Do Greek Islands Close in the Off Season/Winter - What to Expect | Greece Travel 

Greece is awesome in the winter. Get your swimming out April-August and you’re right, the hiking, beach walks, and authenticity of it September-March is the best. Thanks for posting!

Winter in Greece is very nice, sit by the fireplace, go mushroom and snail picking, go for a hike, read books, watch old great movies,on dry sunny days beachwalks and a find a nice cheap taverna to eat and at night hear the wind howling and rain falling while you drift away! I love Samos!

Lovely country worth visiting in every season 💙

Thank you for your imformation about Greece.I really appreciate it.

I just got back from a week in Milos and Athens. Saw the 10 day forecast was rainy so last minute added my raincoat and rain paints (normally what I take for Scotland) and they were a godsend. We still had plenty of sunny and warm pockets of weather in between - just had to be willing to go with the flow and adjust clothing accordingly. There were plenty of hotels and restaurants open,but definitely not as crowded which was amazing. No wait times! But others were closed and my hotel mentioned end of October being the time they close for the season. I also grabbed the last boat tour around the island after another company had cancelled on me saying they were closing the season early. It was one of my fav parts of the trip and allows you to see a good chunk of the island not accessible by road. Parts of the boat day were cloudy and on the arrival back I had my raincoat on to help with the chill from the wind. The water was swimmable. I kept hearing from the locals it was cold but I’m used to swimming in Midwestern lakes which in the height of summer are cold so for me it was ok temperature wise. I didn’t stay for hours in the water but enough to take a dip at the various beach areas. For Athens I had two days. one sunny warm day - took advantage to see the Acropolis, stadium, temple to Zeus. The next day was strong thunderstorm from 9am-8pm. I wore the rain pants and jacket plus hiking water shoes (my feet were wet all day but at least the water didn’t get trapped in my shoes). At one point we got a flash flood alert on our phone and took cover in a small shop while we watched a river of water wash away wares from some of the stalls. It lasted for about 1 hour but when we left there was significant high water on the streets. All this to say - your mileage may vary so just stay flexible. Going forward I would recommend late September as the best time to go. Plenty of spots open, less taciturn weather, water warmer but without so many crowds. Also we didn’t hike but every time we walked a lot I thought - ugh I can’t imagine making this walk in 80-90 degree weather.

Hi Tiffany just a word to say I have been in Greece since Aug 1. Been busy taking care of of taking care of of the new property registration. I did manage to go to Andros, my family island and also Amorgos. It was beautiful, you must go. I still follow you weekly. Going back to the states Oct 30.

During winter in Greece, especially in northern Greece there is lots of snow, there are 25 ski resorts in Greece. Greece is very mountainous during winter I prefer going to the mountains, during the summer the islands are amazing, from December to February the islands experience strong winds regularly, and rainfall, occasionally it does snow on the islands like in January 2022 it snowed on Mykonos and even on Rhodes at sea level. The sea temperatures in southern Greece is cool 16c, northern Greece cold 9c

As most of Greeks do, Greece during winter is not about islands at all. During winter Greeks visit the mainland, so one advice for the tourists who come from abroad..Forget the islands and try the mainland. You would be surprised..

Thanks for the video I’ll be arriving the third week of March first time and so excited. 😀

Thanks for responding to my fb comment , am here watching it is informative am here to stay ok see you later

WHAT ABOUT CRETE? DOES IT EVER GET COLD? AND ALSO WHATS THE MOST VIBRANT CITIES IN WINTER IN GREECE LIKE FUN etc

Really good advice. Thank you.

Thank you for all the information it was really helpful . I am planning to go from 5th of January till 17 th January 2025 . To Athens Crete and Santorini . Can you please give me your advice should i proceed with my booking or change the destination since its will be my honeymoon.

Anyone been in Crete at the start of March? Can you swim comfortably?

I am planning to visit around 25th march 2024, will things be open around that time ???

This video was super helpful! My boyfriend and I will be headed to Greece at the end of the month through November. We will be stopping in Crete for a couple days, but the majority of our trip will be in Athens. I guess my one question is, should I pack for colder or warmer weather? A bit of both??? Anyway, thank you, love your videos!

So much good info! We are looking to visit Greece this October 14-19. We want to visit an island but don’t want to go to one that is empty. What island do you recommend that has the most tourists and places still open at this time? Or would you recommend just staying on the mainland? Thank you!!

Appreciate your effort that went behind in curating this video ! Planning to visit Greece ( primarily Santorini, Mykonos & Athens) in first week december, is it a good time ?

Thank you for the informative video. Is last week of February advisable to visit Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, what will be the status of Restaurants, hotels, ferries, flights?

Hi Thanks for the information - I am planning to visit Santorini in December. Would I be able to get ferry from Athens to Santorini 2.Fira or Oia where would be the hotel available in december? 3. Would there by any night life in December ?

Thanks for this. We will be in Santorini Oct 21-25 then going to another island after this. I was thinking Crete or Mykonos. Which would you recommend? We just love to explore and try the food if this helps. Thanks!

Hi i plan on going to greece last week of april through may4 am i going at a terrible time? I really wanted to emjoy swimming at a greek island

Hi Tiffany, I plan to arrive Athens by 1st November and wish to spend a few days in Santorini. Which hotel or villa would you recommend us (we have 8 adults)? Appreciate very much your recommendation. Are all the shops closed?

Hi there I am planning to go to Greece for my honeymoon in feb, as of now I only plan to visit santorini and Athens but I am worried because it’s offseason.

I’m going in December yolo

We r planning to visit Greece (athens,santorini and mykonos) in Oct 1st week.. Will the restaurants, beaches or may b any activities closed or not?? Is it advisable to visit at that time??

I just booked a trip with my wife from Nov 1st to the 9th. We’re flying to Athens and wanted to take the ferry to Mykonos then Santorini and then back to Athens. Do you know if there were any ferries available in November? And also what other islands you recommend if not Mykonos and Santorini for off-season? Thank you!

HELP! Looking to go to Greece in winter month of November the week before and of Thanksgiving. What island are best to book hotel?

Great video! Thanks At the end of March still being off season, in your opinion do you think there is enough open to see/do in Santorini and Athens for a vacation? I've heard it's a good time in terms of less crowds...

Are you having to deal with the rain like they are on the mainland?

Hello, I will come Santorini from 20-27 Nov then go to Naxos and I bought the ferry ticket already. And I will go to Mykonos from Naxos on 29 Nov but I cannot find any ferry on that day!! Could you tell me how can I go to Mykonos from Naxos? Thank you very much!!

Hello and thank you for all of this info! We are trying to plan a honeymoon to Greece either October 1-14 or 7-21 of this year. A combination of Athens and islands including Santorini and 1 or 2 others, but on the islands we would want to be able to swim and spend a lot of time outdoors. Do you think that one week will make a difference in terms of weather and closures, etc.? Thanks!

We are planning to visit Greece in 1st week of November. Which island would you suggest would be open and economical?

is it sea warm enough for kids to swim around Rhodes island in the beginning of November?

Hi Tiffany! Planning to visit on May 14 to30, is the water warm enough for swimming? Thanks.

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Is going at the beginning of January recommended?

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You can swim in the winter some days

Are the waters in Naxos warm?

Hey, what about the month of may? Mid to late may

Hi again, can I sunbath in Santorini next week xx

Greece having 8 months of summer.

The greek islands have been inhabited for thousands of years and home to the Aegean civilisations? Who would ever ask this question lol

You are crazy if you visit islands at winter !!! Only athens in winter time....