and it was the one and only time in my life I suffered from heat exhaustion. Since then I have been back probably 10 times and with only one exception ,in May/June.
End May-early June is the most delightful time in Greece-allthe flowers are out and the weather is generally hot.Someone told me once though that the Greeks don't consider that Summer has come until the 12th June as until that time you can still get the occasional cold day.I can vouch for that happening but as I mentioned above at this time of year the temperatures are generally high 80's.I well remember being in Syntagma Square in Athens mid-June at 10p.m. when the temp was 90 degrees!

Lisa

Diane and Frances, thank you so much for your help. Is there much of a difference in temperature between mid-June and late June? Is late June very similar in temperature to August? I would very much like to visit Greece, but temps in the mid to high 90s make it too hot to enjoy seeing the sights. I wish that I could go in May but, unfortunately, I can't get away at that time of the year. I would go in mid April but my husband very much wants to take a Windstar cruise around the islands, and Windstar doesn't sail in Greece until May. Thanks again!

elaine

I was in Greece in late June, Athens and a few of the islands, and the weather that year was great. Athens was pretty hot during the day, but not humid, and not so hot that we couldn't manage the climb up to the Acropolis
(although I recommend that for first thing in the morning anyway, to help avoid some of the bus tour crowds.)

We had no rain except for part of one day.
For historical weather info (average temps for the time of year) check websites like
www.wunderground.com

Frances

I very much want you to take your cruise as Greece is the one place I really love so much I think I could live there.However on several occasions it has been hit by a heatwave in late June in which people die and holiday makers can only go out at night .It may well be that these heatwaves also occur at other times but I remember these because if we aren't in Greece in May/June then I'm wishing I was there and watching the news and weather from there.
The Syntagma Square night that I refer to in my first post was in 1982.
Put this into perspective though, your cruise ship will have a/c and its cooler at sea than on the mainland-that of course is if there is a heatwave.
As for whether it is hotter in August than the end of May then my experience is yes.
Feeling more than a little envious here because I won't get back to Greece until at least next year.......

Frances

Sorry my message above should read
"hotter in August than the end of June"