Is November a good month to visit Greece?
 

My husband and I are planning a trip to Greece in mid November. Is this a good time to visit Greece? What's the weather like in November?

It really depends on where you're planning to go and what you want to do. The north can be cold, the islands cold and windy, the water too chilly for a swim. Crete will probably be sunny but not really very warm. Most of the popular tourist areas will be all but closed down for the season and the ferries will all be running on limited off-season schedules. But if you're not concerned so much about the weather it's still a beautiful country with an amazing history. The various archaeological and historical sites are well worth the time. The food is great and the people are friendly.

I agree with the above and in addition I would stick to the larger islands as you could get stranded on a smaller island i.e. Folegandros, if bad weather keeps the ferries away and also you could have trouble locating a hotel that is still open. Probably Rhodes and Crete are the most likely to be active. I am not sure about Karpathos in the south. It is fairly well developed and may be warmer than other islands but you would probably have to fly in and out at that time of the year.

I visited Mykonos and Hydra last october - november and although quiet on Mykonos, I understand that Hydra is quite busy all year round, just how much I don't know but it is a haven for writers and artists who like to winter over there. Whatever, it is still a lovely island easy to get to from Piraeus on the flying dolphins or ferry.

I visited Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Athens, and the Peloponnese in November. It's a great time to go if you want pleasant weather and want to see some great archaeology and museums. The water on the south side of Crete is warm most of the year so that might be a swimming option. I did see people on the beach in Rhodes, but that may be bravery! Corfu because it is much farther north is obviously cooler but still can get up to 70 during the day. Take a light jacket which you may need at night. I have been in some rain storms but it wasn't so intrusive that I couldn't enjoy the day. I try to go places where I have some options in case it rains and stay somewhere with a few options. One of the best parts of November is that the rain releases the smell of pine, rosemary, thyme and other herbs that grow all over the Acropolis hill and other ancient sites. Also, Athens is less polluted than in the summer and of course, less hot and I think more enjoyable. The Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra will all be open and they may good daytrips from Athens.