From July through September, the city of Rethymnon on the island of Crete hosts a Renaissance Festival which takes full advantage of its Venetian past.
Up in the village of Anogi on Crete, the Yakinthia provides an unusual look at Greek life July 2nd-6th. And on Corfu, Cricket Week draws international fans of the game, not the bug.
At Delphi, the god Apollo is the subject of five days of presentations, plays, and events July 5th through the 11th. This mountain town and its great archaeological site are must-sees any time; with this festival, it's even better. Note, though, that most of the museum is closed until May 2004 for pre-Olympics renovations, though a few major objects are still viewable.
July at a Glance:
Mainland Weather: Hot to very hot
Island/Coastal Weather: Hot, but the meltemi, a cooling strong wind, blows, sometimes strongly enough to create rough water. Want to beat the heat? Here's how.
Prices: Along with August, July prices are the highest of the year.
Events: Local festivals, arts festivals aimed at tourists, sound and light shows. Outdoor cinemas are popular; many mountain villages have special events primarily attended by Greeks though all are welcome. Ioannina Cultural Summer events begin, continue through August.
Facilities: Everything is open. The frequent flights and ferries are often crowded but in general, it's easiest to get around at this time of year, though the meltemi may cause some delays. Many resorts will have activities aimed at children; waterparks are open. Not a good month to trust accommodations to chance though this year, 2003, with tourism down somewhat, there will usually be something available even at the last minute or on arrival at the dock.
Festivals and Name Days in July:
July - August - Crete - Lassithi Plain - Diktaia Festival
July -August 15t - Kornaria - Sitia, Crete - Major cultural festival
July - August - Kyrvia - Ierapetra - Crete - Cultural festival.
July-August Kos - Hippokratia or Ipokratia - celebration of birth of Hippocrates with concerts and athletic events.
July - September - Crete - Rethymnon - Renaissance Festival
July-September - Epidaurus Festival - Weekends
July-September Philipi and Thassos Festival - Kavala
July-September Dodoni Festival
July - Crete - Anogi - Yakinthia - unusual folk festival.
July - Santorini Jazz Festival
July - Crete - Chersonissos - Kriti Vibes Open Air Dance Celebrations
July - September - Patras Festival - Musical festival
July -September - Heraklion Festival - Music and theater presentations
July - Nafpaktos - Papacharalambia Festival - arts, athletics, and nautical events.
July - Preveza - Nikololia - Ancient Drama festival
July 1st- 10th - Fillatria near Kyparissia - Vlahernia - Drama and dance events
July 1st- 30th - Kalamata - Folk dances at the castle
July - Corfu - Cricket Week - Cricket competitions
July - Rethymnon - Crete - Wine Festival
Mid - July - Heraklion - Crete - Wine Festival
Mid-July - Eleusis (Elefsis) - Folklore Festival
July 7th - St. Kyriaki the Great Martyr
July 7th - Lesbos - Petri - Agia Kyriaki - festival for the saint.
July 8th - Corfu - Lefkimi - Local dance festival
July 11th - St. Ephemia Feast/Name Day
July 17th - St. Marina the Great Martyr Feast Day/Name Day
July 19-20 Forest of Elatia Sarakatsaneon feast - folk dancing and other customs
July 20th- August 15th Axos Theatre,art, and dance events
July 20th - Prophet Elijah (Elias) Feastday
July 20th - Santorini - Pirgo Kalistis - Festival
July-August Ierapetra - Kirvia Festival - artistic events
July-August - Sitia - Kornasia Festival - Cultural events series
July 21-22 - Corfu - Weekend of free speech in the "Garden of the People"
Plan Your Own Trip to Greece
Find & Compare Discount Flights to AthensFind & Compare Discount Rental Cars in Athens
Find & Compare Rates on Hotels in Athens and throughout Greece and the Greek Islands
Book your Own Day Trips Around Athens
Book your Own Short Trips Around Greece
Some of The Best Greek Islands
Temple-crowned Aegina - Natural Alonissos - Traditional Carpathos - Chewy Chios - Cos, The Doctors' Island - Queenly Crete - Dignified Delos - Do it all on Donoussa - Hydra, Artist's Island - Odysseus' Ithaca - Kalokairi "Mamma Mia" Island - Spongy Kalymnos - Aphrodite's Kythira - Lesvos, More than Sappho - Lovely Leros - Mighty Mykonos - Paros Paradise - Pirate Islands - Pastoral Patmos - Volcanic Santorini - Sexy Skopelos - The Dreamy Small Cyclades - Easy Spetses - Symi Summers - Very Greek Syros - Honeyed Thassos - Tilos, Island of Elephants
Reader Reviews: Tell Me About Your Favorite Greek Island
